When the Macan made its debut at the L.A. Auto Show late last year, it was introduced in three variants - the Macan Turbo, the Macan S and the Macan S Diesel.
But when Porsche launched its junior SUV in Singapore last month, we saw a fourth new member. Filling the 'entry-level' spot is a 2.0-litre variant, which is one of the smallest (in terms of engine size) to be made by Porsche in almost three decades.
Hence, naturally, the first thing that comes to our minds is if this base variant still has what it takes to bear the sports carmaker's badge.
Up close and Personal
The base Macan is no less striking than its more expensive brothers. In fact, besides the rear moniker, the only way to tell of its more humble status is its twin tailpipes (all three other variants get quad pipes).
It even comes with 19-inch sport shoes, even though they look much smaller within those sizeable wheel arches.
But when Porsche launched its junior SUV in Singapore last month, we saw a fourth new member. Filling the 'entry-level' spot is a 2.0-litre variant, which is one of the smallest (in terms of engine size) to be made by Porsche in almost three decades.
Hence, naturally, the first thing that comes to our minds is if this base variant still has what it takes to bear the sports carmaker's badge.
Up close and Personal
The base Macan is no less striking than its more expensive brothers. In fact, besides the rear moniker, the only way to tell of its more humble status is its twin tailpipes (all three other variants get quad pipes).
It even comes with 19-inch sport shoes, even though they look much smaller within those sizeable wheel arches.
Likewise on the inside, the base Macan feels every bit a Porsche. The cabin is furnished with cow hide from top to toe, which is contrasted nicely with expensive-looking metallic trims.
Even when doing without carbon fibre bits found in the flagship Turbo, the interior feels fittingly sporty - even by sports car standard. The ergonomic and low-slung driving position also deserves credit for making the Macan feel like a sporty crossover rather than a hefty SUV.
And despite being the 'junior' in the lineup, the Macan boasts a practical cabin for five on board and an accessible 500 litres of load lugging space.
Even when doing without carbon fibre bits found in the flagship Turbo, the interior feels fittingly sporty - even by sports car standard. The ergonomic and low-slung driving position also deserves credit for making the Macan feel like a sporty crossover rather than a hefty SUV.
And despite being the 'junior' in the lineup, the Macan boasts a practical cabin for five on board and an accessible 500 litres of load lugging space.
The Drive
It has been almost two decades since Porsche last fitted a four-cylinder engine on its models. This latest, however, uses force induction to churn out 234bhp and 350Nm of torque - respectable figures from a 2.0-litre unit.
That gives the base Macan the capability to complete the century sprint in 6.9 seconds, which is far from sluggish for a vehicle that weighs 1.9 tonnes.
That said, one cannot simply expect the base Macan to feel as spirited as its more potent siblings. Set side by side, the next-in-line Macan S has at least 100 horses more.
Thus, the base Macan that you see here falls back by as much as one and a half seconds compared to the S variant before it hits 100km/h. Also, the 2.0-litre can feel a tad strained when driven enthusiastically, which makes it feel much less sporty than its bigger brothers.
It has been almost two decades since Porsche last fitted a four-cylinder engine on its models. This latest, however, uses force induction to churn out 234bhp and 350Nm of torque - respectable figures from a 2.0-litre unit.
That gives the base Macan the capability to complete the century sprint in 6.9 seconds, which is far from sluggish for a vehicle that weighs 1.9 tonnes.
That said, one cannot simply expect the base Macan to feel as spirited as its more potent siblings. Set side by side, the next-in-line Macan S has at least 100 horses more.
Thus, the base Macan that you see here falls back by as much as one and a half seconds compared to the S variant before it hits 100km/h. Also, the 2.0-litre can feel a tad strained when driven enthusiastically, which makes it feel much less sporty than its bigger brothers.
On a positive note, the Macan's seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox will make up for the lack of punch with its fast and decisive cog swops. The sublime handling found in its more powerful stablemates has also been replicated in this base variant, making it a delight to drive in our urban landscape.
Conclusion
The Macan's dynamic characteristics have made it one of the most fun-to-drive in its segment. That said, there is no contest that the base Macan is the least sporty in the lineup.
While a promised savings of $40k over the Macan S may seem too hard to negate for most of us, we reckon it is a reasonable price to pay for the well-heeled.
Plus, with local orders filled up mainly by the S variant, it seems most owners want a 'bigger piece' of Stuttgart performance too.
Conclusion
The Macan's dynamic characteristics have made it one of the most fun-to-drive in its segment. That said, there is no contest that the base Macan is the least sporty in the lineup.
While a promised savings of $40k over the Macan S may seem too hard to negate for most of us, we reckon it is a reasonable price to pay for the well-heeled.
Plus, with local orders filled up mainly by the S variant, it seems most owners want a 'bigger piece' of Stuttgart performance too.
