Porsche’smost affordable 4-door sports car: Macan GTS
Autos Correspondent Like your daily commute extra spicy? Porsche has your number. From a dead stop, its new-for-2017Macan GTS takes just five seconds flat to reach 60mph, courtesy of a turbocharged V6 that delivers 360 horsepower— just 10 shy of a 911 Carrera. Porsche places the tidy crossover’s top speed at 159mph. It’s a claim we had no opportunity or room to verify but also no reason to doubt.
What we can attest to is that, for once, four doors don’t mean automatically sacrificing style and fun. The Macan GTS’s acceleration, braking and agility is almost guaranteed to trigger grins. And though it carries a $68,900 starting price, that’s still 22 grand less than the cheapest 911. Sure, you’ll be giving up 0.6 seconds on those 60-mph sprints, but try cramming four adults in that Carerra.
Icons only go so far. It’s only been a few years since theMacan was unveiled at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, but the all-wheel-drive compact crossover has become an all-around sales superstar in Porsche’s portfolio.
The lineup starts with theMacan ($47,800), which has a 252 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched with Porsche’ s PDK dual-clutch transmission and Porsche Traction Management. Next up is theMacan S ($55,400) comes with a 340-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. Above the GTS, theMacan Turbo ($77,200) switches to a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 400 horsepower. TheMacan Turbo with Performance Package ($87,700) is the flagship, thanks to its 440 ponies. It hits 60mph in 4.2 seconds, two-tenths quicker than the 911 Carrera and 2.1 seconds ahead of the base Macan.
TheMacan GTS hits the sweet spot in performance, balance and value thanks to hardware changes and a unique engine calibration that delivers 360 horses at 6,000 rpm and 369 lb.-ft. of torque is on tap between 1,650 and 4,000 rpm. The rest of the GTS’s all-wheeldrive powertrain— the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and Porsche’s traction management system— are in the pricierMacan Turbo. For maximum thrust, you’ll want Porsche’s optional Sport Chrono Package ($1,310) which enables 0-60s in as few as 4.8 seconds.
The GTS gets a stability management system that’s specifically tuned for more dynamic handling. The 360-mm front rotors are paired with six-piston fixed calipers painted red. The rear single-piston calipers are also red but clamp down on 330-mm rotors.
The great thing about Porsches is the extensive way you can personalize your vehicle with packages, interior designs and materials and options. The not-so-great thing: the bottom line balloons rapidly. Our tester chocked up more than $20,000 in options, including Porsche’s Torque Vectoring plus system (PTV).
The premium plus package includes panoramic roof, Bose surround sound, auto-dimming mirrors and heated front and rear seats, but even though it’s $3,390 it doesn’t include cooled— or even ventilated — seats. (A heated steering wheel is a $250 upcharge). Adding surround view to theMacan’s park assist with front and rear camera adds another $1,190 but the electronics and image quality were very good and will likely prevent minor damage and costly repainting many times down the road.
The previously mentioned Sport Chrono package includes analog and digital stop watches, a sport plus button that tailors throttle characteristics and launch control, the reason many buyers automatically check the Sport Chrono option box,
Launch control allows maximum-effort acceleration. Aim the GTS down a straight stretch of road, keep the left foot firmly planted on the brakes and floor the gas pedal. The engine will hit and stay at around 4,000 rpm (and sound great through the performance style exhaust), then you simply take your foot off the brake pedal when safe and theMacan leaps like a tiger. (Porsche, said the nameMacan was inspired by the Indonesian word for tiger.) There’s no drama from burning rubber, as all four of the staggered-sized tires (265/45-20s up front and 295/45R20s at the rear) are under power, just dig in and go.
TheMacan GTS has a long list of standard content including sport exhaust system, auto-leveling Bi-Xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights and taillights, eightway sport front seats with memory, 10-speaker, 150-watt surround sound audio with HD radio and three-month trial SiriusXM satellite radio subscription, power tailgate, power retractable and heated outside mirrors and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Crack open theMacan’s 380-page owner’s manual and you’ll find that theMacan’s newest communication management system now incorporates on-board 4GTLEWi-Fi and Apple CarPlay.
TheMacan GTSmay be technically a crossover utility, but in our book, its power, well-planted suspension and excellent manners make it an outstanding fourdoor sports car. Further evidence: there’s no yawning SUV wheel-well gap between tires and fenders. The GTS is 10-mm lower than theMacan Turbo.
If you’ve long aspired to owning Porsche’s iconic 911 (or been compelled to trade one in) because you’ve acquired a child or dog, theMacan will take most of the sting out of that particular transistion.
And, if you’re ordering aMacan, talk to your dealer and consider blocking out some time to take advantage of Porsche’s new delivery program in either Atlanta or Los Angeles. They include a personalized tour, indepth vehicle hand-over, 90-minute drive experience and lunch for two.
Afterward, settle in and take the long way home.