Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe 2020 Review

It comes as no surprise that the new 2020 Porsche Cayenne GTS doesn’t come cheap at $192,500 plus on-road costs – $35,000 more than its predecessor – and that the first Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe commands a $5300 premium at $197,800 plus ORCs.

But think of the GTS models as the GT3s of the Porsche SUV world – the most dynamic examples of their breed, including the more expensive Turbo variants – and they better justify their position at about $70K more than the base Cayennes and $30K more than the Cayenne S (but at least $50K less than the Turbos).

More importantly, at under $200K both Cayenne GTS models undercut the flagship versions of their direct rivals, including the Audi RS Q8 (from $208,500 plus ORCs), BMW X6 M Competition ($215,900), Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe ($222,700) and Range Rover Sport SVR ($244,450).

That said, despite the return to V8 firepower after the previous GTS downsized to a VW-sourced 3.6-litre turbo V6, the cheapest V8 in the new Cayenne range brings only 14kW/20Nm more than the model it replaces and is closer in performance to the V6 Cayenne S than the top-shelf Turbo with which it now shares its (detuned) 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.

And while its Audi-made V8 delivers a healthy 338kW of power and 620Nm of torque, the GTS Coupe offers only marginally more performance than the cheaper $172K Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 turbo six (320kW/520Nm) and a lot less than the 390kW/750Nm 4.4-litre V8 in the cheaper-still $162K BMW X6 M50i.

Fitted as standard with a reworked eight-speed automatic transmission, Porsche says the GTS Coupe can cover the 0-100km/h dash in a respectable 4.5 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package (a $2300 option for the SUV but standard on the Coupe, which also adds Power Steering Plus) and both have a top speed of 270km/h.

Visually, the Porsche Cayenne GTS SUV and Coupe are differentiated from other models via black accenting, black alloys, tinted LED headlights and tail-lights, and black treatments across the front air intakes, side window trim, tailpipes and badging.

Inside, Alcantara adorns the roof lining, seat centre panels, centre console armrests and doors – but not the steering wheel – and is broken up by dark-brushed aluminium highlights and plenty of GTS logos – on the front doors, sills, head restraints and tacho.

The 2020 Porsche Cayenne GTS brings a big uptick in standard safety and tech equipment, and a range of sports upgrades unique to this variant, but there’s still plenty on the options list.

Both GTS models gain a sport exhaust, 10mm-lower ride height, three-chamber air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) dynamic damper control, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels and bigger brakes with 390mm front and 358mm rear discs and red callipers – six-piston up front.

There are also eight-way adjustable (and heated) front sports seats specific to the GTS, along with logos aplenty – with the GTS motif featuring on the front doors, door entry sills, rev counter and head restraints.

For Australia, the new GTS duo comes standard with a 90-litre fuel tank, 20-inch collapsible spare wheel, panoramic sunroof, privacy glass, automatically dimming mirrors, driver’s position memory package, comfort access, BOSE Surround Sound System, digital radio and metallic paint ($2300 on base Cayenne variants).

On the safety front, there’s a full suite of 10 airbags across both rows of seats, plus ‘warn and brake’ autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane change assist, surround view, head-up display, park assist with reversing camera and Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with ABS, anti-slip regulation (ASR), automatic brake differential (ABD), engine drag torque control (MSR), trailer stability management (TSM) and expanded PSM SPORT mode.

Other standard safety features include Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel drive, post-collision braking, hill holder, electric parking brake, cruise control with speed-limiter, active bonnet and tinted LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Lighting System.

However, buyers must pay extra for lane keep assist ($1220) and adaptive cruise control, and features available overseas including traffic sign recognition and night vision assist are not offered here.

Also on the options list is Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control active roll stabilisation ($6870), the Carmine Red exterior paint pictured here ($5000), Carmine Red interior package ($4550), 22-inch wheels (from $2020), Matrix LED headlights ($2220), illuminated black brushed aluminium door sills ($1750), four-zone climate control ($1720), heated rear seats ($910), ambient lighting ($850) and adaptive sports front seats with 18-way adjustment ($800), which are well worth the money.

