The Cayenne’s cargo hold maxes out at 1,780 litres, which won’t compete with seven-seat models like the Acura MDX or Volvo XC90, but it keeps up with other five-seaters like the BMW X5 and VW Touareg (with which it shares DNA) in that regard. Plus it’s well shaped with little nooks and crannies for holding smaller items.

The driving environment is perhaps the most outwardly obvious of the Cayenne’s distinguishing features. The Porsche DNA is undeniable, starting with the marque’s signature five-gauge cluster that greets the driver after sliding behind the wheel. But more unique is the rather intimidating array of buttons within arm’s reach of the driver’s seat. Porsche has been slow to give in to the proliferation of wheel-mounted controls in recent years, but it seems now they’ve relented. Two buttons and a scroll wheel grace each of the Cayenne’s horizontal spokes while the right-sized shift paddles peek out from behind.

Right also describes the shape of the Cayenne’s wheel, suitably thick with perfect thumb rests at 9 and 3 as well as grippy bulges a little higher up for those who prefer 10 and 2.

Contrary to the route most luxury brands have taken, Porsche has graced the Cayenne’s cockpit with a touchscreen and supplementary buttons rather than the otherwise requisite control knob and menu system that others seem to prefer. At first glance, this makes the Cayenne’s (and other Porsche models’) centre console unnecessarily complex, but for me the Porsche way is far simpler to warm up to and allows many functions to be accessed with a single push of a button rather than navigating between screens. Hmmm, less distraction: an interesting concept.

Warranty:
4 years/80,000 km; 4 years/80,000 km powertrain; 12 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 4 years/80,000 km roadside assistance

Competitors:
Acura MDX
Audi Q7
BMW X5
Lexus RX
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

In nearly stripped down form, the Cayenne V6 may not be as special as those higher up in the lineup, particularly in the case of our tester and its conservative duds. But there’s enough Porsche-ness in its execution to offer consumers a serious alternative in the luxury crossover segment.

Pricing: 2016 Porsche Cayenne V6
Base price: $67,400
Options: $5,170 (metallic paint: $910, sunroof $1,360, reverse camera and parking sensors $2,000, Cayenne S wheels $450, driver’s seat memory package $450)
A/C tax: $100
Destination: $1,115
Price as tested: $73,785

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