2021 Porsche Cayenne Review: GTS

Porsche turned the automotive world upside down and inside out in the early noughties when it took the wraps of its Cayenne, a — gasp — five-seat, family-focused SUV.

While its arrival shocked die-hard fans of the brand, the new model proved to be an ingenious business decision, sparking immediate interest from a new batch of eager buyers.

Since then, Porsche has doubled down on the smaller Macan, and with nearly two decades of SUV development under its belt, it continues to refine the formula.

The GTS started life as a snarling naturally aspirated V8, but deviated from that path towards the end of the previous model's (second generation) life, dabbling in a more spirited twin-turbo V6 engine.

But things are back on track with the best of those two worlds combined in the shape of the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 now slotted into the GTS’s engine bay.  

So, how well does the third-generation Porsche Cayenne GTS combine practical functionality with dynamic form?    

Porsche Cayenne 2021: GTS
Safety Rating
engine's type	4.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	—L / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$159,600

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

At just over 4.9m long, about 2.0m wide and 1.7m high, the current Cayenne is solid without going into oversized seven-seat SUV territory.

The GTS is also offered as a five-door coupe, but the more traditional station wagon version tested here still manages to pick up the performance personality.

Porsche's "SportDesign" treatment was applied extensively, from a body-coloured front bumper (with an attached spoiler) to rigid (satin black) wheel arch moldings, as well as specific side skirts and rear bumper.

The GTS has strong (satin black) wheel arch moldings.

The 21-inch "RS Spyder Design" wheels are also painted in satin black, the wide hood has a raised "Power Dome" section in the center, and the side window trims and dual-pipe tailpipes look shiny. black. But it's not just cosmetic. 

Large air intakes on both sides of the main grille feature active flaps to balance adequate cooling and aerodynamic efficiency. When closed, the flaps reduce air resistance, opening as the demand for cooling increases.

Large air intakes on both sides of the main grille feature active flaps to balance adequate cooling and aerodynamic efficiency.

Air curtains also allow air to escape from the front wheel arches, speeding it up and helping it "stick" to the car to reduce turbulence, the underbody is almost completely closed to reduce drag, and the tailgate has an integrated roof spoiler to improve stability. . 

Inside, the GTS continues the dynamic theme with leather and Alcantara trim (complete with "rejected" contrast stitching) covering the seats. 

The tailgate incorporates an integrated roof spoiler to help with stability.

Porsche's signature five-dial instrument cluster under the arch's low binnacle is presented with a high-tech twist in the form of two 7.0-inch customizable TFT displays flanking the central tachometer. They can switch from conventional sensors to navigation maps, vehicle function readouts, and more.

The central 12.3-inch multimedia screen is seamlessly integrated into the instrument panel and sits above a wide, tapering center console. The glossy black finish, accentuated by brushed metal accents, conveys a sense of quality and solemnity. 

The central 12.3-inch multimedia screen is seamlessly integrated into the dashboard.

When it comes to exterior colours, there’s a choice of seven metallic shades — ‘Jet Black’, ‘Moonlight Blue’ (our test car’s colour), ‘Biskay Blue’, ‘Carrara White’, ‘Quarzite Grey’, ‘Mahogany’, and ‘Dolomite Silver.’ Non-metallic black or whire are no-cost options.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

Yes, this is a Porsche with all the performance potential and engineering integrity that the name carries. But if that's all you need, you're reading one of our 911 or 718 reviews.

You're here to get a decent chunk of everyday practicality to satisfy your B-road blast ambitions. And the Cayenne GTS has been designed with family functionality in mind. 

There is plenty of room for the driver and front passenger.

For starters, the car's large footprint, including a healthy 2895mm wheelbase, means there's plenty of room for the driver and front passenger, and this wagon version has plenty of head, shoulder, and leg room for those in the back.

However, Porsche describes the rear seats as a "2+1" configuration, acknowledging that the center position isn't an ideal proposition for adults and longer drives.

Porsche describes the rear seating as a ‘2+1’ configuration.Storage options include a decent glove box, a lidded compartment between the front seats (which also doubles as an armrest), a small storage bin in the front console, extra space under the driver and front passenger seats, door pockets with space for bottles front and rear. at the rear, as well as map pockets on the backs of the front seats.

The cupholder count runs to two in the front, and two in the rear, with connectivity/power options including two USB-C charging/connectivity ports in the front storage compartment, another two (power-only outlets) in the rear, and three 12V power sockets (two in the front and one in the boot). There’s also a 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) phone module and Wi-Fi hotspot.

Trunk volume is 745 liters VDA (up to the top of the rear seats), and you can play with the space thanks to the manual adjustment of the backrest tilt and back and forth in the rear seat.

The passenger-side mesh section in the cargo area is handy for keeping small items under control, while tie-downs help keep larger items secure.

Drop the 40/20/40 folding rear seat and the capacity rises to 1680 liters (measured from the front seats to the roof). The utility is further enhanced with an automatic tailgate and the ability to lower the rear by 100mm (at the push of a button on the trunk). This is enough to make loading large and heavy items a little easier.  

