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2024 Porsche Macan Starting at $
2024 Porsche Macan
Starting at $
Highs: Stylish inside and out, offers more utility than a sports car, begs to be driven hard nonetheless.
Lows: Tight rear-passenger space, sacrifices cargo space, aggressive starting price.
Verdict: The Macan blows big clouds of tire smoke at the idea that SUVs are simply boring and sloppy-driving tools.
Overview
More than a few compact luxury SUVs are dull little things, but the Porsche Macan is one of only a handful that prove daring and exciting to drive. Despite its rather shed-like shape, the Macan embodies plenty of Porsche sports-car characteristics. The base Macan comes with a 261-hp turbocharged inline-four engine that generates a respectable amount of zip. Macan S gets a 375-hp twin-turbo V-6 that delivers a significant leap in performance, making it the second mightiest of the Macan line before deferring to the more furious 434-hp Macan GTS, which we review separately. The Macan’s steering and ride make carving through challenging twisty roads as easy as slicing soft butter, thanks to a chassis designed for performance over cargo space. It’s unmatched in terms of driving feel. So, while the boxier BMW X3 M will carry more luggage, the Macan carries more of what enthusiasts crave: pure driving soul. Its unmatched athleticism helped earn it a place on our 10Best Trucks and SUVs list again this year.
What’s New for 2024?
Porsche makes no significant changes for the Macan for 2024.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2024 Porsche Macan starts at $ and goes up to $ depending on the trim and options.
Base: $62,550
T: $68,150
S: $73,950
Given the Macan’s athletic character, we’d skip the base powertrain and go straight for the V-6-powered S, which brings a meaningful bump in performance. Standard features include a touchscreen infotainment system, a 10-speaker audio system, and LED headlights. We’d also splurge a little for the Premium package for its heated front and rear seats, adaptive headlights, and an upgraded 14-speaker audio system. The Sport Chrono pack has our attention too, for its driver-adjustable drive modes and launch-control feature.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
With the base turbo four-cylinder, the Macan bounds to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. It feels sprightly around town, but speed freaks will want to upgrade to the twin-turbo V-6–powered S model. At our test track, the Macan S was only a few seconds behind the more powerful GTS with a 60-mph time. The Macan S is significantly quicker than the times posted by the Audi SQ5 and Jaguar F-Pace S. An SUV probably doesn’t need to launch off the line as quickly as that, but we sure appreciate it. Quickness is important in a crossover with sporting intentions, but we wouldn’t be nearly as impressed with the Macan if it weren’t for its all-around competence on the road. It feels remarkably like a sports sedan. The ride is wonderfully smooth and carefully controlled, and it’s rare for a jolt from the pavement to make itself known to the driver. The steering is a tad lighter than it is in Porsche’s sports cars, but it’s still micrometer-accurate and pleasantly tactile.
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