2019 Porsche Macan

A close look at the 2019 Porsche Macan's front-end reveals new LED headlights with signature four-LED fixtures each, bigger air intakes near the radiator grille, and sleek LED strips that double up as turn indicators. Thanks to these changes, the front-end of the SUV looks wider than before. The side profile remains intact, except for a new design for the alloy wheels. In keeping with Porsche's latest design philosophy, the Macan receives a three-dimensional LED light panel at its tail-end. Like the Porsche 718, the tail lights of the MY2019 Macan feature 3D elements with the Porsche lettering splashed across the mid-section. Four new exterior colours are now on offer- Mamba Green Metallic, Dolomite Silver Metallic, Miami Blue and Crayon. The interior of the 2019 Porsche Macan mirrors that of its predecessor to a large extent. The new features include a touchscreen system, heated front windshield, air ioniser for the climate control, and a new Traffic Jam Assist feature that allows semi-autonomous driving at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour (60 km/h). The engine and the gearbox options have been left untouched. The 2019 Porsche Macan is available with 2.0-litre turbocharged, 3.0-litre twin-turbo, and 3.6-litre twin-turbo petrol engines that are mated a 7-speed PDK gearbox. The 2019 Porsche Macan rides on an overhauled chassis that enhances the comfort levels and the road handling characteristics. The refreshed model offers all-wheel drive with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system.

An A7 TDI hit 60 mph in 5.8 seconds at our test track, a few tenths slower than Audi's estimate but still remarkably quick by diesel standards. EPA fuel economy estimates for the A7 3.0T stand at 24 mpg combined (20 city/30 highway), a startling 4-mpg increase from last year despite carryover mechanicals and an added 23 hp. The A7 TDI gains a single mpg, checking in at an exceptional 30 mpg combined (25 city/38 highway). We nearly matched that on the Edmunds evaluation route with 28.9 mpg. Standard safety equipment on the 2016 Audi A7 includes antilock disc brakes, stability control, a blind-spot warning system, front and rear parking sensors, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and front knee airbags. Rear side airbags are a standalone option, while the Driver Assistance package adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a corner-view camera system and lane-keeping assist. In Edmunds brake testing, we evaluated both an A7 3.0T and an A7 TDI with 20-inch wheels and summer tires came to a stop from 60 mph in 106 feet.

That's impressive, no doubt, but expect a longer distance with the standard all-season tires and 19-inch wheels. The A7's interior is thoughtfully designed and tightly constructed, with excellent materials quality. Subtle wood accents add to the premium feel, as does the comprehensive red backlighting at night. Audi's familiar Multi Media Interface (MMI) controls audio, communication and navigation functions via a dash-mounted pop-up screen and a knob and buttons on the center console. There's also a touchpad that includes radio preset numbers and allows you to enter letters and numbers into the navigation system using handwriting. In total, MMI boasts logical menus and crisp graphics, and after a short time it seems relatively intuitive. The A7 is also equipped with Audi Connect, which includes 4G LTE data connectivity with mobile WiFi for up to eight devices, Google Earth data for the navigation system and simplified Google search for POIs. The Google Earth feature is a cool concept, but in practice it's an example of form over function, as the "enhanced" map can be more difficult to comprehend at a glance than a conventional navigation map.

We have higher hopes for the new-for-2016 4G integration, as it's bound to be an improvement over the sluggish 3G service provided in previous years. Fitting five passengers in the A7 is quite feasible, as long as the ones in back aren't very tall. Headroom up front is acceptable, but the sleek, sloping roof line limits rear headroom quite a bit, and it also makes ingress and egress more challenging. Happily, legroom is adequate all around. The A7's hatchback design enables easy loading of luggage and larger items that might not fit in the trunk of a conventional sedan. Official cargo capacity is 24.5 cubic feet, but lowering the rear seatbacks increases that volume significantly. Regardless of which powertrain you choose, the 2016 Audi A7 can pass slow-moving traffic in what seems like a blink of an eye. The supercharged 3.0T is a stunning engine in its own right, providing nearly instantaneous throttle response that its turbocharged rivals can only dream of.