Porsche dishes up a Big Mac with highs to go
SPORTY SUV BRINGS BACK THE GOODWOOD OLD DAYS
Goodwood is an extremely quick race track with not a lot of room for run-off. If you crash at high speed you’ll hit something hard with a lot of energy. The instructor who was sat next to me after I drove the Porsche Macan Turbo around as fast as I could was either very brave, or mad.
“I can tell after many years of doing this, who is putting me in mortal danger and who isn’t,” he explained afterwards.
I was flattered but did wonder whether his barometer was playing up that day.
The Porsche was hugely impressive. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to drive fast and how it felt almost like a sports car around the famous Sussex track.
The experience – in 2014 when Porsche launched its smallest SUV – made me a Macan fan even though I don’t really like SUVs, especially very fast ones that are trying to be sports cars.
The car then had a facelift and driving that particular model was very disappointing.
But perhaps the latest version we’re testing today will put the Macan where it used to be in my estimation. This Macan GTS is another facelift – the car has never had a full-model change and won’t until 2023 when a fully electric Macan will be with us.
There is now no Turbo in the line-up – this GTS replaces it as the hottest Macan you can buy.
In reality, this is really a jiggling of names and badges because the GTS has a mildly tweaked version of the Turbo engine and the new Macan S gets the engine that used to be in the GTS. A bit confusing.
Anyway, the new GTS has a 2.9-litre twin-turbo petrol engine that produces 434bhp and drives through a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Top speed 169mph and 0-62mph in 4.5sec. Economy is a thirsty 24.1mpg and considerably less if you hoof it along in this almost two-tonne car.
Our left-hand drive test car looks either cool or blinged up, depending on your personal taste. I rather like it in this deep red although I could probably do without the same-coloured air vent surrounds inside the car.
Outside there are very few changes to the car: the front bumper is a bit more upright, the indicators are higher up, LED headlamps are standard and at the back there’s a new diffuser.
The Macan looks very smart in GTS guise.
Another thing that is thrown in as standard with the GTS’s £64,770 price is air suspension.
Porsche gives you a wide choice of driving modes but Comfort works exceptionally well. I have a regular route that I use for testing Porsches (that line should win me pretentious git of the year) that involves a bumpy A-road.
This Macan tackled it well without loosening any fillings. The speed limit on this road is mainly 50mph with a bit of 60mph thrown in.
Quick squirts up to these limits reveal an engine that sounds throaty and steering that’s very well weighted and accurate.
I’d go as far to say that I’ve not driven many other hot SUVs that have better steering than the Macan GTS. Excusing the garish red trim around the air vents, which is an optional extra anyway, there’s the typical Porsche-like quality feel in the cabin.
The large number of switches that used to live on the centre console have been replaced by touch sensitive pads that attract fingerprints and do nothing to make the car easier to operate. The reverse, in fact.
Volkswagen is intent on removing all old-fashioned controls from its brands and that includes Porsche.
I can’t fault the steering wheel though, it has a nice slim rim and isn’t festooned with buttons.
This might be the last fast Porsche Macan I drive that isn’t fully electric. No doubt the electric Macan will be fast – faster than this one even. But I doubt it’ll have as much soul.
I’ve not driven many hot SUVs that have better steering