PORSCHE MACAN ESTATE S 5dr PDK

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.

Body Glass

Electric front and rear windows with remote closing function + anti trap + one touch

Front windscreen wipers with two speeds, intermittent wipe and rain sensor

Heated rear window with automatic switch off

Rear window wiper with intermittent function and washer jet

Brakes

6-piston aluminium monobloc fixed caliper brakes at front, internally vented brake discs

Auto hold function

Brake discs with 360 mm diameter at front and 330 mm at rear

Electronic parking brake

Multi-Collision braking

Porsche hill control (PHC)

PTM(Porsche Traction Management) and All-wheel drive with map-controlled multi-plate clutch

Vehicle stability system, Porsche stability management (PSM) including ABS, ASR, ABD, MSR and trailer stability management

Vented discs brake with combination floating calipers at rear

Communication

eCall emergency call system

Porsche Communication Management (PCM) including online navigation module, mobile phone preparation, audio interfaces and voice control system

Driver Aids

Automatic start/stop system

Automatic tailgate

Driver Convenience

Cruise control + speed limiter

Off-road button

Driver Information

Analogue clock on dashboard

Digital boost pressure gauge on colour display of instrument cluster

Instrument cluster with high resolution 4.8-inch TFT display,gear indicator for PDK,service interval display,external temperature indicator,fuel gauge

On board computer

Sports button in centre console

Driving Mirrors

Electrically folding and heated exterior mirrors

Embellishment Trims

Accent trims with silver coloured finish

Engine

Direct fuel injection (DFI)

Gasoline particulate filter

VarioCam Plus variable valve timing and switchable valve lift

Entertainment

2 USB sockets in rear centre console

Apple CarPlay with Siri voice recognition

Connect Plus including online navigation, LTE communication module with SIM card reader, wireless internet access, Porsche Car Connect services

DAB Digital radio

Porsche Vehicle Traking System Plus (PVTS Plus)

Smartphone compartment with wireless charging

Two USB C charging and connectivity ports in the front centre console storage compartment

Exterior Body Features

Active radiator grille shutters

Bumper system with high strength cross members and two deformation elements + One threaded fixture point for towing eye contained in onboard tool kit

Front with integrated cooling air intakes

Fully galvanised body

Loading edge protection in aluminium

Rear side wing doors

Roof spoiler in high gloss black

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlight activation including welcome home lighting

Dynamic cornering lights, speed-sensitive headlight and dynamic range control, adverse weather function, four-point LED daytime running lights

Front light modules with LED position lights and direction indicators

High level 3rd LED brake light integrated into roof spoiler

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

3 zone auto climate control separate temperature setting+air recirculation include quality sensor, airflow regulation+AC MAX button+humidity sensor

Particle/pollen filter with active carbon filter

Interior Features

Cloth hook b-pillar

Fold up centre console armrest with fore/aft adjustment

Front and rear bottle holders in door panels

Glove compartment

Luggage compartment cover

Rear armrest with 2 cupholders

Storage bin in centre console

Storage compartment in side of luggage compartment and storage compartment in spare wheel recess

Storage pocket in front and rear doors

Two integrated cup holders in front with variable diameter

Two socket 12V power outlets in front console and luggage compartment

Uncovered storage compartment in centre console

Packs

Ambient comfort lighting pack - Macan

Lower exterior trim package in black - Macan

Safety

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

Child locks on rear doors

Curtain airbags along entire roof frame and side windows from A pillar to the C pillar

Front passenger airbag deactivation facility for installation of child seats indicator in overhead console

Front side airbags integrated into seat

Full size driver and passenger airbags

Roll over sensor for curtain airbag and seatbelt pretensioners

Side impact protection in doors

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Seats

3 adjustable rear headrests

3 rear seats

4 way adjustable front head restraints

40:20:40 split folding rear bench seat

Front passenger seat

Isofix fastening system for child seats on outer rear seats

Security

Alarm system with ultrasonic interior surveillance

Dashcam preparation

Engine immobiliser with key transponder

Remote control central locking

Towing

Towbar preparation

Transmission

7-Speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) with automatic mode and manual controls (gearshift paddles) on steering wheel

