As with many new models these days, the refreshed Porsche Macan debuted in China, the world鈥檚 biggest car market, where it鈥檚 a key product for the brand with a Porsche-claimed 100,000 sales so far. While the Porsche Macan unveiled was the Chinese model, most details are expected to show up in various global versions. The subtly redone front end may leave you unable to say what鈥檚 different even though you know you like it better. Park it next to a 2018 Macan, however, and you鈥檒l see that the reshaped grille, updated bumper and harder-edged hood make it look lower, wider and sleeker, losing some of the chunkiness of the previous design. LED headlights now are standard (adaptive lights are available) and include a striking four-point daytime running light. A three-dimensional LED taillight strip now runs across the liftgate in the style of the new Panamera and the Cayenne. It makes for a wide-body effect as well as a good-looking light. Wider seems to be a theme here, and it continues inside with a stretched, 11-inch high-definition touchscreen display 鈥?up from 7 inches before 鈥?that dominates the updated dashboard.
It鈥檚 powered by a new system that includes upgraded intelligent voice control. The interface is configurable just as it is in the new Panamera and Cayenne. Despite the flashy new screen and some tech updates seen on other recent models, the redone dash and center console appear to retain a welcome array of physical buttons and switches for easy access to common features. If you鈥檙e a sucker for a just-right steering wheel (I am), you鈥檒l want to check the option box for the new, 911-like GT sport steering wheel. It also includes a driving mode control and, if you order the Sports Chrono Package, a Sport Response button that tightens up the SUV鈥檚 response immediately. Just because you have a Porsche doesn鈥檛 mean you won鈥檛 end up in the same traffic as a Toyota Yaris driver. But the 2019 Macan can help take the edge off at up to nearly 40 mph with a new Traffic Jam Assist feature, which includes adaptive cruise control that assists with acceleration, braking and steering in slow traffic.
A standard communications module enables 鈥渟warm-based鈥?traffic information from the cloud in real time as part of the standard internet-connected navigation system. Macan joins the ranks of many European luxury cars today with a cabin air ionizer for a fresher interior. I know you鈥檝e been wondering about that. Porsche offered little information about chassis changes and none about potential powertrain changes. It said the chassis has been tweaked to 鈥渙ptimize鈥?performance, and the Macan will offer some new wheel and tire combinations, including new 20- and 21-inch wheels. Porsche was mum about any changes under the hood despite widespread rumors of power bumps for the current engines, which arguably don鈥檛 need the boost. In the U.S., the 2018 Macan offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (252 horsepower), a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 (340 or 360 hp) or a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6 (400 or 440 hp). Cars.com鈥檚 Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com鈥檚 long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don鈥檛 accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com鈥檚 advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
These three hot hatchbacks are quite closely matched for company car tax bills, but the Volkswagen is the cheapest. Higher-rate earners will pay 拢4,533 a year for the Golf R because it sits in the 33 per cent Benefit-in-Kind tax band. The Honda sits in the 36 per cent bracket and will cost 拢4,700 a year, and the Mercedes splits the two, at 拢4,761 (34 per cent). While the Golf returned reasonable economy of 29.3mpg, considering its strong performance, that figure was the lowest of the three cars here. 鈥淯nlike the A 35, the Golf R is also available with a manual gearbox. The Type R nails the hot hatch brief. It buzzes with excitement when you鈥檙e pushing hard, but is a comfortable and practical family car when you鈥檙e not. Honda鈥檚 model is better value than both of its rivals, with loads of standard equipment, plus it鈥檚 also more fun to drive, whether you鈥檙e heading to the shops or on a track day. The infotainment could be better, but it鈥檚 still the best hot hatch on sale. While it can鈥檛 match the Honda鈥檚 value or thrills, the VW Golf R is still an incredible hot hatch.
With four-wheel drive, its performance is astonishing, and in a straight line it would leave many much more expensive cars in its wake. Yet it鈥檚 still engaging and is also as usable and practical as a Golf should be. It comes with plenty of kit and should be affordable to run. The new A 35 is nearly as fast as the Golf R and easily has the classiest interior here. It鈥檚 also composed and boasts great traction, but the AMG doesn鈥檛 have the same level of finesse found in the Civic, in particular. The A 35 isn鈥檛 as good to drive as its competitors, while more kit is optional and it鈥檒l be more expensive to buy and run. It鈥檚 also not quite as comfortable as either rival. The BMW M140i offers something different in this class, because it has a straight-six engine and rear-wheel drive. It鈥檚 great fun to drive and that smooth and powerful unit is one of the best at this price. There鈥檚 a new, front-wheel-drive 1 Series coming soon, so act fast. Audi鈥檚 RS 3 is much more expensive to buy new than the A 35, but go for a late 2016 model and it鈥檚 within budget. We found one with 23,000 miles for less than 拢32,000. The RS 3 has an incredible engine, four-wheel-drive traction and a high-quality cabin.
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