Following the success of the original Cayenne, continuous advancements and market shifts led to the birth and growth of the Porsche Macan line-up. Smaller, nimbler and more attainable, Macans made the Porsche driving and ownership experience more accessible. As a result, it quickly became the brand’s best-selling model line.
The 2023 new Macan T sits one step above the entry-level Macan, it’s equipped with more performance and handling upgrades that make it a suitable choice if you want a top-tier sporty driving experience.
Our test vehicle sported a refreshing yellow colour with Agate Grey Metallic lower side garnishes, side mirrors and rear liftgate spoiler. The overall design is still clean, current, muscular and unmistakably Porsche.
The 4-beam LED headlights perform well at night and can illuminate the sides when you make turns. The front end also sports nice diamond design accents on the lower grille.
One-piece door handles and a laser-brazed roof are upscale touches that add to the Macan’s premium design. The optional 20-inch Macan Sport wheels in Satin Platinum also go well with the sheet metal.
The rear also features the diamond design accents above the black quad tailpipes. Crisp, snappy LED taillights that span the width of the tailgate give the rear a sophisticated look.
Performance
The Macan T is equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (called a PDK transmission, which stands for Porsche Doppel Kupplung), producing 261 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque.
While not big numbers for a Porsche, this is more than enough power for everyday driving, able to rocket you from a standstill to 100 km/h in just over 5 seconds using its Launch Control Feature. The Macan T also features a steering wheel-mounted Sport Response button that you can press to get a 20-second on-demand burst of full-on power.
Aside from a noticeable vibration felt when accelerating from a stop produced by the dual-clutch transmission, the engine and transmission operates smoothly and unobtrusively. When you decide to drive spiritedly, the engine will deliver the power effortlessly.
The exhaust doesn’t sound as fierce as higher-end Porsche models even though our test vehicle was optioned with Porsche’s Sport Exhaust System, which includes a button on the centre console for drivers to make the exhaust a bit more pronounced on demand. In Sport Exhaust mode, you hear light pops during downshifts when you set the drive mode to Sport +. You also get black exhaust tailpipes for a meaner look.
Improved Sporty Handling
Every Porsche delivers agile, confident handling, but in the Macan T, the suspension and driving dynamics are upgraded further to make handling its greatest strength. It is extremely fun to drive and incredible to experience an SUV turn and steer like a sports car, with barely any lean.
Our test vehicle was equipped with an adaptive height-adjustable air suspension that includes Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). You can customize the suspension stiffness as well by pressing a button on the centre console when you want a sportier driving experience, allowing you to take turns and curves faster than you should with greater confidence. Along with PASM, our Macan T was also equipped with the optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) system. PTV+ improves handling during fast cornering by being able to selectively brake the inside rear wheel while maintaining torque to the outside rear wheel. More torque for the outside wheel helps maintain cornering speed and stability when steering. PTV+ is also beneficial during winter driving because the system can transfer more torque to the wheel that has more grip on slippery roads.
The brakes are strong and reactive as expected from Porsche. They do require careful pedal modulation to brake smoothly because they grab so quickly with little pedal travel even at low speeds. The black calipers are attractive, and all 4 units have the Porsche script on them, not just the fronts.
Interior
Our test vehicle was fitted with the carbon fibre trim package ($1,700) that adds a sporty polish to the already nicely finished interior. There are soft-touch materials almost everywhere, even on the lower dashboard panels, an area most car companies skimp on by installing hard plastics since the lower dash is less visible and noticeable, but not Porsche.
There is also beautiful stitching and soft leather on the nicely contoured heated steering wheel. The infotainment screen resolution is high, and selecting functions are easy and snappy with an intuitive menu. The speedometer and tachometer are analog, but the right instrument cluster pod is digitalized with customizable features and gauges.
The front seats are phenomenally bolstered and comfortable, with eight-way power adjustment and Cloth-Tex inserts as standard. Even the shape of the seats look pleasing, although to get niceties like more power adjustments and ventilated front seats, you unfortunately have to pay extra.
One warning for shorter drivers: The adjustable front row armrest can slide fore and aft, but if you have to move the seat farther forward and up, using the armrest by sliding it farther forward will require you to sacrifice use of the centre console cup holders, since adjusting it forward will eclipse them. Front USB-C ports are tucked away in the small storage compartment below the armrest.
Rear seat passengers get adequate legroom and their own climate controls, but a tall centre hump will compromise foot space for a middle seat passenger. Therefore, the backseat is ideal for just 2 people, where they get heated seats.
The cargo area provides 488 L of space, and the rear seats can fold down in three-ways (40/20/40) for versatility to provide up to 1,503 L of space. With all the seats folded, the surface is flat, which helps make loading large items easier. Along with a pouch to carry a spare bottle of engine oil and dual LED cargo lights, there are buttons for owners to lower the rear suspension to make loading items easier.
Safety First
Automatic high beams and lane-keeping assist both come standard, which are particularly useful when driving on rural roads at night or when driving in the rain at night, but we were a bit surprised that a few other basic features were missing given the high price tag such as blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a front camera.
Otherwise, the planted ride and solid structure gives a strong sense of safety. At highway cruising speeds, it rides extremely smooth and quiet with little wind noise like a true luxury vehicle.
More Choice, More Appeal
As a Porsche, you have access to a wealth of interior and exterior customization options to personalize your vehicle, from paint-to-sample exterior colours such as our unique yellow test vehicle to multiple interior colour combinations. Few competitors can match the breadth of Porsche’s offerings. Being able to personalize your vehicle to your tastes with factory-fit parts also makes the car more unique and exclusive, and more “yours.”
Choose the Macan T if you’re not horsepower-hungry, and want a more prestigious, fun-to-drive compact SUV that is easier to manoeuver and park in the city.
| Porsche Macan T | |
| Canadian Price | $91,900 as tested |
| Engine | 2.0L inline-4 turbocharged gas engine |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Horsepower (hp) | 261 |
| Torque (lb.-ft.) | 295 |
| Fuel consumption (L/100km)
(City, highway, city/highway combined) |
12.4, 9.3, 11.0 |
| 0 to 100 km/h Acceleration (seconds) | 5.4 |
