2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe Evaluation

Simply over a 12 months in the past, I offered my 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo with 134,000 miles on the clock. The remorse of that call began setting in nearly instantly, as regular. However when Porsche just lately supplied me a mortgage of the brand-new 2025 Cayenne GTS Coupe, my stoke ranges began to rise almost as rapidly.

The Cayenne GTS returns for 2025 powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 that lacks the hybrid help of an E-Hybrid mannequin. This follows up on the Cayenne S bringing the V8 again in 2024, however the GTS provides extra energy, lowered suspension, and different performance-enhancing choices as customary. All these super-SUV upgrades nonetheless whole as much as a considerably extra cheap price ticket than a top-spec Turbo GT, although.

Over a whole lot of miles on the freeway, within the metropolis, and up into some snow, I spent 2 weeks studying what almost 2 many years of developments does for the Cayenne SUV. As a result of clearly, we’ve come a good distance since 2006.

In brief: The GTS won’t be Porsche’s most over-the-top Cayenne, however relatively occupies a cheerful center floor. That’s, if an SUV that prices nicely into six figures ever sounds cheap. But with much more go-fast goodies and Porsche’s quintessential dealing with, this Cayenne serves as one other reminder of why Porsche initially set the usual for Sport Utility Automobiles.

2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe Evaluation

Porsche Cayenne Over Time

My 2006 Cayenne Turbo held as much as the years fairly nicely, particularly with some delicate off-roading modifications. Bear in mind, the unique Turbo’s 4.5L V8 put out 450 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque method again then. However it additionally proved that an SUV may concurrently drive on-road nearly in addition to a 911 and off-road nearly in addition to a real 4×4.

Later Cayenne generations leaned extra towards the “Sport” aspect of the SUV acronym. And the “Utility” transitioned from all-terrain confidence to each day drivability, for city commuters and households alike. Depart the four-wheeling for the pickups, Porsche’s buyer base appeared to say.

Powertrain

In that regard, the Cayenne simply retains enhancing. But surprisingly, Porsche dropped the twin-turbo V8 in all however the Turbo GT — one thing of a child Lamborghini Urus. The opposite V8 choice solely got here with a significantly heavy hybrid bundle, too. Till final 12 months, when Porsche much more surprisingly introduced again the V8 within the Cayenne S. Now, the GTS provides 25 extra horsepower, plus performance-focused suspension, brakes, and weight financial savings.

I took the Cayenne GTS figuring that the Volkswagen AG powerplant could be a recognized amount. It’s simply so good in something from an Audi RS 6 Avant to the Urus Performante.

And, within the Cayenne GTS, the exhaust be aware opens up a bit in comparison with the Audi, however nonetheless lacks the raucous nature of the Lambo. The RS 6 Avant’s 621 horsepower would possibly look higher on paper, however Porsche’s transmission tuning would possibly nicely make up for the distinction.

Slightly than an eight-speed PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung, or “dual-clutch”) gearbox, the Cayenne sticks with a standard torque-converter automated. Shorter gear ratios on the decrease finish, plus good and tall gearing for seventh and eighth, permits this field to reside as much as each of the Cayenne’s personalities.

I cherished stomping on the fuel, letting that V8 wind up, after which ripping via decrease gears. However the Cayenne GTS may even do 100 miles an hour at simply 2,250 rpm in eighth. Theoretically, in fact, since I actually didn’t take a look at that determine whereas driving right down to San Diego and again, with my street bike loaded up within the trunk.

Stealth Fashion, ‘Bubbly’ Sound

In whole, I put nicely over 500 miles on this Cayenne GTS Coupe. And every mile flew by with supreme consolation, on the freeway but in addition in West L.A. Regular driving within the Cayenne’s “Regular” drive mode absorbs velocity bumps and climbs up steep driveways, no downside.

I dialed in “Sport” loads of occasions, too, to surgically dissect visitors — the place I did discover a little bit of rear visibility misplaced to the Coupe’s decrease roofline and extra substantial D pillar, although.

This fashionable flat, gloss-finished gray — technically, Arctic Gray — turned only a few heads in Los Angeles. Apart from from Porsche cognoscenti, that’s, who heard the V8 rumble and noticed the yellow Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake rotors and knew one thing was up.

I’d in all probability spec my GTS in a darkish blue with out the houndstooth seat inserts. However I additionally cherished seeing the little hand grips on the middle console, a transparent homage to my first-gen.

Driving my mom and girlfriend to dinner one night time, they laughed that the Cayenne GTS sounded “bubbly” greater than as soon as. Two homeowners of Toyota commuter automobiles would possibly suppose that, however Porsche additionally made the unusual option to amp up the exhaust be aware with audio system on the inside. Even simply idling, the deep thrumble wants no assist, in my view.

