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

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

Rear window wiper with intermittent function and washer jet

Heated rear window with automatic switch off

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

Brakes

Multi-Collision braking

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

Porsche hill control (PHC)

Black painted brake calipers

Vented discs brake with combination floating calipers at rear

Internally vented brake discs with diameter of 350mm at front and 330mm at rear

Vented discs brake with 4 piston aluminium monobloc fixed caliper at front

Electronic parking brake

Auto hold function

Carpets/Rugs

Floor mats with Porsche logo

Communication

eCall emergency call system

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

Driver Aids

Off-road button

Cruise control + speed limiter

Driver Convenience

Automatic tailgate

Automatic start/stop system

Driver Information

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

Analogue clock on dashboard

On board computer

Driving Mirrors

Electrically folding and heated exterior mirrors

Embellishment Trims

Accent trims with silver coloured finish

Engine

Direct fuel injection (DFI)

VarioCam camshaft control for inlet and exhaust valves

Gasoline particulate filter

Entertainment

DAB Digital radio

2 USB sockets in rear centre console

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

Apple CarPlay with Siri voice recognition

Porsche Vehicle Traking System Plus (PVTS Plus)

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

Smartphone compartment with wireless charging

Exterior Body Features

Active radiator grille shutters

Fully galvanised body

Roof spoiler in agate grey metallic

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

Rear side wing doors

Front with integrated cooling air intakes

High gloss black side window trims

Loading edge protection in aluminium

Exterior Lights

Front light modules with LED position lights and direction indicators

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

High level 3rd LED brake light integrated into roof spoiler

Automatic headlight activation including welcome home lighting

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Particle/pollen filter with active carbon filter

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

Interior Features

Cloth hook b-pillar

Fold up centre console armrest with fore/aft adjustment

Storage pocket in front and rear doors

Glove compartment

Rear armrest with 2 cupholders

Storage bin in centre console

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

Luggage compartment cover

Uncovered storage compartment in centre console

Two integrated cup holders in front with variable diameter

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

Front and rear bottle holders in door panels

Packs

Sport chrono package including mode switch - Macan T

Ambient comfort lighting pack - Macan

Lower exterior trim package in black - Macan

Safety

Side impact protection in doors

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Roll over sensor for curtain airbag and seatbelt pretensioners

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

Front side airbags integrated into seat

Child locks on rear doors

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

Full size driver and passenger airbags

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

Seats

Front headrests

Front passenger seat

Isofix fastening system for child seats on outer rear seats

40:20:40 split folding rear bench seat

3 adjustable rear headrests

3 rear seats

Security

Alarm system with ultrasonic interior surveillance

Engine immobiliser with key transponder

Remote control central locking

Dashcam prep

Towing

Towbar preparation

Transmission

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

Emissions - ICE

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

Noise Level dB(A): 76

NOx: 0.012

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 228

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEL: 296

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEH: 304

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEL: 222

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEH: 234

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEL: 198

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEH: 208

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEL: 232

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEH: 241

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 238

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 228

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 82.5

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 92.8

CC: 1984

Cylinders: 4

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Number of Valves: 16

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: DIRECT INJECTION

Catalytic Convertor: No

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Gears: 7 SPEED

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

EC Urban (mpg): 8.4

EC Extra Urban (mpg): 11.4

EC Combined (mpg): 9.5

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 28.1

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 21.6

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 21

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 28.8

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 27.4

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 32.3

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 30.8

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 27.6

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 26.6

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 28.1

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 26.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 10.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 13.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 13.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 9.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 10.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 8.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 9.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 10.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 10.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 10.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 10.5

General

Coin Series: T

Coin Description: N

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

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

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: 999999

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 265

Badge Engine CC: 2.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 6.2

Top Speed: 144

Engine Power - BHP: 265

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 195

Engine Power - RPM: 5000

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 295

Engine Torque - NM: 400

Engine Torque - RPM: 1800

Engine Torque - MKG: 40.8

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 265/45 R20

Tyre Size Rear: 295/40 R20

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY

Wheel Style: MACAN S

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4726

Width: 1927

Wheelbase: 2807

Width (including mirrors): 2097

Height: 1606

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1865

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2510

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 65

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 2000

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 645

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 488

No. of Seats: 5

Max. Roof Load: 75

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1503

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12

Body Glass

Heated windscreen

Privacy glass

Thermally and noise insulated glass with privacy glass

Thermally and noise insulated glass

Carpets/Rugs

Bespoke floor mats

Personalised floor mats in carbon with leather edging

Personalised floor mats

Personalised reversible loadspace mat

Bespoke reversible loadspace mat

Chassis/Suspension

Adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)

Driver Aids

Lane change assistant

Active park assist

Power steering plus

Lane keeping assistant (LKA)

Reversing camera and surround view

Driver Convenience

Homelink (programmable garage door opener)

