As Porsche continues to push the boundaries as much as possible, enthusiasts' eyes are typically drawn to the fastest, most expensive examples. Those are, after all, the ones that everyone has on their bedroom wall.
Sure, these sports cars and hypercars are awesome without a doubt. Though, as most of us are well aware, those types of cars aren't affordable or practical enough for the average middle-class family. So, what do you do when you want a cool sports car, but still need to seat four or more? Get a sports/luxury SUV, of course.
In Porsche's case, customers have a lot to choose from. Models such as the Cayenne and Panamera are some of them, however, they're relatively old designs when stacked up against the newer ones.
If you really want something reliable, fast, and flashy for the whole family, then consider Porsche's latest sports SUV: the Porsche Macan.
A Family-Friendly Porsche: The Macan
Unlike other high-end sports car manufacturers, Porsche is known for their family-friendly nature. Even the original Porsche 911 had four-seats, just as the current ones do. Though, you'd be forgiven for wanting to sit up front, since no one larger than five-foot-six will be comfortable back there.
Of course, Porsche had more models other than just the 911, but eventually, they transitioned into the sports utility category and produced the Porsche Cayenne a large-sized SUV. Their heart was in the right place, however, not everyone liked the change.
As DriveTribe so eloquently puts it, "Most Porsche fans hated it and stated that it should have never worn the Stuttgart badge. Indeed, it didn't really look like a Porsche, and it was technically a VW Touareg in disguise."
That was how we felt about the Cayenne, but there's something different about the Macan. On the outside, it looks less like a Volkswagen and more like an actual Porsche. The sleek body and small features appear to perfectly mirror those of other Porsche models.
To us, the Macan (compared to its bigger brother) feels and looks like a luxury Porsche, rather than a rebadged VW.
Performance, Luxury, & Reliability
As far as performance is concerned, Porsche also has that 'in the bag', so to speak. With competitors such as Audi, BMW, and Lamborghini throwing their hats into the proverbial SUV-ring, Porsche needed to really step up their game with the Macan.
Since its release in 2014, the Macan has undergone tons of updates. The latest face-lift was last year, in 2019, and boy did they give it the works! A full chassis overhaul, upgraded aerodynamics, improved interior, and a new engine option to name a few of the things that happened.
The highest-end Porsche Macan is the Turbo. It's capable of reaching about 167 MPH with 434hp. Now, that's the extreme end, as most of the entry-level Macan's hover around the 250 to 350-hp range.
All that speed and power is well and good, but what about its ride? Is it as comfortable and luxurious as people say? In short, yes very much so. After all, it is a Porsche, so you can expect them to go all-out in every area.
However, maintenance scores bother us. From a What Car? reliability survey, they determined the Macan "didn’t perform particularly well... finishing 23rd out of 31 brands." Not the kind of results you want in a daily driver...
The Final Verdict
As a Porsche purist, the Macan is a strange middle-ground for us. As we stated previously, the Cayenne upset many purists, ourselves among them. It seemed that it lacked everything that makes a Porsche great, opting to go for the board-approved "safe" option instead. On the other hand, the Macan is everything the Cayenne couldn't be.
When determining whether it's the right car for you, you’ll need to ask yourself a series of questions. For one, "Are you ready, and willing, to fork over a lot of money over time?" If not, then you've got your answer. Avoid something like the Porsche Macan.
It's not because the Macan is a bad car - far from it actually. In our eyes, Porsche finally made their greatest SUV to-date. However, as it is the case with most expensive automotive brands, these types of cars have significant recurring costs (beyond what you pay at the dealership).
Now, since Porsche takes pride in their cars build quality, it's not like a Macan will fall apart the instant that it leaves the factory. More than likely, it won't experience any serious mechanical issues or breakdowns for much of its early life. However, when something does happen, you're in for a serious bill.
"Is the Porsche Macan a reliable sports SUV?" Yes, but up to a point. Those who don't have the funds to pay for repairs after that point should probably stick to a limited-time lease because sooner or later, it'll need an inspection. Of course, that's not a problem if you've got the cash to spare.