Porsche Cayenne – interior and tech
Porsche's superb ergonomics, quality and tech are among the best on the market, but the ambience is quite plain
The Cayenne draws heavily from the ultra-advanced Taycan EV for its newly reconfigured cabin, and some elements are a clear step on from the old car. The new, curved 12.6-inch instrument panel is more configurable than before, offering a suite of digital dials that mimic the analogue clocks from Porsches of old.
Meanwhile the central 12.3-inch touchscreen offers intuitive menus and fast response times, and combines with an optional 10.9-inch passenger display to deliver an extraordinary number of pixels to your eyeballs. The technology feels current and befitting of a £70k SUV, and yet somehow the overall ambience lacks the rich, luxurious feel of something like a BMW X5.
This comes with the proviso that our test car was specified in a rather gloomy black colour scheme, but even so, the design and material choices feel a little plain. Aside from the knurled climate control switches on the centre console, finely crafted, attention-grabbing details are few and far between, and it feels like Porsche has been too conservative in this respect.
We’re not entirely convinced by the dashboard-mounted gear selector switch either, which is more difficult to reach and less satisfying to use than the old pistol-grip lever between the seats.
The fundamentals – such as the driving position, ergonomics and overall build quality – are among the best in class though, and perhaps different trim choices, contrasting stitching and extended leather (all of which are available in the options list) could lift it into the fantastic cabin it threatens to be. As it is, the Cayenne feels driver-centric, well laid out and very spacious, if a little bland for the price.
