---
title: '2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Review: The Sweet Spot SUV'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=9VlVV5jsxfk'
video_id: '9VlVV5jsxfk'
date: 2026-07-26
duration_sec: 727
---

# 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Review: The Sweet Spot SUV

> Source: [2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Review: The Sweet Spot SUV](https://youtube.com/watch?v=9VlVV5jsxfk)

## Summary

A review of the 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe after living with it for a week. The hosts discuss its performance, handling, interior, and value proposition, comparing it to rivals like the BMW X6M and Panamera, ultimately deeming it a sweet spot in the lineup.

### Key Points

- **Living with the Cayenne GTS** [00:17] — The hosts introduce the review, having spent a week with the vehicle.
- **GTS as the Sweet Spot** [00:31] — The GTS is described as the 'sweet spot' and 'driver's trim' in the Porsche lineup, though one host dislikes the phrase.
- **Why Not a Panamera?** [00:45] — A Panamera GTS is $50,000 more in Canada, making the Cayenne GTS a better value despite lower power.
- **Twin-Turbo V8 Power** [01:11] — The Cayenne GTS has a twin-turbo V8 with 493 horsepower, well above its weight class.
- **Slower Than X6M but More Precise** [01:42] — Compared to the X6M, the Cayenne is slower but offers precision and handling, not top speed.
- **Uncompromised SUV** [02:08] — Unlike most SUVs, the Cayenne is not compromised; Porsche engineered it well.
- **Track Testing** [02:36] — The hosts take the car to a track to push its limits.
- **Lightweight Package** [02:54] — An $8,000 package removes 13-33 kg, adding carbon fiber roof and wheels, but houndstooth seat fabric is the highlight.
- **Houndstooth Seats** [03:22] — One host claims houndstooth is the greatest seat fabric in automotive history, preferring it over Golf GTI plaid.
- **Sound and Speed** [03:50] — The sport exhaust sounds amazing, and the car has the right amount of speed for daily driving.
- **Daily Drivability** [04:04] — The Cayenne is easy to drive daily, with precise steering and a sensible infotainment system.
- **Lateral G Performance** [04:51] — The car achieved 0.9 G lateral acceleration, outperforming a base 911 in playfulness.
- **More Fun Than Base 911** [05:06] — The Cayenne is more playful and feisty than a 992.2 base Carrera, which felt sterile.
- **Hooligan Behavior** [06:04] — The car exhibits pogo due to high center of gravity but is described as a 'hooligan' and fun.
- **Interior Appreciation** [06:33] — The climate system is obvious and satisfying, with nice knurling on switches.
- **Porsche Tax Debate** [07:13] — Base price is $30,000 cheaper than RSQ8 and X6M, but options can add up. The lightweight package transforms the car.
- **Color and Flop** [08:34] — Discussion on paint flop; the red has little flop, unlike Mazda's Soul Red Crystal.
- **Sweet Spot Confirmed** [09:12] — The ride is great, corners like a 911, achieving 1.1 G easily.
- **Criticism: Piano Black and Lack of Originality** [10:13] — Piano black interior and the car's lack of evolving personality are the main drawbacks.
- **Replay Value Analogy** [10:41] — The Cayenne is like 'Knives Out' – no replay value, while the X6M is like 'The Big Short' – more interesting over time.
- **Controls and Final Thoughts** [11:22] — Manual mode requires holding a button, but the sport response button helped in a drag race. One host would drive it every day.

### Conclusion

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe is a well-rounded, daily-drivable performance SUV that offers precise handling and enough power. While it lacks the raw personality of some rivals, it excels as a daily driver and is the sweet spot in Porsche's SUV lineup.

