The Compact Luxury SUV Market is Red Hot: A Closer Look at the Porsche Macan

The compact luxury SUV segment has been sizzling with excitement recently, with cars like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes GLK vying for attention. However, it was a bit late to the party when Porsche finally decided to join the fray with its latest offering, the Macan. We were among the first to get our hands on this exciting new model and took it out for a spin at our consumer reports test track.

Upon closer inspection, it's clear that the Macan is not simply a rebadged Audi Q5. While it may share some similarities with its sibling, the Macan has all the DNA of a Porsche. The way it steers, the suspension, and even the sound of the engine are all unmistakably Porsche. But what really sets the Macan apart is its exterior styling. While some may see it as more of a Porsche than an Audi, others may find that it's more recognizable as a Porsche 911. However, with a profile that's both swoopy and sporty, the Macan is undoubtedly a unique blend of German engineering.

One of the standout features of the Macan is its handling. The car is agile, responsive, and above all, fun to drive. With flat, sporty suspension and direct steering, the Macan makes you feel like you're driving a Porsche - and that's no easy feat. And yet, despite its performance-oriented design, the Macan also rides surprisingly well, making it perfect for long-distance cruising. The cabin is quiet and comfortable, with impeccable fit and finish that's on par with even the best luxury cars.

But don't get too caught up in the excitement just yet - there are some caveats to consider. For one, the rear seats are somewhat cramped, so if you're planning on carrying passengers back there, think again. And while the controls are certainly intuitive for those who know Porsche's design language, they can be a bit confusing for newcomers. Additionally, the swoopy styling and large pillars do take a toll on visibility, making parking and merging more difficult than it should be.

Despite these minor quibbles, the Macan is undoubtedly an exceptional car. And with its potent twin-turbo V6 engine producing 340 horsepower, it's no slouch in terms of performance either. We tested the lower-of-the-two-trim-line models - which typically come with option packages that can add another $10,000 to the price tag - and were thoroughly impressed by what we saw. So if you've always wanted a Porsche but the 911 is just too impractical for your needs, the Macan might be just the ticket.

In fact, based on our initial impressions, it's hard not to think that the Macan could potentially become Porsche's bestselling model. With its unique blend of German engineering and luxury features, this compact SUV is poised to steal the hearts of many car buyers. And if you're still on the fence, checking out Consumer Reports' comprehensive review of the Macan will give you a better sense of how it stacks up against its competitors in the compact luxury SUV segment.

So what do we think of the Porsche Macan? In short, it's an outstanding car that checks all the right boxes. With its handling, ride quality, and performance all on point, it's clear that Porsche has done something special with this latest offering. And while there are certainly some minor caveats to consider, they don't detract from the overall experience of driving the Macan - which is sure to leave you grinning from ear to ear.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ena compact luxury SUV segments red hot with cars like the BMW X3 the Q5 from Audi the GLK from Mercedes Porsche was a little late to the party with a Manan it was just introduced and we bought our own added it to our test Fleet at the consumer reports test track the car is Loosely based on the Audi Q5 don't think this is just a rebadged Q5 this car WRA all the DNA of a Porsche here I mean the way it steers the way the suspension works the way it sounds is all Porsche exterior and styling is definitely in the eye of the beholder here there are definitely some Porsche cues here the headlights the tail lights the um profile of the car it's pretty recognizable as a Porsche you may not confuse it with a 911 but the way the mechan handles is terrific this car is agile it's tied down it's controlled it's direct makes you feel really good about it and with all that flat sportiness it also rides well I think it's the best riding Porsche yet there is some underlying firmness at low speeds but the car is so settled and so smooth once you're on the go the cabin is really quiet making it really a perfect long-distance Runner and very fatigue free and it goes beautifully too I mean it accelerates quickly without being Snappy and the shifts are direct smooth they give you a little bit of a backfire blur at every shift so really puts a smile on your face you're going to Revel in this cabin because fit and finish is beyond impeccable with brushed aluminum real wood and awesome leather these seats are actually one of the most comfortable seats I've ever sat on hopefully you're not carrying anybody in the back because the rear is really cramped clearly not everything is perfect here it's going to take you a while to get used to these controls because they can be really confusing at first The swoopy Styling and large pillars take their toll on visibility so parking and merging could be a problem both Maan trim lines the S and the Turbo have a twin turbo V6 this potent power plant is good for 340 horsepower we got the lower of the two trim lines of the mean the S typical option packages our car cost $63,900 so if you always wanted a Porsche but the 911 the Cayman and the boxer are not practical enough for you this might be your car we're not going to be surprised one bit if this becomes Porsche's bestselling model to find out exactly how the mechanic Stacks up against its peers check out Consumer Reportsa compact luxury SUV segments red hot with cars like the BMW X3 the Q5 from Audi the GLK from Mercedes Porsche was a little late to the party with a Manan it was just introduced and we bought our own added it to our test Fleet at the consumer reports test track the car is Loosely based on the Audi Q5 don't think this is just a rebadged Q5 this car WRA all the DNA of a Porsche here I mean the way it steers the way the suspension works the way it sounds is all Porsche exterior and styling is definitely in the eye of the beholder here there are definitely some Porsche cues here the headlights the tail lights the um profile of the car it's pretty recognizable as a Porsche you may not confuse it with a 911 but the way the mechan handles is terrific this car is agile it's tied down it's controlled it's direct makes you feel really good about it and with all that flat sportiness it also rides well I think it's the best riding Porsche yet there is some underlying firmness at low speeds but the car is so settled and so smooth once you're on the go the cabin is really quiet making it really a perfect long-distance Runner and very fatigue free and it goes beautifully too I mean it accelerates quickly without being Snappy and the shifts are direct smooth they give you a little bit of a backfire blur at every shift so really puts a smile on your face you're going to Revel in this cabin because fit and finish is beyond impeccable with brushed aluminum real wood and awesome leather these seats are actually one of the most comfortable seats I've ever sat on hopefully you're not carrying anybody in the back because the rear is really cramped clearly not everything is perfect here it's going to take you a while to get used to these controls because they can be really confusing at first The swoopy Styling and large pillars take their toll on visibility so parking and merging could be a problem both Maan trim lines the S and the Turbo have a twin turbo V6 this potent power plant is good for 340 horsepower we got the lower of the two trim lines of the mean the S typical option packages our car cost $63,900 so if you always wanted a Porsche but the 911 the Cayman and the boxer are not practical enough for you this might be your car we're not going to be surprised one bit if this becomes Porsche's bestselling model to find out exactly how the mechanic Stacks up against its peers check out Consumer Reports\n"