Porsche's improved Macan continues to redefine what a mid-sized premium sports SUV should be. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

Porsche's combustion-powered Macan continues to be an SUV with the soul - and the engineering - or a sportscar. You might expect it to be fast and family-friendly. More of a surprise is that it's rewarding and, with the right spec, very nearly race-ready in its responses. Yet it'll comfortably take you off road, deal with the school run and cruise down to Chamonix. It's still very special.

Background

With the Macan, Porsche was always determined to stretch design boundaries and create the ultimate multi-tasker. A car as ready for a circuit as it would be for a skiing trip, classy enough for the streets of Monte Carlo, soundly sensible on the school run, quietly capable on the rough stuff and potentially manic around Monza. The company's certainly well-placed to create such a thing, claiming the whole 'sporting all-wheel drive car' concept as its own invention. Back in 1900, Ferdinand Porsche designed the Lohner-Porsche racing model with its four electric wheelhub motors. By 1947, the brand was going further, developing a supercharged 12 cylinder 'Type 360' Cisitalia Grand Prix racer that introduced the concept of full four-wheel drive. What it all led to was the Cayenne large SUV that turned the company's fortunes around earlier this century. And from that to this Macan, a smaller SUV designed to sell alongside it, first launched back in 2014. This revised version of the combustion model, launched in mid-2018, then updated in mid-2021 to create the car we're going to look at here, looked smarter, ditched diesel and improved its technology. It'll sell alongside the Macan Electric until late in 2025.

Driving Experience

The combustion Macan line-up we consider here is an all-petrol range these days - it's some time now since Porsche offered a diesel in any of its cars. The brand's usual plug-in hybrid tech though, is conspicuous by its absence here. Most buyers opt for the entry-level 2.0-litre turbo model, available in standard or more focused 'Macan T' forms, either way with 265PS: in this form, the car gets to 62mph in 6.2s and reaches 144mph flat out. If that really isn't fast enough for you, then there's a mid-range Macan S and Macan GTS models, which use an Audi-sourced 2.9-litre V6 unit, respectively with either 380 or 440PS. As before, all models come with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox, with a Sport button to sharpen shift times, throttle response and steering. The GTS gets Sports air suspension which lowers the ride height by 10mm. Porsche says that the chassis has been further optimised for this updated model, so that the car should respond more directly and with greater sensitivity. It was already a handling leader in its class. As before, four-wheel drive is standard on all variants, although in normal road conditions, 100% of torque is directed to the rear axle. Should momentary slip be detected, a clutch pack locks, which can then send up to 100 per cent of torque to the front axle. There's also a torque vectoring system, while a torque vectoring rear differential is an option. There is a dedicated off-road mode, which optimises the torque split and gearbox shift points to better optimise grip and torque when it gets really slippery. Standard steel springs with passive dampers are standard on the S models, with adaptive dampers an option.

Design and Build

Following updates to the look of this Macan in 2018, Porsche further refined the styling in 2021. The redesigned nose has an exterior colour inlay, plus LED headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System are now standard, as are 'Sport Design' exterior mirrors. In addition, you also get larger wheels, 19-inchers on the Macan, 20-inches on the Macan T and the Macan S and 21-inches on the Macan GTS. The GTS has a black-finished nose section and a more striking rear diffuser. Inside, there's a smart centre console with haptic touch surfaces instead of buttons, plus there's a short gear lever and an analogue clock at the top of the dashboard. As usual in a Macan, there's a 10.9-inch Porsche Communication Management centre infotainment screen, with voice activation and many standard online functions and services. It also incorporates 4G LTE 'phone compatibility, 'Apple CarPlay' and a 10-speaker DAB audio system. Otherwise, things are much as before. So the Macan continues with its usual classic three instrument-tube binnacle layout, the right hand pod incorporating a screen that can bring navigation mapping more directly into your line of sight. In the rear, three adults could certainly fit for short-to-medium journeys, provided the unfortunate middle seat occupant didn't mind splaying their legs around the extremely high centre transmission tunnel. At the back, the standard automatically-operable rear tailgate rises to reveal a 500-litre cargo bay. If you need to take longer items, you'll be glad that the rear backrest folds in a useful 40:20:40-split, which means you can poke through things like skis without disturbing rear seat passengers. Push the rear bench completely forward and a 1,500-litre capacity is freed up.

