{"id":37004,"date":"2022-09-21T06:00:25","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T21:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=37004"},"modified":"2022-09-20T19:45:19","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T10:45:19","slug":"macan3-part2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/macan3-part2\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 Porsche Macan Review: Winding Roads and Final Verdict"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">\u30b3\u30f3\u30c6\u30f3\u30c4<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/macan3-part2\/#Taking_the_Third-Generation_Porsche_Macan_on_Winding_Roads\" >Taking the Third-Generation Porsche Macan on Winding Roads<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/macan3-part2\/#The_PDKs_Evolution_and_Manual_Mode\" >The PDK\u2019s Evolution and Manual Mode<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/macan3-part2\/#The_Macans_Greatest_Strength_Handling\" >The Macan\u2019s Greatest Strength: Handling<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/macan3-part2\/#Final_Verdict\" >Final Verdict<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/macan3-part2\/#The_Options_Id_Choose\" >The Options I\u2019d Choose<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"style3a\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Taking_the_Third-Generation_Porsche_Macan_on_Winding_Roads\"><\/span>Taking the Third-Generation Porsche Macan on Winding Roads<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/entry\/macan3-part1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">previous installment<\/a>, this is a review of the third-generation Porsche Macan. This time, I\u2019m sharing my impressions after taking it out on winding roads.<\/p>\n<p>The Macan has always been a particularly sporty SUV. In fact, \u201csporty\u201d hardly does it justice\u2014it has the agility to make you want to call it a sports car. The first-generation Macan left a powerful impression that\u2019s still vivid in my memory, and the second generation was every bit a sporty car in its own right.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29723\" src=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/49FC104F-019B-477B-BACD-EE369DAD8D0B-1280x853.jpeg\" alt=\"Driving the third-generation Macan\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With those expectations in mind, I took the new Macan into the mountains.<\/p>\n<p>This car isn\u2019t equipped with the Sport Chrono Package, so I couldn\u2019t try Sport Plus mode. I switched to the regular Sport mode instead. <strong>There\u2019s no change in the sound, though a Sport Exhaust might have made some difference.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I started out in automatic mode. The PDK holds the revs higher, making the engine\u2019s power and torque feel more immediate. As you\u2019d expect, the 265-hp engine has a respectable amount of punch.<\/p>\n<p>It won\u2019t pin your head back under acceleration, but <strong>there\u2019s no question it has more than enough power for everyday driving in Japan.<\/strong> It\u2019s a well-engineered engine.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/87E664D0-ED3D-4B5D-84A1-7B79313C6B40-1280x853.jpeg\" alt=\"Third-generation Macan\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The engine feels smooth, with no awkward vibrations or hesitation. But is it an evocative engine in the traditional Porsche sense? Not quite.<\/p>\n<p>The main reason is the sound\u2014and <strong>it\u2019s more about the quality of the sound than the volume.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It falls a little short of the crisp, finely tuned note you might hope for, sounding instead like a typical high-performance European engine. If you\u2019re looking for more of that special <strong>driving pleasure<\/strong>, <strong>the Sport Exhaust might be worth adding.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even Porsche can\u2019t escape today\u2019s noise regulations, so it\u2019s hard to say just how much difference the Sport Exhaust makes. Still, I\u2019d expect it to be better than having no Sport Exhaust at all.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"style4b\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_PDKs_Evolution_and_Manual_Mode\"><\/span>The PDK\u2019s Evolution and Manual Mode<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>I used the switch on the steering wheel to select manual mode.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The PDK shifts incredibly quickly\u2014really quickly.<\/strong> It feels even smoother than the second-generation model, combining the refinement of a good conventional automatic transmission with lightning-fast gear changes.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, the shift sounds and the rev-matching on downshifts are very subdued. Drivers accustomed to Porsche\u2019s more dramatic character might find this a little underwhelming, but <strong>overall, it\u2019s a setup designed to appeal to a broad range of drivers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29738\" src=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/15E3E6EB-F3EF-4E1C-BC6D-583FAEFF0EC9-1280x960.jpeg\" alt=\"The third-generation Macan's PDK\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The gap between second and third gear is a little wide,<\/strong> much like what I noticed in the 970-generation Panamera GTS. On typical Japanese winding roads, second gear feels too low, while third feels too tall.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Braking from third and downshifting to second sends the revs up a little too high, making the car harder to drive smoothly.<\/strong> It takes some getting used to.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"style4b\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Macans_Greatest_Strength_Handling\"><\/span>The Macan\u2019s Greatest Strength: Handling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If I had to sum up what makes the Macan so compelling to drive, I\u2019d call it <strong>agility<\/strong>. I once described the second-generation Macan S as \u201ca Cayman with a higher ride height.