Porsche has tried to transfer the 911's looks to an off-roader, but it hasn't worked - the sloping front end and rounded rear haunches look hopelessly out of place. We're less convinced by the Cayenne's controversial styling, though. It's a tidy, almost handsome car and will slot easily into the 4x4 market alongside rivals such as the Volvo XC90.
Volkswagen's family features sit more easily on the Touareg. Similar external proportions give away the fact that these two cars are related. The firms forged closer ties with models such as the VW-Porsche 914 of 1969, but the jointly developed off-roaders take their relationship to another level. VW and Porsche have worked together before on the original Beetle, designed by Ferry Porsche. So is there more than a badge to differentiate these cars? And we've got them together in the UK for the first time. Porsche's Cayenne and Volkswagen's Touareg are brothers - built on the same platform with many shared parts. It's not every day that two brand new off-roaders turn up at the same time. It may sell in huge numbers, but it's disappointing to drive and we can't help feeling Porsche has devalued the brand. The Touareg is a fine effort and should worry rivals such as the Mercedes ML and Toyota Land Cruiser. No matter how you look at it, an off-roader fits more neatly into VW's line-up than Porsche's.