Comparison tests BMW X4 vs Porsche Macan

[ThroughandThrough]

UK's Autocar compares the dynamics, styling, and overall feel of the BMW X4 and the Porsche Macan.

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[mini_cooper4]

I simply can't choose. It depends on the car I need. Is it my daily, company, weekends, track toy or vintage car we are talking about?
Driving dynamics, styling, quality and price are always crucial to me. Efficiency is really important when it comes to my daily. Heritage too when it comes to the vintage part of my garage but I don't care that much about heritage since most will choose a 2002 or E30 M3 while my choice is E21 Alpina B6 just because it's what I like.

 

[rollo]

If price is not considered, this is a complete mismatch. Not even close.

 

[martinbo]

If price is not considered, this is a complete mismatch. Not even close.

I'm busy testing soft-roader replacements for the family vehicle. Drove the X3 LCI yesterday and it's very good. But even if the X4 drives 50% better (which it won't) it still won't come near to the Macan. That car is on a completely different plane. Mindblowing little SUV (not the drive, I'm referring to the price! - the drive itself is merely profoundly impressive) and every bit a far, far more desirable machine than the questionable X4. Macan interestingly rode just as well as the X3 in spite of having much better body control.

 

[Human]

I'm busy testing soft-roader replacements for the family vehicle. Drove the X3 LCI yesterday and it's very good. But even if the X4 drives 50% better (which it won't) it still won't come near to the Macan. That car is on a completely different plane. Mindblowing little SUV (not the drive, I'm referring to the price! - the drive itself is merely profoundly impressive) and every bit a far, far more desirable machine than the questionable X4. Macan interestingly rode just as well as the X3 in spite of having much better body control.

Thanks for that Martin. I agree, albeit I have not driven either yet and the X3 simply does not do anything great (Jack of all trades, master of none).

What matters most to you when choosing a car?

All of the mentioned choices.

 

[EnI]

I don't know why it's so hard to believe a Porsche drives more dynamically than a BMW. Nothing new here. It would be a sensation otherwise.

The problem is when an Audi, a MB, a Jaguar, a Lexus etc is more dynamic to drive than a BMW.

Porsche will always deliver a racing-like feel compared to the rivals in the same segment.

X4 is "just" an X3 with a bit more dynamics. The chassis is the same yet a bit lowered. The software is a bit more aggressively set but that's it. And the shape is more coupeish. So, X4 can't be & won't ever be much better than X3. It's not supposed to. It's not a Macan rival, it's a stylish alternative to X3.

Form more zest: wait for M40i/d, or X4M / X3M ... in the next generation. But still: it will not top the sportiest Macan, perhaps the basis version but for much higher price.

 

[Zafiro]

Somehow sport + SUV sounds so wrong in my ears.

 

[chonkoa]

I don't know why it's so hard to believe a Porsche drives more dynamically than a BMW. Nothing new here. It would be a sensation otherwise.

The problem is when an Audi, a MB, a Jaguar, a Lexus etc is more dynamic to drive than a BMW.

For the price BMW is asking for a comparable product from Porsche I find it so hard to believe the BMW isn't driving as dynamically as a Porsche. There must be a reason for asking for more money for a product. What am I paying the extra cash for?
Now I can understand if we were comparing a rear-engine configuration versus a front engine configuration

X4 is "just" an X3 with a bit more dynamics. The chassis is the same yet a bit lowered. The software is a bit more aggressively set but that's it. And the shape is more coupeish. So, X4 can't be & won't ever be much better than X3. It's not supposed to. It's not a Macan rival, it's a stylish alternative to X3.

Seriously?

 

[Bucketslash11]

i know i voted for driving dynamics as the reason why i buy a car (both are good on this field), however the X4 is simply too much niche to be attractive so it sort of remove the dynamic deciding factor for me

 

[DblPen]

How can it be more expensive than porsche? Is it because of options?

 

[martinbo]

Ja but in reality, the Macan is built upon "just" a Q5 platform. Yes, Porsche did weave their dynamics and kinematics magic through the reengineering process but it's remarkable how they have set the bar so high for sporting compact SUVs. It is a million bucks because it drives like a million bucks.* And vice versa.

* 10 ZAR = roughly 1 USD

I've only driven the Macan S, I'd like to see how the Diesel S fares with PDK.

The problem with BMW's M-Sport package is that better handling comes at a great penalty in ride comfort on public roads. I still feel that the suspension is way too firm - great for wooing jaded journos - and that the daily motoring regime is compromised. The Macan by my judgement doesn't feel anywhere near as stiff as M-Sport and yet its handling is sublime. BMW, it's time to get your mits on a Porker or two and find out how they get it so right.

