Typically, when a car has been around for more than a few years without a full redesign, it starts to become long in the tooth. The Porsche Macan has been around since the 2015 model year, but it’s still one of our favourite compact luxury crossovers out there. This year marks a heavy refresh to the Cayenne’s smaller sibling, and we genuinely enjoyed the base four-cylinder version. This time around, we grabbed a 2022 Porsche Macan GTS with the Sport Package, the top dog in the Macan lineup.
The Python Green paint on our test unit is a bit ostentatious, but definitely doesn’t take away from the Macan GTS’ handsome lines and wide hips. It’s a well-proportioned little crossover and makes rivals like the Mercedes-AMG GLC and BMW X3 M look boring in comparison. We love the looks of the Macan, and the 21-inch wheels equipped here look excellent. The LED light bar on the rear decklid is gorgeous, and the black-finished LED headlights look great as well.
Under the hood of the Macan GTS lies the familiar twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine, outputting 434 horsepower and 405 lb-ft. of torque. It’s an increase of nearly 60 horsepower and 22 lb-ft. over the outgoing model. The keen will note that this is very similar to the outgoing Macan Turbo’s numbers, and this is because the GTS is now the top trim available. It’s good for a 12-second quarter mile run and a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds. The seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox is just as quick here as expected, though we would love to see the eight-speed unit make its way into this application.
We’ve said this before about boosted V6 versions of the Macan, but no small crossover has any business driving as well as this does. The driving dynamics are simply marvelous, and the Macan GTS is just about the best hot hatch on the road right now, all grown up. The $13,470 GTS Sport Package adds Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, Sport Chrono Package, and with it launch control. It accelerates with authority thanks to its 434 horsepower, but the beauty of the Macan GTS is how confidently it carries speed.
The electrically assisted power steering is responsive and well-weighted, and the Macan handles like a dream. All of the German brands claim to have good-handling performance crossovers, but the Macan GTS is the most athletic of them all. The air suspension and adaptive dampers make for beautifully complacent ride quality regardless of the situation, even on the 21-inch GT Design wheels on our test unit. A 20-inch setup would obviously ride a little bit better, but we found our GTS to have the best balance of sportiness and overall comfort.
Inside the Macan is typical Porsche, though the button-filled center stack on the outgoing model has been replaced with a touch-sensitive “pad” to access frequently used commands. It looks slicker, but it’s more prone to fingerprints, scratches, and makes it impossible to use muscle memory. A 10.9-inch touchscreen houses the infotainment system, and it’s one of our favourite interfaces in the business. It’s easy to use and thankfully, has dedicated knobs for volume and scrolling.
Overall quality in the Macan exceeds expectations – there’s nary a squeak or rattle to be found. Everything is meticulously put together and feels top notch. We’d skip the Alcantara steering wheel, because it may not wear well with regular use, but the carbon accents are sleek and finish it off nicely. The green contrast stitching and seat belts are perfection, too. All Macans can seat two in total comfort and four in moderate comfort – it is still a compact crossover and rear accommodations aren’t quite as roomy as the larger Cayenne.
Porsche prices the Macan GTS from $85,500, and we’d definitely skip the $3,300 Python Green paint. The GTS Sport Package is worth its weight in performance features, and there are a few additional options worth having. Adaptive Cruise Control, Panoramic Roof System, LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System, and the Bose audio are all things we’d splurge on. The total sticker on this tester came to $111,870. It’s easy to get carried away with personalization here, but it’s very possible to have a nicely equipped GTS right around the $100,000 mark.
The compact luxury crossover segment is a hot one, with just about every premium automaker having something substantial to offer. The 2022 Porsche Macan GTS strikes a chord with the enthusiast, offering athletic driving dynamics to go with its practicality. It has great styling inside and out, is the right size for most to drive around urban settings, and has enough space for the small family who doesn’t want a massive three-row vehicle to serve their needs.
