Overview & Reviews

Porsche cars have a virtually untarnished reputation and are considered among the finest performance vehicles in the world. It's a reputation that's well-deserved. With razor-sharp handling and power aplenty, Porsche vehicles offer a driving experience like no other. It's little wonder that, for many, the marque has come to define the sports car category. For years, the only Porsches available were sleek sports cars, but the manufacturer recently expanded its lineup to include other types of vehicles.

The brand has its roots in the Porsche Engineering Office, founded in Stuttgart, Germany, by Ferdinand Porsche in 1931. Porsche brought with him years of experience as an automotive engineer; in the '20s, while employed with Daimler, his skill was tapped to create Mercedes' iconic SS and SSK sports cars. Porsche has long had close ties with Volkswagen, and the first Porsche vehicles were small two-seat sports cars that were largely based on VW chassis. From 1948-'50, most of these early Porsche cars (the brainchild of Porsche and his son Ferry) were actually built in Austria before production was switched to Zuffenhausen, Germany. Ferdinand's first real production car was the VW Beetle, so it was no surprise that his sports cars used those components and had their air-cooled engine mounted in the rear.

The 1950s saw the birth of two icons, the 356 Speedster with its low-cut windshield and the lightweight, midengined 550 Spyder. Both cars helped Porsche rack up a multitude of wins on the racetrack. In the mid-'60s, the 356 made way for the revered 911. Powered by an all-new six-cylinder engine, the coupe scored two consecutive wins at Monte Carlo. Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, the 911's air-cooled flat-six engine was located in the rear of the vehicle.

By the time the '70s rolled around, Porsche had introduced the 914 (the "affordable" Porsche with a midengine design and a targa top), the mighty 911 turbo, the disrespected 924 (powered by a weak front-mounted, water-cooled inline four) and the flagship 928 (front-mounted V8, four-seat coupe). The '80s saw the birth of the 956, a car that went on to become the most successful racecar of all time. The twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive 959 was also launched; it became the first sports car to win the Paris-Dakar Rally and the street version could hit nearly 200 mph. The athletic 944 debuted in 1983, as did a convertible version of the 911, something that had been missing for some years. The '80s also saw the rebirth of the 924, now with some muscle courtesy of the 944's strong-for-the-time (147-horsepower) inline four.

By the early 1990s the 928 had been discontinued and the 944 was replaced by the similar 968. Because of a lack of dynamic product and a tough market climate, Porsche was suffering financially. The company's savior, the Boxster roadster, debuted in 1997 and brought back the spirit of the old 550 Spyder. In 2003, Porsche committed what purists considered a sin as the company brought the Cayenne SUV to the market. However, once those enthusiasts discovered the Cayenne's sporting performance (especially in 450-hp turbo form) all was forgiven. The following year, Porsche brought out the ferocious (605-hp) Carrera GT supercar.

Today, Porsche's lineup is quite broad for a specialty automaker and now even includes a luxury super sport sedan, the Panamera. Throughout its history, Porsche has exhibited amazing resilience, weathering changes in consumer tastes and the economic climate. As such, it's safe to assume that this ever-robust company will continue to be known for making vehicles that excel at performance, luxury and usability.

User Reviews:

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  No Substitute - 2001 Porsche Boxster
  By wavefraser - December 9 - 3:10 pm

  Fun Fun Fun to Drive. Put down the top and people will wave, stare, offer to trade.

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  great fun - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By porsche fan - December 8 - 2:33 am

  Bought this 04 turbo after driving the S model all day, then I drove the Turbo for 100" only. What a different car truely there is nothing like it on the road the only time I feel I am in an SUV is when I look at the gas mileage. This is the ultimate all year around car Porsche combined a winter AWD vehicle and a high performance summer car and you still have the option of off roading with pride....If you can justify the MSRP buy this car you will never regret it.

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  Would buy another! - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Marshall Howell - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I considered an E320 and the new 530i while searching for a new business car. I had not considered the Cayenne until I drove home one night in the ice and snow in my old Land Rover Discovery and decided I needed all wheel drive. I drove the Cayenne S the next week and my decision was made. It is great to drive and feels like a sedan. Although no turbo, I feel the power is ample. All the kids fit in well. The stereo is awesome with the surround sound feature. I read that after I drove it, I may want to trade in my 911 Cab...Its good, but not that good! Im definitely getting rid of the Discovery.

