Porsche Macan S - Power Lines

In spite of misgivings about bulky SUVs, Grace Ma takes the new Porsche Macan S to the Australian countryside and finds herself converted

I like my machines lean and sleek, especially the ones that take me places. On those specs alone, it’s a slim chance that a SUV would cruise to the top of my preferred car list. Then the Porsche Macan S came along, and boy, did it bend my rules.

The pairing may sound somewhat oxymoronic at first, and indeed, the German sports-car marque did ruffle purist feathers when it debuted its first SUV, the Cayenne, in 2001. It turned out to be one of the best business decisions ever. The Cayenne was a smashing commercial success that upended the common utilitarian perception of utility vehicles and propelled Porsche to a market leader. Thanks to substantial global profits gleaned in this category, supercars such as the 918 Spyder continues to be a possibility.

The launch of the Macan in 2014 sped the marque to a new high. The tiger (Macan’s loosely translated name in Bahasa Indonesia) enjoyed roaring sales from day one, and has sold more than 400,000 units to date. Three in 10 Porsches sold are Macans, making it the bestselling model in Asia-Pacific.

And I find out why on a crisp autumn day in Victoria, Australia, when I take the new Macan S for a spin on a scenic route that stretched and wound north of Melbourne towards Flowerdale Estate and the vineyards of Michelton Wines.