Introduction: When you think about the brand name Porsche, their Supercar offerings like the 911 series come our minds immediately. And why not? This is exactly the way this German car manufacturer won hearts decades back and has been doing so even today. But Porsche also makes ‘family’ vehicles like the Panamera, Cayenne and this one, the Macan. Not don’t get us wrong here - these cars can carry four or even five adults in utter comfort but at the same time, get enough Porsche DNA to make sure grinning moments are part of the package.
The Macan, Porsche’s best seller worldwide, is one such offering and has been on sale in India for a while. It seemed to do everything just right but was priced in a bracket that had far ‘larger’ options for prospective customers. Thankfully, Porsche has rectified this with the new updated model being priced under Rs 70 lakh, ex-showroom for normal variant and Rs 85 lakh for the S variant. Of course, as is the case with other models from the brand, you can customize the Macan to your hearts content.
Exteriors: We drove the new Macan at the Mecca of motorsports in the country, the Buddh International Circuit, an apt location to understand this performance compact SUV in a better way. For starters, not much has changed in terms of the design theme. The Macan carries the same distinctive front end that instantly connects it to the Porsche family. The huge bonnet actually wraps itself around the headlamps which now get a full LED treatment along with Porsche’s cool four-point LED daytime running lights. Talking of which, you also get a three-dimensional LED light panel at the back and this runs horizontally between the tail-lights. It does look different and along with the width of the car, adds to the oomph appeal.
Porsche is offering a range of alloy wheels for the Indian market and customers can go as high 21 inch in terms of the size. The SUV continues to carry mixed tyre size set-up with wider ones at the back.
Interiors: Step inside and you are greeted with the same familiar cabin design. However, additional features are now being offered which ups the value quotient. You also notice the new, larger 27.6cm touch-screen set-up. The PCM or Porsche Communication Management system has also been upgraded and the optional GT steering is an enthusiast’s delight. This gets an integrated Sport Response button for delivering crisp engine response and handling when required.
This also gets us to the driving experience. There are two engines on offer - the regular Macan gets a 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit that puts out 252 bhp of power and 370 Nm of torque. These figures help the Macan get to 100km/h from standstill in just 6.5 seconds along with a top whack of 227 km/h. However, if you want to experience the full potential of this performance SUV, you can opt for the S variant that comes with a larger V6 turbo-petrol unit. This belts out 354 bhp of power and 480 Nm of torque. The result? 0-100 in just 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 254 km/h. Safe to say, the Macan S will be a regular sight in the rear-view mirror of sports cars in India.
Handling: During the quick drive around the laps of the BIC, it was evident that the Macan cocoons you pretty well and this feels more like a performance car than an SUV in terms of the seating posture. Our test car with the optional Sports Crono package and flooring it down the straights or curves of the track had me grinning from ear to ear. You have also reassurance of the PTM or the Porsche Traction Management that works hard as per the mode you pick. Sports Plus is the mode I preferred and this makes the engine even more responsive to the inputs from the right pedal. The rev limiter adjusts itself to a harder setting, suspension damping becomes stiffer and the steering more direct. The shift times of the 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung or PDK become shorter and the gear shifts even sportier. All these technical bits add to the flavor and though the fun lasted a few laps, it was enough to set my pulse racing and palms sweating.
But there is a downside to the phenomenal driving experience this vehicle offers and that is the practical part. The boot sure is huge for your long weekend holidays but the space on offer in the 2nd row is what will keep family buyers away. A small price to pay for an otherwise great tool.
Verdict: Apart from correcting the price of the Macan, Porsche has also worked hard on getting the ownership experience sorted. For example, you can opt for the Crest Care Package for as low as INR 2.4 per km in terms of maintenance costs. This package can be customized as per the variant you buy and the covers you need.
In all, the new 2019 Macan might offer subtle changes, but it continues to deliver the same thrills but at a much-reduced price and lower maintenance costs. This, we are sure, will help it reach a wider set of audience in India. Good move Porsche!
