It's no secret AutoSpies.com was not a fan of the original Porsche Cayenne.
It was ugly (looked like it had the face of a puffed up blowfish), burnt gas like water, and drove way too heavy and numb for our tastes.
We thought the BMW X5 beat it hands down in every way EXCEPT off road capability.
And even though the Cayenne was refreshed and looked MUCH better, it still wasn't my driving cup of tea.
But my, how the times are a changing.
After driving the 2011 Cayenne today in Alabama I can honestly say if it were my money today, I'd buy the new Cayenne over the newly refreshed BMW X5.
As you know I just drove the new X5 in Miami weeks ago and it was definitely better all the way around from the 2010 X5 but it has slipped behind the new Cayenne.
For a few reasons.
1. The Cayenne has dropped around 5 bills of weight and it handles a touch better than the X on road and kills it at the track. The Cayenne is like no other SUV on the track. With the Ceramic brake option, there IS no substitute.
2. The interior of BMW's have been criticisized for being spartan and a quick comparison inside the cabin of the Cayenne shows Porsche has pulled head and shoulders away in the lead. The best description is the Cayenne is an off-road version of the Panamera inside. REALLY sexy and beautiful.
3. With the Burmeister stereo option at 1000 watts, it's the Veyron of car stereo systems.
Now if Porsche would get off their duffs and bring us a clean diesel version in the USA, they would score a full X5 knockout.
The Cayenne still not the best looking SUV on the outside (That would be either the Range Rover or X6) but when you drive it, and surround yourself in its best in class interior, that's the one that's going home with you.
Keep checking back often for more photos, videos and updates from the USA Porsche Cayenne launch soon...
For now, check out the best of breed photo gallery of the 2011 Porsche Cayenne
See all of the photos here:
2011 Porsche Cayenne USA Launch
2011 BMW New Product Showcase
2011 BMW 5-Series USA Production Photo Gallery
2011 BMW New Product Showcase
2011 BMW 5-Series USA Production Photo Gallery
2010 Hyundai Tucson Photo Gallery
2010 Beijing Motor Show Photo Gallery
2011 Ford Fiesta Photo Gallery
2011 MB E-Class Conv. Photo Gallery
2011 BMW X5 Photo Gallery