Emissions - ICE

HC+NOx: N

Noise Level dB(A): 92

NOx: 0.014

Particles: N

Standard Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 248

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 260

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 248

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEH: 259

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEL: 245

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEH: 224

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEL: 213

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEH: 355

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEL: 345

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEH: 254

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEL: 243

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft: DOHC

Catalytic Convertor: No

CC: 2894

Cylinder Layout: V6

Cylinders: 6

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 84.5

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 86

Fuel Delivery: MULTI POINT FUEL INJECTION

Gears: 7 SPEED

Number of Valves: 24

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Combined (mpg): 10.2

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

EC Extra Urban (mpg): 12.8

EC Urban (mpg): 8.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 10.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 11.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 10.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 11.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 10.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 9.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 9.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 15.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 15.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 11.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 10.7

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 25.8

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 24.6

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 25.8

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 24.7

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 26.2

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 28.5

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 30.1

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 18.1

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 18.6

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 25.2

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 26.3

General

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

Badge Engine CC: 2.9

Badge Power: 380

Based On ID: N

Coin Description: N

Coin Series: S

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

Generation Mark: 1

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 45E

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

Service Interval Mileage: 20000

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: 999999

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

0 to 62 mph (secs): 4.8

Engine Power - BHP: 380

Engine Power - KW: 279

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - RPM: 5200

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 384

Engine Torque - MKG: 53

Engine Torque - NM: 520

Engine Torque - RPM: 1850

Top Speed: 161

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Tyre Size Front: 265/45 R20

Tyre Size Rear: 295/40 R20

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Style: MACAN S

Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height: 1621

Length: 4726

Wheelbase: 2807

Width: 1927

Width (including mirrors): 2097

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 65

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2580

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1503

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 488

Max. Loading Weight: 650

Max. Roof Load: 75

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 2400

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Minimum Kerbweight: 1930

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12

Body Glass

Heated windscreen

Privacy glass

Thermally and noise insulated glass

Thermally and noise insulated glass with privacy glass

Brakes

Brake calipers painted in high gloss black

Porsche ceramic composite brake (PCCB)

Carpets/Rugs

Bespoke floor mats

Bespoke reversible loadspace mat

Personalised floor mats

Personalised floor mats in carbon with leather edging

Personalised reversible loadspace mat

Chassis/Suspension

Adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)

Driver Aids

Homelink (programmable garage door opener)

Driver Convenience

Active park assist

Lane change assistant

Lane keeping assistant (LKA)

Power steering plus

Reversing camera and surround view

Driver Information

Compass display on dashboard

Speed limit indicator

Driving Mirrors

Auto dimming interior + exterior mirrors

Sport design exterior mirrors painted in high gloss black

Embellishment Trims

Bordeaux red rev counter instrument dial

Compass / Sport chrono dial in bordeaux red

Compass / Sport chrono dial in mojave beige

Compass / Sport chrono dial in white

Model logo on centre console armrest

Mojave beige rev counter instrument dial

Personalised air vents with slats in leather

Porsche crest logo on centre console armrest

White rev counter instrument dial

Engine

75 litre fuel tank

Entertainment

BOSE sound system

Burmester 3D high end surround sound system

Exterior Body Features

Additional special metallic paint

Aluminium roof rails

Aluminium roof rails in high gloss black

Black sports tailpipes

Door handles painted in high gloss black

Front apron painted in exterior colour

Fuel filler cap in aluminium look

High gloss black side window trims

Metallic paint

Model designation deletion

Model designation on sideblades in black

Model designation on sideblades in Neodyme

Model designation on sideblades in red

Model designation on sideblades in silver colour

Model designation painted in black high gloss

Model designation painted in exterior colour

Paint to sample colour

Panoramic roof system - Electric tilt/slide glass sunroof

Porsche logo and model designation painted in matt black

Porsche logo painted in matt black and model designation painted in exterior colour

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

Porsche logo painted in matt black including deletion of model designation

Rear apron painted in mid section

Running boards

Side skirts in sport design

Sideblades in body colour

Sideblades in Carbon

Sideblades in High gloss black

Special metallic paint

Sports exhaust system including sports tailpipes in black

Sports exhaust system including sports tailpipes in silver

Sports tailpipe in silver

Exterior Lights

LED main headlights including porsche dynamic light system plus (PDLS plus)

PORSCHE logo LED door courtesy lights

Tinted LED headlights including Porsche dynamic light system plus (PDLS Plus)

