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A 2022 X3 owner samples the new Porsche Cayenne: His quick impressions

14th August 2024, 11:18 by Ananth Iyer

The X3 in comparison feels like a sedan after sitting in the Cayenne.

BHPian CEF_Beasts recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

11,000km Update, Minor Accessories added and Experiencing a Porsche

Not a major update like previous ones, but the car completed 11000kms in July.

After coming back from Goa, fixed up a visit to Infinity Turbhe to get the Nabenabdeckung Feststehend aka Floating Centre Caps and BMW LED Door Projectors fitted.

The Accessories bought at the JoyTown ‘24 Event

The BMW logo projecting on the floor looks spectacular

The Doggo intrigued by the Floating Wheel Caps

My philosophy is simple, adding some minor touches to the car as it ages like fine wine, to keep the freshness and attachment intact.

I had bought these accessories at a discounted price at the BMW JoyTown ‘24 festival. Where the pop-up stall run had noted down all my details Name, Car’s registration number, Dealer from which the car was purchased, phone number, email ID and few other details so that they could link it to the respective dealerships and service centres.

When I reached Infinity Turbhe in the afternoon on 18th July, and got an advisor assigned, he told me whether I got a quote for the accessories beforehand, to which I mentioned I already have the accessories with me. Till this point the accessories were kept in the car, to which the advisor said we can’t fit aftermarket accessories. I got the accessories from the car and showed it to the advisor as being Genuine BMW Accessories.

The advisor wanted a bill for the accessories I had brought and from where did I procure them. When I told him JoyTown, he had no clue what JoyTown was or acted as if he didn’t?! Can’t believe there can be such a big disconnect between the service centre and BMW India’s official event.

Since I didn’t have the bill, the advisor mentioned sorry we can’t install the same and a Job card can’t be opened for the same. Thankfully I had the credit card’s transaction slip which mentioned Infinity Cars Worli/Lalbaug as the seller, which somewhat convinced him that these were genuine accessories I had brought with me.

Without a Job Card, the installation was carried out, and a manual gate pass was given to me, to be submitted at the gate. The Advisor didn’t even have the courtesy to show me what was fitted.

Still can’t believe such a massive communication gap between Infinity’s Sales Team at JoyTown and their Service Centre can exist. What were the details taken down for at JoyTown then, I guess for spamming their promotional activities. Anyways didn’t have a good experience at all, compared to my previous visits to the Turbhe facility.

Moving On; was scheduled to meet a Car-Enthusiast friend from Gurgaon who had come down to Navi Mumbai after completing my visit to Infinity Turbhe. Coincidentally he was also at Infinity Turbhe in the morning for the service of his Porsche Cayenne.

Met him and drove to a peaceful spot to admire the cars. Took turns driving each other’s prized possessions, pointing out the delicate intricacies in both cars.

Before the Cayenne my friend had a 2019 X5 30d and it was interesting to hear what was better in the X5 and what is better in the Cayenne. It’s true I guess when we hear that Porsche is the next logical upgrade from BMW, granted you can afford it and I won’t disagree.

Some details on this specific Cayenne before, I proceed to the ‘Porsche’ experience.

2023 Porsche Cayenne Platinum Edition (Model Code: 9YA)

2996cc V6 Petrol
335hp and 450Nm
8 speed PDK gearbox
90L Fuel Tank (optional; Standard is 75L)
Exterior: Moonlight Blue Metallic
Interior: Partial Leather Black and Mojave Beige (Optioned)
14 Way Electrically Adjustable Comfort Seats with Memory Presets (Optional)
21 inch RS Spyder Design wheels in Satin Platinum (Optional)
Sport Chrono Pack incl. Analogue Clock on the dashboard and Mode Selector on the Steering (Optional)
Black Out package
Quad blackened Exhaust Tips (Optional)

The last time I sat in the Driver’s Seat of a Porsche was in 2015, in a Display Cayman, at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. This was my first time driving a Porsche.

Coming from a X3, you will immediately realise how much more substantial the Cayenne is size-wise. Even-though the Cayenne is a size bigger than the X3, like what the X5 is, it feels almost two sizes larger when viewed head-on, courtesy the upright grill and massive bonnet design unique to Porsches.

Porsche’s Moonlight Blue Metallic is very similar to BMW’s Carbon Black; where the blue shows in very specific lighting conditions. The 21 inch RS Spyder Design alloys complement the Cayenne’s design perfectly!

Inside you are welcomed by the massive comfort seats upfront with a multitude adjustments (14 Way) possible. The cabin cocoons you fantastically well and the sheer quality is mind blowing. This particular car isn’t optioned with the Extended Leather Package, which would’ve have made the interior even more special! The optioned Mojave Beige interior brings a lot of airiness inside the cabin. The interior quality is just fabulous and feels one level above an X5.

Coming to the Driver’s Seat, you realise why a Porsche is a Porsche ! The Analogue Rev Counter is what catches your attention right when you enter the driver’s seat! The centred analogue rev counter is what gives Porsche its unique identity. Physical buttons are present in the car (many have become touch on the Facelift) and everything is within the Driver’s reach.

You don’t get a traditional push button start, what you get instead is a turnable manual key that can’t be removed. Pretty unique…

The engine is very refined and you’ll almost not believe that the engine is turned on. The Sports Chrono Pack gets you the mode selector on the Steering itself and makes it easy to switch modes without taking your eyes off the road.

The Steering feels very special to hold and is so damn connected, very different to BMW steerings and in a good way. BMW has started dialling in some artificial weight into their steerings, none of that present in Porsche.

Can’t get enough of this steering wheel with every Car Enthusiast’s most revered Logo and Aluminium Paddle shifters

The way the V6 pulls is just something else! Eventhough it’s not a diesel the lusty petrol power makes up for the diesel torque. Sport Chrono pack makes the car quicker compared to cars without it and the Launch Control is absolutely addictive, do it multiple times and still each time the system hooks up brilliantly giving you the perfect launch. You’re pinned back into the seat on launch and you hit triple digit speeds very quickly for a 2 Ton+ burly SUV.

The X3 in comparison feels like a sedan after sitting in the Cayenne. The Cayenne even with RFTs and 21 inch wheels rounds off bad roads with aplomb something that really surprised me, my X3 with 19 inch RFTs feels stiffer in Comfort mode than the Cayenne, all courtesy to the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) in the Cayenne.

I also found out that the Pre-LCI X3 in Luxury Line gets Launch Control, much to my surprise. Although it’s very temperamental and activated just once and never again how much ever we tried. My friend was reminded of his X5 after driving my X3, just slightly smaller in size. The B48 2.0L (in 30i guise) 252hp petrol motor is extremely potent and continues to keep me satisfied.

Had a grin driving all the way back to Powai from Palm Beach Road, of course it doesn’t have a 6 cylinder engine or is a Porsche, but the perfect size for Mumbai traffic along with more than sufficient power is what makes it a special package for me. Special mention to the Adaptive Suspension, which stiffens up the suspension when you really want to have fun without having the complex Air Suspension !

The car turns 3 soon and these accessories give it some freshness that will go a long way in making the car feel special. The 3rd Service is also coming this month, as soon as the car indicates it.

Part of the reason for the even lower running is the new entrant into the garage