Porsche SUV Lease – Macan vs Cayenne

porsche cayan vs macan

Looking to lease a sporty SUV?

Look no further than Porsche’s Macan and Cayenne. These vehicles reimagined the luxury performance SUV niche.

Every Porsche is a sports car in its roots and there are no better examples than the compact Macan and mid-size Cayenne. They go fast on the pavement and fair far beyond expected at the trail.

You get impeccable performance in a gorgeous luxury package. Porsche doesn’t cheap out. No sir, behind the door awaits a world of opulence – fine leather, solid aluminum and state of the art technology.

But how do you choose whether to lease the Macan or Cayenne? Stick with us and by the end of this article, you’d have made up your choice.

Porsche Macan Lease

The Macan is Porsche’s junior performance SUV.

It’s a gorgeous vehicle, featuring a clean silhouette and the same elegant design language we’re used to seeing from Porsche.

At the front, Porsche Macan communicates its athletic intentions. The heavily curved clamshell hood and aggressive bumper infuse you with confidence. It feels smaller than it actually is thanks to its coupe-like sloped roof and rounded rear end

The Macan looks properly aggressive, but not overdone.

The model year 2019 facelift cleaned up the front and rear ends, adding standard LED lights, a full-width brake light at the back and numerous interior upgrades.

Technology

From 2019, the Macan comes with the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system. It features a large 10.9-inch touchscreen display with additional configurable screens in the driver’s instrument cluster. The right one is very handy for displaying your navigation or trip information as you drive around.

All new Macan SUVs come equipped with multi zone climate control  and lane departure warning. All models have the option of upgrading to a and BOSE Surround Sound System as well, it comes standard in the Macan Turbo.

Apple CarPlay comes standard, though there’s no Android Auto.

The only perceivable drawback is the center console. It is literally smothered in buttons and controls. There are no fewer than 25 individual physical buttons, excluding the gear selector, which can be overwhelming and looks somewhat outdated.

Performance

As far as crossovers go, the Macan is a true performance vehicle. You can have a lot of fun on the twisties and still keep the SUV practicality.

The base model comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine, which produces 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.

Macan S comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, with a respectable 348 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. The hot V turbocharger configuration secures a sharp throttle response and low turbo lag.

The Macan GTS adds a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.

And finally, there is the range-topping Macan Turbo. With 434 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque available at just 1,800 RPM, the Macan Turbo is properly quick for a 4,000+ lbs SUV.

Acceleration time is 4.3 seconds and goes down to 4.1 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package. The last one adds a Launch Control and new programming to the transmission.

Speaking of transmission, every Macan comes with a PDK dual-clutch 7-speed transmission. This is Porsche’s premier performance gearbox. It offers lighting quick shifts, improved power delivery, and better fuel economy, averaging 21 mpg.

In terms of handling, the Macan does a wonderful job of masking its weight and center of gravity. Overall, the SUV feels planted and gives you confidence in the corners. The optional air suspension is highly recommended which negates much of the rocking and rolling motion through its self-leveling function.

Practicality

Not many owners will take their luxury SUV to a muddy forest trail or take advantage of the 4,409lb towing capacity. But for those interested, be sure that your Macan is fully prepared to deliver you to your destination.

Porsche’s proprietary all-wheel-drive system does a wonderful job of dynamically balancing torque to each wheel, maintaining maximum traction on any terrain.

A host of sensors and electronic systems work in conjunction to control braking, stability, and traction control.

In terms of daily practicality, the Macan has decent room for four adults in both the rear and front seats, so long as the rear passengers are not taller than 6 feet 3 inches.

The rear seats fold easily and the hatch can automatically open via a button under the rear wiper or a super fancy wave with your foot under the bumper. Cargo space is 17.6 cubic feet with the seats up.

Overall, the Porsche Macan is a great daily driver with plenty of performance and decent practicality.

Porsche Macan Lease Price

Depending on the model, the Porsche Macan has a base price from the dealership between $50,900 up to $83,600.

However, you can lease one for considerably less. A properly optioned 2020 Porsche Macan S can be yours for $900 per month with a lease term of 36 months. This includes a down payment of $10,000 and an annual mileage cap of 10,000 miles.

Porsche Cayenne Lease

The Cayenne is the original Porsche SUV.

Dimension-wise, it’s slightly bigger than the Macan, but it feels more massive. For a start, it’s got more than 500 lbs of options and features on top of the junior model.

