Porsche has spent decades designing sleek coupes, and has had no experience with other body styles. Which perhaps explains why Cayenne is so controversially designed. Cayenne looks great from the side, showing off its massive proportions. We are still fine with the rear end, but the front end is awkward-looking to say the least, and to think it has been revised before. To be fair though, Cayenne possesses a classy presence not many SUVs have. Porsche needed all their engineering expertise in gifting this large, heavy SUV with such adept handling. Cayenne handles with precision that puts many sports cars to shame. Dynamics such as the high grip levels and brilliant body control enable fun, confident cornering. Like for other Porsche models, the steering is similarly sublime. The optional Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) will help Cayenne further resist any body roll and ride more pliantly. The ride is on the firm side, but not overly so. Cruising is effortless as Cayenne remains extremely planted at high speeds, while keeping noise levels low. The default driving position is excellent, and fine-tuning can be carried out via no lack of steering and seating adjustments. Seats are very supportive, too, but the sheer number of small buttons on the dash centre are not user-friendly. Thanks to the high seating position, occupants enjoy a good, clear view out. We have become used to quality and reliability from Porsche. And Cayenne does not let down in both areas. The cabin looks classy, and all items are well-fitted and well-finished. Materials in use are also of a high quality. German rivals however have cabins that feel more luxurious, mainly due to Cayenne's rather bland dash design. Porsche holds a brilliant reputation for mechanical reliability, and Cayenne should remain trouble-free for a long time. From a 3.6-litre V6 in the base Cayenne, to a 4.8-litre V8 in Cayenne S and Cayenne GTS, to a 4.8-litre twin-turbo V8 in Cayenne Turbo and Cayenne Turbo S, all models come with engines offering different power outputs that range from adequate to incredible. The V6 in the base Cayenne feels barely adequate and needs to be worked hard. But other engines, starting from the V8 in Cayenne S, offer mighty performance on the roads. There is plenty of room for the front driver and passenger. Rear passengers will have no problems with headroom, but taller passengers would struggle for legroom. The most practical Porsche ever has a well-proportioned and well-shaped boot. The rear seats can 60:40 split-fold for more loading capacity when required. There is little else to expect of a large, heavy and powerful SUV but to expect huge fuel bills. The base Cayenne returns 7.8 km/litre while higher-end models return progressively worse figures. Servicing and repairs are expensive, but depreciation should be reigned in nicely, thanks to the strong Porsche brand. It is quite astonishing how Porsche has managed to impart such dynamics to a large, heavy SUV. In more ways than one, Cayenne is a triumph of driving engineering over the laws of physics. Of course, Cayenne, like all other Porsche models, does not come cheap. But if you have deep pockets and want a sports-car-handling SUV, Cayenne is second to none. The base Cayenne is equipped with all the basic luxury equipments such as climate control, alloy wheels, premium audio system, remote central locking, electric windows and cruise control. Plenty more (expensive) goodies are available on the option list. Safety equipments include a host of airbags and Porsche Stability Management (PSM), which controls a number of safety programs to prevent accidents in the first place. As a large, heavy, powerful SUV, Cayenne is the kind of car that environmentalists would vote to get rid of before any other car. But unfortunately for them, market forces prevail and Cayenne has been selling like hotcakes around the world. Even the base Cayenne emits 310 grams/km of carbon dioxide and consumes 7.8 km/litre of petrol. Not helping the situation is the fact that Cayenne is a practical enough car to be driven everyday.