Test the new Macan (3rd generation) on a winding road.

last timeThis will be a review of the new Macan (3rd generation), following on from This time, we report on our impressions of the Macan when we took it for a winding drive.

The Macan is a very sporty SUV.The word "sporty" is no longer an easy word to describe this car, and it is a car with athleticism that makes you want to call it a "sports car".It is. It was the first generation of the Macan (the first generation) that left such a strong impression on me that it remains vivid in my memory, and the second generation was a sporty enough car as well.

With these expectations in mind, we brought the Macan onto the mountain road this time as well.

It does not come with the Sport Chrono package, so I cannot try the Sport Plus mode, but I will switch to the regular "Sport" mode.If it had a sports exhaust, the sound might change somewhat, but there is no particular change in sound.

First, let's try driving in AT mode; the PDK will keep revving, and the engine's sense of power and torque can be felt directly. After all, this 265 hp engine has a certain amount of power.

You won't experience the acceleration that takes your head off the wheel, but you'll get the feeling thatThere is no doubt that the power is sufficient for normal driving in Japan.It's a well engineered engine.

The feeling of rotation is not bad. Smooth, no weird vibrations or snags. However, is it a sensual engine like a Porsche? It is not.

After all, the cause is sound.In particular, it is not in the volume but in the sound quality.

The sound is a bit short of a full-grained pleasant sound, and is the sound of a high performance engine in a typical European car. If you are looking for something in that area of "good feelingIf you want something like 'TheYou might want to add a sport exhaust.

Even today's Porsches are no match for noise regulations, and it remains to be seen how effective the sport exhaust will be, but it is better than nothing.

PDK evolution and manual mode

A switch on the steering wheel is used to change to manual mode.

Shifting response of PDK is very fast. Quite fast.It seems to be even smoother than the second generation, with the smoothness of an excellent torque converter AT plus lightning-fast shifting.

On the other hand, the gearshift sound and the downshift rpm adjustment are very mild, although those who are accustomed to driving Porsche may feel a little short in this area.In general, the tuning is generally well received by the public.

On the other hand, the gear ratios of 2nd and 3rd gears are a little far apart.This is the same feeling I have had with the 970 Panamera GTS. On a typical Japanese winding road, second gear is too low and third gear is too high.

Braking from 3rd gear and dropping to 2nd gear is a little too revved up and difficult to drive.There is one place. This takes some getting used to.

The Macan's true strength lies in its handling.

Now, if I had to sum up the Macan's driving appeal in one word, I would say, "feeling of relief'. Even the previous second-generation S grade, the "Tall CaymanI described it as 'like a Cayman', but with this four-cylinder, it has an even stronger Cayman feel.

Anyway, I don't feel the weight of the front.When the steering wheel is turned off, the driver's head turns quickly in the direction of the curve.As the car enters a curve, the suspension retains a moderate resilience that feels taut, and the car drives through the curve with a slight roll.

And the four-wheel drive is exquisitely controlled; when the driver opens the throttle wide at the exit of a curve, torque is applied to the front and the car exits without incident.

Although the Macan is originally based on the VW Group's FWD platform, the four-wheel drive torque control is centered on the rear. Even under normal conditions, more of the torque is allocated to the rear and the front is merely a supplement to the rear. Therefore, while retaining the RWD-like movement, it is controlled in the same way as the four-wheel drive system of the 911.

After that, I tried going around a series of curves, butIt runs through the streets with a nimble, SUV-like body language.All four wheels grip the road surface evenly and are very sticky. There is no fear at all.

It is like the latest Porsche, anyone can drive it fast and feel amazingly safe.

This is probably because the suspension is designed with a higher load and harder environment in mind. It is a piece of cake for the average person to drive a little on winding roads.

Sohyo (General Council of Trade Unions of Japan)

If I were to describe this Macan to someone else, I would say, 'The most practical PorscheI would like to describe it as 'a

However, "practicality" does not refer to the size of the seats or luggage space, or the availability of comfort equipment.The tuning of the driving is only "practical".That's what I mean.

Since Porsche is essentially a sports car, it is a manufacturer that values feeling on highways and winding roads more than stop-and-go comfort on ordinary roads. The first generation Macan, for example, was also very much in that vein, butThis third-generation Macan seems to be quite focused on ease of driving for everyday use.

While the car bears the Porsche emblem.In terms of PDK control logic, engine torque output, and sound, we have reduced stress in everyday use as much as possible, making the Porsche easy to drive for everyone.This is what I feel.

On the other hand, the old-fashioned "Porsche-nessIt is also true that the individuality of the "I" has become less noticeable. While some parts of Porsche's DNA can be felt in the handling and PDK response, others have been lost.

If you are not aIf you want to feel that "Porsche-ness", I think you should carefully select options and tailor the Macan more to your liking.

I would choose this option.

Incidentally, the following is a list of options I would choose if I were to buy a third-generation Macan. I omitted options related to appearance as it depends on individual preference, and selected only options related to driving. I think I would consider them in order of priority from the top to the bottom, depending on the budget.

• Air suspension (or at least PASM with spring suspension should be there)
• 20-inch wheels (if air suspension is installed)
• PTV Plus (I'm interested to see if it comes with a four-cylinder, which would be even more fun)
• Heated GT Sport Steering Wheel
• Sport Chrono Package
• sports exhaust

The above is for your information.