So Mrs Hawk has bought a new car .....

[ScottH]

Impressive dedication to strip it down that much

 

[tokyomb]

[...] Can’t see past a Macan S though. For a midsize SUV, I personally believe they’re head and shoulders above the rest. Mainly for driving dynamics, handling and build quality. Not driven a Volvo XC60, but badge snobbery would rule it out I think. Some may say that’s wrong (on a Maserati forum ) but I believe there’s a very close correlation between badge snobbery and retained value/depreciation. I would love suggestions from people who have experience of driving any others if there’s anything out there better than a Macan S sub £50k.

My wife chose between the Macan S and the Audi RS Q3 when she made her last purchase decision. Mainly on the grounds she was concerned about parking a Porsche in one of the less salubrious parts of Greater Manchester when she went to visit a friend there. The Audi's proved an OK drive, possibly not the most involving, and certainly not the most fuel efficient. I think were she making the decision again she would now go Porsche. Living in a rural area with some quite narrow lanes, one of the other deciding factors was overall width. Many of the smaller SUVs are quite wide - the Audi is surprisingly one of the narrower of them.

 

[Hawk13]

My wife chose between the Macan S and the Audi RS Q3

Interesting comparison .... I see the Q5 as being more a competitor to the Macan.

In my wife's choice the Q3 was ruled out very quickly due to not being big enough.

 

[Strad]

I like the Audi’s, everyone likes an Audi but how many are there….? and they all look the same! Didn’t even consider the Macan as assumed servicing would be Maser territory.
Another plus point for the Volvo is that a few months into ownership, I’m in the States and get a call from my oldest to say Mum’s had a car crash. Not a nice call to receive and worse when you can’t rush home but luckily all was ok because of the Volvo safety standards. A Nissan Prius driver was on her side of the road on a bend so they had a full head on crash. In a 30 mph zone and no doubt they both braked hard but the Prius guy was in a bad way with his front bumper in his windscreen so road closed, lots of blue flashing lights and off to hospital for him. My wife and youngest daughter were shaken but absolutely fine and the Volvo just had a new grill, bumper etc. Big bill (for his Ins co) but no structural damage. The loan car was a Lexus mid-sized SUV and wasn’t a patch on the build quality of the Inscription spec Volvo.

 

[Gazcw]

I like the Audi’s, everyone likes an Audi but how many are there….? and they all look the same! Didn’t even consider the Macan as assumed servicing would be Maser territory.
Another plus point for the Volvo is that a few months into ownership, I’m in the States and get a call from my oldest to say Mum’s had a car crash. Not a nice call to receive and worse when you can’t rush home but luckily all was ok because of the Volvo safety standards. A Nissan Prius driver was on her side of the road on a bend so they had a full head on crash. In a 30 mph zone and no doubt they both braked hard but the Prius guy was in a bad way with his front bumper in his windscreen so road closed, lots of blue flashing lights and off to hospital for him. My wife and youngest daughter were shaken but absolutely fine and the Volvo just had a new grill, bumper etc. Big bill (for his Ins co) but no structural damage. The loan car was a Lexus mid-sized SUV and wasn’t a patch on the build quality of the Inscription spec Volvo.

There is something to be said for solidly built motors. Some of the plastic stuff out there makes me wonder how they pass the ratings let alone get 5 stars.

 

[CatmanV2]

There is something to be said for solidly built motors. Some of the plastic stuff out there makes me wonder how they pass the ratings let alone get 5 stars.

Because they don't kill the pedestrians....

C

 

[tokyomb]

Interesting comparison .... I see the Q5 as being more a competitor to the Macan.

Probably right, if you look at length (where it is 30cm longer than the Q3). Height and width-wise the Macan comes somewhere between the Q3 and Q5 (but is a couple of cm longer than even the Q5).

 

[Gazcw]

Because they don't kill the pedestrians....

C

Expendable. I am inside that's all that counts

 

[Simon1963]

Thanks @Hawk13 for sharing, enjoyed the process of elimination. We have a similar discussion every time Mrs G wants to change her car. Can’t see past a Macan S though. For a midsize SUV, I personally believe they’re head and shoulders above the rest. Mainly for driving dynamics, handling and build quality. Not driven a Volvo XC60, but badge snobbery would rule it out I think. Some may say that’s wrong (on a Maserati forum ) but I believe there’s a very close correlation between badge snobbery and retained value/depreciation. I would love suggestions from people who have experience of driving any others if there’s anything out there better than a Macan S sub £50k.

I’d agree with you there Dicky. My son is also looking at the Macan S and for the price nothing comes near it.

 

[mjheathcote]

Probably right, if you look at length (where it is 30cm longer than the Q3). Height and width-wise the Macan comes somewhere between the Q3 and Q5 (but is a couple of cm longer than even the Q5).

The Macan is a Q5, or the Q5 is a Macan, depending on whether you speak to the Audi or Porsche dealer. They are the same floor pan and suspensions, the gen 2 Macan even the same petrol engines now.

 

[gb-gta]

Think I go for a stelvio myself, the 2020 on ones have some nicer quality materials inside now. XC60 is excellent though, especially the interior. Good value too.
Macan is good and they hold their money really well, but I’d want to have a minimum 3.0 petrol myself, but they are very pricey. Anything less in a Porsche is an overpriced q5 to me...

 

[outrun]

I have a Macan S and did have an Audi Q3 S-line. There is no comparison, the Porsche is much better in every way.

I was a Volvo man previously, with the XC60 and XC90 for many years (now the old shape ones). My Mum had a v40 too which did well in a major collision which really protected her. Luckily, we haven’t tested the Macan or Q3 but I suspect the Macan would be better. I did drive a Q5 too when changing but the Porsche wiped the floor with it.

 

[dickygrace]

An SQ5 is a very good car, but interior is very ‘Audi’. That was all that ruled it out for us.

 

[P R]

Think I go for a stelvio myself, the 2020 on ones have some nicer quality materials inside now. XC60 is excellent though, especially the interior. Good value too.
Macan is good and they hold their money really well, but I’d want to have a minimum 3.0 petrol myself, but they are very pricey. Anything less in a Porsche is an overpriced q5 to me...

Me too on the Stelvio. My father has just got himself a really nice fully loaded diesel. Tested the 280 petrol aswell. Very nicely put together and handle very well. This is mainly down to their weight (think I read that they are quarter of a ton lighter than the X3). Performance of the 280 petrol is great, 5.7 to 60, and the diesel isnt that far behind at 6.5. Couple that with 100% RWD in normal conditions for me would be the first choice should I be in the market for an SUV.

 

[Hawk13]

Agree that the Stelvio should be on any short list .... the only reason it