Driver Information

Speed limit indicator

Driving Mirrors

Auto dimming interior + exterior mirrors

Sport design exterior mirrors painted in high gloss black

Embellishment Trims

Porsche crest logo on centre console armrest

Personalised air vents with slats in leather

Mojave beige rev counter instrument dial

Bordeaux red rev counter instrument dial

White rev counter instrument dial

Compass / Sport chrono dial in white

Compass / Sport chrono dial in bordeaux red

Compass / Sport chrono dial in mojave beige

Engine

75 litre fuel tank

Entertainment

BOSE sound system

Burmester 3D high end surround sound system

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Model designation deletion

Special metallic paint

Running boards

Side skirts in sport design

Aluminium roof rails in high gloss black

Additional special metallic paint

Sideblades in High gloss black

Sports exhaust system including sports tailpipes in black

Rear apron painted in mid section

Panoramic roof system - Electric tilt/slide glass sunroof

Door handles painted in high gloss black

Model designation on sideblades in red

Model designation on sideblades in silver colour

Model designation on sideblades in Neodyme

Front apron painted in exterior colour

Paint to sample colour

Sideblades painted in exterior colour with Macan T logo in glossy black

Sideblades in Carbon with Macan T logo in glossy black

Fuel filler cap in aluminium look

Exterior Lights

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

Tinted LED taillights including light strip

PORSCHE logo LED door courtesy lights

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

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air Ioniser

Interior Features

Electric adjustable steering column

Leather upholstery

Extended leather upholstery

Air vent slats painted in exterior colour

Mechanical roll up sunblind for rear side windows

Illuminated door sill guard in carbon

Roof lining grab rails handles in leather

Two tone leather interior

Loadspace management system

Vehicle documentation folder in matt carbon

Race tex roof lining

Illuminated in black brushed aluminium door sill guards

Two tone extended leather upholstery with leather interior

Race tex roof lining grab handles

Bespoke illuminated door sill guards in black brushed aluminium

Bespoke illuminated door sill guards in carbon

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

Extended leather upholstery with contrast stitching

Leather interior with contrast stitching

PDK gear selector in leather and carbon

PDK gear selector in race-tex and carbon

Heated multifunction GT sports steering wheel in leather with carbon inlay

Personalised vehicle keys painted with case

Personalised documentation folder

Bespoke documentation folder

Race tex heated multifunction GT sports steering wheel

Packs

Storage Pack

Smokers pack

Driver memory pack - Macan

Carbon interior pack - Macan

Brushed aluminium interior pack - Macan

High gloss black interior pack - Macan

Interior decorative trim pack - Leather - Macan

14 way electric front comfort seats with memory package - Macan

18 way electric adaptive sports seats with memory package - Macan

Painted exterior package with Sport design side skirts - Macan

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

Dashboard trim in leather pack - Macan

Interior pack painted in exterior colour - Macan

Paint - Metallic

Porsche metallic - Jet Black

Porsche metallic - Carrara white

Porsche metallic - Volcano Grey

Porsche metallic - Dolomite silver

Paint - Solid

Porsche solid - Black

Porsche solid - White

Paint - Special

Porsche special metallic - Carmine red

Porsche special metallic - Gentian Blue

Paint to sample colour - Custom

Additional special metallic - Crayon

Additional special metallic - Copper ruby

Safety

Fire extinguisher

Rear side airbags

Seatbelts in Agate Grey

Seatbelts in Pebble grey

Seatbelts in Bordeaux Red

Seatbelts in Miami blue

Seatbelts in Mojave Beige

Seats

Heated front and rear seats

Front seat ventilation

Seat console in leather

Porsche crest embossed in front and rear headrests

Security

Comfort access system

Towing

Electrically extending towbar system

Transmission

Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus)

Trim - Leather

Leather upholstery - Black

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

Extended leather upholstery - Black

Extended leather upholstery - Agate grey

Extended leather upholstery - Black with contrast stitching in Gentian blue

Extended leather upholstery - Black with contrast stitching in Crayon

Extended leather upholstery - Black with contrast stitching in Papaya

Leather interior - Black with contrast stitching in Gentian Blue

Macan T Leather interior trim pack - Black and striped sport-tex seat centres with contrast stitching in silver

Leather interior - Black with contrast stitching in Crayon

Leather interior - Black with contrast stitching in Papaya

Vanity Mirrors

Leather sunvisors

Wheels

Wheel centres with full colour Porsche crest

Wheels - Alloy

21" 911 Turbo design alloy wheels

21" RS Spyder design alloy wheels

20" Macan sport wheels painted in Satin platinum

20" Macan S alloy wheels in High gloss black

20" Macan S alloy wheels in Jet black

20" Macan S alloy wheels painted in Dark titanium

20" Macan S alloy wheels in Vesuvius grey

20" Macan S alloy wheels painted in exterior colour

21" Exclusive design sport wheels in Platinum silver

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in High gloss black

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in Vesuvius grey

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in Jet black

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in exterior colour

20" Macan S alloy wheels painted in satin neodyme

21" 911 Turbo alloy wheels

21" Exclusive design sport wheels painted in Satin Neodyme

21" Personalised exclusive design sport wheels painted

Wheels - Spare

18" collapsible spare tyre