## Transcript

>> And I'm James. >> And this is the Cayenne GTS Coupe. filming this because I lived with it for a week. >> And now I've lived with it for a week. And therefore, a film must be made.
>> The GTS. >> Yes, the GTS. So, where does this land? >> It's the sweet spot. >> Oh, I hate that phrase. All you Porsche That's the sweet spot. That's when the sweet spot. The uh the 911T, that's the
sweet spot of the lineup. >> No, no. The GTS is always the driver's trim. That's what Porsche say. Where whatever you get. And before you say, why not just get a Panamera like you did with the X6M about the RS6 and the Why
not get a Panamera? >> Because a Panamera GTS, at least in >> Because a Panamera GTS, at least in Canada, starts at like $50,000 more than >> right? But then, but isn't the Panamera GTS got more power? A hybrid or
>> No, it's not that. It's that it's just it's faster cuz it's smaller and >> so therefore better. >> It is better, but it's more if you for Okay. So, >> so why not get a Panamera 4? Because for
130 or 40 or something grand, Yeah. you get a twinturbocharged V8 that has 493 horsepower. Yeah. And that's well above its weight because even though this is its weight because even though this is optioned to the same priceish as an X6M
>> Yeah. >> I had this hypothesis that maybe it's still just as quick despite what they say about the numbers. >> It isn't even close. It's quite a lot slower than
>> Yeah. >> And uh they both got off the line really >> It's not about It's not about the top speed, though. Really, this is it's >> Porsche stuff, precision, handling, cornering.
complain and say, "Why not get a Panamera? Why not get a a 5 series wagon Panamera? Why not get a a 5 series wagon instead of an X5?" Because usually bigger SUVs are compromised. But this is one of those rare cases that it's not
>> You can you gota you can trust Porsche. >> You just trust that they're gonna make >> And this is annoyingly good. >> It is. >> But one thing we haven't done yet is really push it. And we're at our track
little >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> zippity zip zig and zag.
>> Monstrous. By the way, this has an $8,000 package. >> a lightweight package. >> What What have they removed and charged >> Hey, it's potentially worth it. All right. It gets you these wheels, carbon
right. It gets you these wheels, carbon fiber roof, race text things. >> Okay. It removes depending on the model 13 to 33 kg which is a huge range. That was what they said on the Cayenne thing. >> None of it matters compared to hounds
>> You like the hounds tooth, eh? >> This is the single greatest seat fabric design in automotive history. >> That is a huge claim. >> If you're out there in a Golf GTI saying plaid's the best, you're welcome to
>> Hounds tooth. I'm sorry. It's just so good. I want this in my Alphas. Super. Yeah. Okay. Here we go. Oh, and it gets you that sport exhaust, popping behind us and sounds amazing. >> It does sound really good.
>> It does sound really good. >> This thing is the right amount of speed. >> This thing is the right amount of speed. [Music] This car is so easy to get on with every day. Like way more than that XXM we were
>> Yeah. This isn't the type of vehicle that you feel like you can just slice >> You know what I mean? Like the front is so precise. It's so Porsche
Like the there's an infotainment that makes sense to me. I can put my little finger. >> I think the interior works. We've >> The thing is I care about that in a in a 911. I don't care about it on this. I
think that that's totally fine. But this is screens on screens on it. Is at least on. >> Yes. Yeah. Exactly. change it to a gauge cluster. And I can see your WA.
turn and we got.9 G's. Th this is a very silly silly vehicle. >> I You couldn't even do that in the >> I You couldn't even do that in the normal 911 that costs more than this.
second. >> Is this a more fun car than a base 911? you mean. Recently, we were at just a 911 was it? >> A 992.2 base Carrera.
>> A 992.2 base Carrera. >> It was a 992.2 base Carrera and I could barely get that thing to slide around. It had so much grip and not enough power experience. >> Yes. Confidence inspiring, but very
sterile. >> Yes. This is actually a more playful >> It's feisty. I couldn't believe it when I picked this up. I I I thought I'd picked up like a turbo or something. I said when I picked this up, it made me
you just don't need more power than that. Yes, I know that an XXM can embarrass you at a traffic light now. Yeah. But it's not an issue.
There's a lot of all-wheel drive stuff going on. >> High center of gravity. So, it pogos a little bit, but like >> I mean, you're terrified. I'm giggling. >> I'm not terrified. I fear nothing.
