The performance gaps across the Cayenne lineup have never been smaller. Spend some time piloting a well-optioned S, and the last thing you’ll feel is that it’s lacking in speed or handling. And while the range-topping $205,795 Turbo GT will happily tackle a twisty back road like a sports car, it sets itself apart not just with its speed but by engaging its driver with a thrilling experience.
Where does the 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe I’m driving this week fit in? Well, given that it employs the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 as both the S and the Turbo GT, it won’t surprise you to learn that its straight-line performance is astonishing. Yet, like the range-topper, the GTS distinguishes itself by pairing that performance with an engaging driving experience. It creates a sense of occasion that you won’t find in lower trim levels without also wearing a price tag that starts with a two.
From a visual standpoint, one of the most significant advantages the Porsche Cayenne GTS has over the Turbo GT is that it’s available in both a standard SUV form and, like my tester, as a Coupe. Like previous iterations of this driver-focused trim, the GTS sports a unique front bumper adorned with larger air intakes. You’ll find black badges throughout its exterior, a standard set of 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, gloss black trim, and a Sport Exhaust System painted in a dark bronze finish.
If looking at the photos above gives you the impression that my tester looks a bit Turbo GT-lite, you’re not alone. Its optional exhaust with twin central exits helps it play the part, as do its $9,070 carbon-ceramic brakes and its yellow calipers. Its upgraded 22-in GT Design wheels are the same as you’ll find on the Turbo GT. At the same time, its $10,770 Premium Package Plus and Lightweight Sport Package add exterior extras such as a carbon fiber roof.
Yet despite this SUV’s many optional extras, it simultaneously makes a strong case for why ordering one in such a muted color combination, such as this tester’s $2,840 Arctic Grey, isn’t a great idea. What you end up with is a large family hauler that’s trying to come across as both sporty and toned-down. If you’re already buying a Cayenne with a snarling V8 and an active rear spoiler, why not go all in and let it shine with a brighter shade?
Inside, the GTS’ updates are more subtle. Its cabin features more surfaces finished in Race Tex, such as the GT Sport steering wheel, door cards, armrests, and roof liner. While its standard eight-way adjustable Sport seats feature the material, this tester opts for a more classic houndstooth pattern for its optional heated 18-way adjustable seats.
Peek under the GTS’ hood, and you’ll find the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that’s become ubiquitous not just within the Porsche brand but across sister companies like Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley. This iteration produces 493 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque, representing a 40 hp and 30 lb-ft increase over its successor. Still, that’s less than you get from a BMW X5 M Competition or an Audi RS Q8, two competitors that cost about the same as this well-optioned GTS Coupe, with a $159,615 as-tested price ($131,495 base).
Yet, as I alluded to earlier, the Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe isn’t lacking when it comes to straight-line performance. By pairing its responsive V8 with a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, an all-wheel drive system, and traction control software borrowed from the Turbo GT, it’s rapid. Like practically all performance SUVs unveiled in the last decade, it kicks off with a strong wave of low-end torque that allows it to hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds.
However, if you judge the GTS solely by its acceleration, you’ll miss the point. Recall the Cayenne S Coupe I mentioned in the intro? It also employs a nearly identical version of the GTS’ V8, and it’s comparatively swift.
To understand what makes the GTS special, you’ll have to point its nose towards a twisting back road because, like the many 911s, Boxsters, and Caymans that adopt that three-letter-moniker, this Cayenne is defined by its handling.
For this, the Porsche Cayenne GTS employs a trim-specific air suspension setup paired with the marque’s active suspension management and torque vectoring systems as standard. You can further bolster this SUV’s capabilities with the $3,580 Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control system like this tester and the Lightweight Sport Package, which drops the Coupe’s near 5,000-lb curb weight by up to 55 pounds.
By combining its adaptive air suspension system with a two-valve damper setup that allows the GTS to adjust rebound and compression independently, it’s able to firm its ride further in the top Sport+ setting while also being softer in Normal for a plush commuting experience. Up front, it borrows front-axle components from the Turbo GT to increase negative camber.
From the moment you turn onto a winding road, the effects of these targeted improvements are apparent. The Porsche Cayenne GTS is stable at higher speeds while retaining a fairly neutral balance in the bends. While its slightly lower ride height certainly helps, its adaptive suspension does most of the heavy lifting. This full-size SUV manages its weight remarkably well, and thanks to its large carbon-ceramic brakes, it has ample stopping power to keep it under control at the end of a straightaway.
However, what matters more is just how communicative the GTS is despite its weight and stature. Despite employing an electric power steering system, it transmits road feedback well while simultaneously picking up weight as you load up its front tires in a bend. Although its steering is quick, it’s not overly so like you’ll find in most modern M products, finding a nice balance between feeling responsive and natural.
The result is an SUV that you buy not because of its performance statistics or how well it accelerates but because of how well it creates a sense of occasion through its handling. While the Porsche Cayenne GTS doesn’t look vastly different from other trim levels in stock form, its options list allows you to get quite close to the Turbo GT’s aesthetic without having to shell out the $205,795 it costs.
Instead, the $131,495 GTS Coupe ($159,615 as-tested) finds a sweet spot both within the Cayenne range and an industry flooded with fast family haulers by prioritizing driver engagement and augmenting it with speed.
