2015 Porsche Macan GTS first drive

When Porsche starts wielding its ‘Gran Turismo Sport’ badge, as it does so here for the 10th time, it's usually a good thing. Indeed, its Boxster, Cayman, 911 and even Panamera and Cayenne sporting such a badge haven’t necessarily been the ultimate models, or even our favourites, but they have benefited from the enhancements in almost every case.

And so it’s the turn of the Macan - a compact SUV that even in diesel form has the handling to keep keen drivers happy. The GTS, though, takes the standard petrol S’s bi-turbo 3.0 V6 and boosts power by 20bhp, to 355bhp. That helps it slot neatly between its lesser petrol stablemate and the range-topping Turbo. 

With its more efficient air induction, reduced exhaust back pressure and boost pressure increased to 1.2 bar, there’s greater twist at the crank too - 30lb ft more to be precise, bringing a new total of 369lb ft. Performance? This near-1.9-tonne SUV has its 0-62mph sprint over and done with in 5.2 seconds. 

In order to exploit the extra poke, Porsche has fitted its PASM adjustable chassis as standard, but also included is a unique-to-the-GTS chassis that sits 15mm lower for an even more focused set-up than the standard car's. Alternatively, with optional air suspension selected, the default drop is 10mm, although you ultimately get greater control over ride height. 

Rounding off the GTS’s CV are more powerful brakes borrowed from the Macan Turbo, a standard sports exhaust, optional LED headlights for the first time and Porsche’s latest PCM infotainment system, as recently launched on its refreshed 911. 

A thoroughly engaging sporting SUV that constantly impresses and surprises.

Standing outside as it's fired up, the GTS's V6 barks to life from its four black-tipped exhausts and settles to a coarse but purposeful idle. Inside, the noise isn't quite as piercingly abrupt, but you're left in no doubt of this GTS's intent.

In its default mode, sharp applications of throttle see the gearbox hesitate for a moment while it hooks up, but the straight-line performance that follows is certainly the type of hold on tight propulsion you'd expect, if not quite the pin-you-to-your-chair forcefulness of the Macan Turbo.

Pressing Sport activates the Sports exhaust and takes the dampers to their first stage of stiffness, while the throttle and gearbox feel more urgent too. Sport Chrono-equipped cars (such as the example tested here) get a Sport Plus mode, which brings maximum chassis stiffness and forces the gearbox to deliver you lower ratios and higher revs. 

Sport is probably where you want to be 90% of the time. The gearbox suffers less hesitation at T-junctions and from rolling starts, and the steering is at its best - just a precise as in any mode, and as linearly oily as ever, but with just the right amount of weight to inspire confidence.

It only takes a couple of fast-paced corners to realise that for a near two-tonne SUV the GTS, like lesser Macans, is a properly sorted machine, but with the small enhancements that make it truly superb fun to pilot across meandering back roads.

There's barely any nose-dive as you take a huge chomp at the GTS's left pedal, and once the nose is settled, turn-in is crisp and precise, with the nose of the car - particularly on our 21in-wheeled example - millimetres behind every steering input.