Porsche's 'junior Cayenne' promises and delivers on its dynamic and performance prowess. It's now great value too
You only need to drive a Porsche Macan down a country road to realise this isn't a run-of-the-mill family crossover. While the mightily successful Cayenne proved that buyers would flock to a big SUV infused with a dash of 911 performance, Porsche decided it needed a mid-size offering to take on foes such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.Launched in 2014, the Macan delivered genuine sports car dynamics in an upmarket, compact and practical package. And while it has only been on sale for just over 10 years, it has become one of Porsche's undisputed hits.With that in mind, how does a 50,000-mile Macan Turbo with a full service history sound for less than £25,000? That's exceptional value for money considering it cost around £65,000 when new, but if your budget doesn't stretch that far, you can have a high-miler for a hair over £14,000. Even the cheapest cars we found were well kitted out, with optional extras such as a panoramic sunroof and air suspension - and look out for the Sport Chrono pack, with its additional driving modes, if you're after a more sporting vibe.Many will be satisfied with the Macan S, which came in both petrol and diesel forms. Even though it's one of the cheaper options, you can't go far wrong with the 335bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol, which takes just 5.4sec to hit 60mph. Running costs are high, so the 3.0-litre diesel, which makes 254bhp and a punchy 405lb ft, is a great alternative. It rides, steers and handles just as sweetly, will do closer to 40mpg, costs half as much to tax as the petrol and can tow up to 2400kg, all of which makes it the pick of the lineup for high-milers.We'd leapfrog the early GTS model (its extra 20bhp over the S cuts the 0-60mph sprint by only 0.2sec) and aim for the 394bhp 3.6-litre Turbo. Accessible grunt makes it feel as fast as one of its mid-engined range-mates, with oodles of low-end torque helping it hit 60mph in 4.8sec. We found an immaculate 2015 car with 64,000 miles for just under £24,000.Engine aside, the Macan is brilliant to drive, with a real duality to its character. One moment it's a comfortable, quiet family hauler, the next a well-balanced and incisive sports SUV with the bite and verve of a Cayman, particularly in Turbo or GTS form.The sharper look, upgraded cabin tech and overall completeness of the facelifted car that launched in 2019 is equally tempting, despite prices starting from closer to £30,000. Porsche axed its diesel offering, hoping that a 2.0-litre 242bhp four-cylinder petrol lump borrowed from the Volkswagen Golf GTI would appeal to the masses. Efficiency is good, but it's a bit gutless compared with the 349bhp 3.0S and was left for dust by the then-new 434bhp 2.9 Turbo.The sweet spot here has to be the S: it offers a surfeit of performance and dynamism yet still delivers excellent refinement, luxurious touches and a comfy ride. But even the post-facelift GTS, with its 15mmlower ride height, sterner ride and 376bhp engine, is a brilliant daily driver and unrivalled in its class.More revisions came to the Macan in 2021, but we think there's greater value in the earlier models. How can you turn down this class-leading SUV when you can have one for less than £14,000?
