Porsche Macan S 2022 review | is this the benchmark sports-luxury SUV? | Chasing Cars 

Agree. He is awesome.

The good news is you can get about anything you want spec'd on Porsche vehicles. The bad news is they charge you a king's ransom for each item. It's very easy to price the Macan S to $75-80k US. Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio for the same money.

Great to hear!

Papaya Orange is amazing as well. I think most people can agree that all the colours look stunning apart from Mahogany.

Certainly not in my opinion. On my old F15 BMW X5, I was doing a lot of miles at the time, so it wasn’t long until the first air strut went at 70k miles, then the pump went 5k miles later. I will never get another car with air suspension. It is nice, but if you do a lot of miles or plan to keep it for long, I’d avoid it.

@@alfredkc Interesting and concerning as I hope mine will be a keeper. But isn't being able to raise the car for off-road vital??

@@katiemavity7189 Porsche says the ground clearance on steel springs is 202mm, and on air suspension (in normal mode), it’s 187mm. It depends how much the off-road mode raises the suspension by. Even if it rises by a lot, I don’t really do off-roading myself, so I can’t justify air suspension, knowing the last car I had with it costed me well over £3k, as it was out of warranty. Usually though, I think it’s only the air struts that need to be replaced, and that should cost much less. My compressor went as I had a very small leak in the air struts, and the compressor burnt out trying to keep the struts filled. Not sure if Porsche air suspension is any better than BMW’s, where the air struts really are a wear and tear item. That’s why I opted for PASM with steel springs on my Gen 3.

Most people really won’t need the ceramic brakes - the regular ones are fine though you’ll get brake dust of course

Why are you comparing these two… One of them is a sports SUV, the other isn’t. Pointless comparison, as they have completely different buyers in the mid-size luxury segment. A Macan buyer may consider an X3 M40i, a GLC 43 or a Stelvio QV, but a Lexus, unlikely.

@@alfredkc speak for yourself sweetheart. and glad you know lots of cars names. well done

Good idea

@@chasingcars Im still waiting for you to do a review of the Tardis :-)

I test drove a ‘19 Macan S which uses the same suspension as the ‘22 model. The suspension is not firm. It actually feels compliant to the point of being somewhat floaty. I actually got a little car sick the first few minutes in the car. You adjust quickly, however.

@@crisgarrido4436thanks

@@crisgarrido4436 That was with air, yes? Not with steel? I am still adjusting my spec here in UK.

I suspect so. I asked the salesman at the test drive and he was not sure. Having said that, I have read in other threads that if you get that floaty sensation, it is due to air suspension.

Apple only so far in UK and Bose costs £800.

Depends on the spec you want, as you can’t spec a GTS in an especially luxe combination without black pack etc - and the GTS is also firmer and less compliant on the road (not by much - but you notice)

No, this is not a rebadged GTS. The suspension tubes are entirely different, for one thing. You’re misinformed.

Not in UK.

@@Tomoyo0827 And the BMW has all the latest safety tech that is seamlessly integrated into the driving. I note that Porsche Australia flew these car reviewers by helicopter to country NSW for the Macan test drives. A bit more critical assessment in many reviews would be appreciated by the buying public

I was sooo looking forward at the possibility of owning a ‘22 Porsche Macan S after so many positive reviews such as this one. The BMW X3 M40i was the runner up. Porsche dealer didn’t have any ‘22 demos but offered me to test drive ‘19 Macan S which only has about 35 less HP. He said driving dynamics would the same. The day arrived and, alas, I was not wowed at all. I really wanted to love the car but couldn’t. Throttle response was laggy in all drive modes, except in Sport Plus (must get the Sport Chrono option for Sport Plus). The suspension was too floaty for my taste and didn’t feel any change in various drive modes. The steering with its Power Steering Plus was way too soft. The salesman said it would firm up at higher speeds but I didn’t notice any difference either. I felt no different than driving an Audi Q3/Q5. Unless you opt for an expensive exhaust package, the sound is really too tame for a sports class SUV wearing a Porsche badge. You might as well be in a quiet Lexus. On the plus side, the car does carve curves precisely. But overall, I thought the Macan S lacked excitement. It’s quite possible the new GTS version is the way to go. The next day I test drove a new ‘21 BMW X3 M40i. What a world of difference. It can offer a tame, quiet and compliant ride in Eco Pro and comfort mode. But in Sport and Sport Plus modes, it turns into a beast with immediate throttle response, firm suspension, loves to take tight curves, gurgles and farts from the included exhaust. Very exciting car compared to the Macan S! Then you start adding the better technology in all the interior amenities and infotainment in the X3 M40i, more space and the choice becomes obvious.

I can live without the AEB/nanny systems. I'm glad it's an option. It's more pure without a machine telling you want you can and can't do.

I doubt it. Its their cash cow.