>> I'm not terrified. I fear nothing. >> Only death. But >> It's a bit of a hooligan actually. >> Yeah. where it's just like ultra ultra precise.
>> This is a very very very good car. It really really really is. Yeah. >> Time to relax. Yeah. >> Yeah. No. Uh it is it's fantastic. I I here and there's far too much piano
the thing. I like the climate system. Like I like how it works. It's obvious are very satisfying. >> They are. They have a nice look and they nice quality. >> And that nurling is up here on the 911
and I like it there as well. As long as there's nurling and hounds tooth and GTS black package design package things going on, we're happy bunnies. But >> but the biggest issue I think is you're paying a Porsche tax on this.
>> But you're not ish. >> Well, but you are ish because we just we just showed it. I don't like when you disagree with me because it presents a wrong and that doesn't make me feel good in my tummy. So,
>> I need you to get away from that. >> Well, because I get lost to it like if >> Yes. >> Do you know what I mean? Like you you're >> take away some of the fancy options on this though. You're getting
this though. You're getting >> you're getting 30 grand off. Yeah, >> you're $30,000 cheaper RSQ8 and an XXL.
>> So where's the Porsche tax then? >> Okay, but the Porsche tax is that you get in there and the room with the guy and you start ticking boxes. >> And he's like he's like, "Sir, the the the you don't understand that
the you don't understand that lightweight package transforms the car." And then you walk away spending as much as the most expensive BMW on sale for a as the most expensive BMW on sale for a midtrim Porsche SUV. Right. But I I I
from the driver's seat. The Cayenne Turbo GT is a force to be recommended. It's phenomenal. >> But I you just don't need more than this unless you want bragging rights. And even then, that sound, this speed, this
>> What was that? What was that last one? >> Hooligery. Yeah, >> this red's quite There's not a lot of flop to the red. You know, know that you don't know what flop means.
>> I do because the guy who designed the Lucid and the Mazda MX5 ND generation me about Soul Red Crystal and how it has a lot of flop. Okay. And this red >> still don't know what it means. >> Floppy floppy flop flop.
>> Yeah. Big floppy donkey dick. So, I would get >> I'd probably go with a funkier color. But yeah, but the but the red does I've honest. Especially >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
>> It feels like a sweet spot to me. It's the sweet spot. It's the sweet spot. >> I guess it's the sweet spot. I hate that so much. >> No, that's the best part about it is that the ride is still great and it and
it corners like a 911. Like here, watch this. This is Watch this. Oh my god. response. You >> get 1.1g just there. >> get 1.1g just there. >> That easy, easy 1.1
here, right? >> Look at this. Perfectly neutral on the high-speed corner coming out to the exit. >> At the end of this, I'm going to Katy Perry kiss the ground.
just transformed. Oh, actually call it spa up there. I stole that from a great tick tocker. >> Only the only crimes really are piano [Music] >> um piano black and the uh the crushing
>> um piano black and the uh the crushing realization. It's just void of >> I don't know originality a Cayenne GTS. And that's the issue that I I think I have with it. Like if you buy an X6M Competition, you're making a statement.
I don't like the statement nor I disagree. What you're saying right now I know. I've seen it. I don't want to see it again. The Big Short over and over again. >> Yeah.
>> You can watch it all day. And you enjoy a different scene every time. bring it back. >> The Cayenne GTS is one is something that doesn't transform and change over time. It's always just doing the Cayenne
thing. So, so on replay, it's replay value in your mind once you've realized >> I have seen and heard your analogy and I accept it. >> It's more like a Knives Out film. You just don't need to see it again cuz you
is. >> I've come on to something here and absolutely brilliant. Um, >> too much. And I don't like that shifted >> Don't like they're doing that on the tyons now and they're all there.
how manual mode is activated. You have to hold it down. You hold it down into manual. >> But it does have it does have the sport response button, which I did press for that X6M drag race. Still didn't make
>> It still it gave it everything it's got for as long as it could. >> Thomas is wrong about the personality bit. >> Would I drive one of these every day? Yeah, I absolutely would. There you go.
Yeah, I absolutely would. There you go. Drive your mom every day.