2024 Porsche Macan: Still The Best Porsche For $63,000?

The 2024 Macan is here with the tried and tested Porsche driving characteristics and feel. So, is it worth the starting price tag of $63,000? 

The Porsche Macan sits comfortably below the well-established, larger, and capable Cayenne. However, with the SUV trend on the rise, the Macan gave a more accessible entry to Porsche’s brigade. Actually, the Porsche Macan is the cheapest Porsche you can buy in the United States and probably around the world. 

The 2024 Porsche Macan starts at $62,900, and for that price, you get the Porsche badge, distinct styling, sporty dynamics, respectable performance, and a top-notch interior. With multiple powertrains and trim options, there’s a Macan for everyone. The 2024 Porsche Macan competes with the likes of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, BMW X3 M, and Audi Q5/SQ5.

2024 Porsche Macan Price For All Trims 

Distinct Yet Recognizable Porsche Design Language

Today I’ll be reviewing the very basic Macan design from any angle. The Macan has actually had three iterations to date. However, I believe so far that this new one just looks so much better than the previous versions. The 2024 Macan continues with the new facelift of the Macan that appeared in 2022. Actually, the Macan has always been a car that has aged well, and that's why even a 2015 Macan looks extremely good even today.

Change Is Good

Later on, the front end was starting to look a little bit vague and just wasn't super modern-looking. So Porsche gave much-needed minor updates to the Macan. The front fascia got a little bit bigger, and the front lip got sportier. Porsche also changed the entire grille design, which, in my opinion, looks really cool and very modern now. 

Porsche has a bunch of different colors, and in my opinion, the Chalk exterior color looks very attractive. My test example got the stylish 911 Turbo design wheels, and in my opinion, these are the best-looking wheels for the Macan. Also, just like the extensive palette of exterior paint, there’s 19 different wheel options to choose from.

One thing that hasn’t changed much from the previous iteration is the typical Porsche aerofoil side profile. I personally feel that the gloss black door handles and gloss black side skirt add to the sporty exterior styling.

The Rear Looks Refreshingly Modern

The rear end of the Macan is one of the biggest changes that Porsche made during the facelift. The flat LED light bar that goes across the entire side of the car looks sleek and modern. In my opinion, this is one of the single biggest improvements in terms of design that Porsche has made on pretty much all of its models except for the Cayman. Complementing that light bar are the cool Porsche and Macan badges.

Attention to detail extends to the rear bumper as well.

The lower bumper gets cool diamond-shaped outlines that just look really cool, and it's just a small detail that, in my opinion, makes the car look a lot better. Finally, at the bottom, we get the base exhaust. However, you can upgrade to the sports exhaust if you want, which basically just gives you the quad-tail pipes for more performance-oriented styling.

Sumptuous Interior

The interior is one of the biggest changes that Porsche has made in terms of the facelift models. The biggest change in the center console is that now you get the Porsche PCM 5.0, which is a huge upgrade over the original Macan that had the older software. 

The new infotainment screen is a lot wider, a lot bigger, and a lot clearer, and it has upgraded software. It definitely gives a more premium and modern look to the interior. Some features, like Apple CarPlay and WiFi hotspots, are standard, but there’s no Android Auto support.

Haptic feedback screen instead of buttons is really cool

In the center console, we have new buttons. On the old Macan, a lot of people raved and talked very positively about the fact that the car had a bunch of buttons and a kind of fighter jet-style cockpit. Porsche took this into account, and instead of going full touch screen and fully digital, they actually just added the haptic feedback screens, which, in my opinion, look really cool. 

The 2024 Porsche Macan interior is well-upgraded, taking cues from the 911 GTS 

The steering wheel and the gauge cluster were upgraded as well. So in the steering wheel, you get this really nice black leather steering wheel that you know has all the cool features, options, and modern buttons that are present in the 911 GTS. In terms of practicality and storage, you get two cup holders up front that are actually quite big, and then you get a kind of open tray that’s for putting your phone, keys, or something else. The interior still has a decent amount of space for a sporty SUV.

Even The Rear Seats Offer Good Comfort

In terms of the back seat space, you might think there might not be enough space. However, that’s not true. I am 5'9", and I had more than enough leg room, head room, and side room. Everything is quite practical in the rear, and you can fit three people for a road trip reasonably well. Although the legroom and headroom are smaller than the competition, But when was a Porsche made for outright practicality?

In the rear seats, you get a folded armrest along with cup holders, which is quite nice if you're only carrying two people in the back. However, you can still fold it up if there’s a need to accommodate a third passenger. For better comfort, there’s a rear air vent as well as USB-C chargers.

Quite less cargo space

When it comes to cargo space, there’s just 17.2 cu-ft of space with the rear seats up. Although the same can be extended to 52.9 cu-ft with the rear seats folded down, In comparison, the BMW X3 or Audi Q5 have better cargo space in both conditions.

What Drives This Little Porsche?

The standard Macan gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 261 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The same powertrain is also found in the 45 TFSI models of the Audi Q5. Porsche uses a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to channel all the power to all four wheels. Porsche claims a 0–60 time of just 6.0 seconds, while the same time reduces to 5.8 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package. With more horses to unleash, the 2024 Porsche Macan GTS 0-60 sprint takes just 3.5 seconds. 

Surprisingly It Does Have A Tow Rating

No one would expect a Porsche to tow. However, this Porsche Macan can tow up to 2,000 pounds. Some of its more powerful trims can tow up to 2,400 pounds. With the standard powertrain, the 2024 Porsche Macan offers an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined.

Driving the 2024 Porsche Macan 

My initial thoughts and impressions while driving are that this model feels way more refined and quiet compared to the first Macan. Also, there's not nearly as much road noise as in the older Macan, and everything just feels so quiet and comfortable. So, definitely a thumbs up to the lower NVH levels. 

Being a Porsche, this compact SUV feels much more like a sedan on the road. The ride quality is super pliant, and it takes road imperfections with ease. When thrown around a corner, it carves out the same thing with great control. The steering is pretty accurate and delivers very good feedback. Although I would have liked it a bit more weighted. 

As compared to some of the non-BMW M and Mercedes-AMG cars, the 2024 Porsche Macan makes it a point to deliver a more real driving experience. Most modern cars these days deliver an artificial driving experience. So, definitely the Porsche Macan can make your boring commutes a little more fun. 

Should You Buy One?

If you are looking for a driver’s car in the form of an SUV, you just found a match. The 2024 Porsche Macan is a delightful little SUV with authentic Porsche DNA. It offers a bit more practicality than most other Porsche cars without breaking the bank. The performance enthusiasts would love the 2024 Porsche Macan GTS without any doubt. With multiple powertrain options and a recently unveiled Macan electric as well, there’s a Macan for everyone.