Like all Porsche models, the Macan can be a little tricky to understand the nuances of each model in the lineup. With a base car, S, GTS and a Turbo model, it is remarkably less complicated than the 911 range. The Macan came to market in 2014, sharing the same platform as the remarkably successful Audi Q5, it is a more luxurious and more sporting version of Audi's middle-of-the-range SUV. Front engined and with all-wheel drive, the Macan, in many ways, is a small Cayenne.
The Cayenne, along with the BMW X5, made SUVs ever more appealing, but just like the 911, prices rose and Porsche needed a smaller entry-level vehicle in this segment like the Boxster, and Cayman were to the 911. The Macan did this job excellently, blending Porsche's sporting credentials along with the pragmatic mindset of the Cayenne. At the beginning of the car's life, it only came with V6 engines, however, in 2016, an in-line four 2.0-liter engine was offered.
These days the entry-level model is that four-cylinder engine with 265 metric hp that sprints to sixty-two miles per hour in around six seconds, but with a base price of $54,900, the car is firmly on the more expensive side of the luxury SUV segment. The V6 powered GTS capable of 62 mph in 4.5 seconds starts just shy of £65,000.
AutoCar's fully specified Macan Turbo is said to have cost "in excess of £100,000" or more than $134,000, after expensive options like carbon-ceramic brakes. There may be cheaper cars on the market, but with the Porsche badge, the Macan comes with a little magic.
The 2018 Porsche Macan gives you everything a new one does.
Why 2018 Is Special
Having been on the market for four years, the Macan had begun to fall behind the curve; the designers at Porsche set about facelifting the car. The exterior didn't see much of a revision with the Macan remaining unlike much of the competition with smooth curves as opposed to straight lines as well as a slopping rear, which evoked Coupe-like design, arguably setting the trend; BMW would follow this with the X6 and even Volkswagen with the Taigo.
This design separated it from the larger Cayenne which is shaped like a more traditional SUV, ignoring the new Porsche Cayenne Coupe. However, according to Car and Bike, the Macan's front end was redesigned to appear wider and more aggressive, this is most noticeable on the base models which have fewer sporty aggressive exterior trim pieces. Most importantly, this 2018 revision heading into 2019 added the body-wide LED strip brake light a contemporary design motif for Porsche.
Since 2018, there hasn't been a major revision for the Macan; an electric successor is expected to come in 2023, according to CarWow and will look to capitalize on the success of the Taycan without risking the Cayenne nameplate. The 2018's interior does look a little dated when compared to the 992 911, but with an 11-inch touchscreen display to provide infotainment, it's more advanced than most car's.
The Macan Leads The Segment
Porsche's smaller SUV certainly costs more than the competing X3 or SQ5 but with good reason. Evo magazine writes that it's still "the class champion and unlike most rivals a genuinely captivating drive". Most SUVs have a large engined model, for example, the X5 M or Range Rover Sport SVR, but these cars are built by SUVs first.
The Macan being built by Porsche is built from the ground up to be that a Porsche with all that racing history which that marque entails, instead of a heavy SUV with a large engine. Each specification of Macan weighs under 4,410 lbs, which although it isn't Lotus Elise levels of lightness it leans more into the Sports in Sports Utility Vehicle.
These weight savings aren't in the cabin which offers a familiar Porsche experience with plenty of leather and that iconic large central tachometer. Specified without options, the cabin can be overwhelmingly drab but with some mild contrast stitching, Alcantara, and a different shade of leather the car can look like would be expected from a model which carries such a high price tag.
An Excellent Used Purchase
The Macan not only has the practicality of an SUV whilst also being a little more manageable on a day to day basis than the larger Cayenne which for many simply is too large with its near five-meter wheelbase.
It's a comfortable and dynamic driving experience when required with all the accouterments that a modern Porsche brings meaning state of the art infotainment, reliability and a pedigree that few brands bring.
A well-specified used Macan with less than 10,000 miles per year costs less than $67,000, meaning that with a little wear the buyer saves on the cost of the vehicle's options which can often cost more than the car itself when speaking about Porsche, as proven by Car Buzz, who built a Porsche Cayman which cost twice its original sticker price.
These used Macans have had everything added to them from exterior upgrades like larger wheels to full leather packages which give the Macan an even more luxurious air.