How much power is enough? The 2023 Porsche Macan T that we drove over 2.5 hours east to Prince Edward County from Toronto was more than enough – turbo 2.0 liter, four cylinder engine, 261 horsepower. That’s if you’re looking to keep the price point under $100k.
The media vehicle in question – in Speed Yellow – came in $91,900, after tossing the options and features. That included the sport exhaust system including tailpipes in black ($2,260), adaptive air suspension including Porsche Active Suspension Mana ($1,590), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus ($1,700), another feature that speaks to enhanced performance.
Driving dynamics and performance have always been the headline for any Porsche we’ve reviewed here. PTV works by intelligently braking the rear wheels as circumstances dictate. That’s why, for example, you always feel the superior handling difference in a Porsche when you’re taking those tight turns. PTV Plus operates a little differently than PTV – with PTV Plus there is variable torque distribution since it’s equipped with electronic control. So PTV Plus gives you that much more control on slick roads or in the snow.
Engineering and performance
The Porsche Macan, of course, has brand prestige going for it. Porsche is renowned for designing and manufacturing high-performance luxury sports cars and SUVs. Quality, engineering, and performance are all part of that. Their vehicles deliver exceptional performance, handling and driving dynamics.
Then there’s the quality of materials, especially in the interior, sitting in the leather driver seat especially, scoping the upholstery and dashboard materials and trim. An option in the Porsche Macan T is the interior trim in carbon fibre ($1,700). Heated seats are a must – for an extra $660. The Porsche Macan T comes equipped with a 10.9-inch touch display screen, wireless smart connectivity, advanced driver safety features, integrated navigation, as all luxury vehicles at this level have. You can tailor the Macan to your preference.
But back to the power – If your objective is more of that, and you have a bigger budget, look into the Macan S, with its turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine, and 375 horsepower, which will propel you from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, top speed of 160 mph. Another thing – Porsche vehicles tend to hold their value over time, so there’s more re-sale value.
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