Think Porsche, and you think 911. Or Cayman/Boxster. Maybe Cayenne. Perhaps Panamera. What you almost certainly don't think is Macan. But Porsche's compact SUV is quite the quiet achiever. More than 385,000 have been sold worldwide since the Macan made its debut in 2014. (It took Porsche more than 30 years to sell that many 911s.) Two in five new Porsches sold in the U.S. Macans, making it easily the company's most popular model. In short, it's a success. The 2019 Macan and Macan S now come standard with LED headlights, but new technology makes the biggest splash inside, courtesy of the 10.9-inch high-definition touchscreen in the center of the dash. The new screen provides the user interface for the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. The PCM system, which made its debut in the Panamera, features beautifully rendered graphics and fast reaction times, and the screen layout can be customized in several ways.
PCM also features voice control and can process swarm data from similarly equipped vehicles to warn of slippery roads, fog, or other hazards ahead when the navigation system is active. The 2019 Macan arrives in North America in late spring/early summer in two variants. The base Macan is powered by a 248-hp, 273-lb-ft longitudinally mounted version of VW Group's versatile 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine fitted with a new direct-injection cylinder head with centrally located injectors. 2,100 USD bump over the outgoing model. The Macan S, historically the best-selling Macan variant in the U.S., now has a 348-hp version of the Audi-designed 3.0-liter single-turbo V-6 under the hood. The twin-scroll turbocharger, mounted in the V, helps deliver a torque plateau that peaks at 354 lb-ft and runs flatter than Kansas from 1,360 to 4,800 rpm. Just one transmission is available, a seven-speed PDK that distributes drive to all four wheels. The all-wheel-drive system's torque split is biased to the rear wheels in the interest of sporty handling but can funnel 100 percent of the drive to the front wheels if needed.
The chassis concept is fundamentally unchanged, with multilink suspension front and rear and the choice of conventional steel springs or a height-adjustable two-chamber air suspension. But the 2019 Macan features a number of key tweaks aimed at improving ride quality and comfort while simultaneously improving the little SUV's already formidable on-road dynamics. The front suspension components are now made of aluminum, replacing the steel hardware used on the previous model. Porsche says the new front axle assembly reduces unsprung mass by 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) and is considerably stiffer. The optional air suspension system has optimized rolling pistons and new damping hydraulics. The stabilizer bars have been recalibrated to deliver more neutral handling. And to tie it all together, the Macan now rolls on asymmetric tires, the fronts slightly narrower than the rears. You notice the improvements in ride quality and steering precision within the first few miles. Where the previous Macan crashed and thumped over lumps and bumps in the road, the new model is quieter and more composed.
The steering is as clear and deftly weighted a helm as you'll find on any SUV, allowing you to place the little Porsche accurately in corners with little more than a roll of the wrists. 25,000 USD worth of options. 2,750 USD for the optional air suspension is worth the money, and not just because it gives you an extra 1.6 inches of ground clearance in off-road mode. The hot setup, in terms of the best compromise between comfort and handling, would be to pair the air suspension with the 20-inch wheels and tires. The extra half inch of sidewall would further reduce impact harshness and noise and offer additional protection against pothole damage. 1,060 USD off the cost of ordering the air suspension in the first place. Sandpapery at times, the 3.0-liter V-6 doesn't feel as refined in the Macan as it does in the bigger Panamera or Cayenne. That may be a result of new dynamic engine mounts designed to stop the V-6 twisting in its moorings as you come on and off the throttle and upsetting the chassis balance. But the occasional tingle through the steering column is a worthwhile trade-off for the punchy midrange throttle response. Short-shift and surf the torque, and the Macan S pinballs down a twisting two-lane like a hot hatch, alert and light on its feet. As with all Porsches, the Macan S options list is long. It needs to be, as it's a surprisingly spartan ride in base trim, lacking even heated front seats, automatically dimming mirrors, or lane keeping assist as standard equipment. In addition to those items and the aforementioned air suspension and 20-inch wheels, we'd recommend opting for the Sport Chrono package, as it delivers the steering wheel-mounted mode switch with its "push to pass" button. 5,700 USD Burmester setup.
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