FULL REVIEW: 2023 Porsche Macan: A Cayenne light?

DISCLOSURE: AutoFun Philippines was lent a Porsche Macan for four days. Its RFID came pre-loaded with Php 1,000 of credit, and it had a full tank of gas. Trips in excess of the RFID load were shouldered by the author.

HPG: “Ser, may rehistro po ba tayo para sa sasakyan niyo?” 

Me: Mayroon po. (Presents documents available in the loaner car)

HPG: “Ser, wala po atang date of sale yung sales document niyo.”

Me: Naku, yan lang po ang naisama sa oto, demo unit po kasi ito, kumpanya ang may-ari, 'di nakapangalan sa akin.

HPG: (Walks back to superior officer)

Me: Gusto niyo po tawagan natin yung PR ng company, para maexplain po ang status ng sasakyan?

HPG: Okay na po sir, sa mahal naman po ng sasakyang ito, okay naman na malamang ang mga papeles nito. Salamat po. Ingat.

Me: Thank you, po. (Drives away)

This was the scene when I was flagged down at around 10:30 in the evening after exiting Skyway Stage 3 and turning right at Quezon Avenue. 

The Porsche Macan demo unit we were lent, despite its temporary plates showing the conduction sticker of the vehicle, was stopped for not having proper license plates. The courteous HPG personnel were, of course, just doing their jobs.

Now, if it were another mass-market car, I have a feeling I wouldn’t have been so lucky. 

Such is the power of a luxury sports car brand in the Philippines. There’s something about the Porsche brand that makes people, including those in authority, second-guess whether to ticket the driver for a violation or to let them go Scott-free. Fortunately, I was given a reprieve in this instance.

However, relying on brand equity alone when evaluating this car would be an injustice. Yes, the badge is what you’re paying for here, but underneath all those emblems is a solid piece of German engineering that holds its own. 

When I reviewed the Porsche Cayenne a year ago, I thought I found the Holy Grail. Yes, I gushed at its performance, handling, and build quality. I could do the same for the Macan. The Macan felt like a mini-Cayenne in many ways. At the same time, its smaller dimensions made it even more agile and compact to drive around and out of town. 

The silhouette is signature Porsche, of course. Even the LED headlights had the familiar teardrop shape we see in the 911. The Macan’s pronounced wheel arches were a dead giveaway to its performance as they shrouded the staggered 20-inch wheels and tires.

The chiseled sportscar-like front end was just as purposeful as the Cayenne’s. It even had active radiator grille shutters to improve aerodynamics at high speed.

To match its 232 km/h top speed, a set of four-piston monobloc aluminum calipers and internally vented brake discs serve as the Macan’s anchors when it has to lose speed quickly. By golly, they bite hard.

More aero tweaks make their way around the Macan, like the v-shaped side mirror mounts, the raked D-pillar, and even the hidden tailgate opening button (at the base of the rear wiper)  all lend to a shape designed to cut through the wind.  

But don’t let its size fool you. The Macan is still a thoroughbred Porsche underneath the sheet metal. With a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four that churns out 268 PS and a healthy 400 Nm of torque, and a 7-speed PDK auto to transfer it to all four wheels, it sure had the grunt to blast off with hardly any effort. 

And just because it’s an “entry-level” Porsche, it doesn’t mean you can be forgiven to expect less from it. In fact, it has all the bells and whistles you can expect from a proper Porsche.

Adjustable suspension stiffness and ride height, even double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, is par for the course. 

It is just as over-engineered as its bigger brother, and even with its smaller displacement mill, it still had the chomps to overtake on command quickly. Its 6.4-second 0-100km/h acceleration time is quite respectable for the compact crossover realm sports car.

But Porsche didn’t just shove performance into the Macan and call it a day. The creature comforts inside the cabin are just as plush as the Cayenne and any modern Porsche, for that matter. It makes you wonder if there’s anything “entry-level” with it.

Leather seats, finely crafted and knurled switches and buttons, a healthy dose of piano black panels (of course), and electric-everything all lend to the Macan’s status as a luxury-level crossover. 

As a high-rider with sports car DNA, even the seats had extra adjustments to support the thighs. The extending seat cushions let you fine-tune your seating position to afford you the most comfortable leg angle. This should be part of every car as the extra support to the back of your thighs goes a long way in preventing fatigue on long drives. 

And speaking of long drives, the Macan naturally has Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning as driving assistance. At its price, having a complete suite of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems is expected. Unfortunately, the Macan lacks these features. 

But then again, without the driving nannies, you get to focus on driving the Macan. I believe being “engaged” is the appropriate word. Why would you let your attention be distracted by beeps and warnings? I was already having fun as it is without them, and I didn’t mind keeping it that way.

And that was why I was still out on the road late at night. Driving the Macan is a satisfying sensory experience. Taking Skyway Stage 3 from Quezon Avenue to San Pedro and back was a rewarding stroll, if ever there was one. 

Sure, it’s no 911, not even a Boxster, but among crossovers, it sure had the Porsche dynamics you’d expect from the brand. And if its only purpose at its price range of Php 8,000,000  were for one to drive aimlessly, then it achieves its calling with flying colors.