Used 2018 Porsche Macan

A small SUV with big horsepower and athletic handling, the 2018 Porsche Macan offers families an impressive mix of utility and invigorating performance. All-wheel drive is standard while the Macan’s wide range of available engines offers as much as 440 horsepower. Five models are offered, Macan, Macan S, Macan GTS, Macan Turbo and Macan Turbo with Performance Package. With a base price of around $50,000, the Porsche’s key competitors include the Audi Q5, Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes GLC, BMW X3 and the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio. But the Macan Turbo models are big bucks starting around $79,000. 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. But its utility is limited. Cargo space is less than its rivals.

From behind its thick leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel the 2018 Porsche Macan is a wonderful blend of SUV and sports car. It’s one of the sportiest SUVs available, and it’s an engaging drive from the instant you fire up its turbocharged engine. Even the "slowest" model is fast. The 4-cylinder base model is able to rush to 60 mph in just over six 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 4.2 seconds. Not all that long ago, that was 911 territory. Porsche’s all-wheel-drive system maximizes traction and allows the SUV to corner hard enough to strain your neck muscles. But the Macan isn’t all speed and thrills, it’s also comfortable and rides well. From the driver’s seat the Macan feels like it was carved from granite, but toss it into a corner and it somehow feels light on its feet. That’s a neat trick.

Inside, the Macan surrounds you with high-quality materials, an abundance of aluminum trim and a dynamic layout of controls and buttons. The key is to the left of the steering wheel, a Porsche tradition. Don’t worry, you get used to it. The instrumentation is clear and simple, but the rev counter is in the center as it is in Porsche’s sports cars. Don’t worry, you get used to it. Seat comfort is excellent. The seats are firm and well bolstered for performance driving. The buttons on the console that run alongside the shifter look complicated but they’re not. Second-row legroom is stingy, however, as is cargo space. The Macan’s 17.7-cubic-foot cargo floor is small for the class, although it expands to 53 cubic feet by dropping the 40/20/40-split/folding 2nd-row seatbacks.

With its tapered nose, low roofline and fast backlight, the 2018 Macan bears a strong resemblance to the larger Porsche Cayenne as well as the brand’s Panamera sedan. It looks tough with a butchy bad-boy stance and a hunkered-down attitude. All trim levels boast bi-xenon headlights and fog lights, while the GTS and Turbo models have unique, more aggressive front fascias. GTS models also have a matte-black finish on the side blades and a more dynamic color scheme. They also sit 10 mm lower than Turbo models. The Macan Turbo, meanwhile, can be identified via its front spoiler lip and squared-off quad exhaust outlets.

ACTIVE AERODYNAMICS
Porsche sweats the details, especially when it comes to performance. An example is the Macan’s active aerodynamics. Porsche has equipped the Macan’s front grille with a shutter door that closes on relaxed drives when cooling requirements are low to improve aerodynamics and fuel economy. When more power is demanded by the driver, the shutter opens to improve airflow to cool the engine.

7-SPEED PDK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Called PDK, short for Porsche Doppelkupplung, which is German for dual clutch, the 7-speed automatic transmission is a marvel of engineering. It’s smooth and effortless around town, it shifts gears quicker than any human can, and it’s a great match for the Macan’s turbocharged engines. It also has a manual mode so you can utilize the Macan’s paddle shifters.

The 2018 Macan base model costs thousands less than the Macan S 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 models also have rain-sensing windshield wipers and tinted and thermally insulated glass. For 2018 Porsche has also added a year of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

More powerful still, Macan 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 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 models. 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

3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Macan Turbo w/Performance Package)
440 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
406 lb-ft of torque @ 1,350-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A