MotorMouths

The 2013 Porsche Cayenne is very pricey, but it’s also very desirable given its standing as one of the finest SUVs on the planet.

The Cayenne GTS feels more willing, more frisky, and more awake than the S. It’s basically a Turbo without the turbochargers. Inside, the Cayenne is all about comfort.

As sporting as the line of Porsche SUVs are, the role of the Cayenne GTS in the company’s words is to be the sportiest. And, frankly, it is one of the best SUVs for those who really enjoy dynamic driving and still value the option to deviate from the paved roads of urban chaos—even if they never do.

The Porsche Cayenne GTS is fast, huge fun to drive, and it sounds far more aggressive than any other version of the German SUV. Add in the fact that it looks considerably bolder thanks to the new wheels and Turbo-inspired body parts, and the GTS begins to look like the coolest way to configure a Cayenne.

Plunking the 3.0-liter turbodiesel into the Cayenne has had no deleterious effects, while improving responsiveness, fuel economy and driving range substantially. The Cayenne Diesel makes so much darn sense that we wonder how long it will be before the engine finds its way into the Panamera.

Altogether, handling and road-holding are superb thanks to standard all-wheel drive, and the lighter structure and lower center of mass (while still keeping some trail ability) help give this latest generation of the Cayenne a more nimble feel.

The Cayenne is quite pricey, and you can find other luxury SUVs that are less expensive yet also have a lot of performance potential. But for a luxurious SUV that’s performance-minded no matter what trim level you get, you won’t do better than the 2012 Porsche Cayenne.

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.