Porsche Macan - Interior, design and technology
The Porsche Macan is superbly built, spacious enough for most families, but it’s starting to feel behind the curve
When Porsche set out to design a sporty mid-size SUV in the first half of the last decade, you could say it hit the nail on the head with the Macan. Being a little smaller and less dependent on ultimate practicality, Porsche’s designers gave the Macan a sleek silhouette that combined with plenty of familiar design cues and large wheels to create a look that’s just as appealing today as it was in 2014.
There has been a series of updates since the Macan was launched, rather than just one mid-cycle nip and tuck, the last coming in 2021. This introduced slightly redesigned front and rear bumpers, some new colours and wheel designs.
The Macan’s interior is also excellent. It’s decently spacious considering the external footprint, plus the build and material quality is top notch – it feels just as well built as a Porsche Cayenne that can cost over twice as much. The driving position has impressive adjustment, too, giving you the option of sitting high up and over the dash, or more snugly within its confines. The seats are also brilliantly comfortable – be that the standard or sports seats. The small, round and thinly-padded steering wheel also feels great, and comes with (where fitted) a button for its heating function hidden away in the opening of the lower spoke.
However, there’s no doubt that the interior design is starting to age, and despite some substantial tech updates it can’t help to feel a little behind the curve. Nothing reveals this more than the dial pack – we’re not one to lament analogue dials, but the small information screen that’s integrated into the right-hand roundell looks old, and dates the whole cabin.
Used - available now
2021 Porsche
Macan
37,511 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L
Cash £37,600
2018 Porsche
Macan
89,330 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L
Cash £23,995
2021 Porsche
Macan
34,572 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L
Cash £35,300
2018 Porsche
Macan
49,830 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £26,420The Macan's standard kit list includes eight-way adjustable electric seats, automatic air-conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control with a speed limiter function, lane departure warning, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, LED headlights and daytime running lights, plus three-zone climate control and an automatic tailgate.
The Porsche Macan comes as standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, while the S model has 20-inch rims, but there are a number of optional 19, 20 and 21-inch wheels to choose from. These are available in a range of finishes, including a match to the car’s body colour. However, it’s worth remembering that these optional wheels are pretty pricey.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
As part of the updates in 2019 Porsche completely overhauled the Macan’s infotainment system, borrowing the sleek 12.3-inch touchscreen unit found in the Cayenne and Panamera. The display itself is sharp and responsive, and while the interface isn’t as fancy or customisable as rivals from BMW or Mercedes, it is relatively easy to use and suits the pared-back nature of the rest of the interior. More recently, the 2021 update then replaced the button-festooned centre console in favour of the sleeker haptic feedback panel, further modernising the interior.
Like all Porsche models, we’d suggest it’s well worth upgrading to the optional Bose sound system at a minimum, as Porsche’s basic stereos are average at best, and can even struggle to compete with the tyre roar on rough and noisy roads. Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard on the Macan, but Android Auto is nowhere to be found.
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