Discovering Traction

That nicely of V8 energy loves to interrupt free in Sport Plus mode, too. As soon as I headed up into the mountains to mess around on a moist day, the revised GTS alignment helped the steering really feel correctly at dwelling.

I additionally fiddled with PSM (Porsche Stability Administration), however the circumstances began to get a bit sketchy. So, I saved the traction management interventions within the mid-level Sport mode to let the pc save me from totaling the $160,000 SUV.

Then up into the snow, I switched into full “Off-Street” mode, which clearly modified issues up. To not point out that, given the Coupe’s decrease roofline, the Cayenne positively seems greatest with the air suspension all the way in which pumped up. Only a few inches of snow on filth trails supplied a bit of soppy cushion, however the adaptive sway bars and dampers additionally carried out surprisingly nicely, given the huge 22-inch wheels.

A set of Pirelli Scorpion all-season tires additionally held up fairly admirably, at the same time as temps dropped under 30 levels. I by no means felt an excessive amount of slip and slide — until I needed to — and the boldness of the Cayenne’s full-time all-wheel drive simply left me completely surprised. The entire chassis simply clamps to the bottom and is so well-built and glued collectively.

Cayenne GTS Flaws

In fact, as a lot as a Cayenne GTS Coupe would possibly reside as much as Porsche’s fame, no automobile is ideal. Most significantly, the auto stop-start perform activated far too usually, nicely earlier than I got here to a cease. This triggered some awkward moments whereas attempting to park head-in, when the engine shut down and I misplaced energy steering.

The identical factor occurred whereas switching from drive to reverse, for instance, whereas parallel parking. I finally realized to dip into the menu screens to show off stop-start each time I energy cycled the automobile.

Porsche’s new gearshifter on the vertical sprint proved pretty intuitive, and it selects drive and reverse with a passable clunk. However, it doesn’t illuminate at night time and might mix into the darkish sprint instantly subsequent to the intense touchscreen. This took an extended adjustment interval, much more than the brand new push-button begin to the left of the steering wheel.

I additionally discovered myself baffled that the Cayenne let me modify the car’s air suspension experience peak by way of push-buttons within the trunk, however not drop the again seats to load up my bicycle with out pulling levers on the decrease seat cushions of the second row. And, cruise management stopped working repeatedly, probably as a result of all of the ash (after which snow) within the air in SoCal. Blocking the devices used for adaptive cruise additionally turned off the emergency braking capabilities.

2025 Cayenne GTS Pricing

For individuals who suppose a Cayenne GTS Coupe filled with a lot tech sounds too superior for its personal good, that’s not completely inaccurate. And all of the digitalization little question provides to this Cayenne’s $159,615 price ticket as examined.

A “base” Cayenne GTS Coupe begins at $129,500 in the meantime, or simply about 20% much less. Personally, I’d skip the Coupe and keep on with a full-size to get a bit extra storage capability, since it is a massive SUV, in any case.

Plus, the PCCBs value round $10,000 and brake nearly too nicely. Then there’s the nightmarish considered getting a chunk of gravel caught between a rotor and a caliper.

And do I actually need the Light-weight Sport Package deal (together with the carbon-fiber roof) to save lots of 55 kilos? Most likely not well worth the cash for a 1% weight loss program.

Rear-axle steering additionally helps with that dimension, particularly in parking tons. However, I’d skip it to cut back complexity and save a number of extra bucks.

Then I begin to take into account whether or not the extra 25% versus a traditional Cayenne S issues a lot, too. Particularly because the suspension tuning on the S can be spectacular.

Nonetheless, in addition to the single-turbo Cayenne V6 that debuted final 12 months — at extra like $86,000 — drives, I don’t suppose I may drop down that far (in a hypothetical world the place I don’t personal three Nineteen Nineties Mitsubishis, anyway).

The revived V8 appears greatest, if solely as a result of it helps to cement the Cayenne as the larger, burlier, higher brother to the Macan. And but, even this spectacular Cayenne GTS Coupe serves as one thing of a reminder why the Macan is the bestselling car in Porsche’s historical past.

2025 Cayenne GTS Coupe Evaluation: Conclusions

The Cayenne GTS Coupe boasts the proper quantity of energy in a contemporary SUV, with none hybrid componentry so as to add weight and complexity. It even appears low cost — in comparison with a Turbo GT or Lamborghini Urus, anyway.

Extra significantly, even when nothing is ever excellent, Porsche received about as shut as doable within the GTS. Such a sensational mixture of energy, dealing with, and high quality proves why Porsche nonetheless reigns supreme amongst automotive lovers.

For my life-style — which incorporates hauling cumbersome out of doors gear and automobile elements — a non-Coupe makes extra sense, no doubt. And, for those who plan to do even any delicate off-roading, like forest roads to campsites, a extra customary choice of choices will in all probability look extra enticing. However for anybody who merely loves driving SUVs, the 2025 Cayenne GTS Coupe would possibly simply be the true one-car resolution.