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  X5 4.4 tradeup - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By dunndriver - December 7 - 2:00 am

  German made build quality, definitely not a So. Carolina (aka US) built car. Bose sound also a huge improvement over my00 X5. Brakes better, handles better, but yes I am paying 2-3 miles per gallon at only 18 mpg, but thats all my 911 ever gets anyway. I had the 19" Sport wheels on the X5, and settled for 19"s on the Cayenne. I would get 20"s if you have the chance.

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  Porsche got it right w/ the 993 - 1995 Porsche 911
  By mikeB - December 5 - 10:00 am

  I have had several Porsche cars, but the 993 is by far the most complete. It is a 100% sports car, with stellar resale value to boot. Hard to equal this car, impossible to beat. This car may not be something for everyone, but it is everything to someone.

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  Simply Awsome, art meets performance - 2000 Porsche Boxster
  By Horizon - December 5 - 10:00 am

  I have owned many high end cars but nothing comes close to the performance and quality of the boxster s. If you are thinking of buying a regular boxster ... do youself a favor and drive the S model and you will see that the only difference is not the s on the back of the trunk. The S model delivers all the tourqe the regular boxster was missing + the acceleration and handeling of one of the best built cars in the world. I have had no problems thus far and every time I drive it I feel more and more at one with this machine.. If you drive one .. you will buy one .. .simple as that.

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  Lives Up To The Dream Of A 10-year-old - 2008 Porsche 911
  By str8line - December 5 - 12:56 am

  As a youth my father and I never missed stopping at the Porsche dealer while driving by. I had a love affair with the guards red 911 that seemed to always be on the showroom floor. When in 1979 my dad finally purchased a 911 (930 model)Turbo I reveled in its incredible rocket ship abilities. He sold it when I was 13, but the 3 years he had it made the Porsche 911 my dream car. As a self-made and relatively poor young man I was all but resigned to the fact that a 911 in anything other than a used and older variant just would not be in the cards for me. Skip to Feb. 2008 and I have the good fortune of being shocked every time I enter my garage by the sight of a black 2008 911 Carrera S!

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  Sports car with SUV abilities - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By tbridge - December 2 - 10:00 am

  Have had it a week...300 miles and love it. It puts a smile on my face every time I take it out of the garage. It is smooth, solid, fast. Best of the SUVs I test drove - Toureg, Lexus G470, 4Runner, X5 4.4. Total sports car feel and handling. Toureg has a softer more car like ride and handling as well as interior, while the Cayenne is sports car handling and ride and interior. I wanted a sports car with SUV capabilities and I got it!

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  A Tank with Speed - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By John C - November 30 - 9:56 pm

  Just purchased the Chayenne S. Feels like youre driving an armored tank at first feel. Press the gas and you feel like youre in the cockpit of one of Porsches fine sports cars. The thing is just so solidly built, never felt safer in any automobile. Love the engine growl, the taught and responsive steering and its overall great looks inside and out. Have driven BMW, Mercedes and Audi...test drove X5, FX45 and others...the Cayenne blows their doors off. The air suspension option is a must have. Its a tank that turns into a rocket. I can only imagine what the Turbo feels like!

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  Awesome Demonstration of Technology & Design - 2016 Porsche Cayenne
  By Mike C - November 28 - 11:15 am

  When purchasing such a vehicle, you need to match your driving needs and expectations to the platform. The results with the Cayenne can be fantastic. The Cayenne handles unbelievably well for an SUV/CUV. The turning radius is likely the tightest Ive ever experienced for a car, truck, or SUV. We ended up purchasing the e-hybrid because most of our driving is local (less than 50 miles) and the hybrid offers excellent overall MPG (~45 to 50 MPG) while still providing enough power and torque (along with the legendary Porsche handling) to make driving fun. This is our first hybrid and having previously owned a Tesla Model S, I can honestly say that the instrumentation in the e-hybrid Cayenne is comprehensive, logical, and very well thought out.