New Macan (3rd generation)

This time, theI borrowed a current new Macan (also known as 3rd generation, Macan 3 or late model) as a replacement for my 991 Carrera 4GTS.So, I would like to give an honest review after about a week of riding.

This time, the Macan is the latest current model, theIt is the simplest base model.The options are minimal, and the main thing is that the seats are 14-way comfort seats with a memory function.

This "-M+" button switches to manual mode.

The wheels are standard 19-inch, and the suspension is standard, not PASM or air suspension. It does not have the Sport Chrono Package or the Sport Exhaust System, and is almost a bare-bones Macan.

A quick look inside reveals that the design of the center console has changed significantly, with many of the many physical switches found on Macans up to the second generation being replaced by touch-sensitive switches. The navigation screen has been enlarged and now features PCM (Porsche Communication Management).

14-way comfort seat back and seat area in a sporty fabric that appears to be water repellent

At first glance, the interior looks like it could be mistaken for the current Cayenne. As for the shift lever area, it feels a bit cheap and gives the impression of cost reduction from the previous generation, and the shift lever is very large considering the current trend.

In previous Macan shift levers, to switch to manual mode, the mode could be switched by moving the lever to the left, but this is not possible in this Macan.

Initially, theDid you lose the manual mode?I thought that was the case, but it seems not.The manual mode switch is a button on the handle.This is very easy to use and very convenient to switch at hand.

Other than that, the interior is almost the same as the previous generation, with no particular changes. The rear seat space has not changed either, and since other media have explained this area in detail, I will defer to them.

19" x standard suspension (without PASM) feeling

When you start the engine, the Porsche-like starting sound of the past is no longer there.Very quietly, the newly developed 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbo engine awakens.The engine produces a maximum output of 265 hp and 400 Nm of torque, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 232 km/h.

When you put the shift lever in D range and start driving around town, the tires roll smoothly and nicely. However, when you expect a car with a vehicle body price of nearly 8 million and a PorscheFeeling a little disappointingIt is It is by no means a bad ride. Rather, it is good.

But something is missing.

I was expecting a sporty, yet shittier, quality feeling, but this "qualityI feel as if the "Mere Old Man" is losing his "Mere Old Man".

From about 40 km/h, the tire ground contact gradually increases.Oh, is it starting to feel like a Porsche?However, on bumps and rough road surfaces, the driver does not feel any thrust or impact at all, but a slight vibration remains.Frankly, this is not the Porsche leg I know.

I'll say it again.It is by no means a bad ride.

I probably won't hear any complaints from my passenger, and I myself have no complaints as long as I am concentrating on driving around town. If you view it as a practical car, it is definitely a passable car. If you choose the standard suspension, these 19 inches would be the right choice.

It seems to me that larger wheels would likely ruin the balance, so it would definitely be best to limit the standard suspension to 19 inches.

But.This is a Porsche.

Perhaps the user expects that theA higher level of qualityI think it is. Specifically.More stable and doshy feeling, ground contact of tires as if you could tell even when stopped, quick but not oversensitive steering characteristics.and so on. This is honestly thin.

I would recommend the optional electronic suspension with PASM for this Macan if possible.If budget allows, I would strongly recommend air suspension.I have experienced a number of different Macans in the past, and the ride quality is completely different depending on the suspension, so please judge carefully here.

Engine and PDK

this (something or someone close to the speaker (including the speaker), or ideas expressed by the speaker)The newly developed 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine is a great practical engine.I rarely felt turbo lag in town, and the torque trough never made me jittery. In any situation, the car has enough torque to move the body forward, and it never felt slow.

In terms of rideability, the torque production and the lack of torque troughs make it easy to ride.S grade V6 enginethan the other, it is easier to ride in the city. This can be said with certainty.

The PDK control is excellent, and the gearshift is even smoother. There are almost no jolts, and when driving normally, it is unlikely that the driver will be aware of the fact that the car is equipped with a dual clutch transmission.

The gearshift response is good and the shifting is very sharp.The car shifts from one gear to the next with a snap, and looking only at the needle on the tachometer, the car moves like a car in a video game. When the accelerator pedal is pushed deeply in the sport mode, the engine response becomes sharp, and the car downshifts with lightning speed and dashes forward. This feeling is very typical of Porsche.

How stable is it on the highway?

Merging acceleration on the highway is indeed a Porsche.It is hard to believe that the power is only 265 hp, and personally, it feels like almost 300 hp.This is due in large part to the 400 Nm of torque, but few people would feel that there is a lack of power in the Japanese road environment. If there are, it is probably only those who are accustomed to driving high-powered cars.

At cruising speeds in the driving lane, it is a cinch, so much so that it is difficult to keep the speed down, as is the case with other European cars. Straight line stability is at a high level, and perhaps people who switch from a domestic car will be surprised.

Besides, the sound insulation is reasonably good, and you can travel comfortably and at high speed. Therefore, theThe car's highway rating as a car is passable enough.

But here's the thing.What do you think in terms of expectations as a Porsche?

I think it is safe to say that the acceleration and cornering performance on high speed corners are at the level of a Porsche. However, theIt lacks more of a doshy, stable feel.Of course, I don't want it to be as good as the Cayenne or the Panamera, but still, to speak of Porsche, the ride on the highway is a bit light.

What is the cause of this? And when we analyze theI think it is in the steering characteristics.The Macan is a four-cylinder, which makes it very light on the nose. This is a very good thing, and the agility with which the car can quickly turn around is due in large part to this.

But with the Porsche you've had, even with all that agility.The steering characteristics are not abrupt or irritable in the slightest, and the natural feeling of the steering for the human senses is a characteristic of the Porsche.The handling is quick, but there is a very brief "pause" time. The handling was quick, but there was a very brief "pause" time that nicely counteracted the abruptness and irritability, and gave the driver no sense of discomfort.

This is what I have said many times in the past, 'Porsche's secret sauceIt's a 'I'm a Porsche' and therein lies the beauty of Porsche's handling.

This makan, however, has somewhat less of that sauce flavor.Of course, the car runs straight as an arrow, no problem.However, the lightness of the steering wheel makes it somewhat unsettled around the center of the steering wheel. A slight turn of the steering wheel and it quickly turns around and tries to change lanes. So far, so good.

However, its movement is a bit too sensitive and not like a Porsche.

Porsche has always been able to combine the characteristics of quick but easy handling to a high level.But that is not the case with this car. It is at the level of a typical high-performance European car, and it is the only Porsche I have reviewed so far that I have found to be "It doesn't look like a Porsche.I dare to evaluate it as a "footprint".

In the third generation, the rear tail lamps are now three-dimensionally shaped.

So, although this is only a comparative discussion with the higher grade, if you intend to use the car like a GT car, flying on the highway and driving long distances without getting tired, I think the higher grade is also a better choice.

This time, my evaluation is a bit dry, but I am only expressing my honest opinion without any discovery. In the next issue, I would like to test the performance of the Macan on a winding road, where the true potential of the Macan will be demonstrated, and give a summary.