2019 Porsche Macan S Review, And All You Need To Know About It

The ideal form

It made sense for designers to create something more than the standard SUV box because Porsche is famed for its sports vehicles. This is no ordinary SUV, as seen by the low roofline, curving rear end, and gaping grille. The style of the Macan is more akin to the “coupe” variants of both the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, despite the fact that it competes against small luxury SUVs like those vehicles.

However, the cost of that slick outward appearance is high. Although Porsche lacked a complete set of internal measurements, the X3 and GLC, as well as the majority of other cars in this class, had more cargo space than the Porsche. Although taller rear passengers may have appreciated a little extra legroom, the inside seemed rather spacious overall. At any rate, Porsche is far superior to the competitors in terms of interior design.

The inside of the Macan seems really posh and has personality.

The Macan’s dashboard is fashioned to look like a Porsche 911, just like the larger Cayenne. You start the Macan by turning a phony key to the left of the steering wheel in place of the standard pushbutton. The instrument cluster has a tachometer in the center, a speedometer on either side, and an adjustable display that may show anything from the current radio station to the front/rear torque distribution of the all-wheel drive system.

Our test car’s leather-wrapped, metal-trimmed steering wheel was the perfect size and had a stunning appearance. In fact, everything else also did. The high-quality inside of a luxury car is what you’ll probably notice the most of all the items you pay more for in these vehicles. The inside of the Macan not only seems suitably opulent (admittedly, the optional leather package in our test car likely contributed to that), but it also has personality. Your Porsche is obvious to you.
Good technology, yet there’s a gap.

The Macan S has a 10.9-inch touchscreen in the center, but the majority of crucial features, like the climate control and vehicle settings, can be managed through a variety of buttons and switches gathered around the shifter. A tuning knob that allows you to scroll through SiriusXM channels was also provided by Porsche, which is a crucial addition that we’re surprised other automakers haven’t followed. With a vertical menu on the left side of the screen that allows one-touch access to crucial features like navigation and phone pairing without having to press the “home” button, the screen itself is simple to use.

Porsche doesn’t include many standard driver-assist features.

Porsche currently only supports Apple CarPlay, and it’s not included as standard equipment. Although the carmaker recently assured Digital Trends that Android Auto would be coming soon, it appears that 2019 models are still a ways off. Because initial product planners believed there wasn’t enough demand, Porsche didn’t provide it right away.

Additionally, our test vehicle had the 555 watt, 12-speaker Bose surround sound system, which was an optional feature. The sound was of decent quality, although it took some adjusting to achieve the greatest sound. Porsche also provides an 821-watt Burmester system that is more pricey.

The performance of a Porsche.

Porsche stands out from competing brands thanks to its decades of racing success and production of classic sports vehicles like the 911. Although it may spend the most of its time carrying groceries and relaxing in the Starbuck’s drive-through, the Macan required the proper maneuvers to be considered a genuine Porsche.

Our test vehicle, a 2019 Porsche Macan S, is powered by a 3.0 liter turbocharged V6. The engine, which is shared with the Cayenne and Panamera, produces 352 pound-feet of torque and 348 horsepower. The one turbocharger is located in the valley between the two cylinder banks, which helps to increase responsiveness by decreasing the path gases must travel when entering and exiting the engine. All-wheel drive and a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission are the sole available options for the Macan S, and the all-wheel drive system prefers to send more power to the rear axle for better handling.

The Macan is unfazed by speeding down a highway or maneuvering through bends.

Porsche claims that the time from 0 to 60 mph is 5.1 seconds, or 4.9 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package. 157 mph is the top speed. As a result, the Macan S with Sport Chrono is marginally quicker than the Audi SQ5, with which the Porsche shares a fundamental base. Although the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds less than the Porsche, its highest speed is electronically capped at 130 mph. BMW boasts that the X3 M40i can reach 155 mph and go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The X3 M and AMG GLC63, respectively, from BMW and Mercedes are more potent variations of their SUVs, as is the Porsche. With the Sport Chrono package, the 2020 Macan Turbo will have 434 horsepower and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

But the Macan S isn’t just about figures. Sport Response, a button on the steering wheel that retunes the engine and transmission for maximum output, is part of the Sport Chrono package. Pushing it will give you faster acceleration for 20 seconds, similar to F-Zero in real life. Since the Macan lacks the quick electric torque of the Cayenne E-Hybrid, the effect isn’t as powerful. On the other hand, passing vehicles on the highway won’t cause you any hesitation.

The Macan is unfazed by speeding down a highway or maneuvering through bends. The automobile nearly has a feeling of being too relaxed. Until you really push it, it doesn’t truly come to life. The reward for doing so is a grip that inspires confidence and nimble handling that makes you forget you’re in an SUV. The Macan just doesn’t feel that great at slower speeds. The fact that our test vehicle didn’t have the optional performance exhaust system may have contributed in part to this. However, we had hoped for a little more personality to complement the Macan’s brutal competence.

Additionally, the test vehicle we drove had adaptive air suspension, which could be the Macan’s best attribute. It offers the Macan the aforementioned agility while maintaining a comfortable ride. The Macan feels taught and accurate when cornering while floating over flaws in the road like a true luxury vehicle. The true benefit of having a car like this instead of a classic sports car or sports sedan is that it can be converted back into a regular automobile when you’re finished playing.

The useful information

The 2019 Porsche Macan S has a subpar 20 mpg combined rating from the EPA (18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the interstate), which is bad for a car this size. The scores, though, are quite comparable to those of the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 and Audi SQ5. BMW X3 M40i performs marginally better, achieving a combined 23 mpg (20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway). Remember that aggressive driving will reduce gas mileage, as it does with all performance cars.

Porsche doesn’t include many standard driver-assist features. Common technologies like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, which come standard on some less expensive vehicles, are upgrades available here. Of course, that also applies to the majority of other luxury cars.

Porsche provides free servicing at dealerships, a four-year, 50,000-mile guarantee, and a 12-year corrosion warranty. Porsche vehicles typically earn low reliability scores from Consumer Reports, and Porsche was one of the lowest-ranked brands in the most recent J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. There are currently no crash-test ratings available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

How DT would set up this vehicle

We adored the Chalk (gray) exterior paint and Garnet (red) interior upholstery of our test car, but the $3,120 price tag for the paint hue would be too much to bear. Instead, we would choose one of the less expensive paint colors and match the leather interior ($3,880) option. Additionally, we could continue to use the Premium Package Plus ($6,230), which includes a panoramic roof, heated and ventilated front seats, Bose surround sound, and Apple CarPlay. Our list of must-have features is completed with the Sport Chrono package ($1,360) and adaptive air suspension ($2,750). These extras bump up the price but also set the Macan S apart from other everyday SUVs.

Summary

Speaking of other SUVs, is the Macan S truly preferable to a sportier model of an Audi, BMW, or Mercedes? With the Macan S, you unquestionably get more, but you won’t find that additional something in the spec sheets. The Macan stands apart from competing vehicles that are ultimately just upgraded versions of more typical family cars because to its interior and exterior styling as well as its poise on the road. The Macan is much better at moving people and things than a Porsche 911 or 718 Cayman, but not offering the same emotional driving experience. Maybe there won’t be such a terrible SUV apocalypse after all.