Jim Sharifi: Performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne earn high marks for power and handling, but the Cayenne also excels when the going gets tough, thanks to an active all-wheel drive system that can handle less than ideal road conditions.

Depending on your needs, there are four different trim levels of the Cayenne that offer different engine options. The base model has a 300 horsepower 3.

6 liter V-6. Our test car, which is a Cayenne S, the next step up, has a 400 horsepower V-8 that's 4.

8 liters.

There is also the Cayenne Hybrid, which is a 380 horsepower supercharged 3 liter V-6 engine, and then, last but not least, the top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo, which has 500 horsepower coming from a twin turbocharged 4.

8 liter V-8.

Performance minded SUVs usually cost a premium, both at the dealership and the pump and the Porsche Cayenne is no exception. The EPA estimates that the base Cayenne gets 15 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway. In the Cayenne S improved power does not mean decreased fuel economy. It's V-8 and 8 speed tiptronic transmission that's 6 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway.

Fuel economy numbers are surprisingly similar on the top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo, while the S Hybrid offers the best fuel economy across the model line with 21 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway.

So if you've got the cash for the upper trim levels, more power won't cost you extra at the pump and while the base Cayenne offers impressive performance for an SUV, reviewers generally prefer the extra power offered in the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo.

If you're shopping for a luxury SUV like the Porsche Cayenne, you are probably expecting the driving experience to be fairly refined and luckily it is. This car is very comfortable on the highway. Not too much noise, a little bit of rumble from the V-8 engine in this Cayenne S, and the base model is nothing to sneeze at either with 300 horsepower that offers plenty of get up and go.

The steering feel is excellent, very communicative and thanks to Porsche's adjustable suspension, you can really firm this thing up or make it super compliant and comfortable.

Handling is not always a strong suit in midsize SUVs, since most feel cumbersome and top-heavy. While the based Cayenne is no sports car, reviewers are impressed with its agility compared to the competition.

So if you are on the hunt for an SUV with impressive handling, the Cayenne should be at the top of your list. Be sure to check out our other videos to learn more about the Porsche Cayenne.