Porsche Macan T 2022 first drive

8

The first T-badged Porsche four-door brings a more dynamic edge to the most mainstream Macan

Tom Morgan - Autocar deputy digital editor
Tom Morgan-Freelander
30 March 2022

What is it?

When Porsche resurrected its 'T' touring specification for the 911 Carrera T in 2017, and followed it up with the 718 Boxster T/Cayman T combo two years later, we started asking the inevitable: when would a four-door model get the same treatment?

There wasn’t long to wait. The Porsche Macan T (which in Porsche speak means Touring) arrives this summer with a sharper dynamic brief than the vanilla Macan, along with sportier styling and an extended equipment list as standard.

The entry-level car's 263bhp four-cylinder petrol engine is retained, meaning it sits below the V6-powered Porsche Macan S on performance, but a recalibrated chassis, stiffer anti-roll bars and a 15mm ride height reduction (25mm with optional air suspension) promise greater driver appeal.

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Visual tweaks include an Agate Grey Metallic front splitter, mirrors and side blades, along with a roof spoiler and 20in alloy wheels in exclusive colours. How prominent they look is colour dependent, but all help set it apart from the standard car.

Inside, the sports seats get Soft-Tex inserts with silver striped stitching and are heated as standard. The Sport Chrono package is also included. Were you to spec a standard Macan to the same level, it would eclipse the pre-options price of a Macan S.

2 Porsche macan t 2022 first drive review side pan

What's it like?

What the T lacks in power compared with the Macan S, it makes up for in weight savings, with 58kg less mass over the front axle. It feels more nimble on turn-in as a result, letting you scythe through corners with the precision normally expected from a sports saloon rather than a compact SUV. The steering is weighted perfectly and the minimal body roll is controlled well. 

Porsche has retuned the all-wheel drive system for a stronger rear bias, and you don’t have to push especially hard to feel it. Exit a particularly tight corner under a heavy throttle and the rear steps out ever so slightly, before collecting itself and pressing on. It allows for an entertaining yet controlled drive when you want, and confidence-inspiring levels of grip everywhere else. 

The stiffer set-up is felt through the car’s ability to cling to the road at speed. Sport Plus mode sharpens things up to the extreme, particularly with the optional air suspension that drops the ride height another 10mm on demand, but it also makes you feel every road imperfection, however small. Normal mode is far more relaxed for everyday driving.

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Porsche’s quick-shifting PDK automatic transmission helps to make the most of the engine’s power band, with peak torque arriving at 1800rpm and the turbo spooling up rapidly after, but this isn’t an explosively quick car. It pulls smoothly, and the brake-based torque vectoring fitted to our test car helps to put its power down when traction is limited, but you might find the Sport Response button sees more use here than it might on other Porsche models. It doesn’t have a particularly great-sounding engine note, either, although our test car didn’t have the optional sports exhaust fitted. In all other respects, the four-cylinder Macan remains an excellent all-rounder: small enough to place precisely on a narrow road, but with enough space to carry four in (relative) comfort, and with respectable economy when you’re not hustling it around. 

Last year’s mid-life update really helped to bring the cabin up to date, with a centre console featuring haptic touch buttons instead of an abundance of physical ones. 

Android Auto sadly remains absent, but Apple CarPlay is present and correct and the PCM infotainment system is a lot more straightforward than other Volkswagen Group offerings.

15 Porsche macan t 2022 first drive review tmf driving

Should I buy one?

Stuttgart’s brief was to give the firm’s best-seller added dynamic appeal, without upsetting the established order. I’d say the Macan T is mission accomplished.

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Keen drivers already considering a four-cylinder Macan shouldn’t have to think too hard about stepping up to the T. It’s not as characterful as the Macan S, and the upgrades won’t make themselves obvious on the daily commute, but on the right road, it’s a more engaging steer than the entry-level offering.

3 Porsche macan t 2022 first drive review tracking rear

PRICES & SPECS
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Comments
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Add a comment…
Cobnapint 31 March 2022
I've driven the new Macan and Macan S. Must admit, the steering on the Macan (with power steering+) felt much better than the S without it.

But the 2.0 engine, despite the figures, feels a bit of a wind bag in this.
And if you want an SUV, why lower it 15mm with the T? The Macan doesn't sit particularly high in the first place. Makes no sense to me.

And Porsche, stop taking the p**s and put Android Auto in. It's getting embarrassing.

jer 31 March 2022

Also agree but Porsche are pretty influential on road tests and the days of journalists saying it as they see it are long gone and even more so for those manufactuers that provide a lot of cars for content. It sounds a bit underwhelming to put it mildly, I suspect nearly 2 tonnes it would make it feel fairly gutless. It also seems pretty dirty for a 2.0 with mpg is as bad as the performance versions. 

Boris9119 30 March 2022

As a Porsche fanboy, Porsche owner, including a Macan, I must disagree with this article. Nobody with 'sporting' pretensions chooses an SUV and a 'base' version at that! This is just a marketing attempt to move more base (4cyl) Macans at an elevated price. Nothing wrong with that, makes perfect sense for Porsche. But for Autocar to not call this out as a 3* car and highlight the oxymoron of its rationale is dissapointing. I love Porsche but this and the 'Platinum' editions should be called out for what they are.

The Colonel 31 March 2022
Boris9119 wrote:

As a Porsche fanboy, Porsche owner, including a Macan, I must disagree with this article. Nobody with 'sporting' pretensions chooses an SUV and a 'base' version at that! This is just a marketing attempt to move more base (4cyl) Macans at an elevated price. Nothing wrong with that, makes perfect sense for Porsche. But for Autocar to not call this out as a 3* car and highlight the oxymoron of its rationale is dissapointing. I love Porsche but this and the 'Platinum' editions should be called out for what they are.

Tend to agree.  Any article that uses the line "the sports seats get Soft-Tex inserts" as if everyone knows exactly what that means, is nothing more than reformatted PR fluff.  Having said that I'm not so down on it, viewing this as anything other than a nice well built car, and the Macan, in all its forms, "seems" to be quite good value, relatively speaking.