NEWCARS PorscheMacanT
“We reckon that many fourwheel-drive hot hatches are more credible rivals to the Macan T than SUV alternatives, which is credit to the Porsche”
PorscheMacan T FIRSTDRIVE Behind the wheel ofTouring version of SUV Alex Ingram
Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram
IN Porsche’s vernacular, ‘T’ stands for ‘Touring’. It’s a title that’s been applied in the past to the brand’s sports cars that might not have the most power or the lowest 0-62mph time, but aim to give the keen driver a pure, engaging experience. For the badge to now appear on an 1,865kg SUV might seem like an oxymoron. But this is the Macan T, and Porsche reckons that for similar money to premium SUV rivals from BMW and Jaguar, there’s genuine Porsche DNA for keen drivers to enjoy. The T is priced from £53,970, £5,000 more than the entry-level Macan, but just £660 less than the S. However, to help save weight the T uses the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine shared with other VW Group models, such as the Golf GTI, only here it’s mounted longitudinally. The smaller engine weighs 59kg less than the V6 models, and all that mass removed from the nose, Porsche says,
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helps to improve cornering agility. The 2.0-litre unit makes 261bhp and 400Nm of torque, with the latter available from 1,800rpm through to 4,000rpm, the same as the base Macan. However, thanks to the standard Sport Chrono Pack, the 0-62mph time drops by 0.2 seconds to 6.2. The key changes are to the suspension, which gets a specific tune. On standard steel springs, it sits 15mm lower than the regular Macan and gets the brand’s PASM adaptive damping system as standard. While the Macan has always been an astoundingly sharp, composed car by SUV standards, these changes make the front even keener to turn in and keep a flat stance through turns. The damping is so well set up. Even while attacking the Col de Turini’s harsh, undulating roads in France, the T clings onto its line doggedly in the face of harsh mid-corner bumps. Where some rivals would get upset, the latest Macan shrugs off the worst surfaces. In the dry, there’s more grip than power, but in the wet, it adopts a
rear-driven feel, highlighting the new model’s retuned traction control system. In a first for a four-cylinder Macan, it’s also possible to add air suspension. The £1,044 extra also adds an uprated rear antiroll bar, and drops the suspension a further 10mm (or 20mm in Sport Plus mode). The air set-up keeps the platform stable and level even under hard cornering. In Sport and Sport Plus modes the ride gets incrementally busier, but it’s never harsh. In Comfort, it’s just as relaxing as rival cars, but unless you’ll be doing a lot of motorway cruising, where the air suspension set-up is slightly more refined, we’d save the cash. The seven-speed PDK gearbox is flawless. It’s super-smooth and the changes are as sharp and as swift as you’d ever need in an SUV. The steering is wonderfully weighted and gives positive feedback, while the brakes are powerful and reassuring, even after heavy and repeated use. From the point of view of enjoyment and capability, we reckon that many four-wheel-drive hot
NEED TO KNOW
Macan T’s grille, door mirrors, side blades, rear spoiler and badging are finished in a dark shade
