2018 Porsche Macan Reviews, Pricing & Specs

A lot of people scoffed at the idea of a Porsche SUV when the Cayenne was introduced back in the early 2000s, but Porsche has had the last...

A lot of people scoffed at the idea of a Porsche SUV when the Cayenne was introduced back in the early 2000s, but Porsche has had the last laugh, practically creating an entire market segment of performance luxury SUVs. The Cayenne’s success was so substantial for Porsche’s bottom line that a smaller, lower priced SUV was announced earlier this decade. Called the Macan, it is now both Porsche’s best-selling model and its cheapest. It outsold the 911 last year by three to one, and with a starting price under $50,000, the Macan is an even more affordable way to get into a new Porsche than the Boxster. Not much changes from the 2017 model year since this is a still fairly new model, and trims still include Base, S, GTS, and Turbo.

For a small SUV, the Macan is remarkably quick and fun to drive in any trim, and downright fast in Turbo spec. Base models get a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that was added to the lineup in 2017, and it makes 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The Macan S gets a twin-turbocharged V-6 that makes 340 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, while the GTS gets the same engine that has been tweaked for 360 hp. The Macan Turbo isn’t the only turbocharged version, but its twin-turbo V-6 gets 400 hp or even 440 hp when ordered with the Performance Package, which also comes with sports exhaust. Properly equipped Macan Turbos will do 0-60 miles per hour in well under five seconds. All Macans get a PDK transmission and all come with all-wheel drive (AWD). Four-cylinder models manage 20 mpg city, 25 highway, 22 combined, while the V-6s get 17, 24, and 19.

While it is a luxury SUV, at the end of the day the Macan is still a Porsche, and Porsche didn’t forget its roots when designing it. The Macan handles surprisingly well and is remarkably fun to drive in any spec, be it a base four-cylinder or a loaded Macan Turbo. Most Macans get conventional steel suspension, but higher models can be had with air suspension and adaptive dampers.

With only seating for five and a less than cavernous interior, the Macan isn’t a true family hauler, but it will transport a handful of people in style. The fit and finish as well as the quality of the materials is top notch, and there’s a substantial options list to jazz things up even further. Options include 18-way power seats with heating and cooling and a 14-speaker stereo. Tri-zone automatic climate control, 10-speaker stereo and 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen are standard. The Macan will hold 17.7 cubic feet of cargo with the seats up, and this expands to 53 cubic feet when they’re folded.

While the Macan hasn’t been crash tested, it comes with optional safety features like lane-departure warnings, blind-spot monitors, and a surround view camera.