2018 Porsche Macan

When shopping for the 2018 Porsche Macan, you're greeted by four trims: base, S, GTS, and Turbo. In the grand scheme of things, the Macan S delivers a great balance of luxury, performance, and drivability without burning your bank account too much.

The 2018 Porsche Macan S comes standard with a slew of features, including a 10-speaker audio system, a seven-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, a SiriusXM receiver, Bluetooth, a programmable garage door opener, automatic bi-xenon headlights, LED taillights, 18-inch wheels, tri-zone climate control, and more. In addition to its standard features, you may also find the $5,700 Premium Package Plus a nice optional upgrade.

• Model: 2018 Porsche Macan S
• Engine: 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6
• Output: 340 hp / 339 lb-ft
• Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
• Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
• MPG: 20 City / 25 Hwy
• Options: Premium Plus Package ($5,700, adaptive headlights, BOSE surround sound, auto-dimming mirrors, front and rear heated seats, 14-way power front seats, ventilated front seats, a panoramic roof, keyless entry and ignition), Navigation Module ($1,780, hard-drive-based navigation with 3D maps, route tracing dynamic route guidance, and traffic data)
• Base Price: $56,450 (including a $1,050 destination charge)
• Best Value Price: $63,930

Porsche officially perfects the performance crossover with the Macan. No matter what trim you opt for, it's zippy and handles like, well, a higher-riding Porsche. What’s more, despite carving canyons with the best of them, the 2018 Macan also rides nicely under normal driving conditions.

Every single Macan comes standard with Porsche’s famed seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which delivers precision shifts and adjusts nicely to fit the driving style. That said, this eliminates the ability to get a manual transmission, so don’t even bother asking.

Despite its small size, the 2018 Macan is far from fuel efficient. Its base four-cylinder engine turns in EPA ratings of 20 miles per gallon city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 combined. Macans with the V6 engine get even worse mileage at 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 19 combined.

The 2018 Porsche Macan’s styling is sharp and a derivative of the brand’s iconic sports cars and the Cayenne. Unfortunately, though, the Cayenne just went through a refresh, leaving the Macan as a bit of an outsider, albeit a good-looking one.

The Macan’s interior is refreshingly classic Porsche. Its styling is toned down but refined, and its array of buttons give the driver redundant access to features that are also available via its standard touchscreen. In many cases, too many buttons is a bad thing, but Porsche does it just right in the 2018 Macan.

While the front seats are roomy and very comfortable, the rear seats are tight for taller adults. The cargo area is also tighter than average with just 17.7 cubic feet of cargo room with the seats up and 53 cubes with the seats down. Also, the oddly shaped, narrow luggage compartment makes toting cargo even tougher.

The best thing the 2018 Porsche Macan has to offer is its delicate combination of power, performance, and luxury. No one does it as well as Porsche.

But it's still a Porsche, and Porsche’s are expensive. While its base price is very inviting to new buyers, the Macan can quickly shoot over six figures as you add options.

The 2018 Porsche Macan is perfect for the younger professional looking for a relatively inexpensive luxury SUV that has a little oomph behind it.

Families will find its rear seats a little too tight as the kiddos age, plus the cargo area is way too small for the entire family’s hauling needs.

The 2018 Porsche Macan is the pinnacle of crossover performance in all trims. It's the perfect blend of everything a young professional would want in their performance crossover. If kids are in the plans, though, the Macan may be better suited as a gateway vehicle to the Cayenne.