XC90 versus Porsche Cayenne

First of all, the V8 powered Cayennes are impressive machines built for speed and pretty serious off road use. In that regard they are somewhat different from the XC90, which does not necessarily share the same priority or philosophy.

We bought a beautiful 2.5T AWD XC90 and we’re thrilled with it. The power of the vehicle is “adequate” but not as comfortable as the 850 GLT we traded in. The engine, however, is a beautiful piece of equipment. I drove the T6 and even though I’m a dyed in the wool sports car nut with lots of experience, I could not tell “any” difference in performance, only a difference in the sound, which was smoother with the T6. The 4-speed keeps the T6 from feeling as peppy as it could, and the less powerful 2.5 utilizes the 5-speed to full advantage.

Here are some interesting comparison numbers.

The V6 Cayenne I just looked at during lunchtime today had a sticker price of $54,000. Base price was $45,000, but needed the extra $9000 worth of options to make it “desirable” I guess.

The Cayenne is smaller inside, and feels about the same on the outside. The Cayenne looks like a jelly bean that’s been sucked on. The Volvo has “lines”. I like the design of the Volvo better, even though I’m a Porsche guy.

The Cayenne would not be able to handle 5 people, let alone, 7. Luggage compartment is much smaller in the Cayenne. Instrumentation is no better at all in the Cayenne, as a matter of fact, the steering wheel conflicts with the instruments for my height, 6’-2”, light of build. The interior trim looked handsome, but the steering wheel had the most horrible bright aluminum triangles embossed into it, which makes me wonder if Porsche is trying to look like a Lexus. The Bauhaus design philosophy, “forget the unnecessary”, under which Porsche built its reputation, seems to be forgotten by Porsche and adapted by Volvo. The Volvo interior is certainly more stark, but in good taste. The Porsche seems to be “trying” to look luxurious.

The power to weight on the Cayenne V6 is 247 horsepower to 4800 pounds (19.4 pounds/horsepower).

The V8 Cayenne is 340-hp to 5000 pounds (14.7 pounds/horsepower) so you can see, it’s a pretty high performance vehicle, but a far cry from a Porsche 928 with the same power but weighing in at 3600 pounds (a little over 10 pounds/horsepower).

The XC90 2.5T AWD is 208-hp at 4400 pounds (21 pounds/horsepower).
The XC90 T6 AWD is 268-hp at 4600 pounds (17 pounds/horsepower)
The XC90 2.5T AWD, ACU-modified is 245-hp at 4400 pounds ( 18 pounds/horsepower), and it also has the benefit of the 5-speed transmission.

This makes a case for modifying the 2.5 Turbo motor, which I am seriously considering. I understand the turbo pressure is boosted from 8 to 14 psi in order to do this (max). I also understand you don’t get that boost unless you “put your foot in it”, such as a passing move, or perhaps an emergency acceleration out of danger. Therefore it seems feasible to have this power available on demand, if and when you may need it.

With a ECU-modified XC90 (remember, the T6 can also be modified for something like 310-hp, putting it in the 14.8 pounds/horsepower category, the Volvo remains very competitive with the Cayenne, at anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 lower cost, depending upon whether you are comparing their VW V-6 or Porsche built V8. Their turbo V8 can top $100,000 so it’s obviously out of the evaluation.

I’m a big Porsche fan. I know the Cayenne has put Porsche at the bottom of the JD Power Quality survey this year, and I know Volvo is “above average”. Why would I want to spend $10,000 or $20,000 extra dollars for a small amount of extra speed, and also incur the wrath of poor quality and a dealership known far and wide for being smug and non responsive? My three Porsches have been pulled from dealer service for quite some time now, due to the fact that I use a Porsche factory certified mechanic who is an independent, who is friendly, and who charges fair prices for excellent work.

Today in viewing the Cayenne after I purchased my Volvo XC90 without ever even sitting in a Cayenne, I’m not disappointed. The Cayenne styling is a turn-off, the price is a turn-off, and the appointment and layout of each car is still comparable, within reason.

I know that, for the price of a modified ECU, I can get a more favorable power to weight factor than the V6 Cayenne. I can haul more people and luggage. The XC is lighter in weight, and looks better. I'm sure the quality of the Volvo is going to be better in the long run, and I'm also sure the dealer is going to be much easier to live with than the Porsche dealership. I’m not disappointed in the least with my XC90 purchase.

Sincerely,
M.r. P
--
2004 XC90 2.5T AWD, 1990 944 S2 Cabriolet, 1989 740 GL 16v, 1984 944, 1983 928S 5-speed, 1974 TVR 2500M