6 Reasons the Porsche Macan is the Car For You (Yes, You)

Rating

A sporty but practical SUV. What’s not to like?

Type

Compact premium performance SUV

Engine

2.0-litre 4-cylinder

Fuel economy

11.6 L/100 km city, 9.3 L/100 km, hwy., 10.6 L/100 km

Power

252 hp, 273 lbs.-ft.

Drivetrain

All-wheel drive

Transmission

7-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic

Competition

BMW X4, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, Audi Q3

Best For

Most affordable Porsche

Porsche now sells more four-door cars than two-door, and its latest all-new model is the Macan compact SUV. There are five versions with three different engine options, but even the least powerful is a very satisfying drive. Here’s why you should own one.

1. Well, It’s a Porsche

Does your current car have more than 60 years of prestigious racing tradition in its history? The Macan shares the same philosophy of quality, success and sheer driveability that’s in every other vehicle in the German automaker’s lineup.

2. You Won’t Pay as Much as You Think

Many Porsches cost more than $100,000, and you can spend that on a 440-horsepower high-performance Macan Turbo, but the basic Macan starts at $52,700. It’s the least expensive new Porsche you can buy. For the money, you get a 252-horsepower four-cylinder engine that will still whoop the tires off any Toyota RAV-4 or Volkswagen Tiguan.

3. The Car Looks Great

All Porsches share a common style: the rounded way in which the roof is sloped; the snarl of the fenders; the curve of the hood above the grille—even when the engine is behind the driver and that hood covers a luggage compartment. The Macan is no different.

4. Driving It Makes You Feel Sporty

It really is a sporty vehicle, despite its practicality as an SUV. The seats hug you with firmly padded side bolsters and the leather-wrapped steering wheel is thick to the grip. The seven-speed transmission—Porsche’s renowned quick-shifting PDK, just like the one on the Boxster and the 911—lets you flick through the gears like a Le Mans driver. And even though it’s higher from the ground than a sports car, its suspension is so well tuned and its chassis so stiff that it handles the curves like a race car.

5. It’s Easy to Drive

Despite all the fancy technology; the Macan is not intimidating to drive. If you don’t want to go fast, you don’t need to. Just put the SUV into drive and off you go, as you normally would in any practical vehicle.

6. You’ll Get Where You Need to Go

The most important thing, really. Sure, it feels good to drive, but that’s of no use if you’re stuck in the mud on a cottage road. The Macan is a true SUV, with active all-wheel drive. The same electronic monitoring that ensures superior traction on a wet and slippery road also makes sure the tires grip off the road. The Macan might be dirty at the other end, but it’ll still look good.