A collapsible spare tire saves space, and those who want to hitch a van, boat or float will be happy to know that the Cayenne GTS can tow a 3.5 ton braked trailer (750 kg without brakes).

The spare wheel is a foldable space saver.

But be aware that while "Trailer Stability Control" and "Prepare for Towbar Systems" are standard, the actual equipment is not.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

The GTS sits in the middle of Porsche's six-model Australian Cayenne lineup, with an entry fee of $192,500 before tolls.

That puts it in the same price (and performance) ballpark as the BMW X5 M Competition ($209,900), Maserati Levante S GranSport ($182,490), Range Rover Sport HSE Dynamic ($177,694), and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S ($230,400).

Quite a competitive set, apart from the powertrain and standard safety tech detailed later in this review, the Cayenne GTS boasts an impressive list of standard equipment, including leather trim (with Alcantara in the center of the seats), as well as heating and an eight-speed safety system. By the way, sports front seats are electrically adjustable (with memory on the driver's side). Alcantara also extends to the front and rear (door) armrests, front center console, roof lining, pillars and sun visors.

"Comfort" front seats (14-way power with memory) are a free option, which is nice, but I think front seat cooling should be standard when it's actually a $2120 option.

Also included is a leather-wrapped multifunction sports steering wheel (with paddle shifters), power-folding heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic roof, a high-definition dual system, customizable instrument displays. , keyless entry and start, head-up display and cruise control.

The 12.3-inch central multimedia screen provides access to the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system including nav, mobile phone connection (with voice control), the 14-speaker/710-watt Bose ‘Surround Sound System’ (including digital radio), Apple CarPlay, and a range of ‘Porsche Connect’ services.

Also included are tinted LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Lighting (adjusts low beam range based on driving speed), XNUMX-point LED daytime running lights, tinted LED taillights (with XNUMXD PORSCHE lighting graphics). ), plus four-point brake lights.

The GTS is equipped with tinted LED headlights.

Even in this premium end of the market, it's a healthy basket of standard fruit, but it's worth noting the performance-boosting, multi-data readout providing the "Sport Chrono Package" (as installed on our test car) that adds $2300. I think if you've gone this far, it's worth adding a little sizzle.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The Cayenne GTS is powered by an 826-liter V4.0 engine from Porsche (EA8), an all-alloy 90-degree camber engine, direct injection, VarioCam variable valve timing (on the intake side) and a pair of twin scroll engines. turbines for the production of 338 kW from 6000-6500 rpm and 620 Nm from 1800 rpm to 4500 rpm.

The Cayenne GTS is powered by Porsche’s (EA826) 4.0-litre V8 engine.

This engine is also used in several variants of the Panamera, as well as VW Group models from Audi (A8, RS 6, RS 7, RS Q8) and Lamborghini (Urus). In all installations, the twin-scroll turbines are mounted in the "hot V" of the engine for optimal layout and short gas paths (from exhaust to turbines and back to intake side) for fast spin-up. 

Drive is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission (torque converter) and Porsche Traction Management (PTM), an active all-wheel drive system built around an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. .

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

Porsche’s official fuel economy figure for the Cayenne GTS, on the ADR 81/02 — urban, extra-urban cycle, is 12.2L/100km, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 emitting 276 g/km of C02 in the process.

To minimize fuel consumption, at low engine speeds and moderate torque load, Porsche's adaptive cylinder control system interrupts the injection process for one of the cylinder banks, and the V8 temporarily becomes an inline-four engine. 

In a piece of typical Porsche attention to detail, while the car is operating in this mode the cylinder bank is changed every 20 seconds to ensure a uniform flow through the catalytic converters.

Despite this tricky technology, the standard stop/start system, and the ability to coast in certain situations (the engine is physically disconnected to reduce its braking effect), we averaged 16.4 hp in a week of city, suburban, and some freeway driving. /100km (on the pump), which is a disadvantage, but not a significant one, and we saw an average of 12.8L/100km per weekend highway trip.

The recommended fuel is 98 octane premium unleaded gasoline, although 95 octane is acceptable in a pinch. In any case, you'll need 90 liters to fill the tank, which is enough for a run of just under 740 km if using the factory economy figure. and about 550 km, based on our actual number.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

You have to suspend disbelief here, because in a more logical world, the idea of ​​building a 2.1-ton, five-passenger high-riding SUV and then designing it to accelerate and handle like a low-slung, lightweight sports car. there would be no car.

And this seems to be the mystery that the Porsche engineers at Zuffenhausen have been wrestling with for the first half of the Cayenne's (so far) close to 20-year lifespan. How can we deal with this? How do you make it look and feel like a Porsche?

Over the past 10 years, the Cayenne has evolved into a single, dynamic Porsche package. And it's clear that with the third-generation version of the car, these white-coated specialists have fully grasped the concept, because this GTS is a great engine.

This third generation version of the GTS is a great drive.

First, some numbers. The "standard" Cayenne GTS is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, from 0 to 160 km/h in 10.9 seconds, and from 0 to 200 km/h in 17.9 seconds, which is fast enough for such solid animal.

