Quiet. Refined. Plush.
Terms rarely used in the same sentence as the word "Porsche".
A quiet Porsche? Surely not. After all, Porsches for decades have been defined by the exquisite sound they make - and not by those noises that they don't.
Still, it's not entirely unheard of. There's the all-electric Taycan, for instance, which barely raises a whisper as it pumps out Formula 1-style acceleration. The turbo-charged, four-cylinder version of the company's baby SUV, the Macan, also delivers less than the edgy sound of its peers. Otherwise it's generally barking exhausts and whistling turbochargers at 20 paces.
Until the arrival of this latest Porsche - a new, entry-level model which updates the luxury SUV.
Despite having the familiar six cylinders, this one burbles, rather than barks.
The Cayenne has been a popular, if controversial, member of the Porsche family for more than two decades.
But this Cayenne will probably raise a few eyebrows among the Porsche faithful - delivering accomplished but civilised performance with a fairly modest sound-track.
A Posh Porsche, but civilised?
It might not please the purists, but that's not what the Cayenne was designed to do. Rather, it is aimed at bringing new buyers to Porsche.
At $138,700, it costs less than half the flagship Cayenne Turbo GT Coupe ($364,700 plus on-road costs).
Ironically, that Turbo GT (485kW and as much as 850Nm) offers roughly double the power and performance of this basic Cayenne. Let's call it symmetry.
The Cayenne further widens the range of choices for those thinking about visiting a Porsche dealership for the first time.
So fast is this franchise growing that there are 11 different models of the Cayenne - including four entirely new variants.
Tested here is the most humble of the new models, known simply as the Cayenne.
It still packs a decent punch with a twin-turbo V6 engine (260kW, 500Nm) and a handsome, agile appearance with its powerful hindquarters and athletic stance. It's faster than your average SUV, but it's officially the slowest new Porsche on the market.
It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in a modest six seconds, yet its useable 500Nm gives it plenty of oomph without so much of the pops and bangs.
For a car that was derided, almost despised, before it even hit the market, the big Porsche has done pretty well. To the point that the Porsche people are entitled to serve up an "I told you so".
Above it on the Cayenne pecking order are a smattering of wagon and coupe-styles, V6 and V8 engines, all turbocharged and some with the additional thrust of a mild-hybrid system that adds more than 100kW to various models.
A roomy, practical cabin is complemented by refined, restrained road manners.
Mid-range models are probably more tempting with their boosted performance and additional technology. Most of these models are priced roughly between $160k and $180k, although don't expect to leave the dealership without spending close to 200 grand.
At $188,500 the Cayenne S Coupe uses the 4-litre, bi-turbo V8 found elsewhere in the range, producing 349kW and 600Nm.
The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, thanks to some electrical boosting, delivers 544kW and 950Nm. Those are gaudy numbers, indeed.
The Cayenne sells under the motto "Performance for Five" - which pretty much sums it up. Quick and confident, but by no means ballistic.
The thorough mechanical upgrade of the Generation three has added substantially more power to the performance models, while using additional E-Hybrid boost pushes to improve the performance, and the efficiency, of those mid-range offerings.
Performance stats across the range reflect numerous options - from the test-car Cayenne (0-100km/h in six seconds), the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid (3.7 seconds) and the flagship Cayenne Turbo GT (a withering 3.3 seconds) for a car weighing well over two tonnes.
That's quite an impressive set of numbers.
Truth is, there's more to like about this Cayenne than any model to come before it. It blends the company's place as a good corporate citizen (the hybrid's lower emissions), the car's practicality and driveability (all models) that has made the brand relevant to more buyers than ever. And lastly, of course, the fact that this big, handsome machine remains an absolute treat to drive.
It has an imposing road presence - sitting higher off the ground than it first appears and with those muscular rear haunches giving it a sense of power and purpose.
And of course, a Porsche doesn't need to be a racing car to get noticed, nor to be an engaging, invigorating drive.
Style-wise this new Cayenne has undergone a fair refit - inside it's all Germanic efficiency with very few complaints.
What pleasantly surprised was the finish and functionality of the centre stack and most particularly the clever climate control settings - a black screen that comes to life with a hand gesture.
Otherwise it's pure Porsche, from the chrono-style clock taking pride of place at the top of the dashboard to the meticulous placement and presentation of cockpit information and adjustments.
As for the exhaust note, owners can keep that quietly to themselves.
PORSCHE CAYENNE
* HOW BIG? It's a full-sized SUV - similar in size to its cousin the Audi Q7, which shares many underpinnings.
* HOW FAST? 0-100km/h is not particularly fast. But it just gives people more time to admire this big wagon.
* HOW THIRSTY? The 3-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 sips a reasonable 9.2L/100km.
* HOW MUCH? Sitting at the very bottom of the family tree, this entry-level model starts at $138,900.
