The ABS system is the most refined and discreet I’ve yet used this winter, with virtually no noise, no fuss, no dramatic vibrations through the vehicle, and no indication that they were doing anything other than a slight buzz at the pedal. The relatively high-up driving position sits nicely between “confident view of the road ahead” and “car-like enough that you don’t feel like you’re driving a tank”. The steering balances its quick ratio and heavy effort well, making it easy to keep the Macan stable on its line when you’re driving at speed, carefully, on a snow-covered highway.

And, as it is on the track, on bare highways and anywhere else, Macan is one of those machines that talks to you. You feel the wheels losing traction as it happens. Drivers who prefer to be informed by their vehicle, and involved actively in what’s happening between the tires and the road, will love it. Those after a compact crossover with an inflated feel of weight and heaviness for added winter confidence may not.

Truly, thanks to proven Porsche technologies and the authentic athleticism dialed into the thing, Macan might be the best value on the road in a sports crossover today – and it loses nothing moving from summer to winter.

Mind you, a few compromises are posed. Up-level features are applied sparingly to the standard equipment list and once added in they start boosting the Macan’s price quickly. If you’re after performance bang for the buck first and foremost you’ll be OK with this. If you’re after feature content bang for the buck you may not be.

Macan isn’t a big crossover either: it’ll haul two couples off for a weekend road trip, or to the slopes, with ease – though the cargo space loses some space towards the ceiling (thank the steeply-raked tailgate), and front seat space is adequate, not generous. Ditto rear seat space. It’s a sporty snugness, not tight for your 5’11, 220 lb driver, but not a machine you’ll likely be stretching out in.

Complaints? I longed for a set of xenon headlamps at this price point, though my tested world-class performer drove behind old-school halogen after dark instead. Lighting output is adequate at best, and no washer system was included. Further, Macan’s cabin tightens up quickly if you’re wearing heavy winter clothing, and the suede seat inserts are grippy – a good thing for cornering at speed, but less so for slipping in and out with ease.

Starting at $54,300, this Macan is the entry-point to the Porsche brand. And where its big bro, the Cayenne, was initially conceived to keep 911 and Boxster owners in the family when they needed a luxury ute, this Macan, with an authentic Porsche look and feel, will work from the other side of the market: attracting and developing driving enthusiasts into future ownership of pricier Porsches.

Warranty:
4 years/80,000 km; 4 years/80,000 km powertrain; 12 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 4 years/80,000 km 24-hour roadside assistance

Competitors:
Audi Q5 / SQ5
BMW X3 / X4
Infiniti QX50
Lexus NX
Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG

When authentic world-class performance is a higher priority in a luxury sports crossover than generous feature content, the Macan S should be on the top of your ‘to test drive’ list.

Pricing: 2015 Porsche Macan S
Base price: $54,300
Options: Agate Grey Metallic ($790), Panoramic Roof ($1,910), Park Assist ($1,110), 19-inch wheels ($1,440), Infotainment Package ($3,420)
Freight: $1,115
A/C tax: $100
As tested: $64,185

Crash Test Results:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

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