The Macan feels much lighter and more athletic than a Cayenne, whether or not it has more lap speed or lateral grip The Macan's steering is relatively light, but always with tension and always deft.
But overall,
the Macan feels more sprightly than the Cayenne while not quite so overwhelming.
Even in base trim
the Macan feels like a larger sports sedan rather than a high - riding SUV and as before all models come standard with a dual - clutch 7 - speed PDK gearbox, automatic stop - start and all - wheel drive.
Where the Porsche
Macan feels rather claustrophobic, the F - Pace exudes a sense of spaciousness that isn't usually possible on cars with such stylish sloping rooflines.
Lower, 6.5 inches shorter, and up to 500 pounds lighter than a Cayenne GTS,
the Macan feels quicker and more agile, less like a bull run amok.
Not exact matches
At the end of the day, this [heritage] and this
feeling [developed in our sports cars] goes back into cars like the
Macan in terms of how they're supposed to
feel within their segment.
The
Macan S is at a size disadvantage compared with the GLE450 and the X6 in terms of both cargo space and backseat room, but it manages to not
feel overpriced for its small size.
The X4 comes up a little short for a rival to the GLC 43 Coupe, but the # 55,188 Porsche
Macan GTS provides similar firepower (with 355bhp from its turbocharged V6) and once again, more satisfying handling and a nimbler
feel.
AMG's tweaks also improve the GLC's cornering abilities, though it still doesn't entertain like a
Macan and it
feels heavier and more leaden than Alfa Romeo's new Stelvio.
The Bimmer impresses inside and, while strikingly similar dimensionally to the
Macan, it
feels markedly bigger than the Porsche in the cockpit, although its coupelike proportions compromise rear headroom.
The
Macan is also a step up from how the X6
feels and can be optioned up to ridiculous levels of wood, leather, metal and carbon, as is typical of Porsche.
The chassis provides the sort of communication you'd expect from a car with treatment from a reputable German performance division, but the experience isn't perfect and falls short of the
Macan's ability to
feel like it can shrink itself into a bulky 911.
It does make us
feel better though that Porsche engineered the 2017
Macan GTS before any other
Macan variant, ensuring this enthusiast's choice would be the dynamic benchmark for the other
Macan models.
The confidence and pleasure you
feel driving the
Macan GTS is a cut above any other crossover in its class.
Grip levels and outright pace are also very impressive, particularly in the
Macan Turbo, which
feels quick enough to easily stay with a properly sorted hot hatch.
The engine here is a marked step above the four - cylinder in the entry - level car in performance, character and response, and
feels much more suited to pushing the heavy
Macan body along.
There's no doubt that the
Macan's interior
feels a cut above those of its rivals, but thanks to widespread use of the colour black, it can still be a fairly dour and Germanic place to be depending on which model you're looking at.
It's not a driver's dream by a long shot, but it makes the Mercedes GLC Class
feel a little sensible, runs BMW's X3 close for body control and responses and gets closer to Jaguar's F - Pace and Porsche's lower level
Macan than either manufacturer would like it do.
The SQ5's performance is on - par with the
Macan's (unsurprising, since they're similar under the skin), but the Porsche
feels the most overtly dynamic of all the cars in this segment and offers much more engaging steering, one thing that rules out many SUVs as drivers» cars.
The
Macan gives you the Porsche driving experience with sportier
feel than the next - best - selling Cayenne, while it's more practical than even a Panamera for commuters or smaller families.
This
feeling can be experienced in an even more exclusive way — with the new Turbo interior package, available only for the
Macan Turbo and in a choice of two contrasting colors: Rhodium Silver and Garnet Red.
Optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) lets you
feel the
Macan principle in every corner — and in a particularly intense way.
Its driving dynamics, like the X3, are still pretty good, though nowhere in the same ballpark as the Porsche
Macan S, especially in steering
feel.
There's not much to inspire and delight, however; the interiors of an Audi Q5 and a Porsche
Macan look and
feel more expensive.
The steel springs aren't bad, but there's a clear improvement when you step up a notch to Porsche's middle tier, and while it's not quite the screamer of the Turbo, the more affordable
Macan certainly doesn't
feel like a compromise on the road.
The Porsche
Macan has a more solid
feel to its cabin trim, however, and the switchgear is more logically laid - out.
The
Macan being slightly smaller and lower to the ground offers an even more race - minded driving experienced than how the Cayenne may
feel to some.
The additional 66 lb - ft of torque over the base
Macan can really be
felt in - gear where the S responds with even more alacrity.
In the
Macan GTS, exclusive eight - way Sport seats convey the thrilling
feel typical of a genuine sports car, while «GTS» logos embroidered on the headrests catch the eye.
The Evoque actually
feels more nimble and more planted on the road than the X4, though not as race - ready as the
Macan Turbo.
The
Macan may share a platform with the Audi Q5, but it
feels like a Porsche through and through from the moment you fire it up.
In the
Macan GTS, exclusive eight - way Sports seats convey the thrilling
feel typical of a genuine sports car, while «GTS» logos embroidered on the headrests catch the eye.
If you are driving a Porsche, you want to
feel the punch when you hit the gas, which is why the 2015
Macan comes equipped to handle life in the fast lane.
In the cabin, the roof might
feel low for taller passengers — front and rear seating certainly reflect the compact SUV style of the
Macan.
Perhaps because of the inertia of its greater weight, the
Macan can
feel a bit surge - y.
Big brakes and a well - conceived chassis help the
Macan Turbo
feel far more light on its feet than one would expect, and when the road straightens out you can fully exercise the Porsche's 400 horsepower and 406 lb - ft of torque from a 3.6 - liter turbocharged transmission by way of its launch control feature.
So, while the F - Pace
feels great around sweeping bends, it just can't match the agility of the
Macan around tighter corners.
I won't say the
Macan Turbo (with air suspension)
felt like a sports car, but it was perfectly happy on the track.
Peak torque, meanwhile, comes at a comfortable 1,600 to 4,500 rpm, so you can be sure that the
Macan will
feel fast, no matter the driving situation.
There, the
Macan, which weighs 300 lbs less than the Audi,
feels agile, purposeful, and, most importantly, fun.
But after spending time with both, this
Macan Turbo just doesn't
feel like a huge leap in terms of thrust.
Pile into a corner in a
Macan with PTV, feed in throttle, and you can
feel the slight initial understeer become oversteer as the rear end starts to wiggle under full throttle.
Like other modern Porsches, the
Macan has a high - set, rising transmission tunnel that creates a cockpit - like
feel.
It settles nicely, always
feels planted and offers outstanding grip in all conditions, but never sits as flat as an X3 in bends — let alone the on - road dynamic benchmark in this class, the Porsche
Macan — although the rear - biased transverse drivetrain makes it more composed than the Q5 or Lexus NX.
The
Macan dash and console are chock full of tiny buttons, making the interior
feel busy and outdated.
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