Porsche Macan Turbo review, test drive

If the Macan wasn’t convincing enough as a diesel, the Turbo petrol will definitely make a believer out of you.

Published on Dec 21, 2015 07:00:00 AM

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The Turbo, deservingly, gets an angrier face than the Diesel S.

Porsche has managed to nail sporty luxury in the Macan’s cabin. Getting carried away with the options list can get very expensive.

PDK quick and very ferocious at speed.

That’s because, unlike the Cayenne which feels big and heavy despite the intense acceleration, this one just doesn’t feel its size. It’s like a chunky, AWD hot hatchback with a seemingly endless power supply. And that’s true of the way it behaves in corners too. Hunkered down as it is in Sport Plus, there’s a bewildering lack of body roll, or any drama at all for that matter. You’d have to be seriously reckless with the throttle through a bend if you want to unsettle it, so immense is the grip. The steering, at least in this mode, is just so crisp, quick and pinpoint accurate. And I’m not sure how Porsche does it, but like the Cayenne, this thing does all this while also being able to ride really comfortably. Yes, there’s a bit of a stiff edge, but you can only feel it on the worst of roads at low speeds. The rest of the time, it just steamrolls everything.

As with all its models these days, the Macan Turbo’s base price doesn’t give you a stripped out car onto which you have to add basic equipment from the options list. You do get a good amount of standard kit; in fact there’s a bit more than even the diesel car, including the amazing 18-way adjustable sports front seats. But this is a Porsche, so you can still go much further with options, like the 20-inch wheels – not necessary on a sensible diesel, but on a Turbo, why not. You also get a more aggressive front bumper and square, rather than round, tailpipes.

As before, the elephant in the room is the price. At Rs 1.11 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi), it’s Rs 11 lakh more than the already exorbitant Diesel S. When you consider that luxury SUVs of a similar size cost almost half as much, you might cringe a little. But this is the greatest handling SUV in the world, remember? And if you’re going all-out with the Turbo, it means that practicality certainly isn’t your consideration. What you’re getting for your money is a true-blue (literally, in this case) sportscar that can also go anywhere. And yes, it has earned the badge on its boot.