2023 Porsche Macan

Porsche decided to drop the Turbo trim last year but gets a new option in the line-up for 2023. The Macan will be offered in 4 variants that begin with a base standalone variant followed by the new Macan T, which will use the same mechanicals as the standard Macan. The Macan S and Macan GTS are performance-focused versions of this compact SUV and will feature a larger and more powerful engine that was introduced last year. Regardless of which trim you pick, the Macan will feature active grille shutters to regulate airflow depending on the speed of the vehicle but most of the features are optional, making the base variant very raw. Porsche also lets the buyers choose driver-assistance features that include parallel and perpendicular park assist, Blind-pot monitor, Lane keep assist, lane change assist, and forward collision warning, all for an added cost.

The Macan can broadly be classified into 2 types based on the engine as people looking for a performance SUV can lean towards the higher 2 trims while the buyers looking for better fuel efficiency and a car for regular use, the Base and the Macan T would be ideal.

We Recommend

Out of all the Macan models, we find the Macan S to be the best value for money as the GTS is way too expensive. The Macan S has the power, and all the necessary bells and whistles while it only misses out on the sporty elements that aren’t really required for everyday driving conditions.

Release Date

The 2023 Macan is said to release at the end of 2022 or early 2023 along with the Porsche Macan EV that is currently undergoing final testing.

Compared to its rivals, this is where the Porsche Macan takes the most beating as the gas mileage offers is on the lower side. The standard engine pushes out 21 mpg on average under a mixed drive condition and this goes down to 19 mpg on the Macan S and another mile down on the Macan GTS. The range of 416 is possible due to the 19.8-gallon fuel tank but this again isn’t a great number when considering what the rivals put out.

The Porsche doesn’t fare very well and puts out the lowest numbers. The BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz offer similar fuel efficiency with numbers that are rather good for this segment.

There will be no major changes on the insides and all the Macan offers seating for 5 occupants. The steering wheel design had been refreshed last year with integrated controls and a heating function that is optional. The seats come wrapped in leather for all trims while the design and functions of the seats change in every trim. The Porsche GTS will come with 18-way power adjustable sports seats for the front row that also has a memory function. This isn’t the ideal car if you are looking for a massive rear row of seating but it sure does have the minimum space expected from a family vehicle. The same can be said regarding the cargo space but it sure can carry a few pieces of baggage necessary for a quick road trip.

Accompanying the Porsche with tiny cargo space is the Mercedes-Benz GLC Class. Both these SUVs fall behind regardless of whether the rear seats are folded or not and the BMW takes the leap ahead with a massive 62.7 cu-ft of cargo storage.

Some standout interior features on the 2023 Porsche Macan include

• Heated and ventilated front seats.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Leather upholstery.
• 14-way power adjustable front seats with memory function.
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel.
• Tri-zone automatic climate control.

How intuitive is the 2023 Porsche Macan infotainment system?

The 2023 Porsche Macan houses a digital instrument cluster that has one of the best readability and viewing angles. The central infotainment screen also features a high graphics UI and is majorly touch controlled. The Macan gets a 10-speaker audio system as standard equipment while there is a 14- speaker and 16-speaker setup available as options. Users will be able to pair both iOS as well as Android devices to the media system wirelessly and the Macan also offers a few added features that can be picked from the options list when configuring the car.

Some of the standout infotainment features on the 2023 Porsche Macan are

• 10.9-inch screen.
• Sirius XM with a 3-month platinum plan.
• 10-speakers/ 14-speaker Bose audio system/ 16-speaker Burmester surround sound.
•  Four USB ports.
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• Navigation system.

A majority of the Porsche Macan design has been derived from the Porsche Cayenne but it does hold certain features distinctive to this model. The front fascia consists of a massive vent or a spoiler as Porsche refers to it and the lower lip and side skirts come painted in body color on the GTS trim. Both the front spoiler and rear diffuser come in either a matte finish or a gloss finish depending on the trim chosen and sport-styled exterior mirrors come equipped from Macan T onwards.

The BMW X3 carries the largest dimensions and has a very prominent road presence compared to the other SUVs but Porsche is on the smaller size but looks sportier and much more premium than any of its rivals. Both Audi and Porsche weigh lesser, making them very agile and fun to drive SUVs.

Some of the standout exterior features include

• 19”/20” alloy wheels.
• Sport exterior mirrors.
• Rain detecting windshield wipers.
• Lip spoiler.
• Panoramic sunroof.
• LED lights.

The Porsche Macan like most other luxury segment vehicles hasn’t undergone crash tests by either NHTSA or IIHS but the brand has decided to prove its dedication to making the vehicle safer by equipping the car with an array of safety features and a long list of optional safety tech.

Some of the standout safety features available with the 2023 Porsche Macan are

• Porsche Traction Management.
• Adaptive cruise control.
• Tire Pressure Monitor System.
• Park assist and reverse camera.
• Trailer Stability Management.
• Lane departure warning.

2023 Porsche Macan vs 2023 BMW X3

Even though not as sporty as the Porsche, the BMW X3 feels like the most complete SUV in this line-up. The X3 packs enough power, fuel mileage, cabin room, and tech but the major factor where the Porsche takes the lead is in terms of the drive character and the build quality as it feels much more premium and mature. The BMW sells for much lower than the Porsche and it depends on whether you are looking for a more practical option or a drive-focused vehicle.

2023 Porsche Macan vs 2023 Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 gives the Porsche Macan tough competition in terms of performance as it makes more power and pushes better gas mileage. The Audi however does not carry the quality and aggressiveness that builds the Porsches character but for the money it sells for, the Audi carries a lot of value.

2023 Porsche Macan vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

The major strength of the Mercedes-Benz is its build quality but otherwise, it carries a very basic design that makes it look lee appealing than the Porsche. The car is also bland in terms of the drive character and has a very mediocre figure when it comes to gas mileage and space. The Porsche definitely takes a clear win here and offers a well-rounded deal.

The Porsche Macan happens a very sporty yet family-oriented vehicle which definitely isn’t very common in this segment. This makes it a very unique deal and is almost like a combination of a sports car and an SUV. There are rivals that do better in terms of certain aspects like gas mileage and the total space offered but none of them feels as exciting and sporty as the Macan making it the ideal car for someone looking for great performance while also having some practicality. There also aren’t as many options and customizations on other SUVs as that offered by Porsche, making it more of a bespoke vehicle.