 

[martinbo]

I just watched the vid - the Macan is cheaper than the BMW! Must be a UK market thing.

No contest. Seriously.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I just watched the vid - the Macan is cheaper than the BMW! Must be a UK market thing.

No contest. Seriously.

It's definitely a market thing. I keep reading how the Macan is so much more expensive than its rivals but in the UK it's not. Throw in absolutely rock solid residuals for the Macan and it's no more expensive than a Q5 or X3/X4. OK, you'll be laughed out of the Porsche showroom if you asked for a discount, where as with the Audi and BMW double digit % discounts will be handed out without even asking, but the Porsche, BMW and Audi are very closely matched price wise.

 

[SKY]

I don't know why it's so hard to believe a Porsche drives more dynamically than a BMW. Nothing new here. It would be a sensation otherwise.

The problem is when an Audi, a MB, a Jaguar, a Lexus etc is more dynamic to drive than a BMW.

Porsche will always deliver a racing-like feel compared to the rivals in the same segment.

X4 is "just" an X3 with a bit more dynamics. The chassis is the same yet a bit lowered. The software is a bit more aggressively set but that's it. And the shape is more coupeish. So, X4 can't be & won't ever be much better than X3. It's not supposed to. It's not a Macan rival, it's a stylish alternative to X3.

Form more zest: wait for M40i/d, or X4M / X3M ... in the next generation. But still: it will not top the sportiest Macan, perhaps the basis version but for much higher price.

Jeeezz, thank god someone in the know comes and say trhis loud without any marketing literature. Porsche is the sportiest german manufacturer. That´s it, I don´t think there is anything new here. I can´t stand why when a comparo like this comes out, there are BMW fans expecting the BMW to beat the Porsche. It´s like expecting a C63 AMG to have better dynamics that the equivalent M3.

 

[klier]

Jeeezz, thank god someone in the know comes and say trhis loud without any marketing literature. Porsche is the sportiest german manufacturer. That´s it, I don´t think there is anything new here. I can´t stand why when a comparo like this comes out, there are BMW fans expecting the BMW to beat the Porsche. It´s like expecting a C63 AMG to have better dynamics that the equivalent M3.

This is far too black and white.
Like @chonkoa and @martinbo pointed out, if the X4 is 'just an X3', the Macan is 'just a Q5' . BMW was in the past just as sporty as equivalent Porsche cars. And when the price is similar and the product is similar, the BMW tends to win in my book (Cayenne Turbo vs X5 M or Panny Turbo S vs M5 or Carrera vs M4)

 

[rollo]

This is far too black and white.
Like @chonkoa and @martinbo pointed out, if the X4 is 'just an X3', the Macan is 'just a Q5' . BMW was in the past just as sporty as equivalent Porsche cars. And when the price is similar and the product is similar, the BMW tends to win in my book (Cayenne Turbo vs X5 M or Panny Turbo S vs M5 or Carrera vs M4)

Define sporty? There has never been an equivalent BMW that has the steering feel of a Porsche for instance. Also, the Porsche also has sharper reflexes. Bimmers go fast but fast isn't necessarily sporty my friend. And one last thing, BMW has moved away from the ultimate driving machine DNA in their standard offerings while Porsche's models drive like Porsche's.

 

[klier]

That is true. But the steering of M3 CSL is on par with the 996 GT3, and the steering in a Panny or Cayenne is not much better than a Bimmer, if any.

 

[martinbo]

And one last thing, BMW has moved away from the ultimate driving machine DNA in their standard offerings while Porsche's models drive like Porsche's.

Y'see, ultimate driving machine DNA is a problem statement because there never was such a thing. The Ultimate Driving Machine is purely an ill-judged tag line perpetuated by BMW NA's marketing people. Such is the power of marketing and the one-dimensional level of auto-journalism (if it don't drive like race car hard it's shite) that people somehow seem to believe that BMWs pre-E90 were stiffly sprung, unyieldingly firm things to drive and this couldn't be further from the truth. Try and get yourself into an old, standard spec E46 and marvel at the good ride comfort coupled with sportier dynamics than anything else that was in its class. A sporty car that rides well isn't a mutually exclusive concept; case in point - the very Macan right here.

