Porsche Cayenne 3.6 V6 (2007) CAR review

New Porsche Cayenne: the lowdown

Love it or loathe it, the Cayenne has done wonders for Porsche's profitability. Purists can argue all day long that it diluted the brand DNA with all those common VW 4x4 genes - but there's no questioning its commercial success. Now, four years after launch, it's time for a mid-life nip 'n' tuck. Porsche has wielded the scalpel to undo some of the damage caused by the ugly stick at birth; new lights front and rear, a redesigned grille and the availability of 21-inch wheels mark out the latest model. It's still no beauty, but the softened looks may offend fewer Porschephiles. However, the biggest changes lie under the skin: each engine gets direct fuel injection to achieve the seemingly contradictory goals of better economy and extra power; and the Cayenne is the first Porsche with the option of active anti-roll suspension (more of which later).

Which models are available this time round?

There's still a three-rung range, of varying degrees of lunacy. The entry-level Cayenne gets a brawny new 3.6-litre V6 boasting an extra 40bhp and 24 percent more torque over the old 3.2 (both engines are VW-sourced). Considering the extra muscle on tap, the £1540 price hike to £37,100 doesn't seem too bad. Joint biggest seller in the UK is the Cayenne S. For your £46,610, you step up to V8 power, now with an extra 300cc taking the bent eight to 4.8 litres and 385bhp. You can pick a six-speed manual or auto on both the Cayenne and S, although we'd recommend ordering the auto on both. For SUV fans who love nothing more than scaring Ferraris (and their bank managers), there's always the £74,650 Turbo. It bolts not one but two turbochargers to the V8 to swell power to 500bhp and is only available as an auto. Naturally, the Turbo also comes with every conceivable luxury, including leather-trimmed dashboard, a DVD sat-nav system and Bose surround sound. Lovers of bling, look no further.