Following its resurrection in 2017, the T designation has only been applied to Porsche's sports cars, first in the form of the 911 Carrera T and subsequently to the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster models. The Macan T is the first four-door model to receive the same treatment and it places an emphasis on driving fun.
In the metal
The Porsche Macan T benefits from some exclusive exterior styling details to differentiate it from other models in the range - it slots in between the base model and Macan S. Within the front grille are accents painted in Agate Grey, which is an exclusive colour to the Macan T. That hue is repeated on the side mirrors, the blade along the base of the doors (which also carries the 'Macan T' logo), the roof spoiler and rear badge. On brighter colours, such as the white of our test car, these elements contrast more noticeably, but choosing darker colours such as Gentian Blue make these design elements less obvious. Porsche also fits the 20-inch wheels from the Macan S and paints them in Dark Titanium.
Surround the side glass is a high gloss black finish and that also applies to the four sports tailpipes. Stepping in over the black aluminium 'Macan T' inscribed sill tread plates there are eight-way electrically adjustable heated sports seats that are upholstered in black leather with an exclusive Sport-Tex Stripe pattern featuring silver contrast stitching and the Porsche crest embossed on the headrest.
That same Sport-Tex design is repeated in the two outer rear seats where there is ample space for both passengers; only the middle seat is limited for space, due to the console that contains two air vents and a pair of USB-C ports.
Other standard equipment includes the Sport Chrono stopwatch atop the dash and a heated multifunction GT sports steering wheel, with the option of a version with carbon fibre trim and Race-Tex rim, which looks and feels like an Alcantara material. Continuing the update that the Macan range received in summer 2021, the centre console now has a high gloss black finish with touch-sensitive buttons and haptic feedback.
The 10.9-inch Porsche Communication Management system is fully networked and has online navigation as standard. Smartphone connectivity is there with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto, and the lack of a head-up display is arguably a sign of the Macan's gracefully ageing architecture. A wireless charging pad in the storage area beneath the centre armrest is designed to hold your handset in place to ensure consistent charging, though.
Driving it
Porsche takes a multifaceted approach to enhancing the dynamic properties of the Macan T. It is currently the only model to feature steel springs with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM - adaptive damping, basically) as standard and this setup also reduces the ride height by 15mm over the base Macan. There is also the option to upgrade to adaptive air suspension with PASM, which lowers the ride height by a further 10mm. The combination of a stiffer front anti-roll bar and Porsche's decision to stick with the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine reaps positive rewards when it comes to the handling.
While the engine lacks the outright power of the V6, an engine with two less cylinders reduces weight over the front axle by a useful 58.8kg. Combining that with the stiffer anti-roll bar and well-judged, precise steering gives the Macan T impressively sharp handling with a surety from the front axle that makes more spirited driving that bit more rewarding. Every turn into a bend feels immediate and the nose of the Macan T goes exactly where you want it to and there is an abundance of grip from the tyres. It is possible to unsettle the rear when you try though the stability management keeps everything under control as the Macan T powers out of corners.
Superb body control and a tweaked all-wheel-drive transmission that has a more rearward bias really brings the Macan T to life on more challenging roads. The four-cylinder engine is more than willing and is happy to be worked hard. Still, with a maximum output of 265hp it isn't hugely powerful. Peak torque arrives at 1,800rpm and lasts until 4,000rpm, giving it a decent and very usable mid-range, with the turbo spooling up quickly in between. Aside from the power deficit from the V6 the four-pot's soundtrack isn't as evocative.
With the drive mode switched to Sport or Sport Plus the PDK transmission works diligently to ensure the optimum gear is always in play. There are still some beautifully tactile and weighted paddle shifters should you wish to retain greater control of what the gearbox is doing.
When you switch into the Sport Plus setting the ride becomes very firm - almost too stiff for the average road surface. A switch back to a more comfortable setting helps the overall experience and the standard steel spring setup is so good there isn't a strong case for upgrading to air. When you're done tackling hairpins and devouring back roads the Macan is every bit as quick at reverting back to being a comfortable and refined car in which to undertake more mundane driving tasks.
What you get for your money
With a starting price of €104,515, the Porsche Macan T does carry a near-€10,000 premium over the base version below it, putting it less than €1,400 below the price of the Macan S. However, engine aside, the additional equipment that the Macan T has as standard exceeds what it would cost to add to the S, so that quickly increases that price gap.
The interior gets several nice touches that are exclusive to the model, including eight-way electrically adjustable sport seats that include the Sport Text inserts and the heated GT steering wheel. The bespoke chassis setup of the Macan T, which includes PASM as standard combined with the exterior treatment sets it apart from the base model and justifies the price somewhat.
Summary
Tweaks under the skin and a tasteful smattering of exterior details come together nicely to make the Macan T quite an interesting proposition. It slots in perfectly between the other Porsche Macan models and adds something that keener drivers are likely to appreciate.
