25-07-2025
Car review: 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT just broke a record at Yas Marina
Once a wartime and agricultural workhorse, the SUV has evolved into many sub-segments, now ranging from rugged off-roaders to city crossovers and high-performance machines. The latest addition to the latter is the 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, which just set an F1 track ablaze with record-breaking performance. While we didn't do time laps ourselves, we got a thrilling taste of what it's like behind the wheel of this supercar in SUV form on the streets of Dubai.
DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The Cayenne, which originally channeled the Porsche 911 archetype, has been refined stylistically over time, gaining a whole new identity. The Turbo GT is based on the Cayenne Coupé, with its sloping rear roofline and aerodynamic teardrop shape, which also helps mask its substantial size (4,932 mm in length /1,995 mm in width). The rear end does look like an afterthought, but the overall design conveys power and poise — one that is ready for speed.
The bodywork is also full of congruous, performance-oriented details that help it visually and dynamically. The square-ish headlights, for instance, feature Porsche's signature 4-point DRLs and HD-Matrix LED technology. Then there are the tiny aero winglets integrated into the large air intakes, plenty of carbon fibre bits, a unique dual-spoiler setup, which adds both style and downforce, and finally, the 911-like twin oval titanium exhausts that help deliver a thrilling soundtrack. The Cayenne Turbo GT also rides on 22-inch alloy wheels with elegant flower-petal-style spokes, which wrap extra-wide tyres (285 mm front / 315 mm rear) that add greatly to its presence and grip.
For nearly a million dirhams, you get a richly crafted interior with geometry-obsessed Germanic aesthetics. It's not an overly flamboyant space, nor is it sterile. With excellent seat and steering wheel adjustability, the ergonomics are expectedly spot-on, but the wheel itself could be chunkier. To the left of the wheel sits the ignition button, while a compact toggle-style gear selector is found to the right. Some may disapprove of the steering wheel's dirt-prone Race-Tex (Alcantara) wrappings, but all will appreciate its easy-access rotary drive mode dial.
All of the vehicle's vitals come through the configurable 12.6-inch curved screen, and infotainment duties are handled via the central 12.3-inch screen. The A/C controls get a separate panel below — but the lettering does get washed out in the sun. There is also a fancy third screen for front passenger use with minimal graphics, from which you can control both the navigation and music.
The sports seats are upholstered in high-quality leather and perforated Alcantara, with blue stitching that gives the cabin character. But do keep in mind that with just two sculpted rear seats divided by hard plastic, this is a strict 4-seater. Thankfully, the coupé roofline doesn't hurt headroom. All in all, Porsche's unmatched craftsmanship is no secret, but finding out that Slovakia is the place of manufacturing certainly was.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
As the name suggests, the Turbo GT is built for speed. With a record-breaking lap time of 2:14.046, it's now the fastest production SUV around Abu Dhabi's iconic Yas Marina F1 circuit. To achieve this, Porsche equipped it with a highly tuned twin-turbo 4.0L V8, shared with exotics like the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga, which produces 659 PS and 850 Nm of torque and delivers it through an eight-speed automatic to an active all-wheel-drive system.
On the move, the GT's throttle response is razor-sharp yet highly controllable, making it remarkably easy to drive daily. Steering feel, good visibility, and air suspension contribute to its everyday usability. Though under that civility lurks a beast. Activate Launch Control and stomp the pedal, and it rockets to 100kmph in just 3.3 seconds, completing the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds, leaving many supercar owners red-faced. It excels in corners too, thanks to race-bred engineering: a multi-link suspension helped by PDCC (48V electromechanical anti-roll bars), PTV Plus that brakes the inside rear wheel for agility, and rear-wheel steering that improves yaw control. Braking is handled by 440mm front/410mm rear cross-drilled discs with 10-piston front and 4-piston rear callipers — which deliver immense stopping power. If you know how to drive, you'll run rings around rivals on a racetrack. While Porsche claims a combined fuel economy of 12.5 l/100 km, we could only manage a thirsty 22 l/100 km.
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
The infotainment system is colourful and user-friendly, though not revolutionary. Bluetooth pairs quickly, and the 710W 14-speaker Bose audio is crisp and powerful, but misses the live-music feel. The 15W wireless charger, found in the front cubby, alongside two USB-C ports, isn't the most accessible though.
The 4-zone climate control gives individual control, while the manual vent direction controls are far preferred over on-screen adjustability. In terms of practicality, the powered tailgate opens to a flat, square boot offering 576 litres, expandable to 1,486 litres with the 40/20/40 split-folding seats down. Safety-wise, it comes with adaptive cruise control, 3D Surround View, self parking, and Lane Keeping Assist. And thanks to ISOFIX points for child seats, it's even capable of carrying your toddler at 200 mph.
VERDICT
The Cayenne has been the benchmark for the upper echelon. It is stylish, sporty, and functional. But the 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is just something else. It delivers next-level performance and is quite literally a record-breaker. If I wanted to go fast, I'd choose a 911, but if I wanted to go fast with friends or family, I'd choose this. Its rear design is far from perfect, and one needs deep pockets to pay the price and quench its thirst. But hey, it's a Porsche — there is no substitute.
EDITOR'S RATING: 8/10 stars
SPECIFICATIONS
0 to 100kmph: 3.3 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 305 kmph (claimed)
KT Luxe
