2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe Review: Still Better Than You Think

Several performance-enhanced coupe SUVs have popped out of the woodwork lately, with Stuttgart's greatest, the originator of the original high-performance SUV finally coming to the party with the Porsche Cayenne Coupe. It's a case of better late than never, though, as the Cayenne Coupe takes the winning recipe of the standard midsize SUV and adds a dash of flair and added performance. The coupe may be less practical, but its sleek shape and added standard features make it highly attractive. Thanks to the return of the GTS model, you don't have to go for a Turbo model to have a big V8 with plenty of power in a coupe body. The rest of the lineup isn't bad either, with the base model offering a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that produces 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. In the middle is the S variant that uses a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 434 hp and 405 lb-ft. The GTS fills the top spot in the non-Turbo range; it has a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 borrowed from the Turbo model but turned down to 453 hp and 405 lb-ft. All feature an eight-speed automatic transmission, directing power to all four wheels, and unlike the standard SUV, all benefit from the Sport Chrono Package as standard with included launch control functionality. But are any of them worth considering above the competition, which comes from the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe?

What's the Price of the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe?

There's no such thing as a cheap Porsche. The cheapest option here is naturally the base model, and it costs $76,500 before a $1,350 delivery charge. The mid-level Cayenne S will set you back at least $89,000, and the top-spec GTS model costs a whopping $110,500 MSRP. Fully loaded, the price of the Porsche Cayenne coupe can be excess of $177,000, and it could surpass that depending on just how much you want to add on.

2021 Cayenne Coupe Exterior

Dimensions

2021 Cayenne Coupe Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Because there's a Porsche badge on the front of this particular style of performance SUV, the Cayenne Coupe is about more than just its acceleration and top speed figures. It also handles beautifully and will surprise much smaller and lighter vehicles with its tremendous cornering ability. All models feature Porsche's 4D-Chassis Control system, which analyzes everything from pitch and roll to center of gravity. All of this works with the adaptive suspension to ensure that corners are taken with optimal composure. On the GTS, you also get a brake-based electronic differential and active torque vectoring. If you want to maximize ability at lower speeds and stability at higher velocities, rear-axle steering is also available. Whatever your final setup, the ride is remarkably good for something that handles like this, but beware of going too big on the wheels, as there's only so much discomfort that the suspension can shelter you from. In terms of braking, the Cayenne coupe is pretty good and is easy enough to modulate, but it's the optional surface coated brakes that really excel at bringing the hulking SUV to a stop.

2021 Cayenne Coupe Interior

2021 Cayenne Coupe Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe A Good car?

The new Cayenne coupe is naturally less practical than the regular Cayenne, but its style and impressive standard features make it just as attractive, if not more so. In addition, now that there's a GTS variant, the Cayenne coupe is something of a performance bargain, especially considering that this model boasts the Turbo's exquisite twin-turbo V8. However, it does have its faults when compared to competitors. The options list is long and extremely pricey, and if you're buying a Porsche, you want it to be the best at what it can do. The only way to ensure that is to tick numerous boxes, and this can take the sporty SUV into the price territory of much faster, more exclusive metal. Still, as a compromise that covers the bases of practicality and power to a more than acceptable degree, we think the Cayenne Coupe is worth considering.

What Porsche Cayenne Coupe Model Should I Buy?

The most straightforward answer to the above question is almost always to avoid the base configuration, and in this case, we feel that this answer still holds water. It's not a terrible vehicle, but when you buy a Porsche, you want a bit of fire in your drive, and the base Cayenne doesn't really deliver. On the other end of the scale is the GTS, which is a remarkably good vehicle, but it is likely to cost a fortune in gas and is anything but cheap to buy. Instead, we'd opt for the mid-level Cayenne S coupe, and spend some extra cash on upgrades like heated and ventilated seats, quad-zone climate control, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control. With all this, you have a well-rounded vehicle that perfectly blends performance, luxury, and safety.

2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe Comparisons

2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe vs Porsche Cayenne

The regular Cayenne is a tempting proposition - especially for those who don't have much interest in performance but still want the exclusive badge on the hood. It's much more spacious in comparison thanks to a maximum cargo capacity of 60.3 cubic feet, and it will seat five in greater comfort. Additionally, it's considerably cheaper at a base price of $66,800. Adding to that is that the Cayenne is available with the same engines that boast the same power figures. Naturally, its higher weight figure means it's not as quick, but really, how fast do you need to be in an SUV? However, if you value standard features, it's worth remembering that the coupe gets more of them, one of which is the Sport Chrono Package. Ultimately, the coupe is precisely what it's supposed to be: the sportier alternative to the practical Cayenne.

2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe vs Porsche Macan

Like the Cayenne variants, the Macan is also available in base, S, and GTS flavors in the USA. However, the base model here has a 2.0-liter turbo-four with just 248 hp, while the top GTS trim features the Cayenne S coupe's 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with slightly lower outputs of 375 hp. As you'd expect, the Macan is a lot less spacious for rear-seat occupants and only offers a maximum of 52.9 cubic feet of trunk space. Still, if you're not expecting the regular company of six-footers in the back seat, the overall cargo capacity is only marginally down from that of the Cayenne Coupe. Also worth considering is price. For the same money as a fully loaded Cayenne coupe, you could buy three Macans. As a city runaround, we'd recommend the Macan, but as a sporty SUV that offers as much luxury as possible, the Cayenne is still the way to go.