I am generally not a big fan of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV). The Macan on the other hand, is the first SUV that I really had a lot of fun tossing about.
I will be honest; I am generally not a big fan of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV). The Macan on the other hand, is the first SUV that I really had a lot of fun tossing about. Other SUVs I have driven handle well but are not exceptional, whereas the Macan drives well and suits all the household needs. Honestly, I should have expected this kind of performance from Porsche.
The Macan is the smaller SUV of the Porsche line, with the Cayenne being the larger, and at a quick glance they do look somewhat similar in shape. But in today’s congested roads, the Macan is just about perfect to get in and around and easily park in all lots.
The Macan I was given to test was the base model unit which I really liked as for the first time I could really see what one got for the base $56,100 price tag. This Porsche had all the luxury features that one expects plus a few things Porsche feels is necessary for their cars.
As this is an SUV, it has four doors and a hatch at the rear. The seating is for five but four is just that much more comfortable on a longer journey. The front seats are heated buckets with eight-way power assist which I found easy enough to get comfortable in, and I am picky about comfort. There was plenty of fore and aft movement for taller drivers in the front. In the rear the seats are comfortable and fold in a 40/20/40 configuration, making it possible to carry larger items with people in the rear. Seat coverings are vinyl and Alcantara centres which is a high-quality suede-like material.
The controls like all Porsche vehicles were well-placed and easy to get at, and for the most part, easy to learn their functions. The tach is placed front and centre, traditional to all Porsches and other controls are placed along the centre console.
Power for the base Macan is a 2-litre turbo with 248 horsepower giving this SUV a 0 to 100 kph time of 6.7 seconds which isn’t bad for an all-wheel-drive vehicle weighing in at 1859 kg. Putting all that power to the road is a 7-speed automatic that shifted flawlessly as you might expect from a Porsche. For those hills around North Vancouver, the Macan is also equipped with a hill holder feature which is nice when the vehicle behind you is too close. Overall, I found handling better than the average high-end SUV but a firmer ride than most. But one does not buy a Porsche for a luxury ride anyway.
Holding this base Macan on the road are 18 inch allow wheels with 235/60R18 on the front and 235/55R18 on the rear. I found them more than adequate for everyday driving and the odd bit of spirited driving. If you desire to tow, the base Macan will handle up to 2,000 lbs.
One other nice feature if you have people and gear in the Macan are the self-adjusting/levelling headlights. The powerful LED headlights level themselves when the vehicle is loaded, a nice feature.
Personally I could live with the basics when it comes to this Macan. I don’t need all the bells and whistles to enjoy this fine SUV. If it is within your budget, the base Macan is a good place to start. At $56,100 base, the Macan gets you a fine handling SUV that can keep up with many cars worth a lot more. I like to think of the Macan as a practical vehicle that is fun to drive.
Highlights
MSRP: $56,100
Horsepower: 248 @ 5,000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft): 273 @ 1,600 rpm
Gearbox: Seven-speed auto
Layout: All-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 11.6L/100 km city and 9.3L/100 km highway