ROAD TEST: The Porsche Cayenne GTS coupe is one super-sporty SUV

By Press Association

August 18 2020, 7:00 am

Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe

The GTS sits between regular Cayenne models and the Turbo – so is it a great blend of both?

Though the motoring world is pushing each day for more electrification, Porsche believes there’s still a place for the ultra-sporty SUV. Yes, it makes the Taycan – the electric, face-bending plug-in supercar, as well as a series of hybrids – but the rest of its range is largely made up of big, powerful, expensive vehicles.

And here’s another one – the Cayenne GTS Coupe – a sportier version of the firm’s high-end SUV, designed to slot neatly between the standard car and the full-fat Turbo version.

The GTS moniker has been a long-standing feature in the Porsche line-up. Throughout its range, it brings enhancements designed to make the driving experience even more involving and even more exciting. The Cayenne Coupe GTS is no different, as it gains a revised suspension set-up as well as a powerful V8 engine.

The old Cayenne GTS utilised a V6 engine, but this has been dropped for the latest model in favour of a red-blooded 4.0-litre V8. As a result, both power and torque are up on the predecessor’s figure, with the new GTS now producing a healthy 454bhp and 620Nm, sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 0-60mph sprint takes just four seconds, while flat out it’ll do 168mph.

Of course, an engine of this size and power in a car as weighty as the GTS means it’s not going to be the most efficient of vehicles. Claimed fuel economy is 24.8mpg (which will drop considerably when you drive the GTS as it’s meant to be driven), while CO2 emissions stand at 260g/km.

Jump into the driving seat, which is high and commanding, and initially there’s little to differentiate the GTS from other Cayenne models. Push a bit harder though, and the once-massive GTS seems to shrink around you.

The steering is a real high point – as it is in all Porsche cars – while the engine has an unquenchable thirst for firing you towards the horizon. The adaptive ride is too firm in its hardest setting – far too firm for the UK’s roads – but in its softest mode, it provides enough support without proving overly brittle. This is a big car, mind you, and though it’ll likely feel at home sweeping through European highways, it can feel a touch oversized on the country roads here.

The Cayenne GTS Coupe isn’t for shrinking violets – but it does have a certain appeal in its brashness.

The central-fit exhaust at the back is a divisive styling touch, as it appears to split the rear bumper in half. The Coupe styling itself is a real conversation starter, but those who would rather the GTS was a conventional SUV can have that in the standard Cayenne GTS.

The front of the car is big and imposing, while the sheer bulk of it gives the GTS a fair degree of presence out on the road.

The cabin is beautifully finished, with plenty of tactile materials used throughout. Practicality-wise, it ticks the boxes, too – there’s plenty of legroom in the back (though headroom is slightly compromised compared to the standard Cayenne due to the Coupe’s sloping roof), while 625 litres of seats-up boot space and 1,540 litres of seats-down room means there’s more than enough area for luggage.

As one of Porsche’s most popular models, the Cayenne has got some of the very latest bells and whistles that the firm has to offer. There’s a huge 12.3-inch infotainment screen set into the middle of the dash, and it’s both superbly clear to view and operate. It features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you’ve got a more streamlined way of connecting your phone, too.

There’s also Porsche’s Advanced Cockpit, which brings two seven-inch screens either side of the central rev counter. They’re intuitive and remarkably helpful; you can display the satellite navigation display on the right-hand screen, meaning you can quickly see your upcoming turn without having to look down from the road.

It could be said the world doesn’t really need the Cayenne GTS Coupe. It’s heavy, over the top and relatively thirsty. But the way Porsche executes cars like this makes you pleased they exist, even if it could be said cars like this have their days very much numbered.

But it’s here for now, and whoever wants to choose an SUV that’ll easily outpace most sports cars, while delivering enough room for four people and their luggage, will be rightly pleased with the Cayenne GTS Coupe.