2023 Porsche Macan: Car and Driver 10Best Trucks and SUVs
The Porsche Macan returns as a 10Best winner after a year off. Part of the reason it’s back is that it drives as though it belongs in our 10Best Cars competition, with a nimbleness rarely found among the higher-riding breed of vehicles. In GTS guise, where a twin-turbo V-6 engine cranks out a serious 434 horsepower, the Macan acts like an enlarged hot hatch, with ultrasharp steering complemented by a willing chassis. You’re up higher than you are in Porsche’s iconic sports cars, but you quickly forget you’re piloting a roughly 4300-pound crossover when the 2.9-liter engine emits a raucous growl as the Macan scythes through corners with fleet-footed finesse.
The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox executes rapid, snappy shifts with a click of the cool metal paddles or responds seemingly telepathically when left to its own devices. The entire package boosts the driver’s confidence with every turn of the wheel and prod of the pedals.
Even the base Macan provides Porsche-worthy driving dynamics. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four isn’t as sonorous as the six-cylinder found in the S and GTS, but the engine still produces a healthy 261 horsepower. Switch to the sportier drive modes and the base model wakes up, delivering the same balanced, agile handling as the faster and more powerful Macan variants.
Despite the focus on driver enjoyment, the Macan still serves as a practical commuter. The ride is smooth, and the cabin is comfortable, if a little cramped. The assembly quality is impeccable, and the materials are luxurious and modern, even if the gloss-black plastic appearing on many high-touch surfaces is a fingerprint magnet.
Porsche charges full price for the Macan’s greatness, with the base model starting at nearly $60,000, and a well-equipped GTS can easily surpass the $100,000 threshold. A hefty sum for sure, but no other SUV drives like a Macan. The Macan’s ability to be both a thrill-seeking, corner-carving rocket and a pleasant luxury cruiser, regardless of trim level or powertrain, earns it back its spot on the 10Best list.
