Yahoo Finance Spellbinding: 2018 Porsche Macan Tested in Depth
Overall Rating:
With the incredibly engaging Macan, Porsche proves that a crossover can drive like a sports car. Its spellbinding performance and unflappable poise are primary reasons it has made two consecutive 10Best Trucks and SUVs lists. Underneath its curvaceous shell are three available engines-a base 252-hp turbocharged inline-four and two twin-turbo V-6s making 340 horsepower in the S model and 360 in the GTS. Every Macan is equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Sure, some competitors are more affordable and practical, but they don’t cast a spell on their drivers in the same way that the Porsche does. It truly sets the bar for what crossovers can be.
What’s New for 2018?
The Macan enters 2018 with only minor enhancements, including new interior and exterior color choices, improved infotainment capabilities, and a new Sport Edition model. The latter is only available with the base four-cylinder engine and features extra standard equipment that would cost nearly $5000 more if individually equipped. These include special 20-inch wheels, sport exhaust, air suspension, navigation and Porsche Connect Plus, and the Sport Chrono and Premium packages. The Macan lineup-excepting the base four-cylinder version-has been named one of our 10Best Trucks and SUVs for the second straight year.
What Was New for 2017?
The Macan family grew by two in 2017, with new models on either end of the lineup. A new entry-level model featured a 252-hp turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Porsche also added the GTS model to the top of the Macan lineup (the 400-hp Macan Turbo is reviewed separately), which uses a 360-hp version of the twin-turbo V-6 that powers S models. Porsche’s new touchscreen infotainment system became standard in every Macan. There were new optional LED headlights, an available heated, microsuede-trimmed steering wheel, and three new exterior colors: Volcano Grey Metallic, Night Blue Metallic, and Carmine Red, the last of which is only available on the GTS.
Trims and Options We’d Choose
If it were our driveway, we’d pick the 340-hp twin-turbo V-6 Macan S. It’s quick and fun to drive, and at $56,450 ($1000 more than in 2017), it’s the best balance of performance and value in the Macan lineup. Interior trim varies only a little from the entry-level Macan to the Macan S to the Macan GTS, so most of the cost bump between models is associated with changes to powertrains and other mechanical equipment. Standard features in the Macan S include:
• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display with 10-speaker audio system
• Bixenon dynamic headlights with LED daytime running lights
• All-wheel drive
It’s easy to add thousands of dollars to the cost of your Porsche by ticking things off the options list, but it’s best to exercise restraint when staring down the Macan’s order list lest this Porsche be the last thing you can afford to buy.
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