2013 Porsche Cayenne 4dr 112 WB Eddie Bauer

The Porsche Cayenne is a five-seat midsize luxury SUV with a number of different trims that correspond to its engine. The base Cayenne features a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 300 horsepower. All-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission are standard. An eight-speed automatic is optional with the V6 and standard on everything else. Stepping up to the Cayenne S gets you a 4.8-liter V8 that gets the party really started with 400 horses. Porsche apparently likes working in 100-hp increments since the Cayenne Turbo produces 500 hp and consequently delivers incredible performance (the Power Kit ups it to 540 hp). Should you care less about performance and more about fuel economy, the Cayenne S Hybrid produces 380 hp, but returns better fuel economy than the base, gas-only V6. You'd never describe the Cayenne as sporting in the traditional Porsche sports car sense, but it's impressive by SUV standards. The steering deserves praise for its linearity, making it easy to place this 4,500-pound vehicle on the road. Body roll is well contained and the Cayenne can be hustled along with something approaching gusto, helped by an all-wheel-drive system that delivers 60 percent of its thrust to the rear wheels under normal conditions. The optional active suspension system provides a supple ride even with the dampers in their most aggressive setting. As a result, the Cayenne is an excellent candidate for long-distance driving. The cabin features an aggressive, cockpit-style layout reminiscent of the Porsche Panamera. The center console, adorned in upwards of 50 buttons, rises sharply to meet the dash and large touchscreen display, creating an enveloping driver's environment. Like other Porsches, the Cayenne features the finest interior materials, put together with excellent craftsmanship. The front seats are available in three different designs, ranging from simple eight-way power adjustment to 18-way sport seats, which feature adjustable bolsters, lumbar and seat cushion length. The sculpted rear seats not only recline but slide fore and aft as well, which is a feature not typically found in five-passenger luxury SUVs. As always, the Cayenne is quite pricey -- especially when you start sampling from Porsche's extensive options list. It also doesn't offer much in the way of cargo capacity. However, if you're looking for a luxury SUV, a performance-tuned SUV or a combination of both, it's tough to beat the Cayenne.