Porsche Macan: Review
Love it or hate it the Porsche Macan is going to be everywhere - here's why
Those first impressions, gathered on a slippery test track at Porsche's Leipzig manufacturing facility, were very positive indeed. On any occasion that a manufacturer claims its new product to be a luxury car, and a sports car, and an off-roader, and a family wagon, the immediate suspicion is that it is actually none of those things to any satisfying degree, but instead a compromised mess. Call it professional cynicism.
'Compromised mess' is certainly not a criticism that could be reasonably levelled at the Macan, but the clear reality is that no one machine can engage on circuit and plug through deep mud; Porsche or not it'll inevitably be less capable in one area that the other. The Turbo, it quickly became apparent, was more accomplished on track than any car of this type has any right to be, but its off-roading capabilities were junior at best; some slippery mud, a few wet rocks, and incline here and there, but nothing any more serious than that. The Macan's off-road abilities are, quite understandably, token, but its circuit and on-road behaviour are both very impressive.
Brace yourself
Sharing its platform with Audi's Q5 - but with two-thirds of components either modified or replaced entirely - the Macan introduces Porsche to a whole new sector of the market, just as the bigger Cayenne did 12 years ago. Given that car's phenomenal success (more than 80,000 sold in 2013 alone), a smaller and more affordable second SUV model has long been an inevitability. Indeed, according to Porsche's predictions, the small SUV sector will soon be the world's fastest growing.
Three models will be available at launch, all with turbocharged V6 engines. The entry-level model, for now, is the S, available with either a petrol or diesel engine, both costing £43,400. The petrol model gets 340hp from a 3.0-litre twin turbo motor, the diesel 258hp from its single turbo V6. The range-topping Turbo, driven here, is powered by a 400hp, twin turbocharged 3.6-litre V6, costing £59,300.
All models come fitted with Porsche's twin-clutch PDK gearbox and all are four-wheel drive, too. Power is sent to the rear axle in normal conditions, but depending on prevailing grip levels the four-wheel drive system can send 100 per cent of torque to the front axle. Brilliantly, but perhaps entirely unnecessarily, petrol Macans are dry-sumped for a lower centre of gravity. Gesture or not, it's a good example of Porsche's resolve to not risk its dynamic reputation.
All the gear
The most athletic of all Macans will be a Turbo with Porsche Torque Vectoring and Sports Chrono; Porsche Active Suspension Management is standard on this model. Rather surprisingly, Porsche's early figures suggest that only 30-35 per cent of Macans sold in Europe will be diesel models. On that basis the notion of a truly sporting SUV is one that seems to have captured the buyers' imaginations, but one does suspect the diesel will ultimately become the big seller. Also surprising is Porsche's assertion that 50,000 Macans will be sold each year, given that the more expensive Cayenne sold significantly better than that last year. Again, one suspects the Macan will quite soon become Porsche's volume model.
With that in mind, the issue of exclusivity comes to the fore. Porsche's trade depends on its perceived exclusivity, and with 50,000 or more additional Porsche models hitting the roads each year, is that exclusivity not at risk? The Porsche executives insist not, because even if the Macan is a huge sales hit, they argue, no more than three in every 1,000 cars sold worldwide will wear a Porsche crest. That may be, but how will proud 911 owners feel about seeing countless little Porsche SUVs knocking about, particularly if the business case for a four-cylinder version with - whisper it - front-wheel drive becomes too tempting to resist? This Macan model line will demand some very astute management.
The test track at Porsche's Leipzig factory is around 2.5km in length with bends modelled, we're told, on the iconic corners of the best circuits in the world. Laguna Seca's Corkscrew is recreated fairly convincingly, as is Spa's old Bus Stop Chicane, but any likeness to the Parabolica or a Lesmo at Monza just seems coincidental. Anyway, it's on this short circuit that the Macan Turbo first showed its dynamic fortitude. The slippery conditions seemed to play into its hands because it was soon evident that the Macan is agile and brake-adjustable on turn in, that it keeps its masses tightly in check even in quick direction changes, that it can readily be coaxed into exiting tighter corners in a delicious four-wheel drift - in the wet, at least. It was superb fun with very little of the wallow or imprecision you'd reasonably expect of a chunky SUV.
Tyre you out
The electrically-assisted steering, it should be noted, was rather aloof and remote in terms of feedback, but at least under- and oversteer points could be felt through the chassis. If those slippery conditions suited the Macan itself so too did they suit Porsche, for all the test cars were fitted with Michelin mud and snow tyres, which, one suspects, would have made the car feel squidgy and vague on a bone dry track.
Indeed, a handful of laps with a chap named Rohrl at the wheel once the surface had dried out did highlight how this rubber lacks the stability of a good summer tyre. It also revealed how benign the Macan is in normal conditions; it wouldn't take on any rear-led attitude under power, and it settled into slight understeer immediately after turn in. With better grip, the chassis could load up further and the body would roll and lean more as a result.
The other significant point about those mud and snow tyres is that it was they that did afford the Macan its modest off-road ability. On the summer tyres that will surely tread most UK cars, track and road performance may be improved further, but off-road capacity will be diminished to almost nothing. It's worth noting, lastly, that only those models fitted with optional air springs are able to lift their ride heights by 40mm.
So to the open road. The Turbo feels sprightly in a straight line and the twin turbocharged engine has huge breadth, but it isn't thumpingly fast as we've come to expect of Turbo-badged Porsches. The PDK transmission worked very well on the road, as it did on track, while the ride on optional air springs and winter tyres - rather than mud and snow tyres - was settled and compliant on smooth German roads.
On the dry back roads around Leipzig, which were quite unrepresentative of the uniquely demanding country roads we know and love in the UK, the Turbo did grip well and carry speed, but so too did it roll and lean like a tall car, even in its firmest suspension setting. Quick over a stretch of road and composed for an SUV it may be, but the Macan never has the immediate response and precision of a hot hatch or a sports saloon. Dry conditions revealed that first impression to be a little wayward.
Strength in numbers?
The Macan's cabin is familiar from any other modern Porsche, but the quality of fit and finish, as well as some of the plastics, does fall a little way short of the very impressive Panamera. A six-footer will feel a little cramped when sat behind a tall driver, but otherwise cabin space is pretty good. The Macan is also quite clearly a Porsche in its styling; the raised front wings, the rakish roofline, the flared shoulders over the rear wheels. The taillights are also rather successful and they will feature on future models.
At £59,300, the Macan Turbo faces very stiff opposition outside of the SUV realm; there's nothing to directly rival it like-for-like. A new BMW M3, for instance, won't be much less practical, while any number of larger super saloons could be had for just a shade more outlay.
This may be by default as much as any brilliance on Porsche's part, but the Macan Turbo is surely the best small sporting SUV that there has ever been. What it isn't, though, is an SUV that does away entirely with the need for the sports car.
PORSCHE MACAN TURBO
Engine: V6, twin turbocharged, 3,604cc
Transmission: Seven-speed twin-clutch PDK, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 400hp@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 406lb ft@1,350-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.8sec
Top speed: 165mph
Weight: 1925kg
MPG: 31.7mpg (claimed)
CO2: 208g/km
Price: £59,300
All Porsche cars have the DNA built in. Drive a Panamera, a Cayenne and (from what the review tells me) The Macan and you'll have an impeccable cabin, decent performance and sublime handling. If you want a small SUV you can now have one that offers a fun drive (see lead image). Don't fancy an S-Class? Buy a PanAm and have some fun.
Whether you like it or not, Porsche needs to sell these cars to make the profit needed to be in the 911 and Cayman sector. Sales show that people want to buy them too. When you see a Cayenne, don't think they bought it for the badge, maybe they wanted a car than handles well and offers luxury to worry Range Rover.