The opinion that BMW has somehow lost its sporting ways is about as closed-minded as you can get. The product offering has changed so much these days; clever Joe goes for a standard-spec suspension (and if he's really smart M-adaptive dampers) for driving on public roads (which BMW drivers don't?) and the boy racers go M-Sport and M Performance. That option's plenty firm enough to avert any press-lead notions of "BMW going soft" (an uninformed notion at that) and serves well to pummel your balls and shake your wife's tits off. You know what the E39 was so very much lauded for? That it rode and handled well. But was it the ultimate driving machine? Bollocks. Not even the sublime M5 was that. Sheer Driving Pleasure - that's the strap line that tells the story closest. Yeah, f$ck JOY too...

Porsches are good - and so they should given the tiny-by-comparison sales versus BMW - but they're coming down from a sports car base toward passenger vehicles. It was never this way round for BMW - they simply happen to offer more sporting derivatives in their line up than ever before. But the terrible (once) Ultimate Driving Machine paradigm is a myth in need of dispelling.

 

[mini_cooper4]

Y'see, ultimate driving machine DNA is a problem statement because there never was such a thing. The Ultimate Driving Machine is purely an ill-judged tag line perpetuated by BMW NA's marketing people. Such is the power of marketing and the one-dimensional level of auto-journalism (if it don't drive like race car hard it's shite) that people somehow seem to believe that BMWs pre-E90 were stiffly sprung, unyieldingly firm things to drive and this couldn't be further from the truth. Try and get yourself into an old, standard spec E46 and marvel at the good ride comfort coupled with sportier dynamics than anything else that was in its class. A sporty car that rides well isn't a mutually exclusive concept; case in point - the very Macan right here.

The opinion that BMW has somehow lost its sporting ways is about as closed-minded as you can get. The product offering has changed so much these days; clever Joe goes for a standard-spec suspension (and if he's really smart M-adaptive dampers) for driving on public roads (which BMW drivers don't?) and the boy racers go M-Sport and M Performance. That option's plenty firm enough to avert any press-lead notions of "BMW going soft" (an uninformed notion at that) and serves well to pummel your balls and shake your wife's tits off. You know what the E39 was so very much lauded for? That it rode and handled well. But was it the ultimate driving machine? Bollocks. Not even the sublime M5 was that. Sheer Driving Pleasure - that's the strap line that tells the story closest. Yeah, f$ck JOY too...

Porsches are good - and so they should given the tiny-by-comparison sales versus BMW - but they're coming down from a sports car base toward passenger vehicles. It was never this way round for BMW - they simply happen to offer more sporting derivatives in their line up than ever before. But the terrible (once) Ultimate Driving Machine paradigm is a myth in need of dispelling.

Damn I'm starting to like BMW again! You are a salesman!

 

[rollo]

Y'see, ultimate driving machine DNA is a problem statement because there never was such a thing. The Ultimate Driving Machine is purely an ill-judged tag line perpetuated by BMW NA's marketing people. Such is the power of marketing and the one-dimensional level of auto-journalism (if it don't drive like race car hard it's shite) that people somehow seem to believe that BMWs pre-E90 were stiffly sprung, unyieldingly firm things to drive and this couldn't be further from the truth. Try and get yourself into an old, standard spec E46 and marvel at the good ride comfort coupled with sportier dynamics than anything else that was in its class. A sporty car that rides well isn't a mutually exclusive concept; case in point - the very Macan right here.

The opinion that BMW has somehow lost its sporting ways is about as closed-minded as you can get. The product offering has changed so much these days; clever Joe goes for a standard-spec suspension (and if he's really smart M-adaptive dampers) for driving on public roads (which BMW drivers don't?) and the boy racers go M-Sport and M Performance. That option's plenty firm enough to avert any press-lead notions of "BMW going soft" (an uninformed notion at that) and serves well to pummel your balls and shake your wife's tits off. You know what the E39 was so very much lauded for? That it rode and handled well. But was it the ultimate driving machine? Bollocks. Not even the sublime M5 was that. Sheer Driving Pleasure - that's the strap line that tells the story closest. Yeah, f$ck JOY too...

Porsches are good - and so they should given the tiny-by-comparison sales versus BMW - but they're coming down from a sports car base toward passenger vehicles. It was never this way round for BMW - they simply happen to offer more sporting derivatives in their line up than ever before. But the terrible (once) Ultimate Driving Machine paradigm is a myth in need of dispelling.

I have owned 6 BMW's (3 and 5 series) in a row and I can tell you unequivocally that they have changed through the years quite a bit, regardless of options selected. My current 550i has all the sport options and it doesn't come close to earlier models in terms of feel. And that is in any mode, extra comfort, comfort, sport or sport plus. The steering is void of any feel and the suspension is either choppy or too soft depending on setting.

Call it what you will but the DNA has definitely been compromised. If that means they sell more cars, so be it. But they are no where near as sporty and fun to drive as they once were.