Porsche Cayenne GTS: Quick Test

That the Porsche Cayenne GTS is a Porsche first and SUV second is evident the moment you climb inside and stick the key in the ignition (located outboard of the steering column, as on all Porsches). There's a logic to the layout and a weight to the controls that, while not exactly the same as that of a 911 GT3, leaves little doubt that the Cayenne was developed by engineers used to working on Carreras, Caymans and Boxsters.

When the Cayenne was first announced, remember, Porsche loyalists had fits. To most of them, the maker of the quintessential 911 shouldn't have even been thinking about building an SUV. However, the Cayenne quickly became Porsche's best-selling current model.

In 2007, the Cayenne received what is probably the single most successful facelift in automotive history. While the long list of changes didn't completely transform the popular SUV from Ugly Betty to Scarlet Johanssen, they did give it a much more Porsche-appropriate face.

Positioned above the base Cayenne and the S model, but below the Turbo version, the $74 grand GTS we tested fills the pricing gap in the model lineup perfectly. Also perfect - or nearly so - are the build quality and the materials used in the cabin. With gorgeous Stone Gray Alcantara featured liberally inside this particular GTS, the interior is a place you won't mind spending time in - great for four passengers, though a bit cramped for five.

The GTS is the first Porsche SUV that isn't set-up to go off-road, fit with Michelin Pilot Sport performance tires that aren't even recommended for winter driving. The big 21-inch tires, though, work in concert with Porsche's excellent air suspension system to give this 5000+pound SUV cornering abilities that defy logic.

The Cayenne GTS can flat-out destroy a mountain road. And crazy as it may seem, you can even rotate the big Porsche entering a corner, knowing that the all-wheel-drive system will pull you through once you're back on the power.

The 4.8-liter V8 from the Cayenne S has been reworked to produce 405 hp in the GTS - 20 more than the standard "S" model. Coupled with the 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, it hustles the GTS along pretty quickly, with a seamless surge of power.

The Sport button on the Cayenne GTS does two things: First, it changes the throttle mapping, making it "quicker" or more sensitive. Secondly (and my favorite), it opens baffles in the sport exhaust system that gives the V-8 more bark. Your neighbors may not appreciate it, but it sounds so good, you won't care. Additionally, it contributes to the Cayenne's sportscar feel.

True, the GTS lacks the competition-embarrassing speed of the Cayenne Turbo, but it does offer more of the trademark Porsche handling feel. As the first Cayenne specifically optimized for on-road driving, the GTS feels much less "SUV" and much more "GT."

And of course, this isn't just any old SUV. This is the Porsche of SUVs, and as such it has more sportscar DNA than any other on the planet.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience
Read Part 3: Performance

Porsche Cayenne GTS

Performance
- Acceleration: Not quite Cayenne Turbo, but still impressive by big SUV standards
- Handling: Truly physics defying
- Braking: Porsche's reputation for great braking performance is intact

Design
- Exterior: Possibly the single most successful facelift in automotive history
- Interior: Family lineage is evident without being repetitive

Utility
- Comfort: Great for four passengers - a bit cramped for five
- Space: Not quite as much as you expect given its perceived footprint

Safety
- Dynamics: More nimble than most cars!
- Technology: The best Porsche has to offer

Value
- Price: Difficult to make a value argument for an SUV that costs nearly $90k
- Mileage: Come on...

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: If you must have an SUV, this one is hard to resist... but then there's the Turbo
- Fun to spank: Sliding around over two and a half tons isn't really fun, but it's nice to know you can

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / All-wheel drive
Engine: 4.8 liter, V8
Power (SAE): 405 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 369 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4930 lbs.
0-60 mph: 6.1 sec.
1/4 mile: n/a
Top Speed: 157 mph
Mileage: 13 city / 18 highway
Base Price: $73,900
Competitors: BMW X6 5.0i, BMW X5 4.8, Range Rover Sport Supercharged