Porsche Cayenne: great long-term buy

The Porsche Cayenne is a surprisingly sensible buy, argues expert car reviewer Andrew Frankel

Porsche Cayenne Diesel

This model from £47,390

How could a vast, two-tonne Porsche SUV be in any way ‘good for your pocket?’ As ever, it’s all about depreciation or, in this case, an astonishing lack thereof. Because SUVs are wildly fashionable right now, because this one has a Porsche badge on its nose, and because it has a 3-litre Audi diesel engine providing remarkable economy for such a car, the Cayenne Diesel clings to its value like a barnacle to a boat.

You don’t even need to worry too much about Porsche’s undeniably ambitious labour rates: with service intervals of 20,000 miles, you’ll not be visiting much anyway. Just be careful not to be too trigger happy on the options list: stick to the important items, like satellite navigation, that’ll actually make the car easier to sell, and avoid the gimmicks that’ll be worthless the moment you’ve ticked the box.