There’s a reason the Porsche Cayenne upholds the performance SUV standard – and it’s perfectly balanced in GTS Coupe guise.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne Coupe is a luxurious efficiency SUV that is available in a variety of trims with a number of engine choices, together with a V6, a plug-in hybrid, and a V8. There is no electrical possibility simply but, however Porsche does provide the brand new Macan EV for many who do not need to go to the fuel station anymore. There’s additionally an upcoming three-row electrical SUV from the model if that takes your fancy. However for many who desire a true efficiency SUV, the Cayenne – whether or not in Coupe or SUV guise – comes with a status for being probably the greatest. This 12 months, the lineup has grown with the addition of the Cayenne GTS in each coupe and SUV kind. This trim sits inside the V8 lineup, providing extra energy than the bottom V8, however higher highway manners and a extra manageable worth than the Turbo GT.

This third-generation of the Cayenne obtained a serious replace for the 2024 mannequin 12 months with new options and a refreshed design together with the addition of Porsche’s twin-turbo 4-liter V8 engine. What it didn’t get on the time was the GTS (or Gran Turismo Sport). These three letters mark fashions within the Porsche lineup that mix excessive efficiency together with superior dealing with, which the Cayenne GTS upholds alongside the Macan and 911 Carrera variants. However higher late than by no means, the Cayenne GTS arrived for 2025 with 493 horsepower, a revised eight-speed computerized, advert some bespoke exterior styling. Porsche invited us to Georgia the place we drove the brand new GTS Coupe on winding nation roads close to its US headquarters in Atlanta.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a automobile in a restricted surroundings underneath sure time constraints. Keep watch over DrivingOnRoad for our complete Check Drive overview which can comply with quickly.

Exterior: GTS Extras

Already a smooth and sporty automobile, the Cayenne GTS will get a bit of one thing additional to distinguish it from the remainder of the lineup. There’s GTS badging on the door and on the again of the automobile. There’s additionally bigger air intakes within the entrance bumper that create a extra aggressive first impression. Tinted headlights and taillights additional add to the sportier design of this trim, together with brilliant pink brake calipers. Our tester had yellow calipers that made for an awesome distinction with the Carmine Crimson paint.

The Sport Design Bundle is normal on the GTS, including a novel entrance fascia, facet skirts, door facet trim, wheel arch extensions, and inlays within the entrance fascia. These are all achieved in a high-gloss black moderately than matching the physique coloration as in earlier years. It provides distinction and makes the GTS extra putting. On the again, the Sport Exhaust System has darkish bronze suggestions and an adaptive rear spoiler, and are set into the usual gloss black diffuser. There are additionally 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels in anthracite grey as standar and a roof spoiler.

The chance to customise the look of your GTS consists of heart mounted exhaust suggestions as part of a number of light-weight packages. These packages may also equip a light-weight roof, carbon fiber rear diffuser, and decreased sound insulation that may see the Cayenne GTS Coupe drop as much as 55 kilos of weight. This speaks to efficiency enhancements, not a lot aesthetics, however even with none modifications, this can be a putting automobile with simply sufficient variations within the design to let these with a eager eye know this Cayenne is particular.

Inside: Delicate Adjustments

Inside, the Cayenne GTS Coupe nonetheless seems like the remainder of the lineup, simply with a number of key upgrades. Probably the most noticeable is the ample use of Race Tex. This microfiber materials consists of recycled elements with a suede-like end that’s eye-catching and tender to the contact. It adorns the headliner, armrests, door panels, GT sport steering wheel, and the seat facilities.

There’s an embroidered GTS brand on the headrests, and – new to the complete Cayenne lineup this 12 months – ambient lighting. It’s a pretty inside that patrons can personalize with distinctive GTS inside packages in Carmine Crimson or Slate Gray Neo – albeit at practically $3,000. The vary of choices right here is in depth, proper right down to selecting from an assortment of seat belt colours. Porsche allows you to make your Cayenne GTS as mild-mannered or daring as you select, which is a part of the enjoyable of shopping for a Porsche.

Seating: Cosy However Comfy

There’s seating for 5 within the Cayenne GTS Coupe, though the rear seats are greatest suited to solely two adults. Up entrance, there are eight-way energy sport seats with robust bolsters to carry you in place throughout spirited driving. On the twisting roads we took by means of the Georgia countryside, they proved supportive and cozy, putting steadiness.

Those that desire one thing softer and roomier have the choice for 14-way energy consolation seats that ease up on the bolstering. Alternatively, the adaptive sports activities seats ship 18-way energy adjustability whereas sustaining robust bolstering.

