Porsche Macan

THE Macan represents Porsche's first entry in the compact SUV sector, and it slots into the range below the Cayenne. It's made an impressive de but, too,  and we liked it enough after its first test to award it the Best SUV t itle in our 2014 New Car Awards.

There's a choice of petrol and diesel models,  and we test the latter here. The car in our pictures is a petrol Macan S, although it looks identical to the Diesel S. The price is exactly the same, too, starting  at £43,535.

Styling 4.2/5

SO ME cynics may suggest that the Porsche Macan is nothing more than a rebadged Audi Qs it shares its basic underpinnings with Audi's  SUV but every panel is unique to the Macan and it shares its looks with the larger Cayenne. Indeed, from the front, the two SUVs could easily be confused from a distance.

Apart from the smaller dimensions, the biggest differences  between the Macan and Cayenne are the lower roofline, distinctive bulging rear wi ngs and a number plate set into t he rear bumper instead of t he tailgate.

Overall, the Macan looks smart, with plenty of styling cues taken from Porsche's sports cars. However, go with a lighter colour, and the matt-black plastic scallops low on the doors look a bit unsightly, although Porsche's personalisation service allows y ou to change these to match the body colour.

Climb inside, and the Macan's Porsche heritage is clear to see. The cabin uses the same styling cues as other models, including the familiar instrument binnacle, and a bank of switches flanking the gearlever that controls the car's various electronic systems.

Compared to the simplicity of the X4, the Macan looks a  bit messy, but it's easy enough to find your way around, and the various car, climate and entertainment controls are grouped together in a logical manner.

As you would expect, everything feels solidly built and works with precision, while the quality of the materials used is a step ahead of the BMW here. However, the car in our picmres had been kitted our under the Porsche Individual programme, and the tan interior finish won't be to all tastes, while the light coloured dashtop leather reflected the sun into the windscreen rather badly.

Driving 4.7 /5

DESPITE its expansion into the SUV sector, and the adoption of diesel power, Porsche's reputation for building s ome of the world's greatest spons cars remains intact. The company made bold claims in its advertising of the Macan, marketing it as a sports car, but it has the ability to back them up. While the diesel can't quite match the petrol Macan S, it's still a potent performer.

We managed o-6omph in 5.8 seconds using the launch control system, while the twin•clutch seven-speed gearbox delivers rapid, seamless shifts. The Macan trailed the X4 slightly in our performance tests, although in isolation  it feels more than fast enough.

But it's in corners where the Porsche really impresses.  Where most SUVs would struggle to cope with twisting roads, the Macan has the poise and agility of a smaller car. The steeri ng is fast and communicative, while roll  is well controlled and there's lots of grip from the four-wheel-drive transmission. Optional adaptive dampers funher enhance its abilities, while self-levelling air-suspension is also availabl e as a £1,7 89 option.

None  of the Macan's cornering ability has compromised its comfon. Take it easy, and while the Porsche has a bit more road noise than the BMW, it's still a quiet and refined place  to be. The suspension soaks up bumps well, even with larger optional wheels fitted, and it's just as comfortable as the X4 when cruising at motorway speeds. In town, the responsive steering means the Macan is manoeuvrable, and like the BMW, front and rear parking sensors a.re standard.

Reliability 4.2/5

THE Macan spent a long time in development, and its basic architecrure is shared with the Audi Qs, so these two factors should point to it being reliable. On top of that, the VG diesel is used in the Cayenne and Panamera, while the electronics and infotainment systems are shared with other Porsche models, so everything should work without a problem.

The Macan hasn't been tested by Euro NCAP, but the  Qs  has a five-star rating, and Porsche offers extra safety kit such as adaptive xenons, lane assist and even a fire extinguisher on its options list. Fade-free carbon ceramic brakes will be available from October, although they'll cost a  rather steep £5,463.

Running costs 3.9/5

THE Macan Diesel S undercuts the X4 by £2,873, but it's not quite as well equipped. Add sat-nav, metallic paint and Bluetooth, a nd you11 quickly cancel out the difference, while you can  send the price rocketing even funher by specifying other options.

Fuel economy of 28.3mpg on test was 2.3mpg poorer than the X4s, and that's despite the fact the Macan comes with stop-start and a coasting funct ion that sets the engine to idle speed  when your foot is off the throttle. As with other Porsche models, the Macan needs a service every two years, but expect to pay a premium for ma.in dealer maintenance.

However, as Porsche franchises finished third in our Driver Power 2014 dealer survey, you11 be well looked after. Predicted residuals of 60.2 per cent are excellent they make t he X4s 46.6 percent rating look rather poor.

Practicality 3.9/5

A SQUARER body means that the Macan should be a bit more practical than the
X4, but both cars have a boot capacity of 500 litres to the load cover. The Porsche has a slightly higher load lip, but the tailgate opening is wider and the floor is squarer, while there's a hidden storage tray under the floor. The load rails and divider on the car in our pictures is part of the £219 cargo management pack.

Like the BMW, there's a 4020:40 split folding back seat, while rear passenger space is tighter than you ll find in the X4. There's less knee room and anyone sitting there will have to make do without air vents. Up front, pop out cup-holders are located above the glovebox, while deep door bins offer generous storage .

Design

IN profile, the rear ends of the X4 and Macan follow a similar shape, although  the Porsche is  more rounded than the high-set BMW. The X4 looks a little slab-sided, despite featuring sculpted lines along its flanks, and it looks bigger than Its rival. too. But these two are pretty much identical in terms of dimensions, with the same roof heights and similar length and wheelbase measurements.

Boot capacity

THESE cars have identical 500-litre boot capacities. The Macan has a squarer floor and wi der opening, but the boot lip is slightly higher off the ground than the X4's. Both cars feature 40:20:40 split back seats, but when folded, neither has a completely  flat floor. The Macan's 1,500-lltre maximum is  100 litres ahead of the X4' s.

Running costs

NEITHER of these cars is cheap to run, but the BMW promises better fuel economy and more affordable servicing. The Macan has lower company  car tax costs, while road tax costs are identical. at £180 a year. Porsche's strong residual rating means it'll be worth more if you sell it after three years.

Options
SAT-nav is an expensive optional extra, although all the equipment and materials feel well built .

Trim

OUR car was kitted out with Porsche Individual programme which includes a stylish tan finish, but it's a love•it-or-loathe-it colour