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Porsche Macan 2019 review

EXPERT RATING
7.6
After rising to the top of the Porsche tree in its first 4.5 years, can the updated Macan still compete with numerous newer SUVs?

When Kenny Rogers gets a facelift, he does the term justice. Have you seen him lately? He’s barely recognisable. It’s probably not often that Kenny and Porsche get mentioned in the same sentence, with the legendary Country singer and iconic sports car brand sharing few parallels.  

Particularly when it comes to visual enhancements, that is, with the updated Porsche Macan barely qualifying for a lunchtime Botox analogy, let alone the standard facelift jargon we use to describe a mid-life refresh.

It’s been to the gym and sharpened up its wellbeing though, in an effort to keep what’s now the Porsche brand’s most popular model competitive among a whole host of other SUV rivals that have appeared in the 4.5 years since the Macan first hit down under.

Six months after it was revealed at the Paris motor show, the new Macan and Macan S arrive in Australia this week.

Porsche Macan 2019: (base)
Safety rating
Engine Type2.0L turbo
Fuel TypePremium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency7.4L/100km
Seating5 seats
Price from$68,860

Is there anything interesting about its design?   7/10

If you’re wanting to pick the updated Macan from the old one, it’s the full width tail-light that’s you’re biggest clue, with Porsche giving the typical “if it ain’t broke” approach to the rest of the exterior styling, despite a whole bunch of other changes under the skin and on the inside.

If you’re wanting to pick the updated Macan, the full width tail-light's you’re biggest clue. If you’re wanting to pick the updated Macan, the full width tail-light's you’re biggest clue.

Aside from the rear light treatment which brings the Macan into line with Porsche’s more recent Panamera, 718 Boxster and Cayman, Cayenne and 992 911 designs, there’s also new LED headlights, subtle tweaks to the lower body details and some new wheel options rounding out the exterior differences.

But most importantly, the Macan still has that low, broad, squat stance that looks like a proper Porsche performance machine.

The biggest change in the interior is the upgrade to a 10.9-inch version of the latest multimedia screen from the Panamera and Cayenne, which is really nice to use with beautiful displays.

The Macan also now gets the same steering wheel as the 911, which is about as nice as steering wheels get, with a nice size, round shape and sexy knurled control wheels for the volume and menu controls.

The Macan also now gets the same steering wheel as the 911. The Macan also now gets the same steering wheel as the 911.

There’s a whole bunch of other improvements you’d probably only notice back to back with the old car, including more aluminium in the suspension to reduce unsprung weight, completely new engine platforms and improved sound deadening for a quieter drive.

Kerb weight figures are hardly lithe though, at 1797kg and 1865kg between Macan and S.

Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?   7/10

Pricing has also been discretely modified, with the base Macan now starting $1690 higher at $81,400, and the next rung Macan S shifting $2000 upwards to $97,500. 

The base Macan now starts at $81,400, and the Macan S starting at $97,500. The base Macan now starts at $81,400, and the Macan S starting at $97,500.

These are the only two updated models on the price list for now, with the range-topping Turbo tipped to arrive in 2020, and the GTS that sits between it and the S due in 2021.

Both trim levels are now in line with the Panamera and Cayenne the latest version of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) multimedia/infotainment tech with a 10.9-inch touch screen display. This includes Apple CarPlay for iPhone users, but there’s still no Android Auto.

Both Macan and Macan S standard features also include leather trim, three-zone climate control air conditioning, GPS navigation system, Bluetooth, 14-way power adjustable seats, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, Park Assist with surround-view monitors and a power tailgate.

The multimedia/infotainment  includes Apple CarPlay but there’s still no Android Auto. The multimedia/infotainment includes Apple CarPlay but there’s still no Android Auto.

The Macan S adds piano black interior details, aluminium scuff plates, aluminium window trims, a silver tachometer, and a digital boost pressure gauge.

Aside from its stronger engine, mechanical Macan S upgrades include bigger front brakes with an extra two pistons to total six, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive dampers, silver dual exhaust outlets on either side and one inch larger 20-inch ten spoke alloys.

Seat heaters and active cruise control will still cost you more on either Macan, but one omission I find quite surprising is that they still don’t get much in the way of active safety gear as standard. Unlike pretty much every other premium SUV on the market, you’ve got to pay extra to get AEB with the active cruise control pack.

