Overview & Reviews

The Porsche Macan is Porsche's first new crossover SUV since the one that started it all, the controversial but highly successful Cayenne. Arguably, the smaller Macan's mission is less daunting. Although the midsize Cayenne debuted to howls of dismay from Porsche purists, its popularity in the marketplace has made the idea of a Porsche SUV seem perfectly normal. All the Macan has to do is prove that Porsche can do compact crossovers, too.

While the Macan has some underlying mechanical similarity to the Audi Q5, Porsche has subjected it to a comprehensive makeover. The result is a lower, sleeker vehicle that provides a unique interior, a choice of turbocharged V6 engines, impressive athleticism and even respectable off-road chops. The Macan does suffer in terms of passenger and cargo space compared to some roomier compact luxury crossover rivals, but nothing else on the market can match its overall performance.

Current Porsche Macan
Introduced for 2015, the Macan is offered in S and Turbo trims. In fact, both are turbocharged, but the base Macan gets a 3.0-liter V6 rated at 340 horsepower, while the Turbo boasts a 3.6-liter V6 that's good for 400 hp. The only transmission available is Porsche's seven-speed automated manual, known as PDK. All Macans feature an all-wheel-drive system that sends most of the power to the rear wheels by default for a sportier driving feel.

Porsche is notorious for its expensive options, but the Macan actually comes nicely equipped from the get-go. Standard features on the S include 19-inch wheels, active bi-xenon headlights, a power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats, a 7-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker sound system. The main attraction with the Turbo is what's under the hood, but there are also some exterior styling tweaks, more power adjustments for the front seats, an upgraded audio system and a navigation system.

Even the absolute entry-level Macan S, then, is still a desirable package, and possibly the best value in the Macan lineup. To wit, check out the price gap between S and Turbo; it's not for the faint of heart. But many Porsche customers revel in being able to personalize their vehicles with custom add-ons, and Porsche obliges with extra-cost items like 20- or 21-inch wheels, variable rear-wheel torque vectoring for more precise handling, an adaptive air suspension, a panoramic sunroof, tri-zone climate control, an upper-crust Burmester audio system and all manner of interior trim upgrades.

With the Macan, Porsche has built a focused performance machine, one that can keep up with most sports cars on a winding road. From the driver seat, the Macan feels hunkered-down and intimate, with Porsche's trademark rising center console creating a cockpit-like feel. Materials quality is excellent, giving up little if anything to other Porsche models. At highway speeds, the Macan is remarkably quiet, but big-time fun is just a squeeze of the throttle away. Even the base engine accelerates with verve, while the Turbo is either totally awesome or overpriced, depending on your perspective. On the downside, though, the Macan is fairly tight on the inside. A relatively small backseat and cargo hold make it less practical than the still sporty Audi SQ5 or BMW X3.

User Reviews:

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  My 22nd new vehicle - 2015 Porsche Macan
  By gtfranklin - September 25 - 9:33 am

  My Macan S is by far the most enjoyable new car in my long car-buying history. I have purchased Ford, Olds, Nissan, Toyotas, Honda, Acuras, Infiniti, BMWs, but not since my 98 E36 M3 have I been so thoroughly impressed with a car. Great handling PLUS great ride, solid, quiet (almost too quiet), fast, plus much better mpg than I expected (23.8 @ 2600 miles)...I make up excuses to go places just to drive this car. Didnt rate reliability because its new & my 1st Porsche. Came from 08 and 10 MDX, & was going to try X-3 35i until the Macan info came out in January. Picked mine up in May.

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  Fun - Safety - sure-footed on the road - Love-it! - 2017 Porsche Macan
  By Schnooky - October 14 - 7:01 pm

  if you just want a good SUV, get the new Audi Q5. But - if you want a drivers car - get a Macan. Yes - 2 very similar cars on the outside - though on the Macan, the 4-whhel drive gives preference to the REAR WHEELS, and the Audi to the Front wheels. The Audi is built in Mexico with great German engineering, but the Macan is build in Germany. The only thing that really upsets me is that both the Speedometer and Digital Speedometer are NOT close to being accurate. At cars 75mph, real speed is 72mph, even at 30mph, real speed is only 28. So if you know this (and that my dealers said this is normal and within specs) - whats the problem - well - if the speedo is off by 10% as an example - when you hit 50,000 miles in 4-years and your warrantee is no longer any good - BUT you have only traveled 38,000 miles - what to do? Oh yes - from what I discovered, the "$830 Porsche Connect" is about totally worthless! Otherwise, thoroughly enjoying my Macan.

