Porsche Macan to get quicker but pricier

An upgraded Porsche Macan range has been revealed ahead of first Australian deliveries in the fourth quarter of this year, when the mid-size German SUV will become more powerful and better equipped, but also more expensive.

The 2022 Porsche Macan line-up represents the third major upgrade for the Audi Q5-based SUV since its launch in 2014, following the arrival of updates across the range in 2019 and 2020.

However, so far there’s no sign of an upgraded 2022 Porsche Macan Turbo flagship, and this update brings a $500 price increase at base level, a $5000 price hike for the mid-range Macan S and a big $17,500 spike for the Macan GTS.

A new second-generation Porsche Macan range, including the first all-electric version of the Cayenne’s smaller sibling, is expected to be launched within two years.

For now, the 2022 Macan, Macan S and Macan GTS all become a lot more powerful.

The latter now develops 324kW of power (up 44kW) from its twin-turbo 2.9-litre petrol V6, lowering its official 0-100km/h acceleration figure by 0.4sec to 4.3 seconds and increasing its top speed to 272km/h (previously 261km/h).

The same engine in the 2022 Porsche Macan S, meantime, now produces 280kW (up 20kW) and, when optioned with the Sport Chrono package, can hit 100km/h in 4.6sec (down from 5.1sec). Top speed is 259km/h – up from 254km/h.

At the bottom of the range, Porsche says a newly developed turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine makes 195kW in the entry-level Macan, which previously delivered 185kW, accelerating it to 100km/h in a claimed 6.2sec (previously 6.5) with the optional Sport Chrono pack. Top speed for the slowest Macan is 232km/h – up from 225.

All three engines are matched as standard to Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (PDK) and the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive system.

In addition, the upgraded Macan GTS will ride on new 10mm-lower sport air suspension, which is 10 per cent firmer at the front than its predecessor and 15 per cent firmer at the rear.

It’s claimed to deliver better response and “actively and continuously regulates the damping force for each individual wheel” via a specifically tuned Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system, which is also standard in the Macan S and optional for the base Macan.

An optional new GTS Sport package adds 21-inch GT design wheels with performance tyres, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), 18-way adjustable sport seats, Carbon interior highlights, Race-Tex upholstery with extended leather elements, GTS lettering in Python Green and contrast stitching throughout.

The refreshed Macan GTS also brings a redesigned nose with black centre section, plus other black exterior highlights and new 3D textured surfaces at both the front, side and rear.

All 2022 Porsche Macan variants will gain LED headlights with Dynamic Light System (PDLS) and SportDesign exterior mirrors as standard, as well as the option of 14 paint colours including new Papaya Metallic, Gentian Blue Metallic and, for GTS vehicles with the GTS Sport package, Python Green.

A total of seven new wheel designs have also been added to the range and, in Germany, all three variants now come standard with larger wheels – 19-inch for the base model, 20-inch for Macan S and 21-inch for Macan GTS.

Inside, each Macan also brings a redesigned centre console incorporating touch surfaces instead of tactile buttons, a shorter new gear shifter at its centre, an analogue clock at the top of the dashboard and a new multifunction GT Sport steering wheel from the 911.

A number of new leather upholstery and contrasting seam options are available including Gentian Blue, Papaya or Crayon, to customise an interior still dominated by a 10.9-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Porsche Communication Management or voice control.

New standard equipment for the Porsche Macan GTS includes lane change assist, ParkAssist (front and rear) with reversing camera and Surround View, rear side airbags, privacy glass, auto-dimming mirrors, Porsche Entry & Drive, driver memory package, Apple CarPlay and, specifically for Australia, Sport Chrono Package including redesigned mode switch, 19-inch collapsible spare wheel, metallic paint and Bose Surround Sound.

New standard equipment for the Porsche Macan S includes all of the above plus 75-litre fuel tank, 14-way Comfort seats with memory package and 18-inch collapsible wheel and, just for Australia, Bose Surround Sound, metallic paint and body-coloured SportDesign front and rear bumpers and side skirts and blades.

New standard equipment for the Porsche Macan includes all of the above plus new-design 19-inch Macan Design wheels and interior package in black piano finish.

Porsche says the Macan attracts more female buyers than any of its other models. It has found 600,000 new homes globally in the past seven years, 80 per cent of which are new to the Stuttgart sports car brand.

How much does the 2022 Porsche Macan cost?
Macan – $84,800 (+$500)
Macan S – $105,800 (+$5000)
Macan GTS – $129,800 (+$17,500
*Prices exclude on-road costs