The Porsche Macan has outstanding sporting comfort and everyday usability. Oommen John P test drives the SUV
Sporty and versatile, the Porsche Macan is one of the most exciting and fun-to-drive SUVs. The new Macan boasts the typical sporty handling characteristics that have become synonymous with the Porsche brand. Many of the design and performance elements have been inspired by the brand’s sports cars, including the iconic 911 and the revolutionary 918 Spyder, making it clear that the compact SUV heralds the first of its kind.
Featuring exceptional acceleration, vast engine power, extreme agility and optimum steering precision, the Macan has outstanding sporting comfort and everyday usability. The sporty DNA of the Macan, as with all Porsche vehicles, is immediately recognisable in the design. The compact SUV is unrivalled in its flat and broad profile on the road. The wrap-around bonnet and gently sloping roof line accentuate the overall impression of sporty elegance and powerful dynamics. Three derivatives are available at Porsche Centre Oman for order:  Macan S, Macan S Diesel and Macan Turbo.
The Macan S is equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine, delivering 340 hp and also features an active all-wheel drive with an electronically controlled, map-controlled multi-plate clutch. This all-wheel drive is fitted on all Macan models. From the outset the Macan boasts the recently developed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK), which transfers power as required and almost free of interruption in tractive force. This enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package, and reaches a top speed of 254 km/h. Like other Porsche models, the Macan sports Porsche’s newest-generation PDK sequential manual transmission with paddle shifters and an automatic shift mode. The dual-clutch PDK system can shift through the car’s 7 gears faster than even the most well-trained driver with a traditional three-pedal manual. When in automatic mode, the transmission can be set to much more relaxed settings for driving through town. Regardless of engine choice, the Macan just plain out-hustles any of the compact luxury segment’s other entries. The Macan S accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in around 5.6 seconds, while the Macan Turbo does the same sprint in just 4.4 seconds.
With standard AWD packing a torque-vectoring rear differential, the Macan is still most at home on paved roads and racetracks despite its tall ride height and boxy SUV styling. Although Porsche’s latest shares some of its structural bones with its corporate sibling the Audi Q5, Porsche has made sure its vehicle is sufficiently differentiated thanks to its fully independent air suspension with active dampers. In Car and Driver testing, the Turbo model’s skidpad figure of 0.89 g places it closer to six-figure sports cars than the typical SUV.
The Macan S Diesel is the economical long-distance runner of the three Macan models. Its 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine achieves NEDC fuel consumption figures of between just 6.3 and 6.1 litres/100 km. Nevertheless, the Macan S Diesel accelerates from 0 to 100 km in just 6.1 seconds, when fitted with the Sport Chrono package, thanks to its 245-hp engine. It achieves a top speed of 230 km/h.
As the top derivative, the Macan Turbo is set to be the most powerful petrol-powered vehicle in the compact SUV segment. The 3.6-litre V6 biturbo engine, which is being used in a Porsche model for the very first time, achieves an unrivalled 400 hp and catapults the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds (with Sport Chrono package), reaching a top speed of 266 km/h.
The name Macan comes from the Indonesian word for tiger, a spirit the car truly embodies. Boasting pure Porsche power and assertiveness, the Macan is also a nimble yet tenacious off-roader. The latest stage of evolution of the all-wheel drive – known as Porsche Traction Management – has produced one of the world’s most powerful drive systems.
A glance at the performance specifications reveal that the Macan has been designed with agility in mind. Further unmistakable hallmarks of the vehicle include its proportions, design and the mixed tyres with different dimensions at the front and rear axle, enhancing the look and functionality. The driver and passenger seats also boast the low position typical of sports cars.
The Macan’s interior has been designed in a simple, ergonomic layout that avoids the busy, haphazard look found in some competitors. Leather-and-Alcantara sport seats along with a power liftgate and a fully featured infotainment with Siri Eyes Free technology for iPhone users highlight a long list of standard and available features setting Macan apart as a true luxury car.
The range of equipment fitted on the Macan as standard is extensive and includes the all-wheel drive, PDK, multi-function sport steering wheel with shift paddles, high-performance audio system and an electrically operated tailgate. The Macan features the air suspension system as the only vehicle in its segment and it comes as standard.