Porsche Macan: High-tech and sooo much fun

MANILA, Philippines — Porsche Philippines, in celebration of its 70-year anniversary, takes everyone for a sporty driving experience with the Macan Sport, an SUV that truly embodies the full heritage of Porsche.  Characterized by five doors, five seats, all-wheel drive and a higher sitting position, the new Macan Sport was built in keeping with the Porsche philosophy, injecting sporty-style and high-tech performance into everyday driving.

I was excited when I got behind the wheel of the Porsche Macan Sport because it was a unique experience. It’s not everyday that I find myself behind the wheel of a Porsche.

Let’s start with looks: when it comes to SUVs, I am definitely one of those who judge an SUV by its looks.

The Macan Sport is not hard to fall in love with because of its distinctive sporty appearance.

As the Macan sat in my driveway, I was in awe of its handsome looks – for how else does one describe a Porsche?

Let me begin with a few tech specs that I was impressed with. There is the newly-added adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management. This setup provides for a high level of comfort and tremendous dynamic performance that can take on all-road conditions. The self-leveling function also helps to keep the ride height constant.

And then to make the look even more macho, there are 20-inch RS Spyder design rims, providing an outstanding look that is instantly recognizable. For the techie-lover in me, this Porsche is equipped with the Stability Management (PSM) that helps ensure stability at the limits of sporty performance. The brakes set standards for deceleration.

Step inside

As I hop on to the driver’s seat, I am greeted by the switches, buttons, knobs, and rockers. The center console connects to the dash just beneath a brightly lit LCD touchscreen, and there is another screen in the instrument cluster. 

I fiddle with the levers in the cockpit as I familiarize myself with all the high-tech buttons that are so much to get a hang of.

A cockpit with everything within easy reach

The interior Macan integrates its driver and passengers perfectly into the vehicle. I am impressed with the three-dimensional arrangement of the controls in the center console with control buttons for the most important comfort functions.

As I sat there in the cockpit – I took time to fiddle with all the little knobs and their functions – and then I imagined myself driving down SLEX knowing that every part of the Macan is within reach through these controls.

Get going

It was time to put the Macan to the test, although I was certain that it would pass the test with flying colors. I start the engine and this time the love is now complete as I hear the engine roar into starting position.

The in-line four-cylinder engine is designed to be particularly sporty and efficient. It operates with up to two bars of boost pressure, charge-air cooling, petrol direct injection, and variable valve timing. VarioCam Plus adapts the intake and exhaust camshaft continually and also controls the lift of the exhaust valves.

As the Macan rolls out of my Pasig home,  I am one happy camper. After all, for that day it was just me and the Porsche Macan.

I make it to SLEX  faster than I thought I would because I was so relaxed behind the wheel, I must have stepped on the gas mindlessly. Smooth is a word that comes to mind as I drive down C5. The Macan is capable of converting its engine power into exceptionally sporty driving dynamics.

I read that the Porsche Macan has been developed, tested, and built in line with the Porsche philosophy. The Macan takes sporty style and performance from the racetrack into everyday driving. In 2017, the Macan topped the Compact Premium SUV segment in the J.D. Power APEAL and Initial Quality Survey. It also won the Luxury Compact SUV award in Car and Driver’s 10 Best Trucks and SUVs.

I was alone with my thoughts as I drove the Macan down the SLEX to Tagaytay for my fix of yummy bread from Bag of Beans at the rotonda in Tagaytay.

I was one happy camper and the Porsche Macan was my handsome and macho ride.

The Macan was so easy to control with all the high-tech buttons in the cockpit — and oh soo much fun to drive because it responded to my every driving command so easily.

Drive on.