The Porsche Macan T Is a (Relative) Value
For those unaware, the modern "T" models are a relatively recent addition to the Porsche lineup. Debuting with the 911 Carrera in 2018, a T combines the base powertrain with a handful of enthusiast-focused upgrades for less than those options would cost a la carte. (In some cases, the T models get features not available on the base car.) Combine that with some exterior tweaks and unique interior trim, and you've got a T.
New for 2023, the Porsche Macan T isn't radically different from the base model, sharing its 2.0-liter 261-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. It gets a unique tune for the standard adaptive dampers and all-wheel-drive system, plus Porsche's Sport Chrono package, which adds a Sport Plus drive mode with a unique stability-control setting and launch control. Outside there are unique gray-painted accents, which match the standard 20-inch wheels. Inside, there are sport seats trimmed in a nice woven fabric material and a slightly smaller steering wheel. This white 2023 tester only had one option—a limited-slip differential, for an MSRP of $66,050. (The 2024 equivalent of this tester costs $69,650.)
For that kind of money, you could just get a BMW X3 M40i and enjoy that car's wonderful 382-hp straight-six. It'll blow the doors off a Macan T, yet that's perhaps missing the point. Do most buyers need a ton of power in a compact crossover? The engine is also a perfect partner with Porsche's PDK seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which remains a benchmark. It's pretty much as smooth as a traditional automatic while offering much crisper shifts. There's a little button on the steering wheel that reads "- M +" which puts you in manual mode, and you'll want to use it. Ok, employing the paddle shifters in a 261-hp crossover is a bit performative, but it is good fun.
In its nearly 10 years on the market, the Porsche Macan has offered the perfect blend of comfort and sport. The handling is sport-sedan good, yet unlike so many other compact crossovers with performance pretensions, the ride isn't spoiled. Adaptive dampers are standard on the T and they work well in any of their three settings. The steering, too, is great with just the right amount of weight, and the all-wheel-drive system allows for mid-corner adjustments and provides impressive traction.
It's perhaps not a car you'll take out for a spirited Sunday drive, but if, say, you were going out to the country and you inevitably find yourself on a twisty road, it's a car you'll have fun with. Porsche puts a lot of effort into fine-tuning all the controls of a car, the pedals, brakes, steering, throttle, transmission, etc. It pays off in a cohesive driving experience that sets the standard for everyone else to try and match. It's a subtle thing, but one that the enthusiast should appreciate.
And it's still a lovely car to live with. The Macan has been in production for an unusually long time, and will remain so as this car will be sold alongside an all-new electric variant. It received a third facelift last year, highlighted by a new center console and some exterior tweaks. The interior isn't quite as tech-festooned as many of today's cars, though that's a good thing. The gauge cluster has a small configurable screen with an attractive analog tachometer and speedometer, and the infotainment is Porsche's older, simpler system.
As you'd expect from a Porsche, the build quality is superb, and the fabric seats would be perfect if they came with lumbar support. (You get lumbar support with the optional 14- or 18-way seats, but you lose the cool fabric seat centers for leather. Not sure that's a tradeoff I'd make.) And breaking from Porsche tradition, it's not sparsely equipped as standard. You get heated seats and steering wheel, plus adaptive cruise control included in the base price. Somehow, though, blind-spot monitoring is a $700 option. Porsche may be getting a bit more generous, but it's not giving these things away.
Many will see a near-$70,000 crossover with small exterior and interior dimensions and just a 2.0-liter turbo four and dismiss it immediately. It's understandable. To justify the price, you have to really value the Macan T's sophisticated driving dynamics or the Porsche badge on the hood. Or, more likely, both.
Calling the Macan T a good value requires some suspension of disbelief, a subscription to the Porsche way of doing things. In Porsche terms, it's a deal: In any other, it's a tougher proposition.
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