Market and Model

There are now three levels to a combustion Macan range that for some time now has been exclusively petrol-powered. Things kick off at a fraction under £55,000 for the standard 2.0-litre model, offering 265PS. The next level up takes you up to around £60,000 and gives you a choice of powerplants, either the same 2.0-litre unit with a more focused handling set-up in the Macan T; or the top 2.9-litre V6 engine in a 380PS state of tune in the Macan S (around £61,500). Finally, if you can stretch to £73,400, you can get yourself the flagship Macan GTS derivative that we tried, a 440PS 2.9-litre V6 variant that's basically a repackaged version of the old top 'Turbo' model. By that point though, you'll find this car seriously overlapping into the kind of pricing that could also buy you the brand's larger Cayenne SUV, which in entry-level 340PS form costs around £63,000 as a standard SUV, or £67,000 in Coupe guise. If it's a Macan you really want, then you'll find that, as is usual in this segment, all variants in the range get auto transmission, a 7-speed PDK set-up with steering wheel paddleshifters.

Cost of Ownership

Porsche has worked hard to keep the running cost efficiency figures of this revised combustion model competitive. Part of this model's price premium over an Audi Q5 can be ascribed to the use of aluminium body panels which pare 40kg from the car's kerb weight. The PDK auto gearbox has been optimised for economy at cruising speeds, with a coasting function that decouples the engine and gearbox when you lift the throttle on the motorway. There's also of course a start/stop mode to help cut fuel consumption in city traffic. As a result, the fuel economy for the entry-level 2.0-litre turbo Macan is up to 28.0mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and up to 228g/km of WLTP-rated CO2. That's not a bad return for an SUV that will get to 62mph in 6.2 seconds. For the V6 Macan S, the respective WLTP figures are up to 25.4mpg and up to 251g/km. For the GTS, it's up to 25.0mpg and up to 255g/km. Insurance groupings start at 45E for the base Macan variant, before topping out at group 50 for the GTS model. Oh and if you want to justify purchase of this car to green-minded friends, it's always useful to know that at the end of its life, it'll be 95% recyclable. Buyers get a three year warranty which might seem a little mean in this day and age, but it does include an unlimited mileage clause.

Summary

'Life, intensified'. According to Porsche, this is what this car is all about. It's certainly intensified the whole concept of what an SUV can be. Cars of this kind - even sporting ones - are almost always born out of compromise. They might look the part, but sheer weight and size have to tell somewhere. Those issues affect a combustion Macan too, but far less significantly than you might ever have imagined was possible with this class of car. If you need five seats, decent luggage space and go-anywhere versatility but secretly still crave that little sportscar or hot hatch you used to love so much, we can't think of anything better to recommend as a day-to-day choice for someone on a premium budget who doesn't yet want an EV. This is, in summary, still the car all its rivals would like to be. The car most buyers in this segment would like to have.

Brakes

Black painted brake calipers

Communication

eCall emergency call system

Driver Aids

Driving modes

Swerve assist and turn assist

Intersection assist

Warn and Brake Assist

Driver awareness detection

Lane change assistant

Bcall

Traffic sign recognition

Driver Convenience

Powered tailgate

Driver Information

Smartphone integration - Apple CarPlay with Siri voice recognition and Android Auto

Driving Mirrors

Exterior mirror lower trims including mirror base in black

Electric folding door mirrors

Auto dimming interior + exterior mirrors

Engine

Porsche E-performace powertrain with a permanent magnet synchronous motors on the rear axle

Performance battery plus with gross capacity of 100 kWh (Net capacity upto 95 kWh)

Entertainment

Smartphone compartment with wireless charging

DAB Digital radio

Exterior Body Features

Black wheel arch cover

Rear side wing doors

Aluminium roof

Exterior Lights

LED third brake light

LED indicator lights

Automatic high beam assist

Four point LED daytime running lights

Dynamic headlight levelling system

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Heat pump

Particle/pollen filter with active carbon filter

Interior Features

Leather door panel and central armrests

230V socket in luggage compartment

Sunvisors

Interior Lights

Ambient and communication lighting

Packs

Storage package - eMacan

Safety

Reversible seatbelt pretensioners

3-point automatic seatbelts for front and outer rear seats with force limiter + manually height adjustable seatbelt + reminder warning

