2018 Porsche Macan Road Test and Review

2017 Porsche Macan GTS front hero ・ Photo by Porsche

Traffic was light. It was well after 10 p.m. and I was cutting a quick path from Palm Springs, California, to the coast, about a 125-mile run on I-10. I had just scanned the gauges of the 2018 Porsche Macan GTS to confirm my speed, 83 mph, when a highway patrolman turned on his Dodge Charger's pretty blue and red lights. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I never saw him coming. License, registration and a smile.

Officer Baricza was friendly, professional and compassionate. He complimented the Porsche, chastised me for excessive speed and sent me on my way without a written citation. True story. I drove the rest of the way home like a little old church lady.

Built in Germany, the Macan is the German automaker's smallest and most affordable SUV. Like the rest of Porsche’s highly praised lineup, it delivers a unique combination of style, luxury, and performance. And it’s one of our favorites in the extremely hot compact luxury SUV class, where it competes against the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

Porsche’s Best Seller

Porsche sold more vehicles in the U.S. last year than it ever has in the past: 55,420. Of that total, 21,429 were Macans, which makes this SUV Porsche’s runaway best-seller. The 2018 Macan is available in five trim levels: base, S, GTS, Turbo and Turbo with Performance Package. Prices start at $48,850, including $1,050 delivery fee, for the base Macan, so it's Porsche's least expensive model. It comes with a 252-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which it shares with its cousin, the Audi Q5, and Porsche says it can sprint to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds.

All Macans come with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission that Porsche calls PDK. Base prices top out at $88,750 for the Macan Turbo with Performance Package, which packs a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 with 440 horsepower. Porsche says it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 4.2 seconds, thus it's one of the quickest SUVs on the road. However, the Alfa Romeo says its 505-horsepower Stelvio Quadrifoglio is even quicker with a time of 3.9 seconds.

Photo by Porsche

Macan GTS is a Sweet Spot

Sandwiched between the base four-cylinder and the manic 400-horsepower Turbo models are the S and the GTS. These two trims feature a twin-turbo all-aluminum 3.0-liter V6. In the S it makes a very respectable 340 horsepower, but the GTS — like our test vehicle — gets bumped up to 360 horsepower, giving it more punch than the all-new 2018 BMW X3 M40i. Porsche also makes GTS versions of its sports cars, and the trim level is always an inspired combination of raw performance, luxury and refinement. The Macan GTS is no exception and it represents an incredible value as it costs nearly $10,000 less than the Turbo.

Macan GTS prices start at $69,950. In addition to the bigger engine, the GTS gets sport seats, aggressively styled 20-inch wheels, adjustable air suspension, a sport exhaust system and massive brakes with red calipers. With options — including a navigation system and Porsche’s Torque Vectoring Plus system, which improves traction and handling — our GTS test vehicle cost $78,000.

Photo by Porsche

Looks Sporty and Expensive

Short and squat, with a low roofline and a radically canted rear end, the Macan is one of the most aggressively styled SUVs on the road. Although it debuted back in 2014, the Macan still looks fresh and our Volcano Grey GTS was stark and menacing rolling on its oversized black wheels. The GTS also gets black trim, and its distinct lack of chrome makes a strong statement, something like, “Get out of my way.” The look turned heads around Los Angeles and attracted the attention of the California Highway Patrol, despite the muted color scheme.

From the rear, the Macan GTS just looks bad — as in good. From its simple tailgate badging and its large dual exhaust pipes to its beautifully integrated rear spoiler and sports-car stance, the Macan is quickly identifiable as a Porsche. It wonderfully resembles the company’s Cayman and 911 sports cars and reflects this SUV’s impressive performance and sporty driving character. But it’s not quite as small as it looks. At 184.9 inches long and 68.9 inches high, the Macan is only about 7 inches shorter and 4 inches lower than a Lexus RX.

