The 2023 Porsche Macan T represents a handling upgrade over the base Macan, but its turbo-4 engine doesn’t mesh with the handling’s promise.
I spent a morning with the Macan T around Los Angeles to see how these changes shake out on the same canyon roads where I tested thelast fall. The vehicle I drove was a European-spec model with a 2022 model year designation, but we won’t get the Macan T in the U.S. until the 2023 model year. Otherwise, the equipment on the two models is analogous.Porsche positions the Macan T between the base Macan and the sporty Macan S, and fits it with the former's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4.
Two big dynamic upgrades over the base Macan consist of standard adaptive dampers and traction control re-tuned with a greater rear bias. Buyers also have the option to choose an air suspension that also adds stiffer anti-roll bars specific to the model. Porsche's Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus system, designed to apply extra braking force on the inside rear wheel during cornering, is also available.
In the corners, the Macan T feels agile in the nose, especially with the suspension stiffened up in its Sport setting. The steering feel is as good as you’ll find in any crossover with lots of feel and sharp responses. The suspension controls body roll well in corners and keeps the Macan T flat during hard braking.While the Macan T is a clear handling upgrade over the base Macan, it’s missing one thing from the Macan GTS that I wish it had: better rubber.
Upgrading the handling makes the engine feel like it has been left behind. This is less of a problem in the 911 T and 718 Boxster/Cayman T , because those are both much lighter than the Macan T’s 4,191 lb. The Macan T has a 15.9:1 weight-to-hp ratio, while in the 718 Boxster T that’s just 10.4:1 with the automatic transmission.
This was also the first time I’ve had some disagreements with Porsche’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. It wouldn’t hold gears on its own long enough to keep the engine high up in the rev range . I’d try to use the paddles to hold a gear temporarily, but it transitioned back to standard drive and upshifted mid-corner on multiple occasions. The manual mode button mounted on the steering wheel was a necessity on the hilly canyon road to maintain momentum.
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