The 2017 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid ranks 1 out of 22 Luxury Midsize SUVs. The 2017 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid emulates everything you expect from Porsche: affluence, elegance, and performance. It's both sporty and posh, but there's isn't much room for your belongings in the back, and its fuel economy is lower than what you might expect from a plug-in hybrid.
Pros Stylish and comfortable interior Agile handling Quick acceleration Feature-rich infotainment system
Cons Small cargo space Poor fuel economy for a hybrid
The 2017 Cayenne gets Porsche's latest (PCM 4.0) touchscreen infotainment system on every trim level, improving functionality. Limited Edition Cayenne and Cayenne S E-Hybrid Platinum models also join the range, bringing the trim level count up to eight. The Cayenne Diesel has been discontinued due to the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal.
Pros Truly impressive handling for a crossover SUV Wide selection of strong engines available Exquisite interior and build quality Plenty of customization options
Cons Relatively small cargo capacity for the segment Quite a few optional features should be standard given the price tag
The Cayenne is a spicy-hot mix of luxury, off-road ability, and sports-car performance—just what you’d expect in a Porsche SUV. The base model has a 300-hp V-6; the S makes 420 hp and the GTS makes 440 hp, both from a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6. There's also the S E-Hybrid. All have an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. A leather-lined cabin and infotainment with navigation make it a comfortable road tripper. The Cayenne is easy to hustle around curves and equally ready for family duty. The EPA rates the Cayenne S E-Hybrid at 46 MPGe in combined driving while depleting the battery charge and using the electric motor. As a more conventional hybrid, the Porsche is rated at 22 mpg combined. That won’t rattle the worldview of many Tesla owners, but it’s substantially better than other Cayenne models.
The 2017 BMW X6 M is about two things: style and performance. It has an abundance of both, but don't expect to get practicality, too. The 2017 BMW X6 M returns with an updated iDrive system that includes touchscreen functionality. The Executive option package also now includes a Wi-Fi hot spot and wireless charging for compatible cellphones.
Pros Stellar acceleration from turbocharged V8 Exceptional handling and stability for a heavy SUV Strong braking performance Wonderfully contoured seats hold you in place during hard cornering.
Cons Firm ride even with suspension in its softest setting Small cargo area Poor rearward visibility Limited rear headroom Sloping rear roofline makes for challenging entry and exit.
Who could have imagined marrying the tall ride height and all-wheel-drive ability of an SUV with the fastback styling of a sleek coupe would produce a desirable vehicle, but that’s exactly what BMW has done with the 2017 X6 SUV. Once an army of one, the X6 has been cloned by such notables as the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. Frankly we’re somewhat puzzled by the X6’s appeal. It isn’t a very off-road-capable vehicle and comes up short in areas designated for cargo and passengers. The 2017 BMW X6’s size precludes it from being as sporty as an Infiniti QX30 or Lexus NF, and yet despite these many drawbacks, the X6 is remarkably fun to drive and seems to have gained a loyal following.
Pros If you’re looking for a luxury SUV with unique looks, good handling and a lengthy options list, the 2017 BMW X6 SUV might appeal to you. It doesn’t come cheap, but then again what BMW does?
Cons If you need any part of the “utility” in Sport-Utility Vehicle, the 2017 BMW X6’s tiny cargo area, sharply slanted rear hatch and small rear seat probably won’t impress you. An X5 gives you similar performance as the X6 within a far more usable package.
The biggest demerit to the X6 M comes in its ride quality, which ranges from firm to unacceptably, jarringly firm, depending on how its air suspension is adjusted. On roads that are less than perfect, the head toss gets to be enough that wearing a helmet as protection against the suede headliner seems like a not-terrible idea. And then you’d be ready for the track, which is where the X6 M best acquits itself. Not that we imagine actually spotting any at track days. With a $103,050 base price, the X6 M’s window sticker is as extravagant as its test sheet. Save the snarky jokes about this being a “German Aztek”—they weren’t all that funny when the first X6 showed up nearly a decade ago. And today, when the automotive world has gone all-in on both horsepower and crossovers, what can we expect but things like the X6 M? This sort of automotive indulgence has never made much sense, but that’s exactly the point.
