2009 Porsche Cayenne GTS Las Vegas NV

September 29, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor

2009 Porsche Cayenne

2009 Porsche Cayenne
DriverSide Overview
There is something strange going on here. Nestled between the two front seats of this massive SUV is a six-speed manual shifter, and sure enough a clutch to go along with it can be found next to the brake pedal. By all accounts, it’s the real deal. Once on the road, the feeling of disorientation continues as the revs of the vocal V-8 engine climb and we fling the car into a turn, discovering it has the poise and control of a super sedan not half its size. Yes, it’s a strange world we live in – one in which outright performance need not be limited to ground-hugging sports cars and Galilean Physics no longer hold true. The Cayenne GTS represents the pinnacle of full-fat, butter-not-margarine engineering. Not as plush as the Cayenne Turbo or Turbo S, it’s a bit like the GT3 of SUVs, the purest, most focused brute on the block – but a big boy nonetheless. Features unique to the GTS include aerodynamic tweaks, a shorter final drive, sports exhaust, massive front cooling ducts and 21-inch rims. So while it certainly has plenty of street presence, unlike most, it backs this up with plenty of raw performance as well.








What's to Like
The Cayenne GTS is a great hulking land monster that offers little in the way of utility and a lot in the way of sport. It’s an absolute blast to drive, and the engine offers up a V-8 soundtrack with a purity of purpose few can match. Porsche quality is renowned the world over and is apparent throughout the GTS, from the tactility of the gearshift to the damping of the adjustable PASM suspension.

What's Not to Like
In the somewhat young world of super-utes, fuel economy is a topic best avoided. And in the Cayenne GTS, it’s best forgotten entirely thanks to a dismal highway figure of just 17 mpg. Anyone who has ever glanced at a Porsche options list knows just how quickly the bottom line can skyrocket into the stratosphere. Case in point: floor mats will set you back $140, Porsche Crest headrests $285.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Sliding into the grippy sports seats of the Cayenne, you immediately realize this is an SUV unlike any other. Click the key over and once the engine grabs, there’s a metallic, raspy thud from the V-8, and at full-throttle this thing makes so much noise one could only logically assume it’s come here with the sole intent of running Alaska’s North Slope dry all on its own. Flat out, it will do 157 mph – quite impressive when you consider it has the aerodynamics of a small pottery shed. And if you’re not driving it flat-out, you’re not doing it right. The ease and ferocity with which this behemoth picks up speed practically goads you into driving on the limit.

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