The Cheapest New Porsche Comes With A Few Sacrifices
Porsche doesn’t really do “cheap”. From minor optional extras to the MSRP of a new model, there is always a premium to pay to own a model from one of the world’s most desirable automakers. Even the cheapest Porsche model on sale in America can’t be called affordable in any way. As we’ll see here, it is more expensive than all its major rivals. But it’s also the easiest way into new Porsche ownership, and for many, that privilege will be enough. Here’s a breakdown of what you get in Porsche’s cheapest new model.
The Cheapest New Porsche Is The Macan
Porsche
The base Porsche Macan has a starting price of $63,100, making it the brand’s most affordable model. Slotting into the compact luxury crossover segment, the Macan goes up against rivals like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.
Being a Porsche, the Macan is more expensive than all of them, despite not being class-leading in every area. Porsche also said it will not be moving production to the USA to mitigate the effect of tariffs, suggesting that prices of its models can be expected to rise even further. There is also an electric Macan that, surprisingly, makes up almost half of all Macan sales, but that will cost at least $75,300.
So, is the most affordable Porsche Macan worth it, or are you better off with a used Cayenne from a class above? Let’s find out.
Design: Sportier Than The Average Crossover
Porsche
Porsche
Porsche
The least expensive Porsche is a good-looking, sporty crossover. It appears to hug the road with its low-slung stance, and has a coupe-like sloping roofline at the back. The resemblance to the Cayenne is obvious, and that’s no bad thing.
The following exterior features are standard on the Macan:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Power tailgate
- LED headlights with cornering function
- High gloss black spoiler
The first sign of Porsche’s stinginess is in the color palette, with only black and white being standard. The cheapest premium colors are $690 each, and a Paint to Sample option goes all the way up to $13,140.
Porsche offers a near-endless array of exterior upgrades, from striking wheels to noise-insulating glass, puddle light projectors, various decals and logos, and full packages. These can quickly see the total MSRP hit $70k.
Interior: High-Tech, But The Best Features Cost Extra
Porsche
Porsche
Sitting in the Macan sets you up for a sporty drive, as it doesn’t have the top-heavy feel of many other crossovers. The dashboard wraps around the driver appealingly, with all key functions within easy reach. Quality levels are reasonable, but not amazing for the price. However, typical Porsche details like the center tachometer remind one that this SUV comes from the same family that produces the 911.
Grey or black leather interiors are standard, and like the exterior, every other color or material upgrade costs extra. The fanciest upholstery options go for almost $6k, and the seats can be upgraded to offer more adjustability, too.
These are the standard Macan interior features:
- Eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats
- Three-zone automatic climate control
- Eight-speaker sound system
- Wireless device charging
- Apple CarPlay
- Adaptive cruise control
- Front/rear parking sensors
- 10.9-inch touchscreen
Although that’s a fair selection of features, you can get a similar spec in the Mercedes-Benz GLC, which is over $10k cheaper. For instance, the standard GLC has a more modern and larger 11.9-inch touchscreen that includes Android Auto, which the Macan doesn’t have. A surround-view camera plus lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist are $2,000 on the Porsche, whereas the GLC has access to a suite of 15 advanced driver-assistance features for less. We could make similar comparisons with the X3, which can be specified with many advanced features for the price of a basic Macan.
Below-average rear-seat space and just 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space are another two sacrifices if you choose a Macan.
Performance: As Quick As Rivals, But Better To Drive
Porsche
The cheapest Macan gets you a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it’s a lively powertrain that gets the Macan from 0-60 mph in exactly six seconds. That matches the BMW X3, but the Macan is also available with the $1,220 Sport Chrono Package that gets the 0-60 mph sprint down to 5.8 seconds.
Numbers aside, the Porsche is one of the best SUVs to drive in this segment. The dual-clutch transmission shifts quickly, and that’s complemented by accurate steering with decent feedback. It’s not harsh, either, and will happily cruise along the freeway for hours without disrupting occupants.
An adaptive air suspension, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, and a sport exhaust system are all available to further enhance the drive of this Porsche crossover.
How Much Is A Fully Loaded Porsche Macan?
Porsche
Porsche
Porsche
A ridiculous amount of money can be spent on the base Macan, with Porsche offering a dizzying number of expensive options. We managed to spec the model above for a total of $120,440 – the optional extras ($55,090) nearly matched the car’s base price.
Some of the most expensive add-ons included Gold Bronze Metallic from the Paint to Sample collection ($13,140), 21-inch exclusive wheels ($4,850), the deviated stitching interior pack ($4,730), and the Burmester high-end sound system ($5,690).
It’s nonsensical to spend this much on a base Macan, considering that you can get a Cayenne GTS with a 4.0-liter V8 for similar money.
Other Affordable Porsche Models
If you’re looking for a cheap Porsche for sale but don’t want to spend six figures, here are two other options.
Porsche 718 Cayman ($72,800)
Porsche
A completely different prospect to the Macan, the base 718 Cayman is a razor-sharp sports coupe. Seating just two, it’s not a practical car, but it has the agility and feedback that few modern sports cars can match. A 300-hp engine will get the base Cayman to 60 in 4.7 seconds. The Cayman won’t be around in its current form for much longer, so get one while you can.
Porsche 718 Boxster ($74,900)
Porsche
Everything we said about the fantastic Cayman applies to the Boxster, but here, you can the duality of an open-top convertible. The Boxster matches the Cayman’s performance and specification level, and is equally rewarding to drive. Like the base Macan, several options will quickly send the price soaring into 911 territory.
Summary: There’s No Such Thing As A Cheap Porsche
The base Porsche Macan may officially be the cheapest Porsche, but it’s still expensive in its segment. We expect very few, if any, Macans to leave the factory without a handful of options. And, honestly, it needs some extras to match the specs of its rivals.
The cheapest Macan delivers a class-leading driving experience and the prestige of the Porsche badge, but it’s not a sensible purchase. If you can live with the fact that you’re paying much more to get a Porsche, go for it.
About the author
Karl Furlong
Senior Editor, Autoblog