John, I can’t tell where you are from but here in Australia the Stelvio Q is 149k (no options) and the Macan S is 110k (no options) - so yeah they really aren’t in the same ballpark here. The GTS here in aus is 130k (no options) and is the more natural competitor anyway. By the time you add a bunch of options you really want anyway as everything Porsche is an extra the GTS and the Stelvio are very close on price.

@@bananathecockatiel1439 I am from Sydney. The Macan and Stelvio are both fabulous performance Mid sized SUVs. Porsche being Porsche, by the time you add in what some would say should be standard, the price is in the ballpark of the Stelvio QV. Indeed, on carsales, 2020 Macan S are in the low $130k range. I suspect 2021 models would be encroaching $150k. The Stelvio QV comes comprehensively equipped and the poor sales suggests $149k is attainable. More to the point of their driving ethos, the Stelvio was engineered for drivers by drivers. Indeed the base model Stelvio comes with a carbon fiber prop shaft. The sweet spot in the range, the Veloce at $95k drive away, comes with a limited slip differential suggesting it has the chutzpah to deliver a superior steer to the Macan S. I understand the allure of Porsche badge is strong. However, badge snobbery aside, $ for $ the macans greatest competitor dynamically is the Stelvio. The Giorgio platform is significantly lighter, power to weight ratio is superior and subjectively better to look at. Kudos to Alfa. Who would have thought?! I am in the minority here and I get not everyone prioritises the performance side of driving as much as I do.

@@johnmanciameli9752 We got the 2022 S for $135k driveaway - with some options including pano roof. Reliability played a big part in my decision to get the Macan too - my inlaw had the first gen clocking 200k+ with no issues.

But the Macan has no important reliability issues, which is often not the case with the Stelvio, right?

You mean you cant afford it. Big difference.

Because the Macan is one of the cheapest mid-size sport SUVs. In the UK, the Macan S starts at £55,000, X3 M40i at £60,000, and GLC 43 around £58,000. Just option them in for god’s sake.

Actually they can, at least in the US. "Interior Trim in Leather" on the configurator.

@@jetsetsea I'm in the U.S. There was extended leather trim, and accents. But not where the Brushed Aluminum, Wood, and Carbon Fiber trim panels were located.

@@9fiveb180dude it’s literally on the configurator. Go to; Interior Options, Interior Packages and Trim, then select “Interior Trim in Leather for $1,680”, and pick your leather color.

@@9fiveb180 Dude its literally on the configurator. Go to; Interior Options, Interior Packages and Trim, and select "Interior Trim in Leather for $1,680" and select your color choice.

​@@9fiveb180 It is literally on the configurator under Interior Package and Trim; "Interior Trim in Leather for $1,680"

There’s no right or wrong on that question, it’s hardly definitive - especially now that the S has the GTS motor, you realise?

Nearly 20000 in tax and stamp duty

No, that didn’t happen.

Putting safety specs behind a paywall in a vehicle with this much power is negligent.

I’m 1m83cm and I fit fine

I am 1 m 93 .

That would be my problem not Porsche’s lol

Not whatsoever; we’ll just buy a Macan if we have to. I can only speak for myself, a person who is clearly a slender-framed man of 6’ (and I declare as such every video)

I like it. Simple, understated but yet premium.

@@peterhess6039 You mean there's a clear reason why I could buy 3 CX30s for the price of one of these?

Your opinion represents a valid viewpoint but you’re not the customer they are trying to attract. A not dissimilar argument to why expensive mechanical wristwatches exist when a cheap quartz is more accurate. A CX-30 would not keep up with an S or a GTS on a back road, or frankly any road. Having sold a 2020 CX-5 last month to take delivery of a 2022 GTS next month, I can tell you without doubt that they do not drive the same at all. Some people invest mentally in the brand, chassis engineering, design etc. some people don’t and for them this makes absolutely no sense.

@@bananathecockatiel1439 I have several expensive mechanical watches and I see the value. Not the case here, sorry. This is plain rip-off.

If you’re talking about the 2.0, I completely agree with you. If you’re talking the S / GTS it’s a sporty drive versus another snail. When my 718 GTS was in the dealer I got a 2.0 then a turbo. One is a POS the other quite endearing.

@@trogdortheburninator8149 of course I'm talking about the 2lt who would buy that over a CX-30 at almost 4x the price with options that are already present on the Mazda. Don't get me wrong I own several vintage collector cars a Group 4 Stratos among them I am a petrolhead but I fail to see value here.

No, I’m an independent reviewer.

Honestly of all the reviews I've seen done for the new Macan S, he's one of the more objective ones with appropriate amounts of criticism.

@@HiddenWen Andres always uses saleman as a euphemism to bully and harass ANYONE just because it’s a Porsche.

Andres is just a hate comment spamming robot who spams comments whenever Porsche pops up. He sold his soul when he was born.

Porsche sell themselves!!!

Have a nice trip