Is the sportier Porsche Macan T clever or pointless?

Porsche sold 88,362 Macans last year. That’s more than twice as many 911s Porsche shifted in 2021, even though the Macan is ancient. It’s still the best-selling Porsche and thus, there’s space for another one.

Meet the Porsche Macan T; a moniker traditionally stuck on its sports cars to denote ‘Touring’ but now applied to a small SUV. Hmm, what will the die-hard purists say?

It squeezes in between the entry-level Macan With No Suffix, and the Macan S. The GTS still heads up the range with its 2.9-litre turbo V6, whereas this T goes about its business with the same four-cylinder turbo you’ll find in a Golf R (and the No Suffix), albeit with a Porsche tune.

Indeed, Porsche tells us this engine alleviates 58.8kg of weight from the front axle versus the bigger V6, for sharper cornering. It’s not comically slow for a Porsche: 0-62mph takes 6.2s – 1.4s slower than the S, but 0.2 tenths quicker than the No Suffix – while top speed sits at 144mph.

Gains are made in the chassis. It’s 15mm lower than that entry-entry-level Macan, and sits on steel sprung suspension together with Porsche’s very good active suspension management system (PASM). The front anti-roll bars are stiffer, the traction control has been tweaked with a rear bias and there’s the option of adaptive air suspension and torque vectoring. So the T should be a lil' bit sportier than a boggo Macan.

There are a few visual clues for the Macan T. Things like a big badge that says ‘Macan T’, along with gloss black window trims and “sports” tailpipes, and metallic grey elements like the mirrors, side blades, roof spoiler and rear logos. Wheels come via the Macan S, mind: 20in dark titanium items.

There are new patterns and upholstery inside, some contrast stitching, a multifunction ‘GT’ steering wheel and the all-important stopwatch.

However, prices kick off at £53,970 in the UK, which isn’t very far at all off the £54,630 starting price of a Macan S…