Photo by Porsche

Fast, Fun and Refined

Macan is Indonesian for tiger. But this SUV is no savage beast. It’s fast, fun and refined. The Macan is engaging and sporty, traits Porsche is known for, but it’s also extremely smooth, comfortable and quiet with a compliant ride and a solid, substantial feel. With its 20-inch wheels and sport-tuned suspension, you might expect a jarring ride, but that’s just not the case. Even at 83 mph on L.A.’s choppy concrete freeways, the air suspension soaks up the majority of the road's acne. And it’s fun to throw the Macan into a corner. Few SUVs handle this well.

The twin-turbo V6 is strong and perfectly matched to the quick shifting seven-speed PDK, which is among the best dual-clutch transmissions in the world. Macan GTS and Turbo models come standard with an adjustable suspension, and our test vehicle included the optional Sport Chrono Package, which adds a Sport Plus Mode that increases throttle response, retunes the transmission and livens up the driving experience beyond the standard Normal and Sport Modes.

Photo by Porsche

Comfortable, Sporty Interior

Don’t let the Macan’s cabin intimidate you. Its controls look complicated, especially the sea of buttons on its console, but it’s all very simple and easy to use. The design is similar to the interiors of the brand’s sports cars, and it works well in the Macan with an upscale feel, high build quality, and rich materials.

The blood-red leather in our test vehicle was a little over the top but matched the Macan’s performance image and capabilities. The same also goes for its heavily bolstered sport seats. They’re comfortable and hold you in place when you’re driving the SUV hard, but some might find them to be a little snug. Visibility is excellent and the 7-inch touch screen is large enough and its functions are intuitive to use.

Photo by Porsche

Family Friendly?

Rear passengers can spread out and enjoy the rear air conditioning vents and adjustable headrests. The backseat does fit three full-size adults if the ride is short, and headroom is surprisingly abundant. Still, for most families, Porsche's larger Cayenne will make more sense. Younger families will appreciate the Macan’s easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and three easily accessed upper tether anchors. However, the Macan has not been crash tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Overall, fuel economy is about average for a premium crossover. The base Macan is rated for 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, while the more powerful Macan GTS is rated for 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. I averaged 22 mpg during a week of mixed driving, including my rudely interrupted drive to Palm Springs and back.

Photo by Porsche

Average Cargo Capacity

Storage inside the Porsche’s interior is sufficient and well thought out. The center console bin is large enough, the sizable door pockets have slots for water bottles and there are a couple of well-placed cupholders.

Cargo space isn’t exactly commodious, however. The 2018 Porsche Macan offers just 17.7 cubic feet of trunk space, which is about average for its class. The Lexus NX offers the same, but the Mercedes-Benz GLC offers a bit more. Every Macan comes standard with a 60/40 split rear seat, which is easily folded flat for your larger items. With the seats down there are 53.0 cubic feet of space.

Photo by Porsche

Optional Advanced Safety Systems

Despite wearing a price tag of nearly $80,000, our 2018 Macan GTS test car didn’t have many driver aids. In fact, most of these safety systems, which have become commonplace in this class and at that price point, aren’t even available on the Macan at any price. Adaptive cruise control is available, as is lane-keeping assist and a blind-spot monitor. A backup camera and front and rear parking sensors are standard on the GTS. A rear cross-traffic alert is not available.

Porsche does offer a fire extinguisher, of all things, as well as racetrack-ready ceramic composite brakes that cost over $8,000. Another cool bit of available safety tech is Porsche’s Dynamic Light System, which swivels the headlamps when you turn the steering wheel to help you see around corners at night.

Photo by Porsche

Final Thoughts

Porsche’s short list of optional safety technology will surely turn off some buyers, and the Macan is more expensive than any other player in the compact luxury suv class. Still, its unique combination of luxury, performance, and style has made it popular with enthusiasts as well as small families. The Macan is comfortable, its performance is exceptional, and it’s certainly fun to drive. It’s also beautifully appointed and sexy both inside and out.

If you’re looking for a sporty small luxury SUV, the 2018 Porsche Macan is a very desirable overall choice.

Photo by Porsche