Porsche Macan review

Interior

Dashboard & tech

The interior of the Macan feels incredibly special and sporty. You get a superb driving position that’s low-slung for an SUV, and a driver-focused dashboard with a traditional three-dial instrument cluster. The quality is exceptional, with only the best materials used throughout. It feels every bit the premium product you’d expect.

Facelifted models from late 2018 onwards feature a much larger 11-inch touchscreen, which is a big improvement on the earlier car's smaller screen. The only slight criticism is that the centre console is covered in a lot of buttons, which can look a bit fussy compared to more minimalist modern designs. Still, it’s a beautifully crafted and very high-quality place to be.

Comfort

The Macan is a performance SUV, and this is reflected in its ride. It's firmer than most of its rivals, so you will feel more of the bumps and imperfections in the road. It's never harsh or uncomfortable, but if a pillowy-soft ride is your top priority, you might be better off with an Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC.

That said, it’s an incredibly refined car and a fantastic long-distance cruiser. The seats are very supportive, and the cabin is quiet at motorway speeds. For a car with such amazing handling, the compromise in comfort is one that many will be happy to make.

Quality

Porsche’s reputation for build quality is legendary, and the Macan is a perfect example of why. Everything you see and touch in the cabin feels incredibly solid and well-engineered. The switches click with a satisfying precision, and the materials are all top-notch.

It’s a cabin that not only looks and feels fantastic but is also built to last. It has a robust and durable feel that gives you huge confidence in its longevity. It’s a step above most of its rivals in terms of outright quality and craftsmanship.

Practicality & boot space

Interior space

Despite being the smaller of Porsche’s two SUVs, the Macan is still a practical choice for a family. There's plenty of space up front for the driver and passenger to get comfortable, and the view out is commanding.

In the back, there’s enough room for two adults to sit comfortably on a long journey, and you can even squeeze a third in for shorter trips. Headroom and legroom are good, making it a perfectly usable family car, although it’s not quite as spacious as some of its less sporty rivals.

Boot space

The Macan has a 500-litre boot, which is a good, generous size for this class of car. It’s a practical, square shape and will easily handle a family’s holiday luggage, a set of golf clubs, or a very big weekly shop.

When you need to carry larger items, the rear seats fold down to open up a 1,500-litre load area. It might not be the biggest boot in its class, but it’s more than practical enough for most people’s needs and makes the Macan a surprisingly versatile car.

Driving

Driving experience

This is what the Macan is all about. It is, without a doubt, the best-driving SUV in its class. It handles with the agility and precision of a much smaller, sportier car. The steering is perfectly weighted, and there is virtually no body roll in the corners. It feels incredibly composed and engaging on a twisty road, delivering a level of fun that no other SUV can match.

It truly feels like a Porsche sports car from behind the wheel, which is a remarkable achievement for a high-riding family vehicle. It’s a car that proves you don’t have to sacrifice driving enjoyment when you need the space and practicality of an SUV.

Performance

Every version of the Macan offers strong performance. The range kicks off with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that can get from 0-60mph in just 6.7 seconds. From there, things get even faster with the S, GTS, and Turbo models, which use powerful six-cylinder engines.

The GTS is the sweet spot for many, offering an even sportier setup and a 0-60mph time of just 4.7 seconds. At the top of the range, the mighty Turbo model produces 434bhp and can rocket from 0-60mph in a supercar-scaring 4.3 seconds. All models come with a superb PDK automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive.

Running costs

Fuel economy & CO2 emissions

Owning a performance SUV like the Macan does come with high running costs. None of the petrol engines are particularly economical, with even the most efficient 2.0-litre model returning less than 30mpg in official tests. If you’re looking for a cheaper-to-run Macan, the diesel version, which was sold until 2018, is your best bet, as it can achieve over 46mpg.

It’s a shame Porsche hasn’t introduced a plug-in hybrid version to the Macan range, as this is something offered by many of its key rivals. High CO2 emissions also mean that road tax will be expensive.

Value for money

A Porsche Macan is an expensive car to buy, with prices starting from over £47,000 when new. The options list is also long and pricey, so it's easy to add thousands to the price. However, it’s one of the most desirable cars in its class, and this means it holds its value incredibly well. This is great news for owners, as you’ll get a larger proportion of your money back when you come to sell it compared to most rivals.

Reliability & Warranty

The Macan is known for being a very well-built and reliable car. Porsche has a strong reputation for engineering, and it’s important that these cars are maintained correctly with regular servicing. From new, all Porsches come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which is a great package for peace of mind when buying a nearly-new model.

Safety

Safety features

The Porsche Macan has not been crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, but the Audi Q5, on which it is based, was awarded the maximum five-star rating, so you can be confident it's a very safe car.

It comes with plenty of standard safety kit, including front and rear parking sensors and lane departure warning. However, it’s a bit disappointing that a lot of more advanced driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane change assist, were optional extras when the car was new.

Trims & Engines

Trim levels

The Macan range is structured around its engines rather than traditional trim levels.

Macan: The standard model is well-equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, three-zone climate control, heated front seats, and an 11-inch touchscreen.

Macan S: Adds the more powerful V6 engine and some different styling details.

Macan GTS: The 'GTS' (Gran Turismo Sport) model is the sportiest in the range. It gets a power boost, a lowered sports suspension, a sports exhaust, and unique black styling details.

Macan Turbo: The top-of-the-range model gets the most powerful engine, larger brakes, and a host of luxurious features as standard.

Engines

The Macan is all about petrol power, especially since 2018 when the diesel was discontinued.

2.0-litre Petrol: The entry-level engine, producing 242bhp. It's more than powerful enough for most.2.9-litre V6 Petrol: This engine is used in the S, GTS, and Turbo models, in various states of tune. It produces 349bhp in the S, 375bhp in the GTS, and a mighty 434bhp in the Turbo.3.0-litre Diesel: Available on pre-2018 models, this 254bhp V6 diesel engine is a great choice for high-mileage drivers, offering strong performance and much better fuel economy.

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