The car we spent most of our time in, which is not the Mamba Green car pictured here, was optioned with Miami Blue paint ($5,800), panoramic sunroof ($3,790), tinted headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus ($3,410), black 21-inch Sport Classic rims ($3,330), carbon interior package ($3,080), Sport Chrono Package with mode switch ($2,790), Bose surround sound system ($2,650), black exhaust tips ($1,890), Porsche Entry & Drive ($1,690), Lane Change Assist ($1,390), tinted full width tail-lights ($1,340), and gloss black roof rails and window trims ($1,260), heated front seats ($990), Light Comfort Package ($720) and Power Steering Plus ($650). This $34,780 worth of accessories brings its total RRP to $132,280, before on-road costs.

How practical is the space inside?   7/10

There’s nothing new of note on the practicality front, with the usual dual cup holders front and rear, bottle holders in each door (although the rears are a bit shallow), and a useful, array of 12V and USB points scattered throughout.

  • There's the usual dual cup holders front and rear, and bottle holders in each door. There's the usual dual cup holders front and rear, and bottle holders in each door.
  • In the back there's enough headroom and rear legroom for shorter adults and plenty of room for kids. In the back there's enough headroom and rear legroom for shorter adults and plenty of room for kids.
  • The boot space is unchanged with a pretty decent 500 litre luggage capacity. The boot space is unchanged with a pretty decent 500 litre luggage capacity.

The back seat is the same as before, with enough headroom and rear legroom for shorter adults like my 172cm size, and therefore plenty of room for two kids, but the sloping roofline is probably a pain for taller parents loading child seats. Speaking of which, there’s two ISOFIX mounts back there for mounting baby seats as securely as possible.

The boot space is unchanged with a pretty decent 500 litre luggage capacity, with a spacesaver spare tyre under the floor, but in my experience the sloping tailgate that gives the Macan that sexy coupe shape can make it a bit difficult to load beyond cargo cover height.

What are the key stats for the engine and transmission?   8/10

The biggest mechanical news so far is that there’s no more diesel, along with all Porsche models, and the Macan S’s 3.0-litre petrol V6 loses one turbo in favour of a single, but more high tech, twin scroll unit.

This engine is already found in the Panamera, Cayenne and several Audi models.

This engine is already found in the Panamera, Cayenne and several Audi models. This engine is already found in the Panamera, Cayenne and several Audi models.

For Macan S it means an extra 10kW more power and 20Nm more torque over the old version to now total 260kW between 5400-6400rpm, and 480Nm available between an impressively broad 1360-4800rpm.

This has knocked just a tenth off the 0-100km/h claim, which is now 5.1s in Sport Plus mode with the Sport Chrono Package optioned.

The base Macan’s 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine specs are unchanged, with 185kW available from 5000-6800rpm  and 370Nm between 1600-4500rpm, with it’s 0-100km/h 6.7s 0-100km/h claim remaining.

The seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission continues as the sole transmission available with either Macan, but has been recalibrated to suit the new engine in the Macan S.

The Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel drive system continues to send power to all four wheels in either Macan grade.

Both versions have been prepared for towbar fitment, and carry maximum braked towing capacity of 2000kg and 2400kg for the Macan and Macan S respectively.

There’s still no sign of a plug-in hybrid or EV Macan, with the second-generation Macan set to at least offer an all-electric version in around 2023.

How much fuel does it consume?   8/10

With the diesel gone, you shouldn’t expect the Macan to set any benchmarks here, but the base Macan still carries a reasonable 7.4L/100km official combined fuel economy claim. The Macan S’s 8.9L figure is even more impressive given its performance advantage, however.

Both engines require top-shelf 98 RON Premium Unleaded to do their best, and their 75-litre fuel tank capacity suggests theoretical ranges between fills of 1013km and 842km for the Macan and S respectively.

What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?   7/10

The Macan is an excellent example of why it’s important to look past a maximum five star safety rating. It carries no safety rating from ANCAP, but five stars from Euro NCAP based on a 2014 test.

It carries no safety rating from ANCAP, but five stars from Euro NCAP based on a 2014 test. It carries no safety rating from ANCAP, but five stars from Euro NCAP based on a 2014 test.

