If we had any worries that the all-new Porsche Macan SUV wouldn’t be a ‘real’ Porsche, they rapidly evaporated following a few minutes riding along in an early prototype with one of the brand’s test chauffeurs at the wheel.
Barrelling into a sharp bend just outside Los Angeles, Hans-Juergen Woehler, a development engineer for Porsche SUVs, brakes hard – harder than you’d expect any SUV could. Yet he turns in smoothly, stamping on the throttle in the exit and correcting a gentle slide. The lack of body roll, the agility and the playfulness are hallmarks of the 911, Cayman and Boxster, but here they are in a 4,600mm-long SUV.
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The Macan feels like a completely different car to the Audi Q5, with which it shares a platform. Suspension expert Karl Hess discusses that the two vehicles share less than 64 per cent of their suspension parts.
The team desired a rear-wheel-drive sensation – even though all designs are four-wheel drive – and the Macan can transfer up to 90 per cent of power to the rear axle. With a ride height 20mm lower than the Q5’s and a lower seating position, you feel much more cocooned in – rather than sitting on – the Macan.
Porsche Macan interior and specs
The interior has had a complete Porsche makeover, too, so you get the same centre console flanked by buttons and a large touchscreen display as in the most recent 911 or Panamera.