Throw in the optional "Sport Chrono package" (which partially tunes the chassis, engine and transmission) and those numbers drop to 4.5s, 10.6s and 17.6s respectively. Acceleration in gear is also sharp: 80-120 km / h is overcome in just 3.2 seconds. In its natural habitat, it is a left hand autobahn racer capable of a top speed of 270 km/h. 

The 4.0-litre V8 sounds appropriately gruff, with enough gas flow getting past the turbos to fire up the standard sport exhaust system, complete with twin dual-tube tailpipes.

Three decades ago, Porsche partnered with ZF to develop the Tiptronic sequential automatic transmission and have been perfecting its performance ever since. More forgiving than PDK's signature dual-clutch transmission, this eight-speed transmission is controlled by an algorithm that helps adapt to the rider's style.

Engage D and the transmission will shift for maximum economy and smoothness. Get things up to a more enthusiastic pace and it will start upshifting later and downshifting sooner. It's just great, but direct activation using the paddles is always available.

With maximum torque of 620Nm available from just 1800rpm all the way to 4500rpm pulling power is strong, and if you need to light the afterburners for a safe overtake, peak power (338kW/453hp) takes over from 6000-6500rpm.

Porsche has put a lot of effort into keeping the weight under control. Sure, 2145kg isn't quite right for a featherweight GTS, but the bodywork is a hybrid of steel and aluminum with an aluminum hood, tailgate, doors, side panels, roof and front fenders.

And thanks to adaptive air suspension, working in conjunction with multi-link suspension front and rear, the Cayenne is able to smoothly and almost instantly transform from a serene commuter cruiser into a more restrained and responsive machine.

Dialled in for comfort the GTS is quiet and soaks up city and suburban surface imperfections without a single bead or perspiration appearing on its forehead.

The multi-step-adjustable front seats feel as good as they look, and with the push of a few buttons, they turn into a tenacious bear hug. 

Head for your favourite set of corners and ‘Porsche Active Suspension Management’ (PASM) can drop the GTS an extra 10mm, and the precise electro-mechanically assisted steering combines progressive turn-in with good road feel.

And on top of all the tech help, including the "Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus" (to help control understeer), the mechanical grip from the monster Z-rated Pirelli P Zero rubber (285/40 fr / 315/35 rr) is huge. .  

Then, when it comes to deceleration, which is especially important given this car's potential and towing capabilities, pro-level braking with large all-round internally vented discs (390mm front / 358mm rear) sandwiched by a six-piston aluminum monobloc. (fixed) calipers at the front and four-piston at the rear. They inspire confidence with a smooth, progressive pedal and strong stopping power.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

The Cayenne was not rated by the ANCAP but received a maximum of five Euro NCAP stars when tested in 2017. And the GTS puts on a solid, if not impressive, safety record.

Active safety tech includes the usual suspects like ABS, ASR and ABD, as well as "Porsche Stability Management" (PSM), "MSR" (engine torque control), lane change assist, blind spot warning, " ParkAssist (front and rear with reversing camera and surround view), tire pressure monitoring and trailer stability control.

Brake Warning and Assistance (in Porsche AEB parlance) is a four-stage camera-based system with pedestrian and cyclist detection. First, the driver receives a visual and audible warning, then a brake boost if the danger increases. If necessary, the driver's braking is increased to full pressure, and if the driver does not react, automatic emergency braking is activated.

But some crash-avoidance features you’d reasonably expect to see in the standard spec of a close to $200K car sit on the options list, or aren’t available at all.

Lane Keep Assist will set you back $1220, Active Lane Keep (including Intersection Assist) will add $1300, and Active Parking Assist (self-parking) will add $1890. And oddly enough, there's no rear-crossing warning, period.  

The scales begin to tip in favor of the GTS when it comes to passive safety, with at least 10 airbags on board (driver and front passenger - front, side and knee, rear side and side curtains covering both rows).

The active hood is designed to minimize pedestrian injury in a collision, and the rear seat has three top anchorage points with ISOFIX anchorages at the two extreme points to securely accommodate child capsules/child seats. 

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

The Cayenne is covered by a 12-year Porsche unlimited mileage warranty with paint over the same period, as well as a XNUMX-year (unlimited km) corrosion warranty. Lagging behind the mainstream but on par with most other premium players (Mercedes-Benz and Genesis are exceptions for five years/unlimited mileage).

The Cayenne is covered by Porsche’s three year/unlimited km warranty.

Porsche Roadside Assist is available 24/7/365 for the duration of the warranty, and after the warranty period is extended by 12 months each time the car is serviced by an authorized Porsche dealer.

The main service interval is 12 months/15,000km. No capped price servicing is available with final costs determined at the dealer level (in line with variable labour rates by state/territory).

Verdict

The Cayenne GTS feels like a proper Porsche, with snippets of 911 regularly filtering into this SUV experience. It’s beautifully engineered, fast, and dynamically outstanding, yet practical and super-comfortable when you need it to be. Despite one or two safety and equipment gaps for a car in this part of the market it’s a great option for people who want to have their family cake and eat it with a sports car spoon.

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