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  When performance meets luxury, beauty & co - 2016 Porsche Macan
  By Girish Gudla - October 4 - 1:32 am

  For me, this is one of those beautiful looking cars with Porsches classic design elements and luxury embedded. Performance is the soul of this car with amazing braking & acceleration. Pros: Luxurious, sound of the exhaust pipes, performance, good options which cover most of the use-cases & requirements, leather seats, panoramic roof, PDLS(this is a worth feature) Cons: the infotainment system looks pretty old though when compared to Audi/BMW. Expensive options which adds significant cost to the final price. Mileage is not great(340hp V6 engine). Rear seats leg room is not super great.

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  yolo - 2017 Porsche Macan
  By burke - July 18 - 1:05 pm

  shop around because you will find $3500 differences. And test drive a few times also tube the reviews

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  2 months in and still love it!! - 2017 Porsche Macan
  By Pat - May 14 - 8:04 pm

  I came out of a newer BMW convertible. Loved that car but needed something with just a bit more practicality. I looked at these on a whim and fell in love with the styling both inside and out. As soon as my wife sat in it she said....I want this car. Opted for the base with the premium plus package and 20" wheels plus a couple other options. Bought it for $52k net. I feel that its actually a great value for what you get and there isnt another compact crossover that can touch it in the driving dynamics department. Handles like a 911. Average mid 20s on the highway on premium fuel. No complaints so far. The back seat could be a bit bigger, but it suits my 12 year old just fine.

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  Love and hate this car... - 2017 Porsche Macan
  By G Coeler - July 24 - 1:35 pm

  What I love about this Macan: Comfort, popular, good looks, quiet, fun to drive, good build quality. What I hate about this Macan: Maintenance is really expensive. In 40K miles I have spent $2250 versus Audi Q5 $1100 which I owned before. Audis brakes need replacement every 25K. The dealer also was very stubborn on taking anything off the MSRP. Would I repeat this purchase? Probably not, you can save a few bucks buying the maintenance contract ahead which they didnt even offer me.

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  Nothing spectacular - 2017 Porsche Macan
  By Roger Peng - October 19 - 2:59 am

  I should start off by saying I am a Cayenne owner who got the chance to drive the Macan S as a loaner car for 4 days. I was generally quite disappointed. Ive driven many kinds of cars, and the Macan simply does not stand out. Im surprised by the overwhelmingly positive reviews, as the car does not live up to it. It is a rather average ride dressed up with a somewhat fancy interior that isnt particularly spacious or functional. Porsche has a way of making cars that are large on the outside and small on the inside (this complaint applies to the Cayenne as well). The rows of buttons in the center console is getting old, and the entertainment console is a joke compared to what youd find in a Tesla. The exhaust note is a gimmick aimed at impressing new-to-Porsche owners, as the car is not particularly fast. A small capacity engine aided by turbo charger just doesnt cut it. After you spend some time with the car, you really start to feel like "Hey, this drives like any other car!". After my short stint with the Macan, I couldnt be happier to return the loaner.

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  Love my Little White Sweetheart W/ Red interior - 2017 Porsche Macan
  By Carolyn Carter - August 19 - 12:36 am

  It has been a joy. Mine is a2015. I would buy another if I need to buy one.

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  17,000 miles in a year and I have three other cars - 2017 Porsche Macan
  By markm - September 29 - 9:00 pm

  I have a 997.1, a Box S and a high mileage BMW X5. I bought this vehicle as a present for myself after finishing my last Chemo treatment... Ive owned Porsches for over forty years, numerous types including, 911s, 996s, 997s, boxster s, Cayenne and even a 914 in my younger days. The Macan is by far the best balanced SUV-sports car for the money you can find. Mine is not highly optioned. The engine is responsive in all ranges, the braking smooth and intuitive and the handling sublime; thats without any of the pricey suspension options. The base stereo is just fine and I consider myself an audiophile, the added sunroof and lane change assist were my adds along with the premium package.... $59.6k. The Macan has been a pleasure on long drives down the Big Sur coast or through the high Sierras... and the base seats are a lot more comfortable than my 997. The one thing you have to be careful about is the quickness of this car to go from 70 to 95 in a heart beat... its that fast.

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  Excellent - 2016 Porsche Macan
  By penmgmt - August 27 - 11:47 am

  Great car. Some electronic quirks(after 4,000 miles the mirrors starting folding in on door looking) not Mercedes ergonomics but excellent drive. Quiet and powerful.