2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS SUV

This year sees only the introduction of the GTS model with its set of performance improvements to add to the already impeccable handling and beautifully crafted cabin. That also means that one still has to shell out a lot of additional money for all the features that are offered as standard by many of its competitors. Priced at an MSRP of $108,650 with the standard AWD, the GTS stands against other sporty SUVs like the Audi SQ8, BMW X5M, Maserati Levante GTS, and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S. 

Similar to most other Porsche models, the Cayenne GTS comes with only the necessary features and cabin amenities, with many of the creature comforts available as optional features only. The standard list includes a basic ten-speaker audio system, parking sensors, and rear-view camera, sport front seats, and reclining rear seats with leather and suede upholstery along with cylinder deactivation for the V8 to save some fuel.

Optionally, one can get the $1,290 14-way sport seats with memory or the 18-way adaptive sport seats with memory for $1,710. A couple of interior design packages which include Gloss Black and Carbon Fiber interior trims are available at an additional cost of $570 and $2,720. Many of the popular and necessary cabin features are bundled in three different packages and will set you back by $4,030 for the Premium Package, $6,520 for Premium Plus Package, and $6,250 for the Assistance Package.

Which trim should you buy?

There’s nothing to decide regarding what to buy in terms of trims but the extensive list of optional features and packages needs to be opted for while keeping an eye on the final tab, as the prices tend to hike considerably. 

The sports car-like performance of the Cayenne GTS is offered by the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine under its hood which produces a strong 453 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired up with an eight-speed automatic transmission which powers all four wheels as standard and also features Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus that helps it handle like a dream SUV.

In terms of performance, the most exciting Cayenne, the GTS, does the 0-60 mph sprint in just under 4 seconds while crossing the chequered flag at the end of a quarter-mile drag strip in 12.5 seconds. The top speed is claimed to be 167 mph and yet that’s not all. The Cayenne GTS is practical enough to be able to a maximum of 7,700 lbs which is enough for enthusiasts to easily tow their boats or even a 911 to the beach or a track day event. 

The GTS has immense amounts of power reserves available at any point in the rev range and the moment you step down the gas pedal, you would never even notice that you are well past the speed limits. The Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic transmission is the one that also needs to get the praises as it keeps the Cayenne in right gear every single time when left in automatic while using the steering-mounted paddle shifters provide precise and quick gear shifts in the manual mode.

The BMW X5 M is the hottest SUV from the Bavarian carmaker which is priced very close to the Cayenne and is also quicker than it. The SQ8 on the other hand is the most affordable one here and yet manages to be quicker off the mark. The AMG GLE 63 S is the one that is quickest here and is about half a second quicker than the Porsche. The other SUVs might be able to surpass the Cayenne GTS on a straight line when in corners, the superior handling Porsche will surely be the quicker of the lot. 

How does the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS SUV handle?

There has never been a bad handling Porsche ever made and though the Cayenne is an SUV by body style, the handling is nothing short of a sports sedan. Sure the high stance does bring in a bit of body roll to the picture, but it is very well controlled and is miles ahead when compared to other SUVs in this regard.

The adaptive suspension that is featured as standard in the GTS does the major job of offering agile handling and yet providing a supple ride quality when being used as a family car. The steering system is well-weighted as well as it is easy to steer at slow speeds while weighing up nicely as the speed rises.

2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS Braking Performance

The 2021 Cayenne GTS stops almost as quickly as it gets going and that is clearly evident from the braking distance of 108 feet in the 60-0 mph panic braking test. The large 15.4-inch front and 14.1-inch rear Brembo rotors do a fine job in offering a good amount of feedback through the pedal which is easy to modulate and is easy and progressive in nature. 

The Audi SQ8 is the one that turns out as the sore loser here in spite of its standard Quattro AWD system. It travels the farthest amongst the cars present here while the X5 M stops a couple of feet shorter than the Audi. The GLE 63 S employs larger brakes than the Cayenne GTS and also weighs the most, yet it manages to have the shortest stopping distance that is four feet less than the Porsche. 

