2020 Porsche Macan S: Best Crossover on the Market?

Using Volkswagen’s MLB modular-longitudinal architecture, it has enough Stuttgart touches to make it worthy of the Porsche badge. 

If you were a fan of Porsche prior to the 2000’s you probably still think of them as a sports car manufacturer. Fact is, today they can really be classified as a luxury crossover/SUV manufacturer. Porsche sells roughly twice as many SUVs as they do cars, with the Macan as their top selling model. There are rumors now that the next generation Macan will go all electric, and it may be one heck of a performer. However, that is the future. What is today’s 2020 Macan like?

The team over at Savagegeese have shot an in-depth look at the 2020 Macan S in their latest video. As always, the hosts give a lot of information, have a great conversation about Porsche’s strengths on the road, and does so with tons of beautiful Porsche footage. With the title of the video being “It’s Hard To Accept Reality,” it does beg the question: Does Porsche’s success in the crossover and SUV market mean a move away from marque’s iconic roots? Or is a move to stay relevant (and solvent) in today’s market?

Truthfully, it is a little of both. It would be fair to say the guys at SavageGeese find the Macan S the best possible compromise. More capability, more versatility, but it is still all Porsche.

Last year Porsche treated the Macan to a refresh, so the 2020 is essentially a carryover model. On the inside Porsche decided to retain its button-centric console layout, and not go with the haptic feedback touch-sensitive surfaces used in the larger Cayenne. If you want to control something, there is a distinct button for it. Seats, air, suspension, wash, spin, repeat, it is all there in button format. It may sound old school; but it works and makes changing settings easy.

That is not to say Porsche didn’t improve the interior at all. A beautiful 10.9-inch touchscreen sits in the center of the dash. Mr. Goose really loves the way the screen is nicely integrated in the console. This touchscreen is highly configurable and anyone familiar with Microsoft products will be able to recognize the similarities with how you can set various widgets on the screen.

The Macan is on the smaller side for SUVs in this segment. Porsche wanted to retain the sporty look and corporate design language so that means some sacrifices were made in the interior space department. That said, there is adequate room in the back for a couple of average-sized adults and you can even fit an electric scooter in the cargo hold. Try that in a 911.

It is well known that the Macan shares its platform with other vehicles in the VW family such as the Audi Q5. However, Porsche has changed roughly 70% from the traditional platform to make this vehicle a true Porsche product. It also manufactures the Macan in one of Porsche’s own factories in Germany and holds it to the same extremely high standards that apply to their sports cars. This is a true Porsche.

Interior design, cargo room and platform tweaks are all well and good, but it’s a Porsche, so how does it drive? The Macan S sports a 348-horsepower turbocharged V6 engine. The test vehicle is also equipped with the Sport Chrono option that includes launch control. For a two ton plus vehicle, the thing jumps off the line and provides all the practical performance you could reasonably ask for on the street.

The ride quality and handling are also exceptional in the Macan. It is sporty yet comfortable and won’t beat you up. It won’t give a GT3 RS a run for its money, but it isn’t supposed to.

The Macan is a vehicle that can be driven every single day. It can get through the rain and the mud while hauling the German Shepherd to the park. But, when you are feeling sporty, that option is always there for you to dip into. With performance, practicality, comfort, and style, it really is no surprise that this is the best-selling vehicle Porsche makes today.

Join the Rennlist forums now!

Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.