Porsche is set to launch the Macan in
India. We head to Dubai to find out more about this premium SUV
The moment we say Porsche, the first thing
that comes to the mind is a low-slung sports car until the Cayenne came along
and instantly became a bestseller. This time we are in Dubai to drive the
second SUV in Porsche’s line-up, the Macan, which is being hailed as Porsche’s
answer in the premium compact SUV segment. What is surprising though are the
words of Porsche’s leadership team, “Every car a sports car.” Naturally, we
were curious to find out if the Macan can live up to this tall claim.
The
Porsche Macan S is a stout all-round choice
As far as looks go, the Macan sports the
classic Porsche silhouette. The front end reminds one of the 911, thanks to the
sweptback headlamps and the long clamshell bonnet. The bonnet is made of
aluminium to ensure weight reduction. At the back, the Macan looks very
imposing, and the most striking feature is its tail lamps.
Though, the Audi Q5 underpins the Macan,
Porsche claims that the entire platform has been reworked to give the SUV its
own identity. Dimensions reveal that the Macan is 52mm longer and 25mm wider
than the Audi Q5, but sits 31mm lower than the Q5. The wheelbase, however,
remains unchanged at 2,807mm.
The
interior is finished to a suitably high standard for a compact premium SUV
On the inside the Macan impresses with its
quality. The dash is crafted with the finest of materials, and the centre
console is dotted with a plethora of buttons in typical Porsche fashion.
Needless to say, every knob, button and toggle switch reflect the German
hallmark of precision engineering. The clocks are a clever mix of digital and
analogue displays with the tacho occupying the centre stage. The steering
wheel, which has been inspired by the one on the 918 and is a sheer joy to
hold, comes with paddle-shifters. Although the Macan is longer than the Q5, it
isn’t as spacious at the back. The large and cushioned seats that can be
electrically operated are the place to be in and getting in and out of the
Macan is a breeze. The Macan’s boot can gobble up 500 litres of cargo and with
the seats flipped down it goes up to a humongous 1,500 litres.
The
seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is a superb bit of kit
The Macan S, which we drover, comes with a
3-litre twin-turbo V6 engine. Other options include the Turbo, which comes with
a monstrous 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6. The Macan S at start up sounds docile
despite the engine packing a substantial 340bhp. None of that low rumbling
growl that’s typical of Porsches can be heard here. The S gets off the line in
a pretty civilised manner arrowing off towards the horizon, but there is no
starvation of power at any point of time. In just 5.4 seconds, the Macan S
reaches 100kmph and the speeds keep climbing without any hesitation. The
7-speed PDK is quick-reacting, adding to the fun factor. The best bit is to
downshift and bury the throttle for a burst in acceleration accompanied by a
rorty sound from the exhausts for a few second.
There's
an adequate amount of legroom in the back of the Macan
What truly impressed is the way the Macan
handles. We headed towards the Jebel al Jais — UAE’s highest mountain — driving
over some nice twisty roads. Not the perfect place to put an SUV to test. But
the Macan was in a league of its own. With speeds climbing above 100kmph, the
Macan cut the corners with great poise with hardly any hint of body roll, which
meant more confidence and aggressive manoevers. Thanks to the air suspension,
the Macan hunkers down by 40mm, making it more aerodynamic and more confident,
returning a car-like handling around bends. The steering offers the right
amount of feedback, making for an engaging drive. There is hint of understeer,
but that does not hinder the fun factor much. The brakes bite firmly to do a
good job of hauling this nearly two-tonne mammoth to a stop.
