2019 Porsche Macan First Review

The Porsche Macan is the most successful model in the brand鈥檚 history. Just 4 years after its introduction the Macan is approaching 400,000 global sales, suggesting this Porsche doesn鈥檛 need any improvements. But the luxury SUV segment is among the most competitive in today鈥檚 market, and Porsche doesn鈥檛 wait for its models to lose their competitive edge before acting. We recently road tested the 2019 Porsche Macan S in Mallorca, Spain to experience a range of upgrades to the chassis, drivetrain, exterior design, interior features and technology interface. As one of the most driver-focused SUVs already available it was hard to believe the Porsche Macan could be substantially improved. But it could, and Porsche did. 59,650, including handling and destination charges. Enhancing the 2019 Macan鈥檚 handling dynamics is a new double-wishbone aluminum front suspension that is both lighter and structurally stiffer than the previous steel version. These components reduce unsprung weight by 3.3 pounds and combined with new engine mounts, revised anti-roll bars and available wider front wheels (.5 inch) improve turn in and steering precision.

The Porsche Macan鈥檚 optional air suspension has also been re-tuned to fully leverage these updated components for improved ride and handling. The Macan鈥檚 optional air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) are now joined by an optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system that features lighter, heat-resistant carbon ceramic rotors. The Macan鈥檚 standard braking system has also been upgraded with a lighter brake pedal and 10 mm larger front rotors to deliver improved pedal feedback and greater fade resistance. Porsche鈥檚 PDK dual-clutch 7-speed automatic transmission serves duty behind both engines. How do all these chassis and drivetrain upgrades impact the Porsche Macan鈥檚 acceleration, ride and handling? As you might expect, it鈥檚 win-win-win. The Macan is already one of the most engaging and entertaining SUVs you can buy. The 2019 Macan maintains, if not slightly raises, its agility while substantially improving ride quality. Not that the previous Macan was a back breaker, but it clearly transmitted its performance intentions, even on smooth pavement.

The 2019 Porsche Macan S feels far more relaxed when left in Normal driving mode, particularly over the broken and pockmarked pavement covering the island of Mallorca. A combination of narrow, twisting roads and aggressive elevation changes would have challenged most SUVs, but the Macan proved confident and refined throughout the experience. In addition to the wider front tires, Porsche equips the Macan with staggered front and rear wheel sizes, with wider rear tires adding to the SUV鈥檚 stability. In the case of our Miami Blue Porsche Macan S, a set of 21-inch, 911 Turbo-inspired wheels were wrapped in Pirelli PZero 265/40 R21 front tires and 295/35 R21 rears. This combination of equipment, along with the optional self-leveling air suspension and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus all-wheel drive, had our Macan S gleefully ascending mounting passes while strafing Mallorca鈥檚 narrow one-lane bridges. Putting the Porsche SUV in Sport Plus mode lets the transmission dig deep into the turbo V6鈥檚 flat torque band, allowing the Macan S to catapult between apexes with minimal up- or downshifting.

Also: Get more driving impressions of all the new and redesigned 2019 models. The same subtle, but effective, approach to the 2019 Macan鈥檚 mechanical features was practiced for its exterior updates. The most striking change is seen from behind, where a new full-width LED taillight connects the traditional brake lights located on either side of the hatch. The rear 鈥淧ORSCHE鈥?badge is mounted on this light panel, adding to the Macan鈥檚 upscale appearance. Larger front air intakes, located under new standard LED headlights, enhance the Macan鈥檚 performance image. Updated parking sensors which are fully integrated into the front grille鈥檚 鈥渁ir blades鈥? give the SUV a cleaner appearance. Buyers looking to break up their SUV鈥檚 paint scheme can opt for Brilliant Silver or High-Gloss Black lower body side panels. The 2019 Porsche Macan鈥檚 interior also benefits from a number of functional and high-tech improvements. The most obvious is a larger 10.9-inch touchscreen.