Volume 13 Issue 1 » 59
2017 Porsche Macan
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Shrink the Porsche Cayenne SUV down a size and you’ll get the
Macan crossover. Little brother it may be, Porsche proclaims the
Macan as the first compact SUV that is also a sports car. The design,
that wraps 911-style cues into a four-door body, makes the Macan
unmistakable for anything other than a Porsche.
The cabin is very driver-centric with its rising centre console, and
retains a lot of what makes a typical premium-branded crossover
an attractive ownership proposition. All-in-all, it’s very plush and
luxurious, and the switchgear is nicely finished. This is an upmarket
interior, make no mistake about it.
Despite its nomenclature, every Macan is turbocharged, even the S
and GTS models. The big news for 2017 is the addition of a new
base Macan, powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
engine with 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This is a completely
different engine than the horizontally-opposed unit in the new 718
Boxster.
The Macan S is equipped with a 340-hp 3.0-litre V6, the GTS a
360-hp 3.0-litre V6, and the range-topping Macan Turbo a larger
twin-turbocharged 400-hp 3.6-litre V6.
The electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system is rear-biased
for more of a traditional Porsche rear-wheel-drive feel. However, the
system can send as much as 100 per cent of the power to the front
wheels if deemed necessary.