Identity crisis?

So why on earth is supercar maker Porsche building an off-roader? We hoped to find the answer when we drove the car in the UK for the first time. Does it look better in the metal? Does it suddenly all gel and make perfect sense?

Well, the styling certainly divides opinion, with some onlookers thinking it's 'wicked' and others simply laughing. One even asked if it was a new large MINI! As with the VW Touareg, though, it's not as big as expected and seems surprisingly compact when compared to the Range Rover.

From the driver's seat, it feels small and car like, too, especially with the air suspension in the 'normal' position. Unlike in most off-roaders, you sit little higher than in a conventional estate, losing that extra visibility over traffic.

Jointly developed by Porsche and VW, it's no surprise that this car is truly astonishing to drive. Its 450bhp engine means the 0-60mph time matches that of a BMW M3 convertible, and the electronics and big, grippy tyres ensure cornering is possible at speeds a sports car would be proud of. A well driven Cayenne would be able to surprise hot hatches and high-performance saloons through the bends, and only supercars will keep up if you floor the throttle.

But unlike Porsche's 911 or Boxster, the Cayenne is heavy and large, and it's only the electronic 'assistants' that keep the car feeling balanced. The driver certainly has little feedback, and although steering and brakes are nicely weighted, it all feels artificial and disconnected.

Even the engine note is flat and uninteresting. While we knew the new 4.5-litre twin-turbo wouldn't have the same character as one of the firm's flat-sixes, we hoped the V8 would at least generate a pleasant growl. It might have made owners feel better about the economy; Porsche claims the Turbo will return 17.8mpg, but we didn't get above 13mpg. This is frightening, especially as the engine demands extra-pricey super-unleaded fuel.

In its defence, the Cayenne does have genuine off-road ability, unlike alternative fast family machines such as Audi's RS6 Avant. Shift the air suspension into 'high', and the 4x4 will apparently clamber over the sort of terrain that would make even a Range Rover wince. We couldn't prove it, though, as our test car's tyres were road rubber, and not made for the rough stuff. With no spare tyre, either, you'd be brave to risk anything more than a gravel drive.

The Cayenne is a clever car, but it still feels too compromised to justify the Porsche badge or its ΂£68,970 price tag. All the ingredients are there, but it's still not quite to our tastes.