Porsche Cars Australia offers a short three-year warranty and the Cayenne’s service intervals are 12 months/15,000km, but there is no capped-price service plan.

What most buyers will care about, however, is the fact the new Porsche Cayenne GTS is once again blessed with a proper German V8 burble thanks to its model-specific sports exhaust, and the instant torque delivery only a big-bore bent eight can deliver.

No, it’s not quite as quick or as powerful as the BMW X5 and X6 M models, or the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 wagon and coupe, which aren’t all that much pricier.

But the Cayenne GTS sounds and feels quicker than its stats suggest, launching off the line and out of corners with similar athleticism to its AMG, M, RS and SVR rivals – and even the $265K Maserati Levante GTS.

Despite a hefty 2175kg kerb weight (30kg more than the wagon), the Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe seems every bit as quick as Porsche’s claim – 0-100km/h in just 4.5sec with launch control, which is standard in the coupe but optional in the wagon, making it three-tenths slower.

And bear in mind that while the range-topping Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid might be quicker (3.8sec), higher-output (500kW/900Nm) and more efficient (3.9 v 12.2L/100km), the GTS is still very quick, about $100K cheaper and can tow 500kg more, at a full 3500kg.

There is no dual-mode exhaust; instead the unique sports exhaust is always ‘on’ and the crackle from the rear-end when you back off the throttle is intoxicating.

But the best thing about the 2020 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe is the way it hunkers down in corners and then grips and launches out of them.

Perhaps even more so than the wagon, which lacks Power Steering Plus, the cornering poise and traction on offer here beggars belief for a two-tonne-plus SUV and also eclipses the Cayenne Turbo, which is 25kg heavier, and the Turbo S E-Hybrid, which weighs a porky 2535kg.

This is no sports car, but the GTS Coupe in particular steers with the kind of agility, accuracy and feedback that’s lacking in its rivals, and even the smaller Macan GTS.

The eight-speed auto is ever-ready and intuitive enough to make the shift paddles redundant, and there’s a big difference in the five drive modes you can select via the rotary dial on the steering wheel.

These not only alter the transmission and accelerator pedal maps, but also the adaptive damping system (which can be adjusted independently via a centre console button), allowing you to alter the ride quality anywhere between comfortable and firm – but never harsh.

Of course, the coupe body style we’re testing here is less practical than the SUV, with more restricted rear vision, tighter headroom in the back and a much smaller cargo area – 600/1510 litres versus 745/1680 for the wagon.

There’s no remote rear seat release function via the boot, although there is the handy ability to drop the ride height to its lowest setting via a button in the cargo space, to make loading (or unloading) easier.

But nobody buys a Porsche for its pragmatism and the Cayenne coupe is still a big, roomy SUV that accommodates four adults in comfort and commands even more road presence thanks to its sleeker design.

If you’re like me and don’t see the point of SUVs that can’t go off-road, it would be easy to label the Porsche Cayenne (and the Coupe in particular) as another pointless exercise in form over function to attract those who are prepared to pay more – and sacrifice practicality – in order to stand out from the crowd.

But think of the Cayenne as a premium sports wagon rather than a luxury sports utility vehicle, and the GTS as the most dynamic member of the family, and it’s clear the GTS Coupe combines both style and substance to become the ultimate expression of the SUV concept.

No, it’s not the cheapest or the best equipped in its class, but the new Cayenne GTS is the sportiest SUV among a whole family of them based on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform – this side of the Lamborghini Urus at least.

There have never been more players at this end of the premium performance SUV market, in which Porsche’s own Macan GTS mid-sizer has long been the most accomplished, fast, dynamic and stylish wagon on stilts you can buy.

Until now.

How much does the 2020 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe cost?
Price: $197,800 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8
Output: 338kW/620Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 12.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 276g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested