Macan bestseller for good reason Costa Mouzouris
With sharp handling and flexibility, it’s the most popular Porsche
It didn’t take long for the Macan to become Porsche’s best-selling vehicle in Canada. In 2017, just three years after its introduction, the Macan outsold the next most popular Porsche, the Cayenne, by more than 80 per cent. In fact, the Macan represents almost half of all new Porsche models sold in Canada.
That’s likely why Porsche made only minor changes to the Macan and its sportier sibling, the Macan S for 2019. The Macan S has design elements that give it a family resemblance to Porsche’s mid- and rear-engine sports cars, such as its elongated headlights and its bulbous hood, but it is nonetheless an SUV. Slip into the driver’s seat and take it for a drive, though, and there’s no mistaking it for anything but a Porsche.
While the base Macan retains the 248-horsepower, 2.0-litre turbocharged four, there’s a new engine powering the Macan S. It’s the same 3.0-L V6 that powers the latest Panamera and Cayenne, and it features a “hot V” layout with a single, twinscroll turbocharger set within the ‘V’ of the engine.
This new layout shortens exhaust manifold length, which helps reduce turbo lag to almost nil. Claimed output is 348 hp — up 13 compared to the previous twin-turbo V6 — and 354 lb-ft of torque, and the Macan S can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. The new engine mates to the same seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox as before, and it drives all four wheels.
The Macan S now features full LED exterior lighting as standard, including the headlights, while brighter LED cornering headlights with automatic high beams are optional. Fog lights are now part of the LED headlights, a change that combines with a new grille to give the appearance of a wider front end. In the rear, an LED light panel stretches across the hatch, bridging the tail lights together.
Subtle changes continue inside, where a larger 10.9-inch touch screen replaces the outgoing Macan’s 7.2-inch screen. Heating vents are now splayed horizontally to make room for the new, wider screen.
Controlling the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) user interface is done through the touch screen, or by vocal commands via Porsche’s Voice Pilot. You can also access certain functions via your smartphone using the Porsche Connect and Porsche Car Connect apps.
Apple CarPlay is still the only connectivity option in the Macan, so Android users will have to wait for that to change. Online navigation is standard, and an embedded navigation system is optional. The interior, which seats four comfortably, is roomy — surprisingly so for rear passengers. There’s ample headroom in the rear despite the sloping roof, and even with the front seats adjusted for six-footers, there’s enough legroom for even more six-footers in the back.
Changes in the undercarriage include a switch to aluminum front suspension arms, which reduces unsprung weight and improves suspension response, while revised anti-roll bars are said to provide more neutral handling. Brake feel has been improved through the use of a lighter composite brake pedal with revised geometry.
Air suspension and torque vectoring are available as options. On the road, the Macan S immediately asserts itself as a sporty SUV. Acceleration is brisk, and the engine pulls with authority throughout its rev range. The PDK gearbox is a marvel. It exhibits subdued smoothness when shifting in Normal mode, and wakes up with more forceful gear changes in Sport mode.
The optional air suspension in my test vehicle is firm in Sport mode and returns excellent road feel, while exhibiting very little body roll through turns. It softens to a comfortable level in Normal mode, while remaining firm enough to allow a quick pace without getting sloppy. The steering wheel is well-weighed and precise, and the Macan S steers sharply enough that you’d think you were driving a sporty coupe.
The base Macan is the most affordable new Porsche you can buy, starting at $55,500. But if you want to get closer to the renowned Porsche pedigree with sharp handling, a rich exhaust note, and sink-in-your-seat acceleration in a vehicle you can use year-round and share with the family, dig deeper for the $63,000 Macan S.