All you need to know about Porsche’s new four-cylinder Macan

There is a new entry-level Porsche – a four-cylinder base model of the Macan SUV

Richard Russell
Published: September 8, 2016, 11:20 AM
Updated: September 12, 2016, 8:51 PM

2017 Porsche Macan

There is a new entry-level Porsche – a four-cylinder base model of the Macan SUV. Words and photos by Richard Russell ▲

Lowest priced Porsche

The 2017 Porsche Macan joins the S, GTS and Turbo and at a starting price of $57,200 becomes the lowest priced Porsche. A mid-sized SUV, the Macan is a direct competitor for the Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Jaguar F-Pace. ▲

New four-cylinder base model

The Macan arrived as a 2015 model in S and Turbo trims. The GTS version was added for 2016 and now, for 2017, Porsche has fleshed out the line with a new base model – the Macan (without any suffixes). Because very few Porsche buyers go for a base model, it expects the vast majority of Macans to go out the door at $64,920 before freight, equipped with the five most popular options: premium package, $7,250; lane change assist, $790; power steering plus, $310; 19-inch wheels, $1,890 and navigation, ▲

Family feel to design

There is a distinct family feel to the design. The Macan looks very much like a scaled-down Cayenne. The front features a massive set of intakes and there are cutouts in the hood, which drapes down over the front quarters, for the big headlights. ▲

LED Taillights

The Macan’s wraparound LED taillights extend into the tailgate. ▲

Distinctive features

Inside, the visual differences between the new Macan and its six-cylinder S sibling are limited to black instrument faces instead of silver and a lack of scuff plates on the door steps. The Macan can be distinguished from the outside by black calipers and window surrounds, unique wheels and two rectangular exhaust outlets instead of the quartet on the S. ▲

Porsche Communication Management

The 2017 Macan, along with its S, GTS and Turbo siblings gets PCM 4.0 with a faster operating system. A seven-inch tablet-like screen, satellite and HD radio, lane departure warning, front and rear park assist and rear camera are now standard across the line. ▲

Spacious up front

The Macan is based on the same architecture as the Audi Q5 but it is longer, wider and lower, with more room inside. With a length of 4,697 mm on a 2807-km wheelbase, the 1770-kg Macan is 15-cm shorter than its big-brother Cayenne, while nearly as spacious inside. The front buckets are heated and adjustable in eight-ways and they are spot-on ergonomically. ▲

Tight in the rear

The rear seat accommodations are tight in terms of head and legroom, however. The bench is split 40/20/40 with the middle able to serve as an armrest with the back folded down – a good idea since there is little space for a middle occupant back there. The cargo area behind the second row is more coupe-like in size than CUV. There is storage below the floor and the liftgate is powered. ▲

Traditionally Porsche

The interior of the Macan is readily identified as a Porsche starting with the left-hand key placement and the wide centre console, laced with two dozen switches, bucking the current trend toward eliminating them. The centre console lies beneath a bright LCD touchscreen, with another in the right-side of the instrument cluster. There are deep pockets for bottles in the front doors. And more room in the centre console than in many of its competitors. ▲

Switches galore

Switches galore The wide centre console is laced with two dozen switches, bucking the current trend toward eliminating them. The centre console lies beneath a bright LCD touchscreen, with another in the right-side of the instrument cluster. There are deep pockets for bottles in the front doors. And more room in the centre console than in many competitors. ▲

Standard equipment

Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic folding tailgate, garage door transmitter, heated eight-way power front seats, heated steering wheel, three-zone automatic climate control, park assist, including rear-view camera, lane departure warning and satellite radio. ▲

New four-cylinder engine

The 2017 Macan is the second new Porsche model to be powered by a four-cylinder engine, but this one has nothing in common with the horizontally-opposed unit introduced in the new generation Cayman and Boxster. The Macan uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four, shared with Audi, that’s rated at 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, on premium fuel. Its fuel consumption ratings are 9.3 L/100 km, city, and 11.6 highway. ▲

Plenty of performance

Paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and rear-biased AWD, Porsche says it will propel the Macon from rest to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds when equipped with the optional Sports Chrono package. The company expects the four-cylinder model to account for 40% of all Macan sales. ▲

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