With its racing heritage and renown for superior handling, German auto maker Porsche is pursuing a bigger chunk of the crowded compact luxury sport utility market with the arrival of its lowest priced vehicle yet.
The new four-cylinder Macan, nearly identical in body to the V-6-powered Macan S, is the fifth iteration of Porsche's sporty, compact utility vehicle available in Canada. And it comes with a price tag that may make it one of the most popular: $52,700 before taxes. That's a substantial savings — $6,500 — over the formerly entry level Macan S and leagues apart from the $85,800 Macan Turbo.
So what did Porsche chop to get the Macan to that (comparatively) low price? The answer is power. The Macan has the smallest engine in the family with just 252 horsepower. For many, that will be plenty, but the fact that it's nearly 100 horses less than Macan S (340hp) merits mention.
On the bright side, there are gains to consider, chiefly the fact that buyers in this market now have a Porsche option to consider when making the lot rounds (or surfing websites) to compare Audi's segment-leading Q5 (220 horsepower, $43,800), BMW's popular X3 (240 horsepower, $45,950) or Mercedes' GLC (241 horsepower, $45,150). While the Macan rings up at the priciest of the group, it doesn't shy away from flashing its heritage. From the minute you press the accelerator, it's clear the Macan bears Porsche's hallmark characteristics: smooth, superior handling, a sporty but not-too-rough feel and the ability to impart confidence in its pilot.
And for those who are wondering -- because if you're considering a Porsche, you're wondering — it does indeed stand up on the track. An hour of loops through two kilometres of curving, closed track was more than enough to prove that while the Macan is a functional Porsche, it can be a ton of adrenaline-breeding fun. For that, the premium price tag might just be worth it.
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Jessica Leeder