2019 Porsche Macan

With the incredibly engaging Macan, Porsche proves that a crossover can drive like a sports car. Its spellbinding performance and unflappable poise are the primary reasons we named the 2018 model to our 10Best Trucks and SUVs list. Underneath its curvaceous shell are two available engines鈥攁 base 248-hp turbocharged four-cylinder and a turbocharged V-6 making 348 horsepower in the S model. Every Macan is equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Sure, some competitors are more affordable and practical, but they don't cast a spell on their drivers in the same way that the Porsche does. It truly sets the bar for what crossovers can be. What's New for 2019? The 2019 Porsche Macan is updated for this year and features refreshed exterior styling that includes updated front and rear bumpers, new taillamps that span the width of the liftgate, and new wheel designs. If it were going in our driveway, we'd pick the Macan S. It's quick, fun to drive, and offers the best performance in the current 2019 Macan lineup.

Interior trim varies only a little from the entry-level Macan to the Macan S, so most of the cost bump between models is associated with changes to the powertrain and other mechanical equipment. Standard features in the Macan S include a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display, a 10-speaker audio system, LED headlamps, and all-wheel drive. Likes: Quick as some two-door Porsches, sharp-shifting gearbox, responsive brake pedal. Dislikes: It's not quite a sports car. 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. The ride is wonderfully smooth and carefully controlled, and it's rare for a jolt from the road to make its way up through the cabin. The Macan's tenacious attitude in corners makes it feel stable and planted. The steering is a little lighter than in Porsche's sports cars, but still hyperaccurate and pleasantly tactile. You can drive this Macan hard, and it responds like a top-ranked sports sedan. The Macan's EPA ratings are very similar to those of its competitors, although a few rivals have better numbers on the highway.

Once we get the updated Macan and Macan S into our garage for testing, we'll send both on our 200-mile real-world fuel-economy test route to see how the EPA's ratings hold up under normal operating conditions. Likes: Upscale features and materials are available鈥攆or a price; more practical than Porsche's sports cars. Dislikes: Shrunken back seat, lacks standard luxuries, no Android Auto, limited carry-on capacity. The Macan's standard interior fittings are a disappointment in a crossover of this price and provenance, and it's expensive to outfit one in a manner that befits the Porsche crest. There's also less space for back-seat passengers in the Macan than in most competitors. The Macan's power-adjustable seats for the driver and front-seat passenger are the only pieces of standard interior equipment that feel even remotely luxurious. 2230 that Porsche asks for outlining just the front air vents in leather feels like price gouging, even for Porsche. Porsche's infotainment system can be had with all manner of high-tech features.

But, as with nearly everything on the Macan's equipment list, enjoying those features will cost you. USB ports and 12-volt outlets are sprinkled throughout the cabin, so driver and passengers alike should be able to keep their devices fully charged. With the standard mobile Wi-Fi package on board, the family data plan might be able to escape a road trip unscathed, too. A puny cargo hold and small interior cubbies make the Macan one of the least practical vehicles in this segment. But when has buying a Porsche ever been a rational choice? We fit six carry-on bags in the cargo bay and 16 with the rear seats folded, which should be enough for most people. The Macan hasn't been tested by either crash-test agency (nor has any other Porsche currently on sale, for that matter). The Macan can be had with a wide array of driver-assistance technology, but almost none of it is standard.

As you might imagine, the Audi Q5 and Porsche Macan are more than a little related since both start on the VW Group's modular MLB platform. But what Porsche uses under the Macan is MLB in name only. That's because Porsche essentially changed everything. The all-wheel drive system is different. The gearbox is a PDK, not a torque-converter automatic. The engines are Porsche specific. No body panels are shared. Is it really platform sharing if you radically change the platform? PDK still rocks. Every time we drive a car with a great automatic gearbox, typically ZF's eight-speed, we wonder how it can get better. PDK is better. The seven-speed version in the Macan isn't the newest of the new, but that doesn't matter. The reaction to paddle inputs is lightning quick, and it's smart about learning how you drive and what gear you need to be in at what time. It's kind of perfect. It's better in manual mode than every automatic, and just as good at self-shifting as any gearbox out there.