Since that test, the Macan has introduced side and curtain airbags for rear passengers, so it’s in fact safer, but the test criteria has changed significantly in the past five years.

Australian versions of the new Macan come with dual front airbags, chest side and curtain airbags for all outboard passengers, reversing cameras covering 360 degrees with Park Assist front and rear, parking sensors and lane departure warning.

As mentioned above, they’re surprisingly lacking active safety features as standard. Unlike pretty much every other premium SUV on the market, you’ve got to pay an extra $2410 to get AEB with the active cruise control pack, and a further $1390 to get Lane Change Assist as two key examples.

Warranty & Safety Rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited km warranty

ANCAP Safety Rating

ANCAP logo

What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered?   7/10

The Macan is covered by Porsche's standard three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is par for the course among premium brands, but lags behind the five-year-plus terms offered by most mainstream manufacturers these days. An extended warranty of up to 15 years can be arranged through Porsche, at a price. 

Service intervals are a generous 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, but Porsche does not offer capped-price servicing to take the guesswork out of service costs or maintenance costs.

If there are any common problems or complaints, reliability issues or faults, they’ll likely appear on our Porsche Macan problems page.

You can calculate the Macan’s projected resale value via our Price and Specs page.

What's it like to drive?   10/10

This is where it gets good. I’m yet to meet a performance SUV that surpasses the need for a qualifier at the end of every element of praise for its driving attributes to the tune of “for an SUV.”

But in my opinion, the Macan is the closest, with its relatively low body and broad stance bringing the driver closer to the centre of gravity (and action) than any I recall. 

It's relatively low body and broad stance bring the driver closer to the center of gravity and action. It's relatively low body and broad stance bring the driver closer to the center of gravity and action.

We’ve only driven the updated Macan S so far, but any Macan is likely to share the fundamentals that give it incredible stability at speed and make it genuinely good fun to drive fast. 

The steering has nice feel, the wall of acceleration from the turbo engine is really good and the seven-speed PDK transmission is beautifully calibrated, particularly in the sport modes - I didn’t reach for the paddle shifters once. 

If there’s one criticism of the drivetrain it’s a lack of aural theatre. Surely any Porsche with an S badge should be capable of roaring when asked, but the standard Macan S delivers little more than a muted growl. There is a sports exhaust system on the options list, but you’ll have to shell out $5,390 for it. 

The steering has nice feel and it's genuinely good fun to drive fast. 

The steering has nice feel and it's genuinely good fun to drive fast.

There was one particular run along a river bed on our drive route that strung dozens of varying radius bends together, with a mix of cambers that enabled the Macan S to truly shine. Aside from slightly accentuated fore and aft movement because of its short, but still tall body, it was almost as planted as an Audi RS 4, but with a more lively feel than I recall. 

And when you’re not driving it like a Porsche, as most of us spend about 99 per cent of out time on the road, it’s still a really comfortable car. I had to look under the guards to make sure our particular example wasn’t fitted with the optional air suspension, even though it was riding on the bigger 21-inch wheels. Why can’t everyone do suspension like this?

Verdict

The new Macan is only a smidge better in most areas, but it’s brought it up to date in most ways, but make sure you tick the option box for active cruise and AEB. That aside, it’s an astounding driver’s car for an SUV.

Given we haven’t driven the base Macan or any of the future variants yet, it’s impossible to nominate the sweet spot of the range, but the Macan S is a very good option.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel and meals provided.

Do you wish Porsche had done more to the Macan? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Pricing guides

$73,980
Based on 21 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$59,990
Highest Price
$95,990

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
(base) 2.0L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $68,860 – 79,090 2019 Porsche Macan 2019 (base) Pricing and Specs
Turbo 3.6L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $102,300 – 117,590 2019 Porsche Macan 2019 Turbo Pricing and Specs
Turbo (perf Pack) 3.6L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $107,580 – 123,640 2019 Porsche Macan 2019 Turbo (perf Pack) Pricing and Specs
GTS 3.0L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $97,790 – 112,420 2019 Porsche Macan 2019 GTS Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
7.6
Design7
Price and features7
Practicality7
Under the bonnet8
Efficiency8
Safety7
Ownership7
Driving10
Malcolm Flynn
Editor

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Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.