The high-performance nature of the GTS means that this Cayenne is thirstier than its lower variants. That being said, it does decently enough to return around 19 mpg on the highways and 17 mpg combined as per the EPA. The large 23.7-gallon fuel tank ensures that the Cayenne GTS will go for over 400 miles while cruising on the highway which means there aren’t gonna be that many pit stops when on a fun-filled long road trip.

The Audi manages to do well in this regard as it in fact offers superior highway fuel economy ratings than the Porsche. The BMW has the lowest EPA ratings while the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 does slightly better than the Bimmer but has identical city and highway ratings as the Cayenne. All the German SUVs offer a smaller gas tank than the Porsche and hence suffer from a much shorter driving range.

The cabin of the Cayenne is as exquisite as it gets inside any Porsche. The design is appealing to look at and is ergonomic in nature. There is no compromise in the build quality section while the materials used are of top quality. The dashboard houses multiple screens and touch-sensitive panels which of course are very modern and technologically advanced, it may not be the best to use while on the move and also attracts a lot of dust and fingerprints.

The Cayenne can seat five passengers but we think it’s better suited for four adults and one kid at the center in the rear. Though a third adult can fit in at the back without much fuss, the transmission tunnel does compromise a bit of legroom for the middle occupant. The front has enough space for all people of all sizes and visibility in all but the rear is excellent. The rearward visibility is a bit tight but there are parking sensors and cameras offered as standard to take care of that. 

There are a host of customization possibilities available inside the cabin of the Cayenne both in terms of functionality and visual appeal, but everything comes at a price at Porsche. Like the heated front seats will cost you $530 and ventilation sets you back by $850, while the heating steering wheel is another $800. Front seats also get a massage function for $2,000 and the Deviated Stitching Interior Package costs a whopping $5,010. Four-zone climate control is available for $990 along with a wide range of interior inlay options to spec your Cayenne as per your preferences. 

The trunk capacity of Cayenne is pretty usable as well at around 27 cu-ft which can be extended to 60 cu-ft when needed. The X5 offers similar cabin space as that of the Cayenne while both the Audi and Mercedes SUVs feel a bit more spacious and comfortable on the inside. The SQ8 has the largest boot space available in this comparison but folding down the rear seat does not open up a large amount of space and is just on par with the Porsche. Some of the interior features in the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS are:

• 8-Way Power Sport Bucket Front Seats
• 40-20-40 Folding Split-Bench Fold Forward Rear Seat w/Manual Recline & Fore/Aft
• Leather Seat Trim w/Race-Tex Interior Package
• Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column w/Leather/Metal-Look Steering Wheel
• Full Race-Tex Simulated Suede Headliner
• Leather Upholstered Dashboard and Simulated Suede Door Trim Insert
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The standard 12.3-inch Porsche infotainment system is just stunning to look at with its sharp and modern graphics and quick responses. It is a huge update over its older system and while the touch-sensitive buttons feel premium, we would have preferred a few regular buttons and knobs for controlling some of the cabin functions. Navigation system is standard along with a mobile hotspot, HD radio, satellite radio and voice control.

While wireless Apple CarPlay is also offered as standard, there is still no Android Auto available. The standard Hi-Fi audio system does its job well, music enthusiasts would want to upgrade to either the 14-speaker Bose sound system fr $1,200 or the even surreal Burmester 3D surround 21-speaker sound system for a whopping $7,000. A rear-seat entertainment setup will set you back by $1,920 while a wireless phone charger is priced at $690 and a head-up display at $1,720. Some of the infotainment features in the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS are:

• 12.3-inch Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system
• 10-speaker 150W Hi-fi audio system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility
• Porsche Car Connect w/Carfinder, remote vehicle status and remote services
• Porsche Connect Plus Mobile Hotspot Internet Access
• HD radio and SiriusXM satellite radio w/3-month trial
• Connect Plus w/online navigation module
• Real-Time Traffic Display

Though not many might have been a fan of the older designs of the Cayenne when it first came out, Porsche has evolved the Cayenne well over the years to make it an exciting and appealing prospect to look at. The GTS features a special SportDesign body kit along with standard LED lights all around. The GTS also gets quite a few gloss and satin black accents around the car and a clear lens tail light set with quad exhaust tips. 

