Porsche

Macan

Porsche’s first ever compact SUV – the Macan – takes on a quality field of rivals, but offers outstanding performance, while still delivering on the practicality front. And, of course, there are versions that will meet the thrill-seeker’s needs too.

Test Drive

Porsche Macan T (2023)

If you’re looking for a practical family SUV that still delivers edge-of-the-seat performance with blistering pace then the Porsche Macan could be the answer to all your prayers.

That’s because this five-door model oozes class and has the handling to match its dynamic good looks.

The Macan T (T stands for Touring), as tested, sits just above the entry-level model. It is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that pumps out 265hp and 400Nm of torque. It can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in just 6.2 seconds and tops out at 144mph. That’s not too bad for a family SUV that weighs 1,865kg.

But if you want even more oomph, then the Macan S offers faster responses thanks to its larger V6 2.9-litre engine, but at a price.

However, we were testing the Macan T costing £53,970. But as is the premium car way, it featured a number of optional extras. These included Carrara White paint (£674), a Bose surround sound system (£834) Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (£1,052), an electrically extending towbar system (£858) and a number of other features that resulted in a final price-tag of £60,841.

Stretching more than 4.7 metres in length, the Macan has a powerful road presence and just a few of the eye-catching design cues include the Agate Grey metallic coloured rear spoiler, grille, door mirrors and side blades, along with the PORSCHE logo and model name on the tailgate.

It boasts two gloss black twin exhaust pipes, black roof rails (£245 extra), high gloss black side window trims, tinted LED headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (£618), tinted LED taillights (£539), privacy glass (£333) and 20-inch Macan S wheels painted in dark titanium that cost an additional £387.

Moving inside, the interior is premium quality throughout with the finest materials incorporated into a beautifully crafted cabin. The power-adjustable leather seats feature contrast stitching with Porsche crests on the front headrests and there are Porsche-badged carpets.

Creature comforts include Apple CarPlay with Siri voice recognition – there is no Android Auto on any Porsche car. There is a smart infotainment screen that is integrated into the dashboard and features include a DAB radio, three-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, heated seats, sat nav, wireless charging, a reversing camera and lots more besides.

The driver information display behind the steering wheel consists of three circular dials. The central dial displays the speed, gear selector and rev counter. To the left is the trip and fuel-based readouts and to the right is a dial that can be altered to show phone contacts, navigation details, radio stations, tyre pressures and also a stopwatch for speed testing.

When it comes to performance, the front-engined, all-wheel drive Macan T boasts rapid acceleration through the seven-speed automatic PDK transmission. There are steering wheel-mounted paddles for added driver engagement and there are also drive modes called Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual that alter the responses of the vehicle.

For added excitement, simply press the drive mode button on the steering wheel and the Sport Response function kicks in. This sharpens up everything from the gear shifts to the acceleration as it counts back from 20 to zero. Not for the faint-hearted though!

Despite its high-sided design, the Macan T shows no sign of body sway no matter how enthusiastically it’s pushed into and out of tight bends. The grip is ultra-confident and power levels are unrelenting which makes overtaking a simple task.

It’s an accomplished motorway cruiser effortlessly eating up the miles and, with good all-round driver visibility, city driving is fine too.

With the latest suspension set-up, the ride is beautifully cushioned and all occupants are treated to a refined cabin experience with barely a sound filtering through.

And when it comes to practicality, this Macan certainly ticks all the right boxes with ample room for five adults to travel in comfort.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can accommodate 488 litres of luggage, a limit that increases to 1,503 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

There are additional storage options throughout the cabin, including a lockable glovebox, a central cubby box with USB charge ports, two front and two rear cup holders, deep door bins, a tray, plus a couple of clothes hooks on the B pillars to hang jackets from.

The vehicle is also ideal for family getaways and can tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to two tonnes. And with its all-wheel drive capabilities, it will never get stuck on boggy campsites. In fact, it can wade through water up to 300mm deep and has a ground clearance limit of 187mm.

When you also factor in the wealth of on-board safety equipment and driver assistance aids that helped the Macan secure a maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, this really is the complete package.

Admittedly, it’s not cheap and nor will the day-to-day running costs be either with a combined 26.4-28.0mpg and carbon emissions of 229-242g/km, but sometimes you really do have to pay that little bit more for top quality.