Refreshed Porsche Macan a compelling package

There have been a few seminal models in the Porsche product portfolio over the past two decades including the likes of the Boxster, the Cayman, the Cayenne and indeed, the Macan. As the brand’s most attainable SUV, the Macan’s 7-year stint in the market has resulted in over 600 000-units finding homes across the globe, with an impressive 80% of Macan buyers being first-time Porsche owners.

With an all-electric Macan on the horizon, the current-generation model recently received a substantial refresh, with an updated exterior, enhanced interior and better performance for all three derivatives. We had a chance to spend some time behind the wheel of the refreshed models on some picturesque roads in the Western Cape recently.

Exterior

The exterior changes to the Macan include a new front bumper that incorporates air intakes finished in the vehicle's body colour and LED headlights with four horizontal LED bars as standard. The side profile features new Sport Design mirrors as standard as well as newly shaped side blades which feature a 3D effect in the base and S models and a high-gloss finish on the GTS derivatives. The rear-end features a new diffuser and a taller rear bumper recess.

Porsche has also added 3 new colours to the pallet, including Python Green, Papaya Metallic and Gentian Blue Metallic. The range is also available with 7 new alloy wheel design options. The GTS models are distinctive thanks to their 21-inch Spyder Design alloy wheels painted black, tinted LED headlights, standard exterior package with various trim elements painted in the vehicle’s body colour and a sports exhaust system, complete with black tips.

Interior

The changes made to the interior are more notable, with a new centre console complete with a haptic feedback pad and a shorter gear lever. There is also a reshaped instrument cluster, an analogue clock on top of the dashboard now coming as standard equipment, a GT Sport steering wheel from the 911 range and a new 10.9-inch infotainment system that offers wireless Apple CarPlay functionality and integrated navigation.

Driving Macan

We started the day onboard the Macan GTS which has now replaced the previous Turbo as the Flagship Macan model. It is powered by a 2.9-litre V6 with two turbochargers, which produces 324kW and 550Nm of torque, some 44kW and 30Nm more than before. The engine is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox that sends power to all four wheels. Performance is impressive, with 0-100km/h coming up in 4.3 seconds and the top speed is claimed at 272km/h.

Driving the GTS proved more enjoyable than we had anticipated, with the rear-bias all-wheel drive system allowing for impressive rotation and less understeer than you may expect, while the sounds produced by the V6 with the active exhaust engaged is impressive for a car fitted with a particulate filter. The product also featured the sports air suspension with PASM, which includes stiffer springs, thicker anti-roll bars, revised dampers and a 10mm lower ride height.

We then changed over to the S model, which shares an engine with the GTS, but has a lower 280kW and 520Nm of torque, but is 30kg lighter and still 20kW and 40Nm up on the previous S model. Performance is also strong, with 100km/h coming up in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 259 km/h. While the S lacks the aural drama of the GTS, the performance is similar in the real world, and considering the near R300 000 price difference between the two models, that is something to consider.  The slightly smaller 20-inch wheel and tyre combination on the S also provided a more supple ride quality, making it more pleasant on longer trips.

We then hopped into the base model Macan, which is powered by a revised version of the Volkswagen-sourced 2.0-litre engine which features a new turbocharger and internal revisions to produce 195kW and 400Nm of torque, some 10kW and 30Nm more than before. Despite having far less power than its six-cylinder siblings, the base model Macan is over 100kg lighter than the GTS and 85kg less than the S, which is noticeable. Performance is adequate, with 100km/h coming up in 6.2 seconds and the top speed pegged at 232km/h. The sound produced by the four-pot isn’t very thrilling, but there are the usually burps emitted from the exhaust when shifting up in Sport mode.

Pricing

The Macan ranges comes with a 3-year/100 000km Driveplan which can be extended to a 5-year plan upon request.

Model	Price
Porsche Macan PDK	R1 050 000
Porsche Macan S PDK	R1 271 000
Porsche Macan GTS PDK	R1 551 000

 

Verdict

The Macan remains a compelling compact SUV proposition, offering a wonderful blend of performance, luxury and reasonable space. The mid-life revisions made to the model range ensure that it remains competitive in a segment with an impressive list of competitors.

Despite the sonorous and slightly naughty exhaust tone and wild looks of the GTS and the balanced price-to-spec-to-space ratio offered by the S, we still believe that the standard Macan, with its four-cylinder engine and lower list price is all the premium compact Porsche SUV you need.