Porsche, despite its history, is not so much a sports car company as it is an SUV company these days. Both of the company’s best-selling models are now SUVs. The smallest of its sport-utes, the Macan, is its best-selling model in the U.S. So, while the name Porsche may make you think of the 911, it might be more accurate to say the Macan is the tent pole for the franchise.
It’s known for exceptionally sporty handling, a broad range of engine choices, and prices that can climb from the mid $50,000 range to over $100,000. And it’s getting an update.
A New Face
For the 2022 model year, the Macan gets an updated face, a vastly improved interior, and fewer engine choices…but that last part is a good thing. The 2022 Macan will arrive early next year, with a starting MSRP of $54,900, plus $1,350 for delivery, processing, and handling.
It will be easy to tell the 2022 Macan from the 2021 version. The front fascia has been updated, with body-color trim in place of the black plastic of previous Macans. Porsche says the side blades “now feature a 3D, textured structure element.” The rear diffuser has been reshaped, stretched upward.
A Cabin That Borrows from the 911
Inside, the changes are more dramatic. The center console is a new design, with haptic touch elements in place of buttons. It borrows from elements of Porsche’s sports car lineup. It also allows for a larger, 10.9-inch touchscreen. The gear shifter is shorter, and the steering wheel has been brought over from the 911.
More Powerful Engines at Every Price Point
But the biggest news comes under the hood. The previous top-of-the-line Macan Turbo is no more, but its engine now moves down into the less-expensive GTS trim. A 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, it puts out 434 horsepower. With that mill, the Macan can manage a 0-60 sprint of 4.1 seconds – a thoroughly ludicrous thing to say about a small luxury SUV. GTS models also come with an adaptive air suspension and a ride height lowered by 10 mm to enhance cornering.
The Macan S now boasts the engine that used to power the GTS, a 375-horsepower twin-turbo V6. That one does the sprint in 4.4 seconds (with the optional Sport Chrono Package).
Lower-end models carry a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder making 261 horses – 13 more than the 2021 model. That one gets from 0-to-60 in 5.8 seconds (again, with the Sport Chrono package).
All options send that power through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All Macans are all-wheel-drive but with a significant bias toward the rear wheels unless extra grip is needed to enhance sporty feel on dry pavement.
Safety Assists
Lane departure warning and front and rear parking assist are standard. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot warning are available as options for an added fee. Porsche hasn’t yet answered our question as to whether automatic emergency braking is available.
The Macan will eventually go all-electric for its next generation, though Porsche says it will continue to sell the gas model alongside the EV version at the beginning of its run.
Class of 2022: All the New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
