Porsche Macan

The Porsche Macan is now the only model in the carmaker’s lineup, which continues to have an analogue theme for the instrument console. However, it is still modern enough to make you feel that you are seated in one of the most expensive midsize SUVs on sale today.

The driver’s cockpit of the Porsche Macan looks and feels sporty, thanks to the compact multi-functional steering wheel and an instrument console with a centrally-placed tachometer. The centre console too has a simple design with a large rectangular touchscreen infotainment system, along with trapezoidal AC vents below it. The centre tunnel of the Macan is positioned a bit higher, which accommodates the compact transmission lever and an array of buttons for various functions, surrounding it. These functions can be operated through haptic-touch buttons, and include adjustments for seat and dual-zone automatic climate control.

While there is no dearth of comfort and convenience features in the cabin of the Porsche Macan, the space at the rear feels compromised, with the Macan suffering from a shortage of legroom and headroom.

From the looks of it, the new Porsche Macan looks like a scaled-down version of the flagship SUV Cayenne, which is not a bad thing, considering how seamless this effort looks. While the Macan doesn’t look as tall as a conventional SUV, its sleek and curvaceous design coupled with a high ground clearance gives it a stylish appearance.

At the front, the Porsche Macan gets a simple but elegant fascia, comprising of rounded all-LED headlamps which come integrated with a quad daytime running LED arrangement. The front bumper here has an aggressive design, which comes with a wide-spread air dam in the middle and large C-shaped housings on the bumper corners. Like all the other Porsches, the Macan also has a swooping and curved bonnet, which gives it an aerodynamic appeal.

The side profile of the Porsche Macan also has an aerodynamic design, comprising of clean-looking door panels, curved haunches above the wheel arches and very stylish-looking door-mounted rearview mirrors. The door panels and slightly curved roof line look inspired by the larger Cayenne, which go well with the large alloy wheels on the Macan.

At the back, Porsche has carried out the design language shared by the other models from the carmaker, which include a wide LED light bar and tail lamps stretched across the width of the curved boot lid. The roof spoiler here gets a curved design on the sides, which help it maintain the aerodynamics of the SUV. While the rest of the boot lid looks simple, the rear bumper has a sporty and aggressive look with a large diffuser and quad exhaust outlets.

The Macan might not be an outrageously lovable thing to drive like the range-topping Porsche sports cars. However, it still has sorted driving dynamics, with the SUV offering a range of attributes as standards, such as Porsche Traction Management, air suspension, Porsche Active Suspension Management, Porsche Vectoring Plus and Off-Road mode.

The base-spec version of the Porsche Macan comes standard with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The engine is good enough to produce a maximum power output of 265 PS, while the peak torque output of the engine is rated at 400 Nm.

The exquisite list of safety features available in the Porsche Macan includes ParkAssist with active parking support, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane change assist and parking assistance systems.

While the not-so-impressive rear seat space management might not make the Porsche Macan a family SUV, the overall appeal of this midsize SUV hits straight to the heart with its impressive performance and driving dynamics.