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First drive Porsche Macan S
PORSCHE was the first marque to popularise the prestige Sports Utility Vehicle with the Cayenne in 2002 and it’s almost hard to believe its smaller sibling in the Macan has already been around four years. The German firm has decided now is the time to give the latter a facelift.
Visual changes for the Macan are pretty light here, but certainly noticeable. Up front, new LED headlights now come as standard across the range alongside a slightly tweaked bumper design.
It’s at the back where changes become really noticeable though, with a new fullwidth LED strip connecting the rear lights. New 20-inch alloys are available for no extra cost, while a fresh 21-inch option is on offer too.
Inside, a new dashboard houses a 10.9inch touchscreen infotainment system, which comes loaded with Porsche’s Connect Plus system, relaying real-time traffic data to the driver. There’s also now a Sport Response Button, which gears the car up for max power for 20 seconds.
In Macan S guise as tested here, a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 can be found underneath the bonnet – sending power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Power has been boosted slightly over the outgoing model, now producing 349bhp and 480Nm of torque, up from 335bhp and 460Nm.
What that translates to in performance figures hasn’t been officially revealed, but expect the 0-60mph sprint to be quicker than the previous car’s 5.2 seconds and higher than its 158mph top speed. Efficiency figures have yet to be finalised.
In typical Porsche fashion, it’s a fruitful and strong engine, delivering consistent power across the rev range, and really coming alive beyond 5000rpm. That said, it is hampered slightly by a hesitant gearbox.
The Porsche Macan has always been up there as one of if not the best driving SUVs on the market, and a refresh has only built on that. When pressing on, the chassis remains composed and does a great job at hiding the size, weight and higher centre of gravity of the car. Steering weighs up well too, and there’s the sense that this is about as close to a proper Porsche hot hatch we may ever see.
As well as offering a genuinely compelling spirited driving experience, the Macan is also a capable cruiser. At motorway speeds, it feels well-refined and comfortable – cabin noise is pretty low, and switching off the optional active exhaust takes the engine from raucous to relaxing.