Used 2017 Porsche Macan

The 2017 Porsche Macan is a small SUV blessed with the German luxury automaker’s invigorating driving dynamics. Better viewed as a tall, all-wheel-drive (AWD) hatch than rugged off-roader, the Macan is aimed at those seeking SUV functionality and sports-car performance. While there is a slew of rivals in the burgeoning compact-luxury SUV segment, the Macan is among the few that can back up its performance claims. With a new, sub-$50,000 4-cylinder base version, Porsche will surely attract even more buyers facing temptation from the likes of the all-new Jaguar F-Pace and the Maserati Levante. But with prices that can zoom past $80,000 for a Turbo model, the Macan remains a pricey proposition.

Like its bigger brother the Cayenne, the 2017 Macan is among the sportiest SUVs. It is a Porsche, after all, even if it’s in the form of a sport-utility vehicle. Even the "slowest" model is fast, with the new 4-cylinder Macan able to rush to 60 mph in just over 6 seconds. The Macan S and GTS shave another second off that time, while the range-topping Macan Turbo goes 0-60 mph in as little as 4.4 seconds. Not all that long ago, that was 911 territory. Like any other Porsche, velocity is only part of the formula. Road-hugging grip, a brilliant 7-speed PDK automatic transmission and the sensory growl of the exhaust make the Macan a Porsche through and through. The always-on AWD system optimizes traction in both wet and dry conditions, while an off-road button optimizes the Macan for lighter off-highway adventures by varying torque distribution and throttle response.

The Macan has a 2-row, 5-passenger configuration. Porsches have long offered a variety of color combinations, and this one’s standard upholstery is leather or suede-like Alcantara. The front seats engulf you and range from standard 8-way power-adjust comfort versions to 18-way sport variants. The array of buttons surrounding the gear shifter could rival those in an airplane cockpit. The view out is IMAX wide. Second-row legroom is stingy, however. In back, the 17.7-cubic-foot cargo floor expands to 53 cubic feet by dropping the 40/20/40-split/folding 2nd-row seatbacks. That compares poorly to SUV competitors like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

Profiled to look a bit like a 3/4-scale Cayenne, the 2017 Macan’s tidier proportions are more akin to a tall hatchback than a compact SUV. It’s not snap-recognizable as a Porsche, either. All trims of the Macan boast bi-xenon headlights and fog lights, while the GTS and Turbo models have unique, more aggressive front fascias. GTS models have a matte-black finish on the side blades and a more dynamic color scheme. They also sit 10mm lower than Turbo models. The Macan Turbo, meanwhile, can be identified via its front spoiler lip and squared-off quad exhaust outlets.

80-PERCENT 911, 20-PERCENT CAYENNE, 100-PERCENT PORSCHE
Porsche’s Style VP Michael Mauer bristles at the suggestion that the Macan is a baby Cayenne. He sees it more as “a big brother to the Porsche 911.” One lap around an enclosed track proves Mr. Mauer is not prone to hyperbole.

7-SPEED PDK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
While many tout their car’s horsepower and torque, performance potential is a moot point if the transmission can’t effectively manage the output. Porsche’s 7-speed dual-clutch automatic has no such issue, using the first clutch to hold the selected gear while the second clutch stands ready to instantaneously engage the next.

The new 2017 Macan base model cost thousands less than the Macan S (the former starter) but still comes nicely equipped. On hand are tri-zone climate control, lane-departure warning system, rearview camera with front and rear parking assist, power-folding side mirrors, power-operated liftgate, and 18-inch wheels. A fresh infotainment system is highlighted by a 7-inch multi-touch screen with AM/FM/HD/satellite radio with CD/DVD player, USB/aux inputs and Bluetooth connectivity. In addition to a more powerful V6 engine, Macan S model also have rain-sensing windshield wipers and tinted and thermally insulated glass.

More powerful still, GTS models have 20-inch wheels, suspension setting and other performance upgrades, while the top-line Macan Turbo boasts navigation, Bose audio, Alcantara roof lining, adaptive seats and active suspension. Option packages range from a sweet Burmester audiophile system to a panoramic roof, and Porsche Connect Plus module with wireless Internet access, Google Earth integration and Apple CarPlay, plus a rear-entertainment system and heated/ventilated front seats. Customization options abound, as do performance upgrades that include Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, $8,150 carbon-ceramic brakes and the recommendable Sport Chrono Package with Sport Plus mode, launch control and dash-mounted analog/digital stopwatch.

The new base model is the first Macan to use a 4-cylinder, a turbocharged 2.0-liter that makes 252 horsepower, enough to zip this performance SUV from 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds (or 6.1 with the Sport Chrono package). At just over 3,900 pounds, this is also the lightest Macan. All others use a twin-turbo V6 engine — a 3.0-liter in S and GTS models and a larger 3.6-liter in the Turbo. All Macans use a 7-speed PDK automatic transmission and are all-wheel drive. For better fuel efficiency, they have an auto start/stop system that switches off the engine at traffic stops. Start-ups can be abrupt, and thankfully the system is defeatable. A V6 Macan can tow up to 4,409 pounds.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Macan)
252 horsepower @ 5,000-6,800 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/25 mpg

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Macan S)
340 horsepower @ 5,500-6,500 rpm
339 lb-ft of torque @ 1,450-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Macan GTS)
360 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1,450-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg

3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Macan Turbo)
400 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
406 lb-ft of torque @ 1,350-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg