2016 Porsche Macan 2.0 petrol review, test drive

What is it?

This is the Porsche Macan. Period. There’s no suffix, no number and no code after the product name. It’s the base Macan and the new entry point to the SUV’s line-up and, in fact, Porsche’s entire India range. And that’s thanks to its price tag. At Rs 76.84 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra), the Macan is roughly Rs 30 lakh cheaper than the next Macan, the S Diesel. What’s helped bring down the price is the relatively humble engine under the hood. It’s a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol unit. It’s important to bring up that this is an in-line engine and should not to be confused with Porsche’s own flat four on the new 718 Boxster. 

Engine aside, this Macan is no different than its better-endowed siblings. The part-SUV, the part-coupe look is distinctly Porsche and, though there are similarities to the Cayenne upfront, if not the lower height, it’s the Macan’s ‘tiger claw’ vents on the bumper that help identify this as the smaller model. The 18-inch rims are a standard fit, but you can upsize to 21-inchers too, for a significantly larger amount. Also, part of the extensive paid options list is LED headlights, custom paints, roof rails, body kits and even painted logos.

What’s it like on the inside?

The setting inside the Macan’s high-quality cabin is very business-like. The dashboard is typical Porsche, so the centre console is a mass of buttons with a dedicated switch for virtually every feature on board. It seems a bit intimidating at first, but you quickly get used to the layout. Thankfully, the touchscreen and navigation system are part of standard equipment but, like any other Porsche, your options tally can easily run into lakhs. A panoramic sunroof and the Sport Chrono package bundled with launch control, are some of the options you should be interested in. You’d also probably end up ticking the one that reads 'Comfort Memory Seats' when you learn the stock set-up includes a manual adjustment for the front passenger chair. For their part, the standard front seats are comfortable and supportive. The rear seat is also well-shaped but space is down on most SUVs of this size. Then, again, if it’s the rear seat experience you are most concerned about, you are looking at the wrong SUV.