Tinted LED taillights including light strip

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air Ioniser

Interior Features

3 spoke heated sport multifunction steering wheel with dark walnut trim

Air vent slats painted in exterior colour

Bespoke documentation folder

Bespoke illuminated door sill guards in carbon

Bespoke illuminated door sill guards in darksilver brushed aluminium

Electric adjustable steering column

Extended leather upholstery

Extended leather upholstery with contrast stitching

Heated multi function GT Sports steering wheel

Heated multifunction GT sports steering wheel in leather with carbon inlay

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

Heated steering wheel

Illuminated brushed aluminium door sill guards with dark silver

Illuminated door sill guard in carbon

Leather interior with contrast stitching

Leather upholstery

Loadspace management system

Mechanical roll up sunblind for rear side windows

PDK gear selector in leather and carbon

PDK gear selector in race-tex and carbon

Personalised documentation folder

Personalised vehicle keys painted with case

Race tex heated multifunction GT sports steering wheel

Race tex roof lining

Race tex roof lining grab handles

Roof lining grab rails handles in leather

Seat centres in leather contrasting colour

Two tone extended leather upholstery with leather interior

Two tone leather interior

Two tone leather upholstery

Vehicle documentation folder in matt carbon

Packs

14 way electric front comfort seats with memory package - Macan

18 way electric adaptive sports seats with memory package - Macan

Anthracite chestnut interior pack - Macan

Brushed aluminium interior pack - Macan

Carbon interior pack - Macan

Dark walnut interior package

Dashboard trim in leather pack - Macan

Driver memory pack - Macan

Exterior trim package painted in exterior colour with gloss black - Macan

Interior decorative trim pack - Leather - Macan

Interior pack painted in exterior colour - Macan

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

Interior trim pack with decorative stitching in contrasting colour

Painted exterior package with Sport design side skirts - Macan

Smokers pack

Sport chrono package including mode switch - Macan

Storage Pack

Paint - Metallic

Porsche metallic - Carrara white

Porsche metallic - Dolomite silver

Porsche metallic - Jet Black

Porsche metallic - Volcano Grey

Paint - Solid

Porsche solid - Black

Porsche solid - White

Paint - Special

Additional special metallic - Copper ruby

Additional special metallic - Crayon

Paint to sample colour - Custom

Porsche special metallic - Carmine red

Porsche special metallic - Gentian Blue

Safety

Fire extinguisher

Rear side airbags

Seatbelts in Agate Grey

Seatbelts in Bordeaux Red

Seatbelts in Miami blue

Seatbelts in Mojave Beige

Seatbelts in Pebble grey

Seats

Front seat ventilation

Heated front and rear seats

Porsche crest embossed in front and rear headrests

Porsche crest embossed in front headrests

Seat console in leather

Security

Comfort access system

Towing

Electrically extending towbar system

Transmission

Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus)

Trim - Leather

Extended leather upholstery - Agate grey

Extended leather upholstery - Black

Extended leather upholstery - Black with contrast stitching in Crayon

Extended leather upholstery - Black with contrast stitching in Gentian blue

Extended leather upholstery - Black with contrast stitching in Papaya

Leather interior - Black with contrast stitching in Crayon

Leather interior - Black with contrast stitching in Gentian Blue

Leather interior - Black with contrast stitching in Papaya

Leather upholstery - Black

Two tone extended leather with leather interior - Black/Bordeaux red

Two tone extended leather with leather interior - Black/mojave beige

Two tone extended leather with leather interior - Black/Pebble grey

Two tone leather interior - Black / Bordeaux red

Two tone leather upholstery - Black/Mojave beige

Trim - Part Leather

Leatherette and Sport-Tex upholstery - Agate Grey

Leatherette and Sport-Tex upholstery - Black

Vanity Mirrors

Leather sunvisors

Wheels

Wheel centre caps with full colour Porsche crest

Wheels - Alloy

20" Macan S alloy wheels in High gloss black

20" Macan S alloy wheels in Jet black

20" Macan S alloy wheels in Vesuvius grey

20" Macan S alloy wheels painted in exterior colour

20" Macan S alloy wheels painted in satin neodyme

20" Macan sport wheels painted in Satin platinum

21" 911 Turbo alloy wheels

21" 911 Turbo design alloy wheels

21" Exclusive design sport wheels in Platinum silver

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in exterior colour

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in High gloss black

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in Jet black

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in Satin Neodyme

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in Vesuvius grey

21" Personalised exclusive design sport wheels painted

21" RS Spyder design alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

18" collapsible spare tyre

19" collapsible spare tyre