2021 Porsche Macan Turbo

To those of us who expressed dismay when the Porsche Cayenne first arrived on the scene, the newer and smaller Porsche Macan Turbo may still feel like a very fresh offering from the Stuttgart-based automaker. However, this luxury compact crossover has been with us for about six years now and is still technically in its first iteration, making it one of the older SUVs on sale today. While other cars are often redesigned by their fifth year on the market, the Macan Turbo of today is very similar to its predecessor. Still, with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 delivering 434 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels, it's still an exciting machine. But is the competition - namely the Jaguar F-Pace SVR and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 - catching up?

At present, the 2021 Macan Turbo is available in the USA with a base price of $84,600 MSRP, before a $1,350 delivery fee. That's a grand more than last year and more than $30k higher than what you'll pay for the base model Macan. Nevertheless, this is a premium product. As such, it also comes with premium options, and a fully loaded Porsche Macan Turbo can have a price in excess of $100,000.

While the powerplant needs to be good to get a Porsche's foot in the door, it's the way it drives and handles and feels that truly defines a car as being worthy of that hallowed crest. Fortunately, the standard adaptive steel suspension setup in the Macan Turbo is just as good as you'd expect, providing a comfortable ride when cruising and hiding body roll when being aggressive. The optional air suspension setup is no misfit either, giving occupants a magnificent and comfortable ride in its softest setting and firming up appropriately when the need arises. The steering is also very important for a Porsche, and the Macan Turbo has a great setup. The theme of excellence continues to the brakes, where the standard Porsche Surface Coated Brake system with its special rotors offers excellent feedback and response. With the next Macan likely to be electric, we certainly hope that Porsche can work the same sort of magic endowed upon the Taycan and keep this little SUV fun to drive and thrilling to witness.

The Porsche Macan Turbo is getting on a bit now, but as we mentioned at the outset, it's still one of the best luxury compact SUVs out there. Thanks to constant updates and tweaks over the years, the Macan has managed to look fresh throughout its life cycle, and due to a brilliant platform from the outset, the Macan Turbo still handles better than just about all of its competitors. However, there will be issues for some. Those touch-sensitive buttons on the center console can be a distraction, and that miserly cargo volume rating doesn't do the Macan Turbo any favors. The lack of Android Auto for yet another year is also a frustration. Nevertheless, there are few cars that can handle and perform this well, let alone lofty crossovers. When it comes to prestige, there's also still nothing quite like a Porsche badge. It has its flaws, but for those who want the ultimate drive in a vehicle of this size, nothing else will do.

Since there's just one configuration on offer, you'll have to take a look at the standard features and available options to decide what you're happy with and what you feel needs upgrading. That said, we feel that the addition of the Premium Package Plus bundle is good value, as it enhances the luxury of the car while simultaneously bolstering safety. We'd skip past the Sport Chrono package, as this SUV is almost too quick already, and instead consider using that money on something more enjoyable every day - adaptive air suspension springs to mind.

Sometimes, your greatest competition is yourself. If we're being very traditional and very practical, a performance-enhanced SUV is still a ridiculous idea. You're paying extra for a vehicle that you can't fully exploit on the road and that you'll likely never take to a track. If your thinking follows this path, the regular Macan may be a better fit for you. With a base price over $30,000 lower than that of the Macan Turbo, the regular model offers just as much space (which isn't a lot), and very much the same level of style, sophistication, and quality. You also have access to many of the same features while living with engine choices that are more frugal. In addition, you still have the option of the GTS model with outstanding handling, racy cabin adornments, and just a little less power. We'd opt for the Macan GTS.

As cool as the Macan Turbo is, it wouldn't exist if not for the overwhelming success of the Cayenne. Despite being a bigger vehicle, you can have a Cayenne for less, with the base variant starting at $67,500. Granted, you only get 335 hp from the base model's 3.0-liter V6 turbo, but you get a lot more car too. In addition, the existence of the Cayenne S with its Macan Turbo-shared engine and output for roughly the same money is very tempting. It won't be as quick thanks to its increased weight, but you do get a usable 27.2 cubic-foot cargo area, enough space in the back for adults to sit comfortably, and a massive 12.3-inch infotainment display. Considering that the Cayenne will be more practical and almost as fun to drive, we'd go for the bigger choice here.