PORSCHE'S MACAN REMAINS A BENCHMARK small SUV. It's not a car to flutter the hearts of evo readers, nor will it be the first choice for one of those drives we all lock away to be resurfaced when someone asks why driving matters. But like Alfa Romeo's Stelvio it is a vehicle that's clearly been engineered and developed by those prepared to go the extra mile and create a car worthy of the heritage its badge carries.
Even in its twilight years - the Macan was launched nine years ago and has nearly 12 months to go before its all-electric replacement arrives - it still sets the benchmark for ride and handling, body control and feedback, and feeling like a Porsche hot hatch rather than a flat-footed crossover. As a daily to accompany something more exciting in the garage, a Macan is a wise choice.
Although, it does depend on which Macan we're discussing. Anything with a six-cylinder turbo engine will see you right; they're all seven-speed PDK equipped but the mix works well and the pace and performance match the expectations. We'd go for a GTS but an S is just fine, too. We wouldn't walk on by a used diesel either. Which leaves the four-cylinder petrol models.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Evo UK.
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This story is from the March 2023 edition of Evo UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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BEST BUYS BMW M CARS
THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
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