Simply over a 12 months in the past, I bought my 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo with 134,000 miles on the clock. The remorse of that call began setting in virtually instantly, as ordinary. However when Porsche lately provided me a mortgage of the brand-new 2025 Cayenne GTS Coupe, my stoke ranges began to rise almost as shortly.
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 normal. 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 bunch 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 may not be Porsche’s most over-the-top Cayenne, however slightly occupies a cheerful center floor. That’s, if an SUV that prices properly 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 Autos.
Spectacular V8 engine with seemingly limitless torque and energy
Suspension and steering completely Porsche-fied
Really easy to drive, each single day
Overly digitalized touchscreen and driver aids
Borders on supercar pricing
Gas financial system predictably struggles
Michael Van Runkle
2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe Evaluation
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Porsche Cayenne Over Time
My 2006 Cayenne Turbo held as much as the years fairly properly, particularly with some delicate off-roading modifications. Consider, the unique Turbo’s 4.5L V8 put out 450 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque means again then. However it additionally proved that an SUV might concurrently drive on-road virtually in addition to a 911 and off-road virtually 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 every day drivability, for city commuters and households alike. Depart the four-wheeling for the pickups, Porsche’s buyer base appeared to say.
Powertrain
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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 possibility 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 identified 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 may look higher on paper, however Porsche’s transmission tuning may properly make up for the distinction.
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Fairly than an eight-speed PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung, or “dual-clutch”) gearbox, the Cayenne sticks with a conventional torque-converter automated. Shorter gear ratios on the decrease finish, plus good and tall gearing for seventh and eighth, permits this field to stay as much as each of the Cayenne’s personalities.
I cherished stomping on the gasoline, letting that V8 wind up, after which ripping by way of decrease gears. However the Cayenne GTS will even do 100 miles an hour at simply 2,250 rpm in eighth. Theoretically, in fact, since I definitely didn’t take a look at that determine whereas driving all the way down to San Diego and again, with my highway bike loaded up within the trunk.
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Stealth Model, ‘Bubbly’ Sound
In whole, I put properly 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 “Normal” drive mode absorbs velocity bumps and climbs up steep driveways, no downside.
I dialed in “Sport” loads of occasions, too, to surgically dissect site 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.
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Driving my mom and girlfriend to dinner one night time, they laughed that the Cayenne GTS sounded “bubbly” greater than as soon as. Two house owners of Toyota commuter automobiles may 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, for my part.
Discovering Traction
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That properly 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 house.
I additionally fiddled with PSM (Porsche Stability Administration), however the circumstances began to get somewhat sketchy. So, I stored 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-Road” mode, which clearly modified issues up. To not point out that, given the Coupe’s decrease roofline, the Cayenne undoubtedly seems to be finest with the air suspension all the best way pumped up. Just some inches of snow on filth trails supplied a bit of soppy cushion, however the adaptive sway bars and dampers additionally carried out surprisingly properly, given the huge 22-inch wheels.
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A set of Pirelli Scorpion all-season tires additionally held up fairly admirably, whilst temps dropped beneath 30 levels. I by no means felt an excessive amount of slip and slide — until I wished to — and the boldness of the Cayenne’s full-time all-wheel drive simply left me completely shocked. The entire chassis simply clamps to the bottom and is so well-built and glued collectively.
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Cayenne GTS Flaws
After all, as a lot as a Cayenne GTS Coupe may stay as much as Porsche’s fame, no automobile is ideal. Most significantly, the auto stop-start operate activated far too usually, properly earlier than I got here to a cease. This brought about 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 ultimately realized to dip into the menu screens to show off stop-start each time I energy cycled the automobile.
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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 brilliant touchscreen. This took a protracted adjustment interval, much more than the brand new push-button begin to the left of the steering wheel.
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I additionally discovered myself baffled that the Cayenne let me regulate the automobile’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 commonly, presumably because 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 features.
2025 Cayenne GTS Pricing
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For many who suppose a Cayenne GTS Coupe full of a lot tech sounds too superior for its personal good, that’s not totally inaccurate. And all of the digitalization little doubt 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 stick to a full-size to get a bit extra storage capability, since it is a huge SUV, in any case.
Plus, the PCCBs price round $10,000 and brake virtually too properly. Then there’s the nightmarish considered getting a bit of gravel caught between a rotor and a caliper.
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And do I really want the Light-weight Sport Bundle (together with the carbon-fiber roof) to avoid wasting 55 kilos? In all probability not definitely worth the cash for a 1% weight loss plan.
Rear-axle steering additionally helps with that measurement, particularly in parking heaps. 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 for the reason that suspension tuning on the S can be spectacular.
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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 might drop down that far (in a hypothetical world the place I don’t personal three Nineteen Nineties Mitsubishis, anyway).
The revived V8 appears finest, 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 automobile in Porsche’s historical past.
2025 Cayenne GTS Coupe Evaluation: Conclusions
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The Cayenne GTS Coupe boasts the right 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 good, Porsche acquired about as shut as potential within the GTS. Such a sensational mixture of energy, dealing with, and high quality proves why Porsche nonetheless reigns supreme amongst automotive fanatics.
For my life-style — which incorporates hauling cumbersome outside gear and automobile components — a non-Coupe makes extra sense, no doubt. And, should you plan to do even any delicate off-roading, like forest roads to campsites, a extra normal number of choices will in all probability look extra engaging. However for anybody who merely loves driving SUVs, the 2025 Cayenne GTS Coupe may simply be the true one-car resolution.
