2003 Porsche Cayenne S

Handling was breathtaking. Put the Porsche into a corner and it will stick and track its way around the corner with no detectable body roll. Flogging around freeway offramps at double the recommended speed was no problem, and the only thing keeping us from pushing harder was our lack of nerve.

The fact that the Cayenne was impressive on road was not too surprising. Its namebadge says "Porsche," after all. But in the dirt, the results were less impressive. The Cayenne relies on enough traction technology to fill a book. A host of processors help to modulate the brakes to provide power to the wheel with the best traction. This system worked well on solid footing, but in looser terrain, it seemed to get confused, and forward progress was halted. An electric rear locker is available as an option-and is standard on the Turbo-and would have helped immensely.

The Cayenne's leather seats are firm, but supportive. The navigation system is one of the most complicated such systems we have encountered. We thought we could almost hear German engineers giggling in the background as we attempted to figure it out.

Also hampering the Cayenne off pavement was a lack of flex, making it extremely easy to lift a tire. The suspension features three adjustments (comfort, normal and sport) for damping, but even in its softest mode, the ride was extremely firm. On washboard roads, this left us wishing for a kidney belt. An aspect of the Porsche's interesting optional air suspension that was an aid in the dirt is its ride-height adjustability. In low range the Porsche can be raised a full 2 inches over its normal ride height, providing more clearance. Other aids currently in Porsche's pipeline will include antiroll bars that disconnect themselves when low-range is selected, helping articulation.

The Porsche Cayenne is one amazing SUV. It takes all the excellence Porsche is known for and wraps it in the body of an SUV. While it is extremely capable on the highway, we found it to be less so on the trail. Porsche has a ways to go before its name also becomes synonymous with big-time trail performance.