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When Porsche introduced the Cayenne everyone thought they were nuts and had ruined the Porsche brand. Well that obviously did not happen and it has taken them a while to branch out even further than just an SUV and a few sports cars. Porsche is starting to have a full lineup of vehicles and they are also becoming more affordable as a result. First the Cayenne, then the Panamera luxury sedan and now the Macan: a small-to-mid-sized crossover based on the Audi Q5 platform.
Unlike some brands, Porsche didn’t just take the Q5 and slap a Porsche front end on it and a badge and call it a day. Porsche has tweaked the platform considerably, so much so you would be hard pressed to find the similarities between the two, rather than the differences.
Of course the styling is all Porsche inside and out, it looks very much like a shrunken Cayenne from afar but looks sleeker when you compare the two side-by-side. The front is unmistakably Porsche with its signature headlamps, while the rear pulls off their newest wide-butt design that I can’t keep my eyes off.
Under the hood of the S is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 that produces a reasonable amount of power at 340 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. Of course I’d like more power from a Porsche, but that is available in the Turbo model. No manual transmission here, but Porsche offers their very slick seven-speed PDK transmission as standard. To be honest, I’m a convert and in a vehicle like the Macan it is a perfect match.
No snow currently to test out the all-wheel drive but the dry roads give me a chance to find out how sporty this Porsche crossover actually is — I for one suspect this is Porsche’s raised hatchback for the 21st Century, a 928 reincarnation perhaps?
2015 Porsche Macan S
Base Price: $54,300
Options: Air Suspension ($3,140) — Reverse Camera with Park Assist ($1,670) — 19-inch Macan Turbo Wheels ($1,440) — Sport Chrono Package ($1,480)
A/C Tax: $100
Freight/PDI: $1,115
Price as Tested: $63,245
Competitors:
Audi Q5 / SQ5
BMW X3 / X4
Infiniti QX50
Lexus NX
Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
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All Porsche on the inside, the Macan is a nice place to be, even if my tester is simply a “base” model. The seats are the biggest hit for me in the Macan – they are utterly fantastic and the suede inserts keep you planted in the seat while also reducing that harsh cold leather feel in the winter.
The adjustability of the seats is also noteworthy, allowing you to decide if you want to drive the Macan like a hatchback and ride low down in the cockpit, or if you like the high seating position of an SUV.
The biggest downside is the lack of sunroof, something I don’t typically care about to be honest. And of course for a price you can get one, but with all the dark materials and smallish glass area it is pretty dark inside the Macan.
The trunk space is larger than expected and the folding rear seats add even more space. This really is a utilitarian sports vehicle that is capable on many road surfaces as well as running various errands that require form or function.
Value wise the interior amenities are a little suspect in this price range, although the adjustable suspension and chassis modes almost make up for the lack of tech features. The multitude of buttons on the centre console can be a little overwhelming — someone will figure out a great balance between touchscreens and hard buttons soon I hope.
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The SUV/CUV fad is both a good and a bad thing. On the bad side we get a whole bunch of heavy, bloated vehicles that have worse handling and worse fuel economy and the same utility as a small hatchback vehicle. On the good side we get this new Porsche CUV that really is just a small hatchback on larger wheels and lifted up.
Hit the sport-plus button on the console and this CUV really turns into a nimble machine. I cannot say I’ve ever felt the urge to take a CUV onto a racetrack but the Macan is begging me to; I only wish the track was still open. The PDK transmission pulls off quick snappy upshifts and perfect rev-matched downshifts while the suspension absorbs every road imperfection while laughing at you, because really you are nowhere near this vehicle’s adhesion limits, even on winter tires.
No pulling punches, the Macan handles like a small car, Porsche does it again, as they did with the Panamera, a very large sedan that feels like a sports car behind the wheel. The steering is taut and provides the feedback you need and the suspension cashes the cheque in all three modes (comfort, sport and sport-plus) while never being too harsh or floaty.
Unfortunately with the cold pavement I haven’t really had a chance to pull out the anchor and toss it overboard, but it is obvious from just mild braking that the Macan’s brakes will stop you in a hurry if need be. But with that cold pavement is the opportunity to test the all-wheel-drive system which is rear-drive biased. You can really feel the system work as you pull out of a corner quickly, you feel the front claw you out of that corner as you get hard on the gas, never feeling understeery or vague.
The only thing that lets down the Macan is the exhaust and perhaps the power just a little bit. I want more. Of course more is available with the Macan Turbo so if you have they money and inclination go for it, but the 340 hp just never feels fast unfortunately. It could be the build quality and dead quietness of the cabin that is at fault more than the engine, though.
The Macan S is quick and I constantly find myself travelling 130 km/h instead of 110 km/h by mistake (this could also be a factor of a speedo that shows only 50 km/h increments), but the Macan is so dead quiet (a great cruising trait) it can feel subdued and numb at times when I want it to shine.
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Driving the Macan is an experience even if it is just a CUV and not a sports car. Porsche manages to add that little bit of finesse and a touch of something special that just makes driving their cars surreal. It truly is something you have to experience to understand.
The biggest disappointment for me was the fuel economy. Sure fuel is less expensive today than it was a month ago but it will rise again. For a small crossover with a small 3.0-litre V6 I was surprised that the best I could average was 12.0 L/100 km, and that was mostly highway driving.
And of course this vehicle is to be fueled with 93 octane fuel, which makes it even more expensive to operate and at times difficult to find a station that carries the expensive juice.
The Macan still has its flaws. For one it certainly is pricey for what you get and value is not really present here. If you seek value I’ll have to suggest you look elsewhere. But no doubt Porsche will sell a ton of these vehicles on the badge alone and to those that wish to experience that je ne sais quoi.
