The Porsche Macan GTS: When a CUV finally makes total sense

SUV CROSSOVERS OR CUVs; the debate will always rage whether they're wholly necessary or any good. Barring a few decent models, we're never huge fans, believeing they are predominantly aimed at drivers who crave the merely feel of having something bigger under their control. Yet aside from height, they usually offer no more power, protection or even off-road capabilities than a regular saloon. They all tend to look the same too. Much like the Kardashian family, more importance is placed on surface rather than substance.
And then we come to this week's ride, the Porsche Macan GTS. Introduced in 2014 to snag a piece of the lucrative CUV segment it is undoubtedly a crossover. Much like the VW Tiguan is to the Touareg, it is designed to be a smaller Cayenne and was in fact called the Cajun (a portmanteau of Cayenne Junior) during design. But, after all is said and done we can't help but love it.
For a reason we can only attribute to those design boffins in Stuttgart, its styling is very appealing. And this GTS version drives as good as it looks as well.
The standout element doesn't happen to be  three-litre V6 bitturbo engine producing a top speed of 256km/h, nor is it the sports exhaust you can engage at the flick of a button creating a racket that, when accelerating 0-100km/h in five seconds (optional Sport Chrono package), would give Thor a sore head in the morning. No, it's actually the drive quality and cornering. If this car were on rails it somehow wouldn't turn as smoothly as this Macan. Like guiding a cloud around a bend, the steering is so light and precise you're likely to find yourself try and catch it out. But you won't.
Taking into account this is a large-ish vehicle that can easily fit five people in sublime luxury - we liked the mix of leather and velvety fabric on the seats - as well as upwards of 12 bags of shopping, we were understandably impressed.
Specs
Starting price: Dhs292,400
Model tested: Dhs363,940
0-100km/h: 5.2 seconds (standard model)
Top speed: 256km/h
david@khaleejtimes.com