Yes, it is just a 2.0L turbocharged engine that is underneath this quite large Porsche SUV. Is there enough power? Can it drive up Genting Highlands with 5 adults and luggage on board? Does it have enough luxury appointments to be badged a Porsche? Is it really a Porsche? Well all this and more will be answered in the following paragraphs.
LOOKS
What looks like a stylish family SUV has a heart of sports coupe hidden under its sexy silhouette? This is not your average SUV and in fact it carries a Porsche badge ready for performance that will leave most sports car owners shocked at its ability to keep up with them on the open highway and also long curvy corner.
DEBUT
The Macan made its debut in 2014 and within a year it was Porsche’s best selling vehicle in its lineup as the world become SUV hungry.
Despite being called a ‘baby’ Porsche, the Macan has plenty of space inside. The Macan is built on a heavily modified version of the Audi Q5′ chassis. It is a generous 4,681mm long and 1,923mm wide, which means it occupies a bigger footprint than the Audi Q5. There is a decent 500-litres of room in the boot for luggage and golf-bags which extends to 1,500-litres when the rear seats are folded.
The Macan is about 40kg lighter than its Audi sibling due to the extensive use of aluminum panels. This is also why it is a smidgen faster.
Macan Owner
A question often asked and yes it is equally shared between male and female owners. It is not a ‘ladies’ SUV. Porsche 911 owners (men) will find the Macan the right business vehicle for meetings, lunches, golfing and site visits. It allows 4 adults in great comfort and 5 with some thigh pinching at the rear.
Macan Drive
Start the engine and the 2L turbocharged engine fires up instantaneously. This engine is shared with the Audi A4 which is from Volkswagen Group (both Porsche and Audi belong to the Volkswagen Group so engine and component sharing is normal).
At idle you do not hear the engine and the refinement is like with its larger sibling, the Cayenne but if you squeeze the throttle the engine responds instantly. Even before the smooth 4-cylinder is fully into its stride, the power on tap is very impressive.
Press hard on the accelerator and you will not need telling twice that this Macan is all about quick agile movements. The engine growls as you hit the higher revolutions and the steering returns a firm authoritative handling.
Points must be awarded to its great brakes which shaves speed super quick when needed and without jostling on board passengers. The large and wide wheels also play a role here.
8 Reasons To Buy
- It just looks stunning when parked next to a Cayenne
- Its cabin refinement is on par with the competition and maybe even a little beyond.
- It is your very first Porsche perhaps.
- It has a sensible 2-liter engine for fuel sipping qualities.
- The 0-100km/h run is easily done in just 6.7 seconds.
- It has all wheel drive and shared all terrain technology with Cayenne.
- It is priced from just RM455,000.
- There is a 4-years full coverage manufacturers warranty ……so…worry free motoring.
Very much a driver’s SUV, the Macan impresses with its ability to tackle corners without the exhibiting the trademark pitch and roll of so many of its rivals. In ‘Comfort’ mode, the suspension is very compliant, and this translates into a relaxed and easygoing urban driving experience. Put the Macan in ‘Sport’ mode and it is quite a different ‘animal’. Pretty much everything can be handled by the Macan, and on the highway at triple digit speeds it’s very quiet and very smooth.
Macan Cabin
Porsches are renowned for their faultless ergonomics, and the Macan is a prime example of the company’s ability to make you feel at ease behind the wheel. Getting comfortable behind the wheel is no problem, though, as both driver’s seat and helm offer a wide range of adjustments.
The mix of exclusivity, high quality and sportiness is also apparent in the Macan’s interior. It features a high quality leather interior as standard, including numerous metallic bits all around the cabin. The driver and front seat passenger sit on exclusive, eight-way electrically adjustable sports seats. The rear seats with their single seat styling offer rear passenger’s outstanding support when the driver starts executing fast corners.
Macan Conclusion
This luxury SUV is also for the average SUV driver needing just grocery, school, mall visit and tea time runs. With a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.7 seconds, this SUV can chase down many sport coupes and probably out handle most of them in some corners in the right hands, but then again this is a SUV and style and comfort comes to mind before being a speed demon. Time for a test drive.
Porsche Macan Specifications
Engine: 4-cylinder Turbocharged
Capacity: 1984cc
Transmission: 7-speed PDK
Max Power: 252bhp @ 5000 – 6750rpm
Max Torque: 370Nm @ 1600 – 4500rpm
0-100km/h: 6.7 secs
Top Speed: 225km/h
Price: From RM455,000.00
