Why the Macan Turbo could be Porsche’s Best
Every Porsche fanatic has mused about which single model in the manufacturer’s history is the maker’s best, most complete package, with a number of 911 Turbos regularly mentioned, alongside the 2004 Carrera GT and a bunch of the classics, such as the 911 Carrera RS.
The question is, which is the current best Porsche? What does the best even entail?
Well, it depends on who you ask. If you’re me, you want a car that’s big enough for a normal-sized family but not gargantuan (goodbye Panamera, 911, and Cayenne ranges). You also want a car that’s good enough for a cross country road trip (sorry, Cayman, Boxster, and GT3 maniacs), one that looks good from any angle, and finally, one that sounds terrific (that’s a nail in the coffin for all new Porsches with the admittedly great, new four-cylinder engines).
What’s left? What single Porsche satisfies all of these demands? None other than the Macan Turbo.
My overzealous anticipation for – finally – a family-sized Porsche was quickly extinguished when I saw the designs for the Cayenne and Panamera, both unable to capture the visual essence of Porsche with their bulky designs. The Macan immediately endeared itself to me with its properly aggressive face, its balanced proportions and that elegant rump. Inside, the interior feels like it took many painstaking hours to make and works well despite the high number of buttons on the dashboard. This being the Turbo, I adore the extra touches over the rest of the range such as the Alcantara roof lining and the superb Bose sound system. The adaptive front sports seats are comfortable and hugely supportive, and just as well, considering the performance on offer.
Demand has outstripped supply since its launch, which shows that many agree with me. Of course, it’s also a gem to drive. The Turbo’s 3.6-liter produces 394bhp, enough to blast to 62mph in just 4.8 seconds. That’s as quick as a Carrera S manual and ensures that your wife and kids will never be late for hair appointments and birthday parties again.
Dynamically, the Macan Turbo leaves its rivals for dead. The crisp, 7-speed PDK gearbox is the gold standard for dual-clutch transmissions, and remains so in this application, allowing you to focus on the prodigious amount of grip and body control on offer. The perfectly weighted steering is another example of Porsche effortlessly transferring that sports car feel from the 911 to its compact SUV, which is, of course, a much heavier machine than its coupé brethren. With Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) – the electronic damping control system continually adjusts to road conditions – working together with the Turbo’s standard air suspension, trying to sense even a hint of body roll is a fruitless exercise.
Should I be chased through a forest by angry German rivals who have already been soundly beaten on the road, it’s comforting to know that just one button selects Off-Road mode, and all systems automatically set the Macan up for dealing with rough terrain. Drive force can be variably distributed between the front and rear axles by up to 100%, while Porsche Hill Control means downhill gradients can be safely navigated.
In the end, there’s no area where I can see the gorgeous Macan Turbo falling short. It’s the only Porsche that has ever looked good and which offers genuine practicality in a single package, without losing any of the brand’s hallmark traits of ultimate dynamism and performance.
Yes, I think I’m in love. I also think the Macan Turbo is the most complete, individual Porsche you can buy today.