Introduction
We are in Hamburg, Germany, for the official launch and driving experience of the Porsche Macan 2019. If you are looking for a crossover that combines style with sporty performance, you are reading the right article.
Overview of the Porsche Macan
The Porsche Macan can easily be described as a more practical 911. This is how impressive the driving experience is, as I was convinced on city streets, rainy rural roads, and the famous Autobahn. It makes perfect sense for Porsche to name it Macan, which means "tiger" in Indonesian, highlighting the pure driving performance you can expect from this crossover.
Exterior Design
The Macan has always sported the most beautiful design compared to its sibling, the Cayenne. As with all Porsche updates this year, the car maintains its previous shape, which is a good thing as it originally had a stunning design. From the front, you might not even realize it's the new model, which is a hallmark of Porsche's commitment to its design language, but you will definitely know it’s a Porsche, even when differentiating it from its siblings.
For the 2019 model, the Macan received:
- New front and rear bumpers with larger air intakes at the front.
- New LED headlights with four distinctive daytime running lights.
- A stunning array of colors to choose from, including Mamba Green and Miami Blue.
The rear of the completely redesigned Macan received the most significant change for 2019, featuring the signature red light strip from Porsche that we see on the 911, Panamera, and Cayenne.
Interior Design
The interior design has undergone a noticeable transformation. As expected from any Porsche vehicle, the cabin is beautifully constructed from high-quality materials with numerous options available, including:
- Carbon fiber.
- Alcantara.
- Panoramic roof.
However, the most significant change for me was the replacement of the old 7-inch infotainment screen with a new high-definition 10.9-inch display. This screen occupies most of the center console, prompting Porsche engineers to relocate the air conditioning vents from the sides of the screen in the previous model to underneath it in this version.
This touchscreen supports Porsche's PCM system, allowing you to control all the entertainment and information systems in the car. It also connects to the internet via LTE for instant updates and supports features like Google Maps navigation.
The center console includes:
- Gear shifter.
- A plethora of buttons.
While this makes the Macan's system feel somewhat outdated compared to other 2019 vehicles, the use of buttons has an advantage that I only appreciated during long drives.
Driving Experience
You can purchase the 2019 Porsche Macan in two variants:
- The first variant is equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine, delivering 252 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque.
- The Macan S variant features a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that generates 354 horsepower and 480 Nm of torque.
I had the chance to drive on German roads, and the route prepared for us was a fantastic mix of highways and scenic rural roads. On these narrow picturesque roads, you would hardly notice any difference in power between the two variants.
The Macan's standard version may lack some power, but this is compensated for by its excellent steering and remarkable stability on the road. Both variants offer a smooth and responsive gear shift through the 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission.
However, when I drove the S variant, especially on Germany's famous Autobahn, I was truly impressed by what this powerful vehicle can deliver. At a speed of 120 km/h on a rainy day with slippery roads and strong winds, I saw a beautiful sign by the roadside indicating that speed limits were lifted.
I then accelerated to reach a speed of 230 km/h with no noticeable effort from the car. Despite the adverse weather conditions, the car's grip on the road was incredibly strong, and I felt complete control.
If you're wondering about the car's acceleration, both the Macan and Macan S come with the Porsche Sport Chrono package. With this package, the Macan accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, while the S variant does it in just 5.1 seconds.
Conclusion
Perhaps the rear seats of the Macan are not the most comfortable you can find in a crossover, and its trunk space of 500 liters is not the largest on the market. Additionally, you might feel that the interior is somewhat outdated.
However, if you're looking for the best driving experience you can get in a crossover and a car that is beautifully built for daily use, the 2019 Porsche Macan is one option you should definitely consider.
Pricing
The starting price for the Macan is 214,000 AED, reaching up to 283,000 AED for the Macan S variant.
