Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

126 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR&SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

P

orsche’s Macan range opens
with the 185kW/370Nm
2.0-litre turbopetrol base model
at $81,400. The 260kW/480Nm
3.0-litre V6 twin-turbopetrol
Macan S is $97,500, the
265kW/500Nm tuned GTS is
$113,300 and the 294kW/550Nm
3.6-litre twin- turbo Macan
Turbo is $133,100.
A Performance Package Turbo,
tuned for 324kW/600Nm, is
priced at $146,600.
All variants are fi tted with
Porsche’s exceptionally slick-
shifting seven-speed dual-clutch
PDK transmission, permanent
all-wheel drive and Off-Road
electronic drive modes.
In the aftermath of Dieselgate,
Porsche has become a no diesel
outfi t, so the previous Macan
3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel has been
dropped from the range for 2019.
The Macan is more expensive
than Audi’s Q5 (with which it
shares around 30 per cent of
its components), BMW’s X3 or

the Range Rover Evoque. But

even a cursory glance at its

specifi cations suggests that

Porsche offers segment-leading

performance, levels of standard

of equipment and (generally

pricey) option choices.

Porsche’s self-penned

“sports car of the (mid-sized)

SUV segment” claim is backed

up by healthy numbers. For the

0–100km/h sprint, they are 5.1

seconds (S) and a scintillating

4.6 seconds (Turbo) when

equipped with the optional

Sport Chrono pack, with launch

control and more aggressive

drivetrain mapping.

The PDK transmissions

perform beautifully and are

intuitively mated to any of the

available engines.

The Turbo certainly feels very

quick, but the margin of pace

between the all-alloy petrol

V6s isn’t as wide as one might

expect. Both versions are easily

capable of antisocial public road

velocity with little provocation,

and a pace few owners might

harness on a regular basis.

Dynamically, nothing will

hang on to the Macan Turbo’s

tyre tracks when the bitumen

begins to twist and turn. A closer

handling match-up would be

Macan S against Audi SQ5. Both

share a similar pricepoint and

familial DNA. However the Macan

feels nothing like an Audi and

everything like a Porsche.

There are really no

dynamic lowlights. The steering

— a real Porsche specialty — is

inspired. Grip? Incredible in

Turbo, robust in either S, though

there comes a point, well beyond

where most owners will dare,

that Macan’s hefty mass —

1880–1925kg, depending on the

variant — overcomes its manic

roadholding and superb poise.

Braking? Porsche does some

of the best in the biz. And while

six-piston monobloc front

anchors might seem excessive

for a family-moving device, the

power of such engineering is duly

noticed at a quick clip.

But does it work as an SUV?

Ride comfort-wise, absolutely.

Macan strikes an impressive

ride/handling balance.

Inside, all the key Porsche

hallmarks are included: an

excellent seating position, the

stacked centre console switches,

centrally located tachometer,

polished alloy and soft-touch

surfaces in all the right places.

There’s nothing built-to-price

about the touchy-feely experience,

though infotainment and driver

assist safety tech are off the pace,

as is usual for Porsche.

Porsche clearly favoured form

— namely the exterior shape and

proportions of Macan — over

functional boot space, but the

boot is still quite useable by its

segment’s standards.

Macan is in a class of its own

as a sports SUV. Others are

similarly fast but none, to date,

has handled as well as this.

PORSCHE MACAN FROM $81,400 S

THINGS WE LIKE

 Proper Porsche vibe

 Class-leading performance

 Superb ride/handling balance

 Great resale values

 Classy interior

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

 Pricey, but you get what you pay for

 Dated, clunky infotainment

 Lacking a comprehensive driver

assist safety specifi cation

 The usual expensive Porsche options

SPEX (Macan S)

Made in Germany

3.0-litre V6 turbo/seven-speed

PDK/ all-wheel drive

260kW of power from

5400-6400rpm/480Nm of torque

from 1360–4800rpm

0–100km/h in 5.3 seconds

8.5L/100km highway; 11.7L/100km

city; 98 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 223g/km.

Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Eight airbags, stability

control, automatic air-conditioning,

front and rear parking sensors,

reversing camera, rain-sensing

wipers, roof rails, alarm, navigation,

20-inch alloys, tinted rear windows,

leather, USB input, 40GB hard disc

storage, bi-xenon headlights, tyre

pressure monitoring, power tailgate

Redbook future values: 3yr: 62%;

5yr: 49%

Safety

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Alfa Stelvio, Audi Q5, BMW X3/X4,

Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes GLC