Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package.
Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package.
Introduced in 2014, the Macan has quickly gone on to become Porsche’s best-selling model. Clearly, the combination of a lower price tag and the ever desirable Porsche badge in a compact SUV body makes for a potent cocktail that many wellheeled individuals and families cannot resist.
Seeing the popularity of the Macan, Porsche recently bolstered the Macan lineup with a new model called the Macan Turbo with Performance Package. A mouthful, yes, and therefore shall be referred simply as the Macan Turbo PP from here on.
Why the Macan Turbo PP isn’t called the Macan Turbo S puzzles me, but you do a couple of nice upgrades with the Performance Package. A significant power bump aside, you also get larger 21inch wheels, beefier steel brakes (ceramic brakes are still an optional equipment), and a 15mm lower ride height.
Power still comes from a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6, but the Macan Turbo PP sees power and torque outputs increase from 395hp to 434hp and 550nm to 600nm respectively. As a result, the 0-100km/h timing has been reduced from 4.8 seconds to 4.4 seconds, while top speed has been increased from 266km/h to 272km/h.
The awesome powertrain along with the quick shifts from the 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission enables the Macan Turbo PP to build up speed like a freight train. Plant your right foot on the accelerator and it will easily outrun almost every other compact SUV on the market today and even give owners of the 911 a bit of a scare.
But what¡¦s more amazing than its straight-line speed is the way it steers and handles corners. It¡¦s no Boxster, but the way the Macan Turbo PP cuts through corners belies its size and the fact that it is, after all, still a high-riding SUV.
There are three key reasons for its amazing handling ability and steering feel. The „± rst is its adjustable ride setting. In Sport+ mode, the suspension „± rms up noticeably and greatly reduces body roll. The second is Power steering Plus, a speedsensitive steering system that „± rms up at speeds, thereby improving precision and steering feel. And „± nally, the lower ride height also means a lower center of gravity and greater responsiveness to steering inputs.
But the Macan Turbo PP¡¦s superlative performance is just one half of the equation as to why it is such a best-seller for Porsche. The car is equally at home being just a comfy family cruiser. Set the car into Comfort mode and the Macan Turbo PP relaxes and cruises just as well as the larger Panamera. The ride in Comfort mode is a bit too soft for my tastes, but I cannot deny that it soaks up bumps and undulations really well.
Personally, I „± nd the Macan Turbo PP to be most at home in Sport mode, where the ride is comfy enough without being neither too „± rm nor squishy, and the engine and gearbox are responsive enough without being overly aggressive.
The interior is standard Porsche and Macan fare, which is to say that it is a very nice place to be in. However, it is not as big as one might imagine. Rear leg and head room is decent, but you¡¦d expect a more spacious interior especially since the Macan is only really compact in name and is actually quite a large car. Nevertheless, the boot is large enough for daily groceries, bags, and whatnot. Plus, the rear seats fold easily to increase boot space.
Elsewhere, the front seats are electric and highly adjustable, and the dashboard is sensibly laid out. The transmission tunnel, however, is littered with all sorts of buttons to control engine, ride, and traction control settings and it can be a little daunting, if not confusing for „± rst time Porsche owners.
Apple users will be happy to know that the Porsche Communication Management system supports Apple CarPlay. And, the system is one of the most responsive that I have ever used and successfully replicates the same kind of responsiveness that I get from using my iPhone. Sadly, there¡¦s no support for Android Auto as yet.
All in, the new Macan Turbo PP cements Porsche¡¦s position as the top dog in the compact SUV scene. It may be pricey, but it rewards its owner with a blend of performance and practicality that few other cars can offer. That said, the Macan Turbo PP will likely face stiff competition in the face of the upcoming 503hp MercedesAMG GLC 63 S. Perhaps then we will see the Macan Turbo S?
AT A GLANCE:
3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6
434hp / 600nm of torque
10.5km/l
$420,688 excluding COE
One of the few cars that successfully blends performance and practicality in one highly desirable package.
