I actually just drove my dad's loaner car today, a 2018 Macan. It was a base model and the only options were a pano sunroof, lane keep assist, parking assist, $200 upgrade wheels, and beige suede/leather interior. Final MSRP was $55k.
It had the 2.0T. Acceleration was very good from a stop, but on the freeway I actually considered it slow (and I drive a Prius). The turbo makes a big difference going 0-40 mph, but going 70 MPH and passing someone takes a while. I didn't expect it to be a rocket because it is a 4 cylinder, but my son's Mazda3 feels quicker when passing on the freeway. Shifts were almost imperceptible with the 7 speed PDK. MPG numbers were 20/25, not great, but just bad for a 4 cylinder. Overall, I would get the Macan S for the more powerful engine. The 2.0T gives you the less appealing sound of a 4 cylinder, too. All the other German brands are going with 4 banger turbos, so I guess this one is not much different.
It handles very well for an SUV as expected and didn't feel tall and narrow. There is no way a Buick handles as well or better than this, sorry to disappoint everyone. In fact, there is probably no SUV in the class that handles better. At the end of your CR article Norm it says, "The takeaway? The Macan is the most agile SUV we've tested, albeit one with a quirk in our avoidance-maneuver test." I like cars that handle well, and I don't diss the handling on cars because they act weird or have a lower speed in an avoidance maneuver. I don't steer like that on my commute to work or when I turn into a mall parking lot. I steer like that for maybe 5 seconds in my entire life when I am avoiding an accident.
The thing that shocked me most about the car was the ride comfort. The Macan was agile and still provided a very comfortable ride. I would consider it on par with my Prius for ride comfort and the handling close to a Mazda3, which are both high praises. This was riding on 18"s, not the 21"s. The cabin was quiet, too.
The interior is very high quality. Leather covers almost everything and feels on par or above the others in the segment. The infotainment system had a quick response time. The seats were pretty comfortable, though other Porsche seats I have sat in were better. The backseat was shockingly roomy and has it's own auto climate control and 2 USB ports. The trunk is very small for an SUV, but they give you a power trunk standard. Not standard is push button start!
I have not driven many SUVs, but I felt the driving position was lower than a RAV4 and ease of access and exit was harder IMO than a RAV4 because of the side seat bolsters. This should be expected before buying.
I didn't think I was going to like it, but I liked it more than my brother in law's Cayenne GTS because it is much more fun to drive. I'd give it a 9/10. You feel special when you own a Porsche as opposed to a Mercedes or BMW, so I think the $47k starting price is well worth it.
