MotorMouths

The Cayenne manages to seamlessly blend the best attributes of a sports sedan and a pure off-roader, while packaging it all with a handsome exterior and thoroughly luxurious interior.

For those who want a do-anything machine that is comfortable, luxurious, and practical, these updated Cayennes have much to offer. Though it’s still difficult for some to accept a Porsche SUV, this one is much truer to Porsche’s efficiency ethic than was the original.

If the Cayenne were an athlete, you would say it has raised the level of its game. It looks better, specs out better, and drives better. On dry pavement, it delivered seamless, nearly unlimited power, superb ergonomics, and a reassuring feeling of control over high-performing machinery.

The 2011 Cayenne is still a heavy SUV, but the weight reduction and improved electronic chassis systems have made it much more impressive dynamically. It also looks a lot less bulky and ridiculous than it used to.

This second generation Porsche Cayenne is a superlative driving machine, whether for everyday trips to drop off the kids at school to very serious off-roading to cross-country family jaunts. Possibly the best high-performance SUV there is.

It’s amazing that the 2011 Cayenne can trundle through sand and mud one hour, then after a quick cleanup head right out for hot laps without even a change of tires. No other SUV can do that with the same athleticism, finesse, and flavor as the Cayenne.

Consider the V6 variant as a heavily discounted way to enjoy the Cayenne’s silky eight-speed Tiptronic, bulletproof platform, refined chassis dynamics, luxurious cabin, surefooted AWD, accurate steering and impressive braking at less than half the cost of the Cayenne Turbo.

Look at other V8-powered performance SUVs in the segment, and the Porsche stands out as the most expensive. But none offer the outright performance of the Cayenne, and its flexibility in delivering off-road thrills too.

Despite my misgivings about the entire concept, I have to admit that the 2011 Cayenne represents genuine improvements in virtually every aspect. It looks better, goes better, weighs less, and has more room.

Fresh out of the fat farm with refined running gear and sexy new clothes, Porsche’s hot pepper finally dances like a sport sedan. While it’s no twinkle-toed Fred Astaire, the 2011 Cayenne is good enough to turn petrified cynics into believers.

The 2011 Cayenne is slightly bigger than its predecessor, despite its lighter weight. Not only is the new Cayenne lighter and more fun to drive, it’s also bigger, more powerful and more efficient.

The 2011 Porsche Cayenne S, Hybrid, and Turbo are all noticeably more competent than their ancestors, and the claimed 23 percent improvement in efficiency is staggering. Expect to pay for those improvements, though.