2019 Porsche Macan

A lot of people scoffed at the idea of a Porsche SUV when the Cayenne was introduced back in the early 2000s, but Porsche has had the last laugh, practically creating an entire market segment of performance luxury SUVs. The Cayenne鈥檚 success was so substantial for Porsche鈥檚 bottom line that a smaller, lower priced SUV was announced earlier this decade. Called the Macan, it is now both Porsche鈥檚 best-selling model and its cheapest. 50,000, the Macan is an even more affordable way to get into a new Porsche than the Boxster. Not much changes from the 2017 model year since this is a still fairly new model, and trims still include Base, S, GTS, and Turbo. For a small SUV, the Macan is remarkably quick and fun to drive in any trim, and downright fast in Turbo spec. Base models get a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that was added to the lineup in 2017, and it makes 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The Macan S gets a twin-turbocharged V-6 that makes 340 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, while the GTS gets the same engine that has been tweaked for 360 hp.

The Macan Turbo isn鈥檛 the only turbocharged version, but its twin-turbo V-6 gets 400 hp or even 440 hp when ordered with the Performance Package, which also comes with sports exhaust. Properly equipped Macan Turbos will do 0-60 miles per hour in well under five seconds. All Macans get a PDK transmission and all come with all-wheel drive (AWD). While it is a luxury SUV, at the end of the day the Macan is still a Porsche, and Porsche didn鈥檛 forget its roots when designing it. The Macan handles surprisingly well and is remarkably fun to drive in any spec, be it a base four-cylinder or a loaded Macan Turbo. Most Macans get conventional steel suspension, but higher models can be had with air suspension and adaptive dampers. With only seating for five and a less than cavernous interior, the Macan isn鈥檛 a true family hauler, but it will transport a handful of people in style.

The fit and finish as well as the quality of the materials is top notch, and there鈥檚 a substantial options list to jazz things up even further. Options include 18-way power seats with heating and cooling and a 14-speaker stereo. Tri-zone automatic climate control, 10-speaker stereo and 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen are standard. The Macan will hold 17.7 cubic feet of cargo with the seats up, and this expands to 53 cubic feet when they鈥檙e folded. While the Macan hasn鈥檛 been crash tested, it comes with optional safety features like lane-departure warnings, blind-spot monitors, and a surround view camera. Since 2012, Andrew Newton has been writing about cars both old and new. Andrew has been an associate editor at Sport Car Digest as well as a contributor to sites like BoldRide and JamesEdition. He was also the Education Manager at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, MA before becoming the Auction Editor at Hagerty Classic Car Insurance. He currently splits his time behind the wheel between his NA Miata, 1994 Corvette, and Triumph TR6.

If you needed an SUV to do a driving tour of Vermont tomorrow, you could do a lot worse than a Macan. Given its best-selling status, the Macan is a car that Porsche can't afford to screw up, and for the 2019 update, Porsche didn't. No huge surprise when you consider that ultimately, not that much is different than before. Driving it, though, I thought a lot about the history of the brand. This is something I tend to do often, but, it's especially hard not to when you look down at the badge on the steering wheel. It just carries so much weight. Ultimately, the Macan is an odd sort of keeper of the flame. The 911 might be the car that most closely connects the Porsche of today with the Porsche of the past, but without the Macan, the 911 might not exist. At the very least, it might not be as good as it is today.