Now halfway through its lifecycle, it was time for the premium compact crossover to receive an update. I travelled to Cape Town recently to sample the new base model.
Updated styling
Much like the new Cayenne, 911 and Panamera, the Macan has inherited the German marque’s new design language. That being said, from the front and side profile, not much has changed with the signature clamshell bonnet, revised LED headlights and vertical lines characterising the lower bumper while there are no longer fog lamps as the headlamps perform this function.
From the side, one can now specify the lower blade in either silver or gloss black, while there are also new alloy wheel designs to choose from. It’s at the rear where things have changed the most, with a three-dimensional LED light bar now running across the length of the rear facia like on the Panamera, Cayenne and more recently, the 992 911. Overall, the styling is certainly evolutionary and ensures that the Macan remains Porsche’s best-looking SUV, in this writer’s opinion.
Interior upgrades
The Macan has always had a rather sporty interior with a relatively low seating position and a tall dashboard. This updated model now features improved technology with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which has fantastic resolution and high-quality cameras for reverse and parking scenarios.
With the new system comes fewer buttons on the centre console for a more simplified look, with further differences consisting of newly designed air vents. Alcantara and leather covered seats and the option of the GT Sports steering wheel from other Porsche models. In terms of practicality, the Macan offers a reasonable 458-litre boot which expands to 1 500-litres with the rear seats folded flat. Rear headroom can be an issue for taller passengers due to the sloping nature of the Macan’s roofline, however, the interior can accommodate five adults in comfort.
Driving Macan
The best part of any Porsche product is supposed to be the driving experience. I’m happy to report that Porsche’s engineers have done it again by injecting more fun into the driving experience by adding bits of aluminium to certain suspension components, and tweaking the setup slightly.
At launch, we only had an opportunity to drive the new base model, which is now powered by a Volkswagen-sourced, albeit Porsche fettled 2.0-litre turbo-petrol which, in this guise, produces 185 kW and 370 N.m of torque, sent through all four wheels by a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. This will allow the Macan to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds or 6.5 seconds if fitted with the optional Sport Chrono Package which adds a driving mode selector to the steering wheel.
The addition of a four-cylinder to the Macan range makes owning a Porsche more attainable for some and also improves efficiency, with claimed consumption of 8.1 L/100 km despite the launch route, which included spirited driving, resulting in a figure of 12.3 L/100km. The Macan proved why it is considered the best to drive within its segment, with great handling and sporty driving characteristics, however, these sporty dynamics do mean a firm ride which can be remedied by fitting the optional air suspension.
Macan S
The current range-topping Macan is the S model, which gets a turbocharged V6 that is good for 260 kW and 480 N.m of torque. This variant will get from zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package, and sip fuel at a claimed rate of 9.6-L/100km.
Verdict
The updated Macan is likely to continue where its predecessor left off, as Porsche’s bread and butter model alongside the Cayenne. With great driving dynamics, excellent build quality, refinement and the introduction of a more affordable variant, Porsche is approaching the top of this segment.
Warranty and service
All Macan models come with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty and a three-year Porsche Driveplan as standard, with a five-year Driveplan being an option.
Pricing
Macan - R849 000
Macan S - R1 099 000
NOTE: European-spec model pictured