Front side airbags integrated into seat

Full size driver and passenger airbags

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Child locks on rear doors

Front center airbag

Black TPM valve

Acoustic vehicle alerting system

Active bonnet

Seats

3 rear seats

3 adjustable rear headrests

Deletion of model logo embossed on headrests

40:20:40 split folding rear bench seat

4 way adjustable front head restraints

Single front passenger seat

ISOFIX/I-Size child seat mounting points on outer rear seats

Heated front seats

Security

Anti theft wheel bolts

Dashcam prep

Alcohol interlock preparation

Alarm system with ultrasonic interior surveillance

Towing

Towbar preparation

Transmission

Single speed transmission

Rear wheel drive

Vehicle Charging

11 kW on board AC charger

Mode 3 charging cable

Wheels

Tyre sealing compound and electric compressor

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 600

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 46

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 120

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 33

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 150

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): 21

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: 270

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 100

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - City - TEL: 830

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - City - TEH: 695

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEL: 641

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEH: 536

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Low - TEL: 12.6

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Low - TEH: 14.4

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Medium - TEL: 13.5

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Medium - TEH: 15.7

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - High - TEL: 15.5

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - High - TEH: 18.1

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 22.2

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 25.7

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - City - TEL: 13.1

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - City - TEH: 15.2

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 16.2

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 16.2

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 19.8

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - City - TEH: 4.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - City - TEL: 4.7

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 3.8

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 3.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 3.8

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Extra High - TEH: 2.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Extra High - TEL: 2.8

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - High - TEH: 3.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - High - TEL: 4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Low - TEH: 4.3

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Low - TEL: 4.9

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Medium - TEH: 4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Medium - TEL: 4.6

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - City - TEH: 432

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - City - TEL: 516

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEH: 333

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEL: 398

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Left and Right Side Rear

Usable Battery Capacity: 95

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 270

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

CC: 1

Fuel Delivery: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

General

Coin Description: N

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 44E

Service Interval Mileage: 20000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 90

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 90

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 83

NCAP Safety Assist %: 78

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 5

Badge Power: 360

Badge Engine CC: 0.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 2

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 5.7

Top Speed: 137

Engine Power - BHP: 360

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 265

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 415

Engine Torque - NM: 563

Engine Torque - MKG: 57.4

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 235/55 R20

Tyre Size Rear: 285/45 R20

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY

Wheel Style: MACAN

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4784

Width: 1938

Wheelbase: 2893

Width (including mirrors): 2152

Height: 1623

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 2220

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2810

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 2000

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 590

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 540

No. of Seats: 5

Max. Roof Load: 75

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1348

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12.1

Body Glass

Heated windscreen

Rear wiper

Privacy glass

Thermally and noise insulated glass with privacy glass

Thermally and noise insulated glass

Carpets/Rugs

Bespoke floor mats

Personalised floor mats

Personalised reversible loadspace mat

Bespoke reversible loadspace mat

Chassis/Suspension

Adaptive air suspension

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)

Steel spring suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management

Driver Aids

Adaptive cruise control

Power steering plus

Rear axle steering

3D surround view with active parking support

Porsche innodrive including active lane keeping

Driver Convenience

Homelink (programmable garage door opener)

Driver Information

Augmented reality head up display

Compass display on dashboard

Driving Mirrors

Exterior mirrors painted in high gloss black

Exterior mirrors painted in exterior colour

Embellishment Trims

Porsche crest logo on centre console armrest

Model logo on centre console armrest

Compass / Sport chrono dial in white

Compass / Sport chrono dial in bordeaux red

Compass / Sport chrono dial in chalk beige

Compass / Sport chrono dial in arctic blue

Engine

Porsche electric sport sound

Entertainment

Burmester 3D high end surround sound system

BOSE surround sound system with 14 loudspeakers including subwoofer, 14 amplifier channels and total output 710 watts

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Aluminium roof rails

Model designation deletion

Special metallic paint

Sideblades in body colour

Sideblades in Carbon

Additional special metallic paint

Sideblades in High gloss black

High gloss black side window trims

Panoramic roof system - Electric tilt/slide glass sunroof

Door handles painted in high gloss black

Model designation on sideblades in black

Model designation on sideblades in red

Model designation on sideblades in silver colour

Porsche logo painted in matt black and model designation painted in high gloss black

Model designation on sideblades in Neodyme

Paint to sample colour

Electric charging cover

Black aluminium roof rails

Exterior mirrors with upper carbon trims

Model designation on sideblades in Arctic blue

Offroad front bumper

Electric logo and model designation in exterior colour

Electric logo and model designation in high gloss black

Side window trims in silver

Exterior Lights

Tinted LED taillights including light strip

PORSCHE logo LED door courtesy lights

PORSCHE logo painted in matt black

Glacier blue LED taillight including light strip

Matrix LED main headlights

Glacier blue Matrix LED main headlights

Tinted Matrix LED main headlights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air quality system

