The Porsche Macan is the entry-level Porsche compact SUV that offers dynamics, style, and luxury. Besides the premium badge, the Macan is a true Porsche as its core identity is developed with a classic Porsche recipe.
That being said, the Macan is worth looking into if you are in the market for such a car. Even though the Macan is one of the most dynamic compact SUVs on the market, the Macan is nowhere near as dynamic as some other sportier Porsche options.¸
If you look further into the competition, it seems like the Macan costs an average of $10k more than a comparable luxury SUV from other German premium brands. But you are not just paying for the badge, you are indeed getting your money’s worth if you opt for the Macan.
If you care about how well a car drives and you can pay the premium over other German luxury compact SUVs, the Macan is well worth the money. And the best model out of the current range is probably the 6-cylinder Macan S.
Buying a new or a used Macan?
Even though the Macan is one of the least depreciating cars Porsche makes, and certainly one of the least depreciating compact SUVs on the market, buying used saves you quite a bit of money, and especially so if you consider that even the entry-level Macan costs as much as $53k without any options.
A three-year-old Macan with around 50k miles on the clock can set you back for around $40-42k which is a fairly good value. That being said, for the same amount of money you can get either a lightly-used three-year-old Macan S or a brand-new base model Macan.
After five years or so, the Macan retains as much as 62% of its original value. For a spot of context, a BMW X3 and an Audi Q5 retain only about 51% of their original value after five years. If you look at it this way, you might even argue that the $10k premium a brand-new Macan requires is well worth it after five years.
Buying new also has a bunch of benefits such as warranties, service packs, and maintenance programs. And buying a brand-new Porsche is an experience, even if it’s ‘’just’’ a Macan, and not a 911 or a Cayman/Boxster.
Porsche Macan/Porsche Macan S – entry-level models
The Porsche Macan line-up kicks off with the base model Porsche Macan. The Porsche Macan retails for about $53k, and you are getting a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with 248hp and AWD. The Macan is only available with Porsches in-house PDK dual-clutch automatic.
The entry-level Macan is not all that well-equipped from the factory. As standard, you get a set of LED headlights, a 10-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, Wifi, Apple Car Play. It is highly advisable for you to opt for a Premium Package and the Porsche Sport Chrono package as well as it helps to sell the car afterward.
The Macan S on the other hand costs around $10k more, and the S is probably the sweet spot out of the entire line-up thanks to a 3.0L 6-cylinder turbocharged engine. It also comes equipped with a Porsches PDK gearbox and a permanent set of all-wheel-drive from the factory.
The 6-cylinder 350hp makes the S a lot more fun to drive than the entry-level Macan AWD. Options-wise it’s pretty much the same story as in the entry-level Macan, and if you want a decently optioned car, you are looking at a couple of thousands of dollars onto the MSRP price.
Porsche Macan GTS/Turbo – higher-trim models
If your budget stretches into $70k or even $80k, for such a price you can get either the Macan GTS or the top-of-the-line Porsche Macan Turbo. Both of these offer a 3.0L 6-cylinder engine with 375hp in the GTS or 434hp in the Turbo model.
The GTS is a more aggressive version of the already fairly impressive Macan S model, and the Turbo is a significant step above both. The Macan Turbo is one of, if not the most capable compact luxury SUVs on the market, but it does cost $85k.
Both the GTS and the Turbo get more aggressive styling, better-looking and larger wheels, and upgraded brakes. A set of sporty exhaust pipes also comes as standard, and so do a set of sporty well-bolstered sports seats.
The Macan Turbo is an impressive car, and there is no way of denying it. Even though it does cost quite a bit of money, other compact sports SUVs like the Audi SQ5, Mercedes Benz GLC63, or the BMW X1 are not as dynamic as the Macan Turbo is.
FAQ Section
Is the Porsche Macan a true Porsche?
Objectively speaking, the Macan is a great car. But is it a true Porsche? After all, Porsche is known for making sports cars, not SUVs. A true Porsche needs to be the most dynamic car in its class, it also has to offer luxury, superior build quality, reliability, and value retention.
And the Macan truly is the most dynamic compact SUV on the market and it also offers ample luxury, even though the interior is slowly starting to show its age. Build-quality-wise, the Macan is as good as any other Porsche. And the same story goes for reliability and value retention.
Should I opt for the Porsche Cayenne instead?
The Porsche Cayenne is Porsches SUV flagship. The Cayenne is available as an SUV or a ‘’coupe’’ SUV. The Cayenne is a lot bigger, a lot more powerful and it also offers more road presence. In almost every aspect out there, the Cayenne beats the Macan.
That being said, if you have the means to go for a Cayenne, you most definitely should, especially if you like ‘’coupe’’ SUVs. Performance-wise, the Cayenne can be equipped with an 8-cylinder hybrid powertrain which pushes out upwards of 600hp.
Is the Porsche Macan better than the Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, or the BMW X3?
The Audi Q5 is also a fairly popular compact SUV thanks to its sleek interior and exterior design and great all-around capabilities. The GLC is a bit more blingy, but equally as comfortable, while the BMW X3 is the closest to the Macan when it comes to dynamic driving.
But the Macan offers superior reliability, value retention, and a more premium badge. That being said, the Macan does cost an average of $10k more compared to these three, but it also retains better value. All of which indicated that the Macan is a step above these three.