Practicality within the GTS Coupe takes a knock compared to the SUV with it is roomier boxy physique. Whereas the SUV provides 27.3 cubic toes behind the rear seats, the Coupe solely holds 20.9 cubes. The seats split-fold 40/20/40 for cargo versatility; stow them utterly and there’s 53 cubic toes for cargo. For those who want extra, you may hitch a trailer and the Cayenne GTS can tow as much as 7,716 kilos when correctly geared up no matter physique fashion.

Infotainment: For The Driver

The Porsche Driver Expertise made its debut on the Cayenne as part of final 12 months’s refresh. Initially seen within the Taycan, it includes a 12.6-inch curved instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system has all the same old suspects, with smartphone connectivity by way of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a collection of apps. It’s simple to make use of with responsive software program and clear graphics.

There’s additionally an accessible 10.9-inch passenger display screen that provides them entry to the infotainment system and choose options. Whereas that’s good, what makes it nice is the flexibility to stream video content material and keep entertained on lengthy drives. It’s not seen to the driving force, so there’s no likelihood of them being distracted by regardless of the passenger chooses to look at.

Powertrain: The Enjoyable Of A V8

Porsche added a V8 to the Cayenne lineup throughout final 12 months’s refresh. It is paired to an eight-speed computerized transmission, however with various quantities of energy relying on the trim. Additionally doing responsibility within the Cayenne S Coupe, this twin-turbo 4-liter V8 delivers 468 horsepower with 442 lb-ft of torque decrease down on the rung. From there, it is a big efficiency leap for the Cayenne Turbo GT with 650 horsepower and 626 lb-ft of torque – and a moderately massive distinction in worth: the ‘base’ V8 within the Cayenne S Coupe could be had for $108,000 whereas the Turbo GT asks for $203,800. Fortunately, there’s the GTS.

The GTS Coupe sits in the midst of these two because the ‘just-right’ V8 model – each when it comes to worth and energy. The GTS Coupe begins at $129,500 ($4,600 greater than the GTS SUV) and it comes with 493 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque. It posts a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds with the Sport Chrono Bundle, and might keep it up to a high pace of 171 mph. That provides it a bit extra oomph than the Cayenne S (two-tenths of a second, to be particular), however far lower than the Turbo GT, which might do the dash in 3.1 seconds. It’d sound like a compromise, however that is not a foul factor – the GTS is about steadiness.

Drive Impressions: Stability, Stability, and Extra Stability

You may take the GTS to the monitor, however it’s simply as at house doing a household highway journey or getting used on the day by day for the commute to work. That’s not the case with each efficiency automotive, as what makes a automotive nice on the monitor makes it harsh and unforgiving out on the highway – the GTS allows you to do each and it does so extremely effectively. On this case, ‘balanced’ is a praise.

That is partly as a result of its blissful medium in energy, but additionally the efficiency elements which might be an ordinary function of the GTS. It has its personal distinctive air suspension system together with the Porsche Lively Suspension Administration (PASM) that work collectively to maintain the journey easy and managed. The system additionally lowers the journey peak by 10mm (0.3 inches), which doesn’t sound like quite a bit, however provides to the general journey feeling.

The whole lot within the GTS is tuned to supply glorious driving dynamics with out turning into harsh for passengers or demanding on the driving force. The listing of stuff you don’t see, however really feel, is lengthy and technical, with two-valve damper expertise, two-chamber air suspension, accessible energetic roll stabilization Porsche Dynamic Chassis Management (PDCC), and elevated unfavorable camber due to pivot bearings within the entrance axle borrowed from the Turbo GT.

The Cayenne GTS is a meticulously engineered efficiency automobile, and it was obvious in each flip we took within the coupe we drove in Georgia. Steering was exact and responsive, making the banked activates our twisty little route simple to handle. A selection of drive modes regulate steering, suspension, and throttle response to make it extra sports activities automotive or extra freeway cruiser, relying on what you need out of the drive. It additionally adjusts the engine observe, which is one thing you’re going to love if you’d like that V8 sound, however the truth that it’s artificially enhanced moderately than real may rankle purists. That is a small unfavorable, nevertheless, in what’s in any other case a superb automobile.

Conclusion: A Correct Porsche

The Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe provides the proper steadiness of efficiency and luxury for an uncompromising luxurious expertise. There is a motive why Porsche maintains the status it does, creating benchmarks within the automotive trade – even in an SUV. Deliveries of this new addition to the Cayenne lineup are anticipated this fall, and we won’t wait to spend some high quality time with it sooner or later.