Driver-focused and agile are not characteristics you'd expect from an SUV, but the Porsche Macan GTS certainly has them.
SUVs, or sport utility vehicles, have evolved into excellent all-around vehicles in today's automotive world. They've evolved from large, bulky, gas-guzzling waggons to some of the most livable and practical vehicles available, with sports car-level performance. As a result, many automakers have joined the craze, and even those who didn't produce SUVs before now have them as best-sellers.
Porsche is one such example. Let's go back about 20 years, before the Cayenne, and you wouldn't think the German sports carmaker would consider selling sport utility vehicles. However, they now have two models to choose from, and these account for a sizable portion of their sales.The Macan, their best-seller, feels more like a hot hatch than a proper SUV, and the GTS version has a lot of secrets to reveal. Let us investigate.
Features On The Porsche Macan GTS
First feature
The Porsche air springs and adaptive dampers that come standard on the Macan GTS work together to smooth out broken pavement and provide a comfortable ride even with 20-inch wheels.
When you switch to Sport Plus mode, the dampers tighten just enough to liven up the Macan GTS and transform it into a responsive and agile compact SUV that can compete with today's best hot hatches.
Second feature
The Premium Package Plus, which includes a variety of interior and safety technologies to enhance the driving experience of the German carmaker's compact SUV, is available for the Macan GTS. The Premium Package Plus includes, among other things, a panoramic sunroof, a Bose surround sound system, heated front seats, and adaptive LED headlights.
Third feature
The German automaker specially tuned the PASM, or Porsche Active Suspension Management, to give the Macan GTS a sporty ride, which, given the car's grip, gives the driver a lot of confidence.
While it has an electric-assisted steering rack, the steering feel for the Macan GTS is properly weighted and was designed to provide feedback similar to a hydraulic-assisted rack, allowing the car to provide the driver with a lot of feedback.
Fourth feature
Porsche designed the Macan GTS to sit 15mm lower than the other models in order to add to the sporty elements and provide less body roll when driving through corners. When the adaptive air suspension is selected, the ride height is reduced by another 10mm, giving the compact SUV the appearance of a large hot hatch.
Fifth feature
Inside, the Macan GTS welcomes its passengers with Alcantara sports seats with leather upholstery and GTS stitching on the headrests.
More Alcantara was used in the seat centre panels, centre console armrests, and even the door panels, indicating that you are sitting in a high-performance SUV.
Sixth feature
The body design we're used to seeing on other Macan models was made a lot sportier with the GTS, thanks to the Sport Package kit for the front and rear trim as well as the skirts. It has black-painted elements and red brake callipers.
Porsche equipped the compact SUV with 20-inch RS Spyder Design Wheels painted in black on low-profile tyres to complete the overall sportiness of the Macan GTS.
Seventh feature
GTS stands for Gran Turismo Sport, and it is the most sporty model in the Macan lineup. It may not be the most powerful, but its impressive figures demonstrate that it is about more than just horsepower.
With the Sport Chrono Pack, the Macan GTS can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reach 100 mph in less than 12 seconds. It also has a top speed of 162 mph, which is quite impressive for a compact SUV.
Eighth feature
The Sport Chrono Package for the Macan GTS includes more than just an analogue and digital stopwatch display in the centre of the dashboard. It's more complicated than that. If you choose Sport Chrono, Porsche adds the SPORT PLUS button to the centre console, which adds launch control and a sportier driving mode for the Macan GTS, making it ideal for track days or spirited drives on winding roads.
Ninth feature
Of course, you can't talk about a modern Porsche without mentioning its transmission. The Macan GTS, like other models, has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission known as the PDK.
Porsches with PDK transmissions have no interruptions during gear shifts and operate more efficiently than manual transmissions. Furthermore, by removing the controls from the PDK's computer, you can downshift or upshift using the paddles at the back of the steering wheel for a more spirited driving experience.
Tenth feature
The Macan GTS is powered by a 2.9-liter V6 twin-turbo engine that produces 375 hp and 520 Nm of torque that is distributed to all four wheels.
While the GTS's engine may not be class-leading in terms of power output, the power delivery is something to savour, with peak torque delivered from 1,750 rpm to 5,000 rpm, making it feel more powerful than the figures suggest.
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