GTS also offers 21-inch wheels as standard for the sporty appeal and there is a powered tailgate and power spoiler also being offered. Optionally, one gets various other features like soft-close doors at $780, heated windshield for $490, thermally and noise insulated glass for $1,130, and the LED matrix headlights sets you back by $1,200. There are also quite a few optional 21-inch and 22-inch wheels available to match your exterior styling choices. 

The Audi SQ8 is the largest SUV in this comparison of large SUVs and yet manages to keep its weight in check. The Mercedes GLE 63 is the heaviest in spite of being the shortest and there is no doubt that the Cayenne is the lightest of them all. It also has a much lower stance than its peers while the Audi has the highest ground clearance on offer. The long wheelbase of the SQ8 is what opens up so much cabin space. Some of the exterior features in the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS are:

• Automatic Projector Beam LED Low/High Beam, Daytime Running, Auto-Leveling, Directionally Adaptive Headlamps
• Cornering Lights and Perimeter/Approach Lights
• Rear Fog Lamps and LED Brakelights
• Power Liftgate and Power Spoiler
• Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Jets
• Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Power Folding and Turn Signal Indicator
• Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Glass Panoramic Sunroof w/Power Sunshade
• 21-inch RS Spyder Design Satin Black Wheels w/Black Accents

No points for guessing that the 2021 Cayenne has not been crash-tested by either of the safety testing agencies owing to its high value and low sales nature. Porsche follows superior precision German engineering techniques which should keep the anxiety away and although not many of the safety and driver assistance features make their way as standard, almost all the modern-day aids are available to be chosen as options. 

For example, apart from the Assistance Package that bundles all the safety functions together in one package, one can also get adaptive cruise control for an additional $2,000 and even a night vision assist system for another $2,420 along with rear-axle steering. Though safety features like the blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and several other features should have been standard, that’s just how Porsche rolls. Some of the safety features in the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS are:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Driveline Traction Control
• Front Collision Mitigation
• Warn and Brake Assist
• ParkAssist Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Back-Up Camera
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning

2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS SUV vs Audi SQ8 4.0 TFSI Quattro

Both these German SUVs are quite different in nature despite being from the same segment. While the Porsche is sportier in terms of styling and handling, the Audi SQ8 is quicker off the mark, is more comfortable to drive, is equally efficient, and is also a lot more spacious inside. Add to that, it is also much more affordable than the Cayenne GTS, which you will have to shell out additional money to get the features that are already available as standard by Audi.

2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS SUV vs BMW X5 M

The sportiest SUV offering from BMW, the X5 M is quicker off the mark than the GTS and offers a similarly sized cabin that is much more feature-loaded in nature. While the BMW tends to feel stiff for many passengers, it still doesn’t end up handling as well as the Porsche, which on the other hand feels pretty plush at sedate speeds. Since both are priced very similarly, and the Cayenne GTS is a bit more frugal as well with a lot more customization options to offer, it should be the preferred choice.

2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS SUV vs Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4MATIC

The hardcore Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 S is considerably pricier than the Cayenne and for that additional price, it shaves off half a second in both the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile tests, it has a shorter braking distance, a spacious and feature-loaded cabin, and fuel economy figures on par with the Porsche. While Cayenne GTS is much more entertaining and engaging behind the wheel, the Mercedes is a lot more comfortable and plush. 

There are hardly any SUVs built that will give you a sense of driving a sports sedan from behind its wheel when you are hauling your family with a trunk full of luggage in an SUV. While the low levels of standard amenities and average acceleration performance in the segment might make you question your choice, the fun it offers to drive a large SUV and the premium cabin quality with a vast range of customization on offer, the new Porsche Cayenne GTS will surely steal your heart away.