Porsche Macan Turbo s

Don’t pretend you don’t know very well what it really is. It’s one of the huge debuts of 2014, Porsche’s very first sally in the tiny SUV battleground, small brother on Cayenne.

To a couple, it's potential sacrilege. To your monied, badge-conscious suburbanistas, it's the car they’ve long prayed for: an useful, five-seat competitor to the Audi Q5, BMW X3 additionally the Evoque, however with that all-important Porsche crest regarding the nose. It’s the Macan (pronounced ‘Mack-ann’ if you’re British and ‘Mah-cahn’ if you are German), an automobile Porsche expenses as ‘the first low rider inside compact SUV segment’.

That makes it a… low rider lightweight sports energy vehicle?

Hang on, wait. Isn’t this just an Audi Q5 in Porsche drag?

It really isn’t. The Macan does borrow its underpinnings from Audi’s middlemost SUV, but what’s most interesting about the Porsche isn’t just how similar its toward Q5, but exactly how various. Porsche claims two-thirds for the Macan’s elements are entirely initial: essentially, just the aluminum base is shared with Audi.

Entirely brand-new, too, are the suspension, transmission, bodywork… and engines.

Sadly maybe not, nevertheless the powerplants are a lot fruity nevertheless. You’ve the selection of two petrols and a diesel, beginning with the 335bhp Macan S and its 3.0-litre V6. It’ll do the 0-62mph sprint in 5.2 seconds (with optional Sport Chrono package) and 158mph flat-out, with official economic climate around 32mpg.

For similar £43, 300 asking price, it's possible to have the Macan S Diesel rather, which, having its 254bhp/427lb ft 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, will get to 62mph around an additional slowly than the petrol S, but get back 45mpg and 160g/km of CO2.

After which there’s the range-topping Turbo S, billed as ‘the strongest vehicle when you look at the compact SUV segment’. A fairly punchy £59, 300 gets you a 394bhp, 3.6-litre bi-turbo petrol V6, good-for a 4.6-second 0-62mph some time a top rate of 165mph. This, of course, is the one TopGear tested.

Could it be quick, then?

Crikeymosesyes. Nearly so retina-detaching while the 911 Turbo with which it shares a badge, but by SUV standards the Macan is a bullet train of a thing. The ‘charged V6 - a brand new Porsche engine without one borrowed from in the VW group - is a brute, combining a chest-tightening low-end wallop through the turbos with a cheery cost past 6000rpm. It’ll fling you deep into licence-losing area before you can say, “Goodness, i'm being flung deeply into licence-losing area.”

On a derestricted autobahn, we saw a straightforward 160mph, in addition to Macan had plenty even more to give. And right here’s the smart thing: unlike numerous wise Germans, the Macan can cope with gnarly roadways, too. Especially riding in the £1700 recommended air suspension system, that is a thing of discreet miracle, maintaining the Porsche flat through perhaps the most face-bending of corners without turning its ride to peanut brittle.

This might be no flyweight Cayman R-alike, brain. The Macan Turbo weighs only over 1900kg, and you will feel all of that weight when you’re braking for a quick downhill flex. Positive thing the brake system are mighty.

Could I own it with an effective gearstick?

No, but that’s no loss right here. The Macan’s standard seven-speed ‘PDK’ double-clutch transmission may be the best in the business, switching equipment immediately along with satisfying technical crispness, the paddles behind the controls (left for down, suitable for up, because should be) engaging with a pleasingly large deadweight. The transmission is a ideal match for Macan’s four-wheel drive system, too, with smooth capacity to match the obviously smooth hold.

That 4WD. It really isn’t among those front-drive-unless-you’re-about-to-hit-a-hedge matters, will it be?

It isn't. This is certainly an effective spray-the-power-where-it’s-needed effort. The setup sends torque to the rear in regular driving problems, relaying it returning to the leading wheels through a mulitplate clutch whenever needed. It’s a method that may apportion the entire 100 per cent of torque to either axle, and one that Porsche claims works quicker than any other in the world. There’s in addition the option of Porsche’s torque vectoring system, which splits torque across the rear rims through an electronically managed diff.

Consequently?

Which means simply phenomenal traction, the Macan sniffing on every final whole grain of grip on any area. Better yet, unlike most contemporary four-wheel drivers, it doesn’t default to safety-first understeer, as an alternative apportioning torque maintain the Macan neutral through a large part. So, on tarmac, you can keep on the throttle at improbable speeds through even the tightest sides, and on snowfall protect daft, extended powerslides.

Speaking of snow, can the Macan do off-road?

Plus any softroader can do off-road, yes. We attempted our winter-tyred Macan on, ice, dirt, knee-deep liquid, snow and just about every little thing in-between, and it managed the good deal ingeniously. Once again that optional air suspension system helps, increasing the Macan by several inches to improve ground approval and approach/departure sides.

OK, the Macan won’t rather attain the places a Defender or Land Cruiser might, nevertheless Porsche’s off-road abilities could be more than adequate to enable you to get as well as your progeny towards designated camping area at next summertime’s family-friendly indie arts event.

So what’s the catch?

Very little. Real, the Macan Turbo is great pricey, but hey, it is the fastest SUV on the planet. And besides, the 2 less powerful Macans represent - or even exactly a bargain - reasonable price, provided you exercise restraint with the options number. Definitely you obtain a whole lot more legroom for your cash compared to that 911 you’ve been eyeing.

Using our most oversteery caps, possibly the only minor dissatisfaction is that the Macan isn’t quite the sports car Porsche pitches it as. Unlikely though it absolutely was to materialise, we quietly hoped Porsche might go Full 911 GT3 with the Macan, give it a hairy-chested, low rider feel at the expense of some convenience and civility: significant steering, arse-on-the-floor driving position, oily chunter from engine.