Porsche Macan S - First impression

There was once a time when Porsche was only focussed on producing sleek, high-performance sports cars such as the spectacular 911 and Boxster range. However, in times when Crossover SUVs are all the rage, even a niche marque like Porsche can’t ignore the opportunities that present themselves. The German automaker first plunged into this fray when it introduced the Cayenne, which has now become one of the top dogs within its genre. Now it was time to attack the Compact Luxury Crossover segment, and to achieve this, Porsche launched the Macan in 2014.

Available in various avatars (Standard, GTS, Turbo), the mid-tier Macan S seems to strike a great middle-ground between design, performance, features and price. The new 2019 Porsche Macan is already available in Malaysia for RM 455,000, with the updated S variant being the next in line. The new Macan is built upon the latest Audi Q5’s (modified) platform and competes against cars like the Mercedes-AMG GLC Coupe 43 and the Audi SQ5.

Exterior

In relation to its pre-facelift iteration, the new Porsche Macan maintains the same proportions and exterior silhouette. As for the sportier S variant, the new model looks understandably more aggressive than the regular Macan -- albeit a few notches more than its equivalent predecessor. The front face of the new Macan S looks more squared than before, especially due to the revised bumper which now gets more streamlined air intakes and a lower lip that juts out further. The bonnet of the Macan S has also been tweaked a little and looks cleaner than before, while the all-new LED headlamps now feature Porsche’s latest ‘four-point’ LED daytime running lights.

Meanwhile, the svelte side profile of the new Macan S retains the flared fenders, sporty 21-inch rims, sloping C-pillars and the confident stance of its predecessor. Around the back, the new avatar gets the marque’s signature all-LED lighting strip and tail lamps, along with a slightly revised bumper, rear diffuser and quad-exhaust outlets. The new Porsche Macan S can be considered a subtle yet meaningful design upgrade over the outgoing car, and though it’s only an evolutionary change, it sure suits the Macan’s overall sporty and urbane demeanour. Bringing out the measuring tape would reveal the new Macan S’s length of 4,696 mm, width of 1,923 mm, height of 1,624 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,807 mm - all identical to the previous car. The boot space, too, hasn’t been altered, with a volume of 488 litres.

Interior

For the new Macan S, Porsche has updated the interior space quite thoroughly, while still maintaining the former model’s cockpit-like layout. The most notable revisions come in the form of an all-new, high-definition 10.9-inch, wide centre touchscreen unit, repositioned and restyled central climate vents, and a revised instrument cluster. The posh German carmaker has also invested in boosting the cabin’s quality while adding several new features to aid connectivity, entertainment and safety. Needless to say, build quality, attention to detail and fit-and-finish are all second to none. The climate-controlled seats of the new Macan S feel sporty, supportive and well-padded. Space in the cabin is acceptable all throughout, though the rear is best suited for two adults only.

Feature-wise, the new Macan S is brimming with up-to-date tech and gizmos, including Burmester premium sound system, radar-guided cruise control, adaptive sport suspension (Porsche Active Suspension Management in the carmaker’s parlance), launch control, smart entry with push-button ignition, heated windshield, heated & ventilated front seats, Alcantara & leather upholstery, power sunroof, surround-view camera system, internet connectivity, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, tri-zone automatic climate control etc.

Powertrain and performance

Porsches are all about scintillating on-road performance and unadulterated driving pleasure -- counts on which the new Macan S does not disappoint. The S comes fitted with a longitudinally-mounted, 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine that pushes out nearly 350 horses and 480 Nm of maximum twisting force. Assisted by Porsche’s fantastic 7-speed Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox, along with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) and an active all-wheel-drive system, the new Macan S will unequivocally plaster a smile on your face. Tipping the scales at nearly 1.9 tonnes but with launch control enabled, the Porsche Macan S will rocket from a standstill to 100 kmph in 5.1 seconds, to 160 kmph in 13 seconds, and go on till it reaches its terminal velocity of 254 kmph. And even though the carmaker claims the Macan S can do 11.2 kmpl, you’d be lucky if you can manage around 9 kmpl on a combined cycle.

Safety equipment

The new Porsche Macan S is loaded to the gills with a wide range of passive and active safety features and boasts a 5-star EURO NCAP rating. Its safety kit encompasses a plethora of airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Porsche Hill Control (PHC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Lane Change Assist (LCA) with Lane Keep Assist (LKA), rear-seat ISOFIX anchor points, all-around parking sensors, and the optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) to name a few.