Porsche Cayenne Coupe is a high-performance dream

For my first time driving a Porsche, a wave of excitement hit me. A Porsche is “driven by dreams” and is an iconic, ultimate sports car. Yet I hesitated. The vehicle I was about to drive cost twice as much as my first house in the 1990s. Could I maintain my accident-free driving record and still enjoy a Cars in the City review?

I did. And the Porsche lived up to the hype.

First, let’s clear up how to pronounce it. Porsche is pronounced with two syllables: por-sha. It’s not pronounced like some Midwesterners who say “warsh” their hands.

I drove the 2025 Cayenne Coupe, Porsche’s luxury crossover SUV, which originally debuted in 2002. This lower-priced model has a 3-liter turbo V6 with 348 horsepower and starts at $113,315. Higher-end models include the Turbo GT, which costs $205,795 and offers 650 horsepower. By comparison, a Toyota RAV4 has 183 horsepower.

The exterior color was dolomite silver metallic. The Spyder-design wheels in high-gloss black cost an extra $4,000. My car-enthusiast brother dislikes black wheels, citing a lack of contrast and the inability to see the wheels spinning from a distance. To each his (or her) own.

Inside is where the magic happens. A thick leather seat sinks in, like your favorite recliner at home. The touchscreen is nearly seamless, built into the dash instead of as a clunky afterthought.

The Cayenne seats up to five adults. The back seats have air vents at passenger head level. Why keep vents at one level? This design keeps passengers comfortable. It’s a pet peeve of mine as a rear-seat passenger when front passengers close their vents because they are too cold, leaving the back passengers suffering.

The toggle shifter for the touchscreen is located on the dashboard, freeing up space on the center console for a venti or Big Gulp and other beverage containers. Automatic seat configurations and steering wheel adjustments hug your body for optimal driving conditions. The leather-wrapped steering wheel offers a sporty grip for better handling.

Porsche is known for manufacturing high-performance race cars. The company was established in 1948 in Austria and quickly won numerous national races. The Porsche 911 reaches up to 200 mph. Porsche vehicles have consistently made top-10 best race car lists throughout the decades.

That race-car performance translates into their street vehicles. I discovered firsthand how fast you could go without realizing it because of the smooth ride and expert handling. Wanting to stay far from other cars, I accelerated. I thought I was going about 60 mph; turns out I was inching past 80. The reactive handling and corner hugging were surprising for an SUV, as most others feel like they might topple on a sharp turn.

Owning a Porsche is definitely a splurge and an investment. Most used Porsches are reliable and retain their value. If you want the escape or reward of a thrilling, race-car-like vehicle, consider the classic and refined Porsche.