The Cayenne is imposing with strong lines, but keeping true to the clean and graceful Porsche design.

For 2019, Porsche unveiled the third generation Cayenne together with a Cayenne Coupe variant, bringing the Macan sporty aesthetic to its bigger brother.

Technology

The third-generation Cayenne is absolutely loaded with tech and safety features.

Standard with the Cayenne comes the newest version of PCM infotainment system. It’s faster and more responsive than the one offered in the Macan.

Furthermore, there’s a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen display as well as two configurable displays in the driver’s instrument cluster. These are almost twice as big as the ones found in the Macan.

Where the Cayenne shines bright is the magnificent center console. A beautiful touchscreen control panel replaces almost every physical button found in the Macan. It looks brilliant with its piano black finish, beautiful icons, lights and buttons that offer tactile feedback, helping you dial in your settings even as you’re driving.

But we’re just getting started. There is a full range of digital assistants to pick from including:

  • Adaptive cruise control which reads speed limits and road gradients
  • Lane departure warning and lane change assist with blindspot detection
  • Emergency brake assist
  • Parking sensors
  • Park assist with 360 degree camera
  • Dynamic headlights which illuminate your corners and don’t blind other drivers
  • Infrared pedestrian and wildlife detection

This is just some of the cream on top of an ocean of technology waiting for you in the Cayenne.

Performance

Think the Macan is fast? Well, the Cayenne is faster.

The “slowest” Cayenne base engine is already on par with the Macan S, using the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.

The E-hybrid model adds an electric motor supplying a further 134 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne E-hybrid already accelerates as quickly as the Macan Turbo at 4.7 seconds for 0 to 60 mph sprint.

There’s also the Cayenne S with a twin-turbo V6. However, the real kicker is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine in the upper models. The GTS offers 453 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque.

The Cayenne Turbo produces a whopping 541 hp and 567 lb-ft on tap and launches to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds.

And if that’s not quick enough for you, the Cayenne Turbo S E-hybrid adds the electric motor for a total of 670 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque.

Acceleration is just 3.6 seconds…for a 4,500+ lbs SUV. And if you think it can only go in a straight line, you’re badly mistaken.

Despite its mass and size, the Cayenne moves like a true sports car. While both the Macan and Cayenne both have powerful engines, the Cayenne offers

Thanks to its Dynamic Chassis Control, Active Suspension Management, Adaptive Air Suspension and Rear-wheel Steering system, the Cayenne slingshots out of corners like no other SUV you’ve experienced. There’s even active aerodynamics!

Even though it doesn’t have the dual-clutch transmission of the Macan, the 8-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox is properly fast on the road and off of it.

Practicality

For more than a decade, the Cayenne has proven Porsche can do off-roading and keep up with the likes of Jeep Wranglers and Toyota 4Runners out there.

Locking differentials, active anti-roll bars and dynamic suspension make light work of most mud pits and rock infested trails. And there’s plenty of torque to power you through obstacles or slippery hills.

As for on-road practicality the Porsche Cayenne will do it all. There’s tonnes of space for five adults – four if you’ve got the Coupe – with plenty of comfort features to keep them occupied during a long trip.

Cargo space is 27.1 cubic feet with the seats up. Of course, that cargo volume drops down by 20% if you get any of the hybrid offerings and further if you opt for the Coupe version.

Porsche Cayenne Lease Price

All these options and features come at an eye-watering price.

The base Porsche Cayenne costs $66,800 and more than doubles by the time you reach the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe at an MSRP of $166,200 at the dealership.

However, you can lease the Cayenne significantly cheaper. Lease deals for the 2020 Porsche Cayenne S Coupe come with a monthly payment of $1,330 and a down payment of $10,000. This lease is set up for 36 months and 10,000 miles per year.

Macan vs Cayenne – Which one to choose?

The Porsche Macan is a great crossover that can do everything good. It’s sporty, fun, has sufficient space and cargo capacity and is beyond luxurious.

The Porsche Cayenne can do everything the Macan can and more. If you want the fastback styling, you can opt for the Cayenne Coupe which brings over the Macan aesthetics to Porsche’s premier SUV.

Comparing the top-tier models, the Cayenne is almost twice as expensive as the Macan. Of course, Porsche will allow you to load the Macan with every option available, but that will eliminate the price gap rather quickly.

Whichever you get, Porsche guarantees phenomenal performance, luxury and practicality.

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