The Porsche Macan is clearly not sports car.
And it's not a practical, family-friendly SUV either, but it very much splits the difference
between those extremes to create a compromise that should appeal to a lot of people.
For now there are two models available: the Macan S and the Macan Turbo.
Despite their names, both actually have turbocharged V6 engines … along with standard all-wheel
drive and Porsche's PDK transmission.
The 3.0-liter S produces 340 hp, which is more than everything in the segment except
the heavier, 354-hp Audi SQ5.
Both go from 0-60 in about 5 seconds.
Needless to say, then, that the 3.6-liter, 400-hp Turbo blows the doors off every other
compact luxury crossover.
It simply does not have an equal, and really, no other SUV comes as close to feeling like
a sports car than the Macan … be it the Turbo or the S. Whether you're bombing along
a back road or just running errands around town, it corners flat, its hefty steering
offers lots of feedback and all its mechanical-feeling controls make you feel connected to the car
and the road.
It has roughly the same length and wheelbase as competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3,
but it's wider and not as tall.
There's also a significant difference in interior space.
The back seat is cramped and its cargo capacity, with the seats up or down, is essentially
tied with the Lexus NX and Range Rover Evoque for class worst.
Its cabin quality is amongst the class best, though, giving up nothing to pricier Porsches.
Construction embodies the term precision, the materials used are excellent, and the
design, right down to the ignition being to the steering wheel's left is pure Porsche.
Now, we could probably do with fewer buttons on the rising center console and a more user-friendly
touchscreen.
It can all be a little overwhelming.
The same could be said of the price.
Until a base model Macan comes along, pricing starts at just under $50,000 and few hundred
more than a base Cayenne.
That's a lot, but it does match the SQ5.
Just beware of the lengthy and hilariously expensive options list … tens of thousands
can be added to the bottom line like that.
Which is really just another way that makes the Macan a true Porsche.
For more information about the Porsche Macan, go to Edmunds.com and specifically its long-term
test page.