Advanced 4-zone climate control

Interior Features

Leather upholstery

Heated steering wheel

Extended leather upholstery

Two tone leather upholstery

Stainless steel pedals

Air vents in leather

Passenger display

Illuminated carbon door sill guards

Illuminated brushed aluminium door sill guards

Club leather upholstery

Roof lining grab rails handles in leather

Vehicle documentation folder in matt carbon

Seat centres in leather contrasting colour

Race tex roof lining

Race tex roof lining grab handles

Heated multifunction GT Sports steering wheel in Race-tex with inlay in carbon

Luggage compartment partition net

Bespoke illuminated seat badge

Heated multifunction GT Sports steering wheel in Race-tex with mode switch

Heated multifunction GT sports steering wheel in leather with mode switch

Heated multifunction GT sports steering wheel in leather with carbon inlay

Illuminated Porsche logo on front seats

Electric roll up sunblind for rear side windows

Two tone extended leather upholstery

Bespoke keys with case

Personalised vehicle keys with case

Personalised vehicle keys painted with case

Additional cloth/faux leather upholstery

Personalised documentation folder

Bespoke documentation folder

Illuminated brushed aluminium black door sill guards

Air vents painted

Parcel shelf in leather

Parcel shelf in Race-tex

Centre console frame in leather

Centre console frame in Race-tex

Packs

Sport Chrono package - eMacan

Sport Chrono package with Porsche design subsecond clock - eMacan

Carbon interior pack - eMacan

14 way comfort seats with memory pack - eMacan

18 way adaptive front sport seats with memory pack - eMacan

Brushed aluminium interior pack - eMacan

Oak silver metallic interior pack - eMacan

Summerwood interior pack - eMacan

Carbon matt Neodyme interior pack - eMacan

Leather interior pack - eMacan

Leather interior pack in contrasting colour - eMacan

Black accent pack - eMacan

Neodyme accent pack - eMacan

Offroad design pack - eMacan

Offroad design pack when bought with adaptive air suspension - eMacan

Exterior colour offroad design pack - eMacan

Exterior colour offroad design pack when bought with adaptive air suspension - eMacan

Smoking package - eMacan

Interior trim pack with decorative stitching and leather seat centre in contrasting colour - eMacan

Interior trim pack with decorative stitching in contrasting colour - eMacan

Paint - Metallic

Porsche metallic - Jet Black

Porsche metallic - Volcano Grey

Porsche metallic - Dolomite silver

Porsche metallic - Ice grey

Paint - Solid

Porsche solid - Black

Porsche solid - White

Paint - Special

Porsche special metallic - Papaya

Porsche special metallic - Gentian Blue

Paint to sample colour - Custom

Porsche special metallic - Provence

Porsche special metallic - Frozen blue

Porsche additional special metallic - Oak green

Porsche additional special metallic - Copper ruby

Porsche additional special metallic - Aventurine green

Porsche additional special metallic - Slate grey neo

Safety

Fire extinguisher

Seatbelts in Bordeaux Red

Seatbelts in Crayon

Side airbags in rear compartment

Seatbelts in Chalk beige

Seatbelts in Arctic blue

Seats

Heated rear seats

Front seat ventilation

Seat console in leather

Porsche crest embossed in front headrests

Porsche crest embossed in front and rear headrests

Front seats massage function with ventilation

ISOFIX/I-Size child seat mounting points on front passenger seat

Security

Comfort access system

Towing

Electrically extending towbar system

Trim - Leather

Leather - Black

Extended leather - Black

Two tone leather - Black/Bordeaux red

Two tone leather - Black/Crayon

Club leather - Truffle brown

Two tone leather - Black/Night green

Two tone leather - Black/Blackberry

Two tone extended leather - Black/Chalk beige

Two tone extended leather - Black/Bordeaux red

Trim - Part Leather

Cloth/faux leather - Black

Cloth/faux leather - Black/Chalk Beige

Wheels

Wheel centres with full colour Porsche crest

Wheels painted in exterior colour

Wheels painted in high gloss black

Wheels painted in satin black

Wheels painted in jet black metallic

Wheels painted in vesuvius grey

Performance tyres

Wheels painted in deviating exterior colour

Wheels painted in Neodyme

Wheels - Alloy

21" Macan offroad design wheels painted in Vesuvius grey

21" Macan design wheels painted in high gloss black

21" Macan Turbo wheels painted in high gloss black

22" Macan Exclusive design wheels

22" Macan Exclusive design wheels with carbon aeroblades

22" Macan sports wheels in high gloss black

22" RS spyder design wheels in high gloss black

22" Macan style wheels in high gloss black

20" Macan S alloy wheels painted in high-gloss black

21" Macan Design wheels