JonSnow83

Anyone driven both a Macan and an Audi SQ5 for comparison? I like the idea of another Porsche in the garage, but we're so happy with the SQ5, I wonder if there is any practical reason to change. Anyone have first hand experience in both?

clorigo

I did while test driving. The SQ5 is nice. The interior is nice and the rear has a touch more space. I can say the Macan S is a touch better (to me) as it handles a bit better and has a touch more power. Also I prefer the pdk to the gear box in the SQ5. To me if I were choosing it would be the Macan (probably why I'm on the Macan forum )

We wound up test driving the Macan Turbo afterwards and the standard upgrades in the turbo made my want for a speced s close enough in price to justify a bit extra for the 3.6tt.

If you haven't purchased yet I highly recommend test driving the Macan. (And if I were a betting man I'd bet you get one... )

Again the SQ5 was nice but the Macan just nicer.

MAQ

I ordered a Macan turbo, but before I wrote the check, I test drove the Audi Q5S to see if it was worth the extra money. The Macan handles better hands down. That was my primary takeaway, and why I purchased it. The PDK transmission in the Macan is the best transmission I've ever experienced, so that's an advantage. The Macan turbo was faster than the Q5S, but I think the Macan S would be equal to the Audi. The Porsche drives like a sports car; it truly amazes me. The Audi Q5S would have been perfect for me if I never drove the Porsche, but since I did, I bought the Porsche Macan turbo.

JonSnow83

I'm not surprised to hear folks say the Macan handling seems tighter, but the Macan S being quicker or more powerful might be the old butt dyno being thrown off by the crest on the hood. I checked and the SQ5 is as fast or faster 0-60 and more powerful than the S. I might test out the Turbo PDK and see what the power difference feels like. I doubt the PDK will sway me, since I prefer the Audi transmission to the PDK in the new Cayman I drove (I just don't feel like it's tactile enough or delivers enough feedback). Of course, a chip in the Audi would be cheaper than trading up to the Turbo

Dennis C

We bought an SQ5 for my wife's daily driver to replace our first generation Cayenne S, which we are keeping for a third vehicle. The SQ5 is very nice, and it is actually faster and more powerful than the Macan S, as JonSnow83 mentioned. The Macan turbo is considerably more powerful than the SQ5. I didn't have an opportunity to drive a Macan before we bought the SQ5, and I really wish I had the chance before I pulled the trigger. Personally, I would have loved to add a third Porsche to our garage. My wife prefers the "boxier" and more SUV like look of the Audi, which was a major factor in the decision.

I think either car would be an excellent choice.

997xpress

http://www.edmunds.com/porsche/macan...cat=affiliates

Acceleration:
0-30 (sec): 2.2 (w/ TC on 2.6)
0-45 (sec): 3.7 (w/ TC on 4.2)
0-60 (sec): 5.6 (w/TC on 6.1)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 5.3 (w/TC on 5.7)
0-75 (sec): 7.9 (w/TC on 8.5)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 13.8 @ 100.2 (w/TC on 14.2 @ 99.6)

Braking:
30-0 (ft): 28.9
60-0 (ft): 121.0

Handling:
Slalom (mph): 67.1 w/ESC on
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.88 (0.87 w/ESC on)
RPM @ 70: 1,800


And just for fun, here are the Macan's numbers compared with its cousin, the 354-horsepower Audi SQ5. The Audi weighed in at 4,419 lbs, wore summer-spec performance Dunlop tires and stickered for $64,770.

Porsche Macan S Audi SQ5
Curbweight as Tested (lbs.) 4,315 4,419
0-30 (sec.): 2.2 2.0
0-45 (sec.): 3.7 3.3
0-60 (sec.): 5.6 5.0
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec.): 5.3 4.7
0-75 (sec.): 8.5 7.3
¼-mile (sec @ mph) 13.8 @ 100.2 13.4 @ 102.0
Skid Pad Lateral Accel (g): .88 .84
Slalom: 67.1 64.6

Louis.E

That puts the SQ5 about in the middle between macan S and Turbo. The turbo did 13.1 in the evo test, sq5 13.4, and S 13.8.

fester

Interesting! Thx for sharing.

anselmw

My cousin owns the SQ5 and we have a Macan Turbo. Drove both back to back the same day. SQ5 is very nice. handling as others said is better on Macan. If you already have the SQ5, not sure I would say it is worth it to upgrade to a S as it will be slower and will cost significantly more to get the same features as you have on the SQ5 on the Porsche. If you are willing to spend, then the Turbo is the way to go.

eilig

I drove both. I didn't like the ride of the SQ5. The roads where I live are poor quality, and the SQ5 felt "bouncy" over the roads. The Macan rides better and in my opinion, handles much better as well. That was enough reason for me to not even consider the Audi any further.

Dennis C

I had some time behind the wheel of a Macan S diesel today in Stuttgart, Germany. I drove it around town and I did get it out onto the unlimited speed sections of autobahn for a little while. There was some traffic, so my maximum speed was about 180 kmh. It's not really fair to compare it to the SQ5 on the engines because it's not apples to apples. That being said, the diesel Macan did have some nice low-end torque. I can see how it would make a great daily driver. Here are a couple of observations:

- The highway ride of the Macan was noticeably better than my SQ5, even though both cars that I'm comparing are equipped with 21" wheels. The Macan offers a much more "car like" driving experience, although I wouldn't say it drives like a sports car. It felt extremely stable at high speed.
- The transmission in the Macan was very underwhelming. Do diesels utilize the PDK transmission? I found the shifts to be slow and clunky, and frankly not as satisfying as my SQ5. I was expecting to enjoy the PDK transmission and I really didn't.
- Sport Mode or Sport Mode Plus in the diesel really make a HUGE difference. These modes dramatically improve acceleration and responsiveness around town.
- There is less space in the Macan than the SQ5, and it isn't only in the luggage compartment. The high center console between the front seats really takes up lots of space. It felt cramped to me.
- The Macan brakes weren't quite as responsive as the SQ5 brakes, but they still felt quite good.
- The Macan seats were very good - perhaps better than the SQ5. They had nice bolstering and were very comfortable. The driving position in the Macan was very good.

These are just a few of my observations. I really liked the Macan. I think somebody considering these two vehicles should drive them both and then decide. They really do feel quite a bit different.

ADias

FYI... the Macan PDK is a VW design (DSG) not Porsche's.

mrwonder

May be it is psychological, but I have owned a DSG (VW), S-tronic (Audit) and Porsche (PDK) and find PDK better by a mile.

K-A

If so, probably much like the Macan chassis is an Audi base. However, Porsche have so thoroughly ransacked it and made it a 110% Porsche DNA product, IMO it is Porsche through and through anyway. Having Audi as a basis then Porsche completely working their black magic is actually a very good case scenario, IMO.

The PDK on the Macan is one of the best auto's I've driven as well (only comparison is the 911/Cayman S PDK's I've driven), and it instantly made the ZF 8 Speed "Sport Auto" on my BMW feel like a slushbox. Plus, the PDK in the Macan also blows away the non-PDK 8 Speed in the Cayenne (ZF?) as I've noticed as well as many reviewers.

Dennis C

This is exactly why I was surprised and it made me wonder if the diesel cars have Tiptronic instead of PDK. I drove a 991 C4S with PDK for the rest of the week and it was great.