PORSCHE Macan 2017

Body, cabin and cargo space

Front seating is roomy and inviting but wide door sills and a plunging roofline compromise access. The exceptional driving position is worthy of a true sports car; however, the very wide centre console reduces knee room. The front seats offer a very good blend of comfort and support, even without adjustable lumbar support. That will cost you $1,960 with the optional14-way power seats, or $2,380 with the 18-way power sport seats.

The rear bench is relatively high and well-shaped, but comfort is limited by tight head- and legroom. People over 1.78 m (5 ft. 10 in.) tall will quickly feel cramped. Even toddlers sitting in child restraints will likely feel compromised. The enormous centre tunnel rules out a middle passenger. Front-seat heaters are standard, and very efficient. Heated rear seats are a $600 option or available as part of the Premium ($3,300) and Premium Plus ($7,250) packages.

The trunk is not very useful with the 40/20/40-split bench seatbacks in place; length is 97 cm behind the bench or 167 cm behind the front seats when they are pushed completely back. The narrow flanks limit width to between 104 cm and 110 cm. The sharply raked hatch cuts into load height, measuring just 49 cm under the luggage cover and topping out at 74 cm. A luggage cover, 12-volt outlet, four metal tie-down rings and a cargo net are all standard, and there are two small bins below the floor.

Finish and convenience

Careful fit, quality materials and attentive finish characterize the interior. Customization options are near-infinite, including 10 colour schemes for the seats and dashboard. Want carbon-fibre trim or red-background gauges? Porsche can deliver… for a few extra hundred, of course!

The dashboard is a typical Porsche rendering with the key slot left of the steering wheel, and a commanding tachometer flanked by a speedometer graduated in 50 km/h (!) increments. The latter is mostly decorative, since the digital display in the tachometer is easier to read. The trip computer overflows with useful information, but its peculiar logic makes it difficult to use.

Several unusual controls such as the cruise-control lever require a period of adaptation. There is a profusion of buttons on the centre stack, but they are more functional than some of the multifunctional systems used by the competition. Dual-zone climate control allows each occupant to choose not only the temperature but also airflow direction and fan speed.

The centre touchscreen is clear, with modern graphics. The main functions are accessed by two knobs and well-positioned buttons below the screen. The audio system is not very powerful and subject to distortion; the optional Bose system is preferable. Hands-free Bluetooth is clear but more difficult to set up than before. Voice recognition, keyless ignition and navigation are very expensive; they should be standard in a prestige vehicle like this one.

Open storage is limited to a small open bin plus two cup holders with good grip tabs on the centre console. In addition: pockets and bottle holders on the doors, a lidded compartment under the centre front armrest, two cup holders on the rear centre armrest and map pockets on the front seatbacks.

A heated steering wheel is standard (button hidden under the lower spoke). The standard power tailgate opens very quickly but cannot be closed with the remote.

Safety features

• Antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist
• Stability and traction control
• Hill-hold system
• Downhill brake assist
• Front airbags
• Front knee airbags
• Front side airbags
• Rear side airbags (optional)
• Side curtain airbags
• Front and rear seatbelt tensioners
• Five head restraints (adjustable on outboard seats, retractable rear middle)
• Tire pressure monitor
• Backup camera and front and rear parking sensors
• Surround view camera (optional)
• Blind spot monitoring, frontal collision alert with automatic braking, lane departure warning with lane assist and adaptive cruise control (optional)

Visibility

Visibility front and side is satisfactory, but the high hatch window and thick roof pillars hamper the view to the rear. Small outside mirrors do little to compensate; fortunately, a backup camera and sonar are now standard.

The xenon headlights that are included starting with the first optional package are very powerful, but the beam is not very long or very large, and cut-off is abrupt. They swivel with the steering to light up corners. Adaptive taillights light up more intensely in case of emergency braking, a useful safety feature that is rarely encountered.

Engine and transmission

Most newsworthy in 2017 for the Porsche Macan lineup is the base model four-cylinder, the same engine used by the recently redesigned Audi A4 and Q5. It is the umpteenth version of the 2.0-litre direct injection turbo engine that originated with the Volkswagen group more than ten years ago.

This engine’s 252 horsepower and especially its 273 pound-feet of torque are amply sufficient in all daily driving situations. It is also smooth and flexible, and its exemplary PDK seven-speed dual-clutch automatic takes full advantage of power. It almost always avoids the jerking and low-speed slippage typical of this type of transmission, a rare achievement in the industry.

Also rare, the amazing wheel-mounted shift paddles, so efficient, especially in Sport and Sport Plus selection modes, you want to use them elsewhere than on a racetrack.

But despite all its capabilities and qualities, the new four-cylinder does not have the verve of the Macan S’s extraordinary twin-turbo V6. Though it isn’t a flat six-cylinder like the legendary 911’s, this 3.0-litre 340-hp engine really makes the Macan shine. Most of the time, of course, all this extra power is superfluous. But when you treat yourself to a Porsche, you expect a little something extra when you pass a straggler or merge on a highway.

The more docile response of the smaller engine affords some relief at the pump; we recorded an average of 10.8 L/100 km. That’s not especially frugal for a four-cylinder but it is 2 L/100 km less than for a Porsche Macan S tested in similar winter conditions.

Ride and handling

Dynamic, solid, thrilling, neutral, balanced… when it comes to handling, straight-line or curves, the Macan looks to Porsche’s sports cars for its inspiration. No need to exceed the speed limits to enjoy the fun the Macan delivers, nor to resort to the optional active suspension or torque vectoring systems, neither of which equipped the models we tested.

The quick, ultraprecise steering delivers excellent road feel, which is rare for electric assist. Straight-line stability is practically imperturbable, with or without side wind. Body roll is negligible in hard cornering. Yet despite this performance, the suspension mostly avoids mistreating the occupants on degraded pavement. Porsche’s smallest SUV definitely owes its aplomb to the solidity of its platform, a revised version of that of the Audi Q5, another star product of the segment.

Refinement also extends to the soundproofing. Wind and road noise are well filtered. The engine also seems discrete, even in heavy acceleration, though we will admit to a penchant for the throatier note of the twin-turbo V6, which matches the vehicle’s sporty character.

The four-cylinder Porsche Macan’s braking seemed powerful and resistant, but with a short spongy pedal zone that we hadn’t noted in the S version. A quick look at the specifications provided an indication why: the Porsche Macan S uses six-piston front calipers whereas the base version makes do with four-piston calipers and slightly smaller rotors.

Inspection

An inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre yielded the following observations:

• Very poor access to mechanical components: very crowded engine compartment, exempt of even a motor oil dipstick
• Enormous hood, supported by telescopic hinges—fortunately
• Long-term maintenance probably costly, with a double air filter (V6), the underside of the engine hidden by a panel, a front suspension with two ball joints per wheel, inaccessible light bulbs and four- or six-piston brake calipers
• Excellent rustproofing under the platform, but openings in the front wheel wells allow road salt to accumulate in winter
• Plastic fuel tank will not rust
• High, 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) towing capacity but it is apparently impossible to have a hitch installed by an independent supplier; Porsche offers one for $750
• Compact spare wheel is standard