Porsche could have stuck a badge on something to enter these sectors (like the Aston Cygnet). Instead they chose to make decent cars that suit the badge, while making cars like the 918 and new GT3 too.
Me? I them
Test drive some more stuff.
Just because a Panamera says "Porsche" on the back doesn't mean it is, or needs to be, a sports car. But you could write Ferrari or Bugatti on the back a Panamera and it still wouldn't be my style of car ...... although you might persuade punters to pay an extra £10,000 for it!
However the long lead time will prevent this happening.
So it looks like i will end up in an A6 Allroad biturbo which does most of what I need.
And it has air suspension with variable modes, a diesel engine with 313bhp.
And a ruddy Audi badge(shallow I know)
But i want a Macan.
All Porsche cars have the DNA built in. Drive a Panamera, a Cayenne and (from what the review tells me) The Macan and you'll have an impeccable cabin, decent performance and sublime handling. If you want a small SUV you can now have one that offers a fun drive (see lead image). Don't fancy an S-Class? Buy a PanAm and have some fun.
Whether you like it or not, Porsche needs to sell these cars to make the profit needed to be in the 911 and Cayman sector. Sales show that people want to buy them too. When you see a Cayenne, don't think they bought it for the badge, maybe they wanted a car than handles well and offers luxury to worry Range Rover.
Porsche could have stuck a badge on something to enter these sectors (like the Aston Cygnet). Instead they chose to make decent cars that suit the badge, while making cars like the 918 and new GT3 too.
Me? I them
Have a watch. This is what Porsche is all about (to me anyway). A car you can drive on the road and weekend go have some track action or odd hill climb for a bit of fun and then drive back with total reliability and engineering integrity in one piece. The new stuff is for wimps! Now wheres my flame suit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoYCa6Gabl4
Personally, I couldn't give a fig about a 15-20yo car no matter how good it was in its hey-day. If that's your thing so be it but the "more and more" people of which you speak who are pushing up prices of so-called "run-of-the-mill" 993s are NOT buying these for "family" use (which is where many of these Macan models will find homes); you conveniently forget that there are physically far less 993s in existence than 996s and 997s therefore they're more highly prized as they are so rare in comparison - they were exclusive then and they're exclusive now. Times change and Porsche are evidently doing a great job of responding to what the market wants.
And they don't sell drivers cars any more? Last I checked, the GT3 wasn't considered a pose-mobile, neither was the 918...
Have a watch. This is what Porsche is all about (to me anyway). A car you can drive on the road and weekend go have some track action or odd hill climb for a bit of fun and then drive back with total reliability and engineering integrity in one piece. The new stuff is for wimps! Now where my flame suit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoYCa6Gabl4
Yes, it would be lovely to have a 964RS (my fave) or similar equivalent today but only a few people would buy it and the company would cease to exist. Redeveloped Audi maybe (Lambo anyone?) but it's very, very well developed...enough to have its own character. Many say they want cars from the past, sadly not many actually walk into showrooms and act on that. Things move on. It's like those who say they want the MINI to be like the Mini...I bet if they made it nobody would buy it. Odd that many want their favourite brands to lag behind in terms of tech.
Your opinion is your right so I won't argue. What I will say is how surprised I am (especially as you've driven them) when you say the range leaves you cold. I'm trying to think of a recent Porsche that hasn't impressed me after driving it and I can't, from non-S Cayman, to GT3 to Cayenne diesel.
I reckon they could do worse myself.
Just drive a basic 2.7 Boxster 981 on track on the limit of grip/traction, ie as intended, and tell me it's not streets ahead as a driving tool than any other new car at that price point.
A 993 C2 worth £100,000. Seriously?
Back on topic, I like the idea of the Macan, but even if I was interested the fact you can't get one for love nor money (read well into 2015 if you believe the gossip) kind of rules it out for me
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff