Porsche Macan

While manufacturers each offer their own take on the SUV, most favor utility over any semblance of sport. That's not the case with the 2021 Porsche Macan. Speed and handling are the priorities here, making the Macan feel like a high-performance hot hatch for adults. But the Macan also offers decent helpings of luxury, comfort and the latest technology to make it one of the most well-rounded SUVs on sale today.

Even the base Macan, with its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, is fun to drive. But Porsche offers some serious firepower with the GTS and Turbo models, both offering enough performance to shame most sports cars. There's also the midtier S model, which provides plenty of thrills yet keeps the bottom line in check. If you're a bit less judicious with your purse strings, the Macan eclipses competitors by offering a nearly endless array of customization options. However, the Porsche's stellar attributes come at the cost of practicality and price. Other luxury SUVs are far less expensive and are ultimately more passenger-friendly.

Which Macan does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Porsche Macan is a small luxury SUV available in four trim levels of increasing performance: base, S, Turbo and GTS. All come standard with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Highlights include:

Base Includes a decent amount of standard equipment, such as:

• 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (248 horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque)
• 18-inch wheels
• Tri-zone climate control
• Leather and faux suede upholstery
• Eight-way power-adjustable front seats
• 40/20/40-split rear seats
• 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 10-speaker audio system
• Navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Four USB ports
• Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)

S Increases the performance quotient, with:

• 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine (348 hp, 354 lb-ft)
• 19-inch wheels
• Larger front brakes with six-piston calipers
• Unique exterior trim
• Quad tailpipes

GTS Ups the standard features and performance, with:

• 2.9-liter turbocharged V6 engine (375 hp, 383 lb-ft)
• 20-inch wheels
• Adaptive air suspension with a lower ride height
• Sport exhaust
• Aerodynamic body kit
• Adaptive headlights
• Heated sport seats

Turbo The range-topping Macan Turbo increases engine output and adds features that are optional on lower trims. Highlights include:

• More powerful 2.9-liter turbocharged V6 (434 hp, 405 lb-ft)
• High-performance brakes
• Heated steering wheel
• Driver-seat memory settings
• 18-way power-adjustable front sport seats
• Faux suede headliner
• 14-speaker Bose audio system

Options abound for all trims — bundled in packages and offered as stand-alone features. These include:

• Premium package
• Panoramic sunroof
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Auto-dimming mirrors
• Heated seats
• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• 12-speaker Bose audio system
• Premium Package Plus
• Premium package
• Ventilated front seats
• 14-way power-adjustable sport seats
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Macan and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Electronically locking rear differential
• 16-speaker Burmester audio system
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Porsche and the car in front)
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
• Analog stopwatch paired with steering wheel-mounted drive mode controller