WHAT makes sports cars such fascinating pieces of machinery is their singularity of purpose. They are designed to deliver maximum thrill factor.
How they do that is open to interpretation. The spectrum of sports cars is quite wide, from lightweight, lithe little numbers to superpowered brutes that can pound the pavement.
Now comes an odd addition to the sports car family, from a company that used to make nothing but sports cars (the odd tractor or two aside).
Porsche has, of course, produced SUVs and four-door sedans, but they could best be described as, well, very powerful SUVs and four-door sedans.
Calling them sports cars required some squinting, and a lot of stretching of the definition.
No apologies are needed for Porsche’s newest product line, the Macan. We can unequivocally say that the Macan is every inch a sports car.
Let’s begin with the obvious: The Macan does not have the body of the typical sports car. To use the trendy term nowadays, it’s a crossover. It has a tall body, four doors, and a hatchback. That means that there’s no bending, bowing and gnashing of teeth involved in getting in and out of the car.
That’s good news for the older folks who tend to be the main market of these cars. The driver’s seat is positioned at the ideal hip level, perfect for hopping in and out.
Once inside, you are greeted with a driver-oriented cockpit. The classic Porsche gauge layout is inside a deep binnacle, albeit with three circular gauges rather than five.
In trademark company fashion, the tachometer—the largest gauge—is front and center, and a 280-kilometer-per-hour speedometer to its left.
As there’s no space for auxiliary gauges, those functions are displayed on an LCD screen within the right circle.
The fuel level is permanently displayed, while other indicators, such as oil pressure and level, temperature, all-wheel-drive system status and warning displays, can be toggled by the driver.
The Macan makes a case for putting all switches and controls in plain view. This is in contrast to the luxury segment’s current penchant for reducing the number of switches and organizing options within menus.
The switches are clearly labeled and will quickly be familiar with a few days of use. The indicators are small red LEDs mounted in the bright metallic slivers below each switch.
Air-conditioning controls are toggle-type switches, with the setting displayed on a small LCD screen just above them. The design and execution are very German.
The same applies to the exterior style: What you see is what you get. The design is quite restrained, with clean lines and a minimum of adornment.
Its face is more similar to the Boxster-Cayman siblings than to the 911. The headlamps are twin complex units within each housing.
Embedded within the larger outer units are the daytime running lights: four LED units that are similar to the Porsche’s endurance racer.
There are contrasting “side blades” on the lower edge of the doors, some strakes on the bumper, a roof-level rear spoiler, and that’s it for decoration.
Starting the Macan involves another Porsche tradition. You insert the key to the left of the steering wheel and twist. That fires up, alas, not a boxer six engine, but an inline-four.
The gasoline engine features direct injection and turbocharging, and produces 237 horsepower and 350 Newton-meters.
US and European markets get a V6 engine, but the four-cylinder is specific to the Asia-Pacific region. The 2-liter engine is coupled to a seven-speed double-clutch transmission.
The drivetrain has various fuel-saving features, such as automatic idle shutdown, and decoupling of the transmission in a “coasting” mode.
The transmission and engine are engaged almost instantaneously when the driver steps on the accelerator and brake pedal.
The most important feature of the Macan is its driving feel. Behind the wheel, the Macan feels as responsive as its sports car brethren, albeit with ultimately less power.
Of course, on a track, the 911 and the Cayman will carve corners in a way that the Macan won’t be able to. Its high center of gravity ultimately limits its cornering abilities.
But on city roads and the highway, the Macan delivers the goods. The car sprints to 100 kph in 6.9 seconds. Objectively, that’s not very quick, but behind the wheel, the Macan’s acceleration feels brisk.
The teamwork between engine and transmission is superb. The seven-speed double-clutch (aka the Porsche Doppelkupplung or PDK) shifts seamlessly and is smart about selecting the ideal ratio.
For quick downshifts, there are paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. Pushing the Sport button switches the engine to respond more quickly to the accelerator.
The four-wheel-drive system has a rear-wheel bias, directing most of the torque to the rear wheels by default.
Depending on road conditions and traction at each wheel, it can direct up to 100 percent of the torque to the front wheels.
The Macan belies its ride height (up to 230 mm in offroad mode).
It takes corners with gusto, the steering wheel acting as a precision instrument.
The Macan features a heavily articulating front suspension, with rear multilink independent suspension.
Body lean is well controlled, and the ride quality is firm but never harsh.
Brakes are capable of reportedly hauling down the Macan from high speeds with no difficulty at all.
Despite appearances, accommodations are by no means Spartan. There’s a touch-screen-control audio system with Bluetooth integration, dual zone air-conditioning with rear air vents, and parking sensors at all corners with backup camera.
The front seats are supportive and comfortable. The rear seats provide adequate legroom.
There’s a 500-liter luggage space, and you can increase that to 1500 liters with the rear seats folded.
Porsches are described as the everyday sports car, but the Macan’s ease of use, visibility, and comfort take that everyday-use factor to a higher level.
If sports cars are defined not by number of doors and seats, but by how they please the driver, the Macan easily qualifies.
This Porsche obeys every command you can throw at it, and executes them with what feels like a distinctive delight.
That it can carry more of your family and friends along for the ride is perhaps its biggest bonus.
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