\u201d With this four-cylinder model, that Cayman-like character is even more pronounced.<\/p>\n<p>You simply don\u2019t feel the weight of the front end. <strong>Turn the steering wheel and the nose responds instantly, pointing into the corner.<\/strong> As you enter, the suspension feels taut, with a reassuring degree of rebound. The Macan sweeps through the bend with only a slight amount of body roll.<\/p>\n<p>The all-wheel-drive system is superbly calibrated, too. Open the throttle on corner exit and torque is sent to the front wheels, helping the car power out without fuss.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29729\" src=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/C3243327-7B15-4F0A-9BD1-91D712ADEC47-1280x853.jpeg\" alt=\"Driving the third-generation Macan\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Macan is based on a Volkswagen Group front-wheel-drive platform, but its all-wheel-drive system is rear-biased. Under normal conditions, more torque goes to the rear wheels, with the front wheels there to assist as needed. That gives it a rear-wheel-drive-like feel, while using a control strategy similar to Porsche\u2019s all-wheel-drive 911 models.<\/p>\n<p>I took it through a series of successive corners, and it continued to <strong>move with an agility that makes it hard to believe it\u2019s an SUV.<\/strong> All four wheels stay planted, and the car grips tenaciously. There\u2019s no sense of intimidation at all.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Like the latest Porsches, it\u2019s fast and reassuringly easy to drive, no matter who\u2019s behind the wheel.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The suspension seems engineered with much more demanding, high-load driving in mind. For an everyday driver enjoying a brisk run on winding roads, it\u2019s a breeze.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"style3a\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Verdict\"><\/span>Final Verdict<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If I were describing the Macan to someone else, I\u2019d call it <strong>the Porsche that puts practicality first.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But by \u201cpracticality,\u201d I don\u2019t mean spacious seats or cargo capacity, or the availability of comfort features. <strong>I mean that its driving characteristics are practical.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Porsche is, at its core, a sports-car maker. The company typically prioritizes the feel of the car on highways and winding roads over comfort in everyday stop-and-go traffic. That was especially true of the first-generation Macan, but <strong>the third-generation model seems to put a much greater emphasis on making everyday driving easy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29713\" src=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/17941294-A2B5-47F2-A13F-865A218AF262-1280x853.jpeg\" alt=\"Third-generation Macan\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Despite wearing the Porsche crest, <strong>the third-generation Macan feels engineered to reduce the stresses of daily driving as much as possible. From the PDK\u2019s control logic to the engine\u2019s torque delivery and sound, it\u2019s a Porsche that\u2019s approachable and easy for anyone to drive.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At the same time, there\u2019s no denying that some of the traditional <strong>Porsche character<\/strong> has become less prominent. The handling and PDK response still carry Porsche DNA, but some of that distinctive character has been lost.<\/p>\n<p>If <strong>you want to bring more of that Porsche character to your Macan, choose your options carefully and tailor the car to your preferences.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"style4b\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Options_Id_Choose\"><\/span>The Options I\u2019d Choose<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29772\" src=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iris-12-1280x720.jpg\" alt=\"Third-generation Macan\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If I were buying a base-model third-generation Macan, here are the options I\u2019d consider. I\u2019ve left out appearance upgrades, since those come down to personal taste, and focused only on performance-related options. I\u2019d prioritize them in the following order, depending on my budget.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Air suspension (at the very least, I\u2019d want PASM with the standard steel springs)<\/li>\n<li>20-inch wheels (if adding air suspension)<\/li>\n<li>PTV Plus (I\u2019d be interested to see how much more engaging it would make the four-cylinder model)<\/li>\n<li>Heated GT Sport steering wheel<\/li>\n<li>Sport Chrono Package<\/li>\n<li>Sport Exhaust<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I hope this is helpful.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Taking the Third-Generation Porsche Macan on Winding Roads As in the previous installment, this is a review of the third-generation Porsche Macan. This time, I\u2019m sharing my impressions after taking it out on winding roads. The Macan has always been a particularly sporty SUV. In fact, \u201csporty\u201d hardly does it justice\u2014it has the agility to make you want to call it a sports car. The first-generation Macan left a powerful impression that\u2019s still vivid in...","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":29715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=29769","footnotes":""},"categories":[72,51],"tags":[187,195],"class_list":["post-37004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-testdrive","category-aboutmacan","tag-porsche-macan","tag-porsche-report","en-US"],"yoast_head":"<title>2022 Porsche Macan Review: Winding Roads and Final Verdict - Porsche Owner&#039;s Blog from Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is the third-generation Porsche Macan a sports car? 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