2018 Porsche Macan GTS Review and Video

Porsche doesn’t need some shlub like me to review its products. They’re going to sell tens of thousands of vehicles every year regardless of what I say, all while making untraceable sums of money. “Hello, Switzerland? Yes, I’d like to open a checking account.”

And yet, for some unknown reason, they gave me a Macan GTS to evaluate for an entire week. Clearly, this must have been some sort of clerical blunder because I certainly don’t deserve such treatment. Whoever approved the loan has probably been fired for gross negligence – possibly even jailed.

Still, I’m not one to let a good opportunity go to waste. This sporty compact utility vehicle promises best-in-class dynamics with plenty of luxury, style and day-to-day practicality.

Base price for an entry-level Porsche Macan with a four-cylinder engine is just shy of $49,000. In comparison, the even more desirable GTS variant kicks off at about 70 grand, though with a few options onboard including the Sport Chrono Package, navigation system and Sapphire Blue Metallic paint, the model I was loaned for testing rang up for a not-terribly-unreasonable $76,110, a figure that includes $1,050 in destination fees.

At that price, our test GTS came with features like staggered-width 20-inch wheels (the fronts measure nine-inches across, the rears, 10), automatically dimming mirrors, rear-window shades, and a fetching Sapphire Blue Metallic paint job, which added $690 to the bottom line.

But the only numbers most of you probably care about pertain to the Macan’s powertrain. Nestled between its front fenders resides a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, one sporting a 90-degree bank angle, which makes it quite broad shouldered and probably a pretty difficult to squeeze into the engine compartment. Still, it’s good for 360 horsepower and 369 foot-pounds of torque, the former peaking at 6,000 rpm, the latter being fully available between 1,650 and 4,000 revs.

Aside from rapid acceleration, the Macan GTS’s silky-smooth V6 engine makes glorious noises at full song, producing a tune dominated by intake growl. And it only gets better if you push the double-barrel-shotgun button located on the center console. It activates the Sports Exhaust System, which allows this vehicle to bellow operatically from both ends.

As you’d expect, the standard dual-clutch transmission is equally brilliant, seamlessly changing gears in normal driving and ripping through its ratios when you’re in a hurry. Shifts can be completed in less than the blink of an eye, though if you’re just driving normally, this gearbox can swap between ratios like the best torque-converter-equipped automatic. The only complaint about this arrangement, and it’s a minor one, is that when taking off from a stop, it can feel a bit disconnected, a little lethargic, as the appropriate clutch hooks up and sends torque further down the drivetrain.

Underway, the GTS’s steering initially feels too light in your hands, but you soon grow to appreciate its near-telepathic responsiveness. This electromechanical power steering system is a precision instrument that makes it feel like you can slice the road into tiny slivers, even better than a veteran sushi chef plating up some fresh sashimi. It’s remarkably good for any car, let alone a utility vehicle.

ALSO SEE: 2019 Porsche Cayenne Review and First Drive

Providing ample flexibility, the GTS also features standard adjustable air suspension that lets you change the ride height and stiffness. I found myself just leaving it in comfort mode because it smoothed out our battered Midwestern roads nicely without any major handling tradeoffs.

As for passengers, the rear seat is a bit tight; it’s comfortable enough, but could provide a bit more room for leggy riders. One possible trade-off for this is a cargo area that’s unexpectedly generous, providing nearly 18 cubic feet of space with the seats up and 53 with them down.

Unlike other automakers, Porsche has adorned the Macan’s center console with a seemingly insane number of physical buttons. But what looks like madness at first glance is actually highly usable. Once you learn the general location of each switch, it’s a cakewalk to feel and operate them with minimal distraction.