Locally, the Cayenne still outsells the Macan by a very slight margin, but worldwide, the Macan is responsible for the bulk of sales, and this is testament to why it exists in the first place. It is the entry into the Porsche brand for many people, offered as the cheapest range in Porsche’s line-up and also offered in the small SUV sub-segment, which is the most popular.
The most noticeable change externally is the addition of a few Agate Grey pieces to the design, including the mirrors, the side blades, inserts on the front grille, the rear spoiler, and the 'Macan' lettering on the rear tailgate. Fitted with 20-inch titanium wheels that match with the rest of the treatment, the 'T' is a standout choice from any other Macan. On the performance front, the Macan T benefits from the inclusion of a Sport Chrono Package with a 15mm lower suspension height and Porsche Active Suspension Management for on-the-fly damper changes. It’s also 60 kilogrammes lighter than the base model, and that casts forward to a small SUV that drives with some commendable levels of dynamism.
Enter the Macan T, which is reviewed on these pages. Porsche’s modern strategy for its T-badged cars is to shed some weight, invest in some added standard equipment, and offer it as a product with more perceived value, performance, and coolness. It's better to say, 'I drive a Macan T' than just a Macan. Indeed, Porsche has taken a base Macan and imbued it with some aesthetic treatment to set it apart. Interior cues include badged treadplates, a specific choice of interior packages (carbon fibre, brushed aluminium, or high gloss black trim), as well as leather or duo-tone leather options. The helm of the Macan T is Porsche’s GT Sports steering wheel, and it’s from here that the changes are experienced.
Practically, the interior is a mix of ergonomics with haptic touch pad feedback in most places along the centre console as well as woven into the 10.9-inch high-resolution infotainment screen. Porsche calls it the Porsche Communication Management System (PCM), and it’s the onboard comms centre for connectivity, nav and phone app mirroring. The on-screen buttons are quite tiny, and I would imagine that on the go, trying to fiddle with certain car settings isn’t the easiest, so it helps that the haptic buttons on the console include usable aluminium switches and buttons for climate control, damper settings, and a few others.
The Macan is certainly the go-to choice for small SUV handling, but it’s the all-round ability that makes the dynamic experience more impressive. The combination of the chassis and adaptive dampers, as well as the balance of good everyday ride quality, is really impressive. Despite its sportscar features, anyone can drive the Macan T and find it equally exciting or docile, depending on the situation. The ‘T’ ticks all of the right boxes that could get a new owner hooked on the Porsche experience. Even mated to this 4-cylinder mill, the 7-speed PDK excels at shifting cogs and responds appropriately when you select different modes from the small rotator on the wheel. Silver paddle shifters behind the steering also make for heightened engagement when you opt to do the manual shifting yourself—all traits of a sportscar, but offered within this level of car.
The Macan is the first 4-door Porsche to have the 'T' nomenclature added, previously bestowed on the 718 and 911 models. Is it worth the trouble? In money terms, it certainly is, and essentially, it’s the Macan that most will possibly buy because, option for option, there’s some savings in there. Compared to certain German brand rivals, its price is notably competitive. Note that the price listed here is with a 3-year maintenance plan. The 5-year plan will set you back a further R100,000.
In its class, it certainly commands the best dynamic engagement within a crest that still brims with desirability, irrespective of the model you’re driving. It’s a true all-rounder, without any aspect that's inherently bad. Its biggest flaw is that, as a Porsche, it is perhaps the least exciting of its cars in terms of out-and-out thrills, but that’s coming from a place of having driven all the other models in the range. For a new customer, though, or perhaps someone looking at a second, more docile Porsche, there’s not much to complain about. And if it really is that dull, there’s a few more powerful Macan’s up the chain.
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