2024 Porsche Macan

Overview

More than a few compact luxury SUVs are dull little things, but the Porsche Macan is one of only a handful that prove daring and exciting to drive. Despite its rather shed-like shape, the Macan embodies plenty of Porsche sports-car characteristics. The base Macan comes with a 261-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine that generates a respectable amount of zip. Macan S gets a 375-hp twin-turbo V-6 that delivers a significant leap in performance, making it the second mightiest of the Macan line before deferring to the more furious 434-hp Macan GTS, which we review separately. The Macan's steering and ride make carving through challenging twisty roads as easy as slicing soft butter, thanks to a chassis designed for performance over cargo space. It's unmatched in terms of driving feel. So, while the boxier BMW X3 M will carry more luggage, the Macan carries more of what enthusiasts crave: pure driving soul. Its unmatched athleticism helped earn it a place on our 10Best Trucks and SUVs and Editors' Choice lists again this year.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#1 in Best Compact Luxury SUVs

1

Porsche Macan

STARTING AT: $62,550

2

Genesis GV70

STARTING AT: $47,050

3

Mercedes-Benz GLC-class

STARTING AT: $48,600

4

BMW X3

STARTING AT: $47,895

5

Volvo XC60

STARTING AT: $48,195

6

Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

STARTING AT: $58,150

What's New for 2024?

Porsche makes no significant changes for the Macan for 2024.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Given the Macan's athletic character, we'd skip the base powertrain and go straight for the V-6-powered S, which brings a meaningful bump in performance. Standard features include a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10-speaker audio system, and LED headlights. We'd also splurge a little for the Premium package for its heated front and rear seats, adaptive headlights, and an upgraded 14-speaker audio system. The Sport Chrono pack has our attention too, for its driver-adjustable drive modes and launch-control feature.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

With the base turbo four-cylinder, the Macan bounds to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. It feels sprightly around town, but speed freaks will want to upgrade to the twin-turbo V-6–powered S model. At our test track, the Macan S was only a few seconds behind the more powerful GTS with a 3.8-second 60-mph time. The Macan S is significantly quicker than the times posted by the Audi SQ5 and Jaguar F-Pace S. An SUV probably doesn't need to launch off the line as quickly as that, but we sure appreciate it. Quickness is important in a crossover with sporting intentions, but we wouldn't be nearly as impressed with the Macan if it weren't for its all-around competence on the road. It feels remarkably like a sports sedan. The ride is wonderfully smooth and carefully controlled, and it's rare for a jolt from the pavement to make itself known to the driver. The steering is a tad lighter than it is in Porsche's sports cars, but it's still micrometer-accurate and pleasantly tactile.

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Towing and Payload Capacity

Given its Porsche pedigree, you might expect the Macan to be hitchless, but it does have a minimal trailering capacity of 2000 pounds. Moving up from the four-cylinder to the V-6-powered Macan S and GTS, that maximum towing capacity rises to 2400 pounds.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The most efficient Macan, according to the EPA, is the base model with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which is rated for 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The Macan S, which is powered by the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6, is rated for 17 mpg city and 23-mpg highway. On our 75-mph real-world highway fuel-economy loop, the Macan S averaged 26 mpg, bettering its highway figure by 3 mpg. For more information about the Macan's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Macan's standard interior fittings are a disappointment in a crossover of this price and provenance, and it's expensive to outfit one in a manner that befits the Porsche crest. There's also less space for back-seat passengers in the Macan than in most competitors. The power-adjustable seats for the driver and front passenger, while comfortable, are the only pieces of standard interior equipment that feel luxurious. You could have the whole interior draped in leather, which would partly address the issue, but Porsche—living up to its price-gouging reputation—requires an extra $2230 just to cover the dashboard and doors in cowhide. A puny cargo hold and small interior cubbies make the Macan one of the least practical vehicles in this segment. But when has buying a Porsche ever been a rational choice? We fit six carry-on bags behind the bench and 16 with the rear seats folded, which should be enough for most people.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

Porsche's infotainment system can be had with all manner of high-tech features, but they'll cost you. USB ports and 12-volt outlets are sprinkled throughout the cabin, so everyone should be able to keep their devices fully charged. A Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay come standard, but no Macan offers Android Auto.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Macan is available with a wide array of driver-assistance technology, but almost none of it is standard. For more information about the Macan's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard lane-departure warning
• Available automated emergency braking
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Porsche's warranty coverage is good but not great. The F-Pace and the Cadillac XT5 offer better coverage in certain areas.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 10,000 miles

Specifications

Specifications

2022 Porsche Macan
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $56,250/$63,270

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 121 in³, 1984 cm³
Power: 261 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm

TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.8-in vented disc/13.0-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
F: 235/55R-19 101Y NEO
R: 255/50R-19 103Y NEO

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 110.5 in
Length: 186.1 in
Width: 75.6 in
Height: 63.8 in
Passenger Volume: 96 ft³
Cargo Volume: 17 ft³
Curb Weight: 4199 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.7 sec @ 98 mph
100 mph: 14.4 sec
130 mph: 32.5 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.0 sec
Top Speed (mfr's claim): 144 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 163 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 342 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.89 g

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 21/19/25 mpg

 

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

2022 Porsche Macan S
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $66,750/$73,040

ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 177 in³, 2894 cm³
Power: 375 hp @ 6700 rpm
Torque: 383 lb-ft @ 1850 rpm

TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 14.2-in vented disc/13.0-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Latitude Sport 3
F: 265/45R-20 104Y N0
R: 295/40R-20 106Y N0

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 110.5 in
Length: 186.1 in
Width: 76.1 in
Height: 63.8 in
Passenger Volume: 96 ft³
Cargo Volume: 17 ft³
Curb Weight: 4386 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.8 sec
100 mph: 10.4 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.5 sec @ 108 mph
130 mph: 20.2 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.8 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.7 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.6 sec
Top Speed (mfr's claim): 160 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 160 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 316 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.91 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 18 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 26 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 440 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 19/17/23 mpg

More Features and Specs