Story | William Ha Photography | Porsche
It’s a vehicle weighing close to 2,300 kilograms that accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in less than five seconds and boasts a top speed of 270 km/h. It is superior to many sedans and coupes in handling despite its taller ride height, and can comfortably accommodate five people.
We need to take a moment to appreciate this degree of engineering. GTS trims within the Porsche family have always represented the greatest balance of performance, comfort and value, and we’re happy to report that it’s “mission accomplished” yet again.
CLEAN, PREMIUM STYLING
The front end is unmistakably Porsche, with attractive adaptive LED headlights, and the rest of the sheet metal is clean, athletic and polished. Our tester was equipped with optional 22-inch bespoke painted wheels that match the Quartzite Grey exterior for uniqueness and exclusivity.
An attractively designed rear light bar spans the width of the lift gate, and even when unlit, the taillights look special. Other premium exterior touches include four layered black tailpipes, one-piece door handles and a laser-soldered roof that delivers a seamless look where the sides of the roof transition to the doors.
LOOKING INSIDE
The interior is finished nicely with top-notch materials that look and feel premium. Because Porsche offers extensive factory customization options, our test vehicle included bespoke interior touches, like leather-stitched grab handles and steering column, two-tone leather seating, custom floor mats and painted dash trim pieces matching the exterior colour.
The optional 18-way adaptive driver’s seat is well-bolstered and comfortable, but lacks height-adjustable, tilting headrests. Rear passengers are treated to reclining heated/cooled seats, ample legroom and individual climate control zones for each passenger.
No vehicle is perfect, however, and there are a few interior ergonomic foibles. For instance, the cup-holders are not in an ideal spot for those who drink from tall tumblers or shaker cups because these get in the way of where
you would normally rest your arms.
The huge gearshift knob also blocks a series of touch settings that replace physical buttons, forcing you to look down to find what you need to adjust. Physical toggle switches only exist for climate control temperatures and fan speed. Middle console storage space is also lacking, and the interior warning chime sounds unusually sombre and depressing.
Other oft-used switches are in puzzling locations. For instance, the exterior camera broadcast button sits overhead, towards the passenger side rather than on the centre console for easier reach. The heated steering wheel switch is hidden on top of the bottom steering wheel ornament, and the infotainment system isn’t intuitive to use.
On the bright side, visibility is excellent, due to the large windows, and the available panoramic sunroof brightens the interior nicely. There are also cleverly-designed, two-piece sun visors that block glare from the front and side. Large door panel storage pockets make up for the lack of centre console storage space.
HARD-BOILED V8 PERFORMANCE
All interior design misses can be forgiven once you drive this machine, because the highlight of this vehicle, by far, is its ferocious drivetrain. It delivers a thundering 453 horsepower and 457 lb./ft of torque from a 4.0L, twin-turbo V8 engine. The conventional eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and quickly, with paddle shifters included for greater control.
Fuel consumption averaged 16L/100km over an even mix of city and highway driving with the AC on, and the annoying start/stop system disabled. Swells of power come quickly and urgently whenever needed and at any
speed. Combined with its flat handling, excellent steering feel and deep, bellicose V8 exhaust note—especially with sport exhaust mode activated—this vehicle’s fun performance and driving experience hit all of the brain and heart’s pleasure centres.
When the drive mode is set to Sport+, the vehicle’s character becomes even more fiery and feral, demanding that you unleash all the horsepower and torque. The thrills are extended with the availability of a ‘Sport Response’ button, which when activated, provides a 20-second burst of full-on power that comes complete with satisfying exhaust pops and snorts after upshifts and downshifts.
The brakes are easy to modulate, and even during hard driving, they remained strong and firm. The front end doesn’t dive significantly when braking hard, which inspires confidence. However, the brake pads emit a lot of dust that can foul the beautiful wheels quickly, requiring frequent cleaning to maintain appearance.
SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGIES
The Cayenne GTS is equipped with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management(PASM) system that continuously makes damping adjustments at each wheel to enhance comfort. You can personalize the suspension settings, and there are additional options to dial in the ride quality on off-road terrain.
The ride is generally smooth, but the large, low-profile tires give a firmer ride on bumpy roads. The sporty handling is enabled by Porsche’s Dynamic Chassis Control(PDCC) system, which actively helps reduce body roll on both even and uneven roads.
For convenience, you can manually lower the rear suspension using switches in the cargo area for a lower cargo load height when transporting heavy items.
THE SUV FOR SPORTS CAR ENTHUSIASTS
The Cayenne GTS hits at the heart of high-end car enthusiasts with its outstanding performance, comfort, fun and utility. If you can overlook some interior ergonomic misses, the driving experience alone will be worth the cost.
SPECIFICATIONS
Price (GTS): From $122,200 ($157,010 as tested with selected bespoke options)
Engine: 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8
Horsepower (hp) 453 at 6,000 to 6,500 rpm
Torque (lb/ft) 457 at 1,800 to 4,500 rpm
Recommended Fuel: Unleaded Premium
Transmission: 8 Speed Automatic, all-wheel drive (AWD)
Fuel Consumption (L/100km): 15.6, 11.8 and 13.9 (city, highway and city/highway combined)
Max Towing (lbs): 7,700
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 4.9 seconds
Competitors: Audi SQ7, BMW X5 M50i, Jaguar F-Pace P550 SVR, Mercedes-AMG GLE 53
Dimensions
Length: 194.1″
Height: 66″
Width: Not incl. side mirrors: 78.1″
Wheelbase: 114.0″
Fuel Tank Capacity: 90L
Cargo Capacity: 772L (1,708L with rear seats folded)
The Good…
1. Thrilling V8 performance and soul-stirring exhaust notes.
2. Handles like a sports car.
3. Porsche prestige and exclusivity.
Be Careful…
1. Some interior ergonomic design misses.
2. Excessively thirsty for premium fuel.
