2020 Porsche Macan Turbo
BASE PRICE $84,950
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD,
5-pass, 4-door SUV
ENGINE 2.9L/434-hp/405-
lb-ft twin-turbo
DOHC 24-valve V-6
TRANSMISSION 7-speed twin-clutch
auto
CURB WEIGHT 4,250 lb (mfr)
WHEELBASE 110.5 in
LENGTH X WIDTH
X HEIGHT185.0 x 76.1 x 64.0 in0-60 MPH 4.1-4.3 sec (mfr est)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB
FUEL ECON17/23/19 mpg (est)ENERGY CONSUMPTION,
CITY/HWY198/147 kW-hr/100
miles (est)
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 1.01 lb/mile (est)
ON SALE IN U.S. CurrentlyOur tester also had Porsche’s Torque
Vectoring Plus ($1,500), which varies the
torque distribution at the rear wheels
through a locking electronic differential
and by applying brakes to the inside
rear wheel in a turn. It allows for crisper
rotation through a corner and provides
the sensation of a rear-drive car when you
accelerate out of it.
Speaking of brakes, the 2020 Macan
Turbo also comes standard with the
Porsche Surface Coated Brake system
(PSCB), introduced last year on the 2019
Cayenne. PSCB features cast-iron rotors
coated with tungsten carbide, giving them
a mirrorlike finish. The coating helps to
increase friction and rotor life and reduce
brake dust. Although the Cayenne used
to suffer from an overly aggressive initial
bite, no such issue exists with the Macan
Turbo. Pedal modulation is progressive
and linear, and it remains firm even after
several high-speed stops.
In terms of styling, the Macan Turbo
builds on the refresh of the 2019 Macan
lineup. Out back beneath the full-width
taillights, you’ll find the sport exhaust
system, identifiable by its fat-rimmed
pipes; the lower fascia, side skirts, Macan
“blade,” and mirrors are all body color. Up
front is a Turbo-specific nose with three
large air intake openings massive enough
to give Sully Sullenberger pause.
Inside, the most noticeable change is
a new 10.9-inch infotainment screen.
Standard Porsche Connect services
provide real-time mapping and traffic
information as well as a Wi-Fi hot spot.
To make room for the new screen, the
center dash-mounted vents have been
relocated to just above the center console.
Other than that, the circa 2015 interior
soldiers on. Admittedly, the button-
heavy console and analog gauges lack the
sleek digital panache found in the newer
Cayenne and Panamera, but that’s not
necessarily a bad thing. Those old-school
buttons make quick work of adjusting
climate and drive mode settings simply
by feel. Standard 18-way front sport seatsare decked out in leather, providing snug
support without feeling too constricting.
There’s an upgraded suite of active
safety features, thanks to more powerful
sensors and image processing underneath
the virtual hood. Most notably, a new
traffic jam assist feature adds steering
capability to the adaptive cruise control at
speeds up to 37 mph.
One area in which the Macan Turbo
lives up to the Turbo name is its price.
The more powerful engine, standard
PSCB brakes, sport exhaust, and PASM
all contribute to a $6,400 increase over
a 2018 Macan Turbo, for a base price
of $84,950. Our tester had an array of
options, elevating the cost to $105,370.
The base price of a Macan Turbo is also
a hefty $24,200 premium over the 2020
Macan S. Porsche PR quickly notes that a
loaded Macan S compared to a standard-
grade Turbo is but a $4,000 ladder. Is this
Porsche’s idea of a value play? Perhaps,
but a closer look at some of those options
reveals it’s mainly visual candy. Skip the
rash of cosmetic upgrades, and a savvy
buyer can spec a well-equipped Macan S
in the mid-$70K range.
That ballpark price includes many
of the Turbo’s functional bits, as well
as ventilated seats ($670) and keyless
ignition ($800), both of which aren’t
standard on the Turbo. If you must have
an Alcantara headliner ($1,550), that’s the
beauty of the Porsche option sheet. What
you lose in a second from 0 to 60, you gain
in creature comforts.
The Macan Turbo is 20 percent quicker
than the Macan S but carries a 40 percent
price premium. This would be a moot
point if the Macan Turbo provided a
face-flattening, giggle-inducing visceral
thrill like the rest of the “Turbos” in the
Porsche family. That alone would be
worth the price of admission. QTHE DRAMA IS MISSING, BUT IT’S STILL ONE OF THE BEST-HANDLING SUVS.
FIRST DRIVE
70 MOTORTREND.COM FEBRUARY 2020