DESTINED TO REMAIN ONE HOT COMMODITY
Subtle but impactful changes mean this performer will continue to be popular
PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN The latest Porsche Macan has undergone more of a mid-life refresh than a full-model rework. That said, the changes do run deep and touch all aspects of the vehicle, including design, comfort, connectivity and, more importantly, the driving dynamics.
Lift the hood and the Macan’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine pretty much carries over. It puts out 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. The up-level 3.0-L turbocharged V6 in the Macan S is new; the single twin-scroll turbocharger now sits in the middle of the vee. The result is a silky 335 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque at 1,360 rpm. The peak torque, which is up 15 lb-ft and arrives 1,000 r.p.m. earlier, is what truly impresses.
Both engines work with a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission and drive all four wheels. The transmission delivers millisecond shifts whenever a paddle is pulled, which serves to sharpen the tone of the drive, especially in the Macan S. The all-wheel-drive system splits the power variably and according to need, so there really is no fixed power split other than the fact it’s normally rear-biased. In operation, however, it can send all of the power to the rear wheels and as much as 70 per cent to the front wheels, should the need arise. The latter helps to tame oversteer by pulling the car back into line. On the drive it worked to perfection, sending just enough power rearward to let the tail hang out ever so slightly — insert enormous smile!
The lot can be tweaked through the mode selector. In the case of the test cars there were Normal, Sport and Sport+ settings, along with an individual mode that allows the dynamics to be customized. Each of the settings progressively amps up the engine and transmission responses and, when so equipped, firms the adaptive suspension. Sitting in the middle of the steering wheelmounted selector ring is the Sport Response Button. When pressed it maximizes performance for 20 seconds and it does so without having to change the selected mode. When in Normal and the need for maximum acceleration arises, such as when passing a slower-moving vehicle, it delivers Sport+ reaction times.
The two engines bring very different levels of performance. The four-cylinder gets riders to 100 kilometres an hour in 6.7 seconds — 6.5 seconds when the Sport Chrono Package is added to the mix. Drop the V6 under the hood and it sees the Macan S run to 100 km/ h in 5.1 seconds, thanks to the early entry of peak torque. Now, according to the European fuel economy numbers, the pen- alty for the better performance is less than one litre of gas for every 100 kilometres driven.
To hone the driving characteristics, the Macan gets new aluminum components in the front suspension, which drop the unsprung mass by 1.5 kilograms. The Macan S tester then added Porsche’s adaptive suspension. The setup rides a very nice line. In Sport+ it limits body roll to a handful of degrees, yet when Normal is selected it takes road imperfections in stride.
Another significant change is found in the staggered tire setup. The Macan S was wearing P265/45R20 tires up front and beefier P295/40R20 at the back. Aside from the cool factor, the wider back tires accommodate the rear bias of the all-wheeldrive system without compromising the sharpness of the turnin response. Throw in a perfectly weighted steering setup and the Macan’s handling would not be out of place in a 911.
The cabin has been gussied up very nicely. Quality materials abound, the seats deliver great lateral support and the instrumentation is configurable. The bigger change is found in the infotainment system — the new 10.9-inch screen, which replaces the previous 7.2-inch unit, delivers clean, clear graphics, and it’s easier to use. It also supports Apple CarPlay and the standard navigation system. The only anomaly is that it does not work with Android Auto.
The Porsche Macan was and is destined to remain a hot commodity in the near-luxury crossover segment; more than 350,000 units have sold in four years. This time around it has more power and better fuel efficiency, the handling is right on the money, and it has a decidedly upscale cabin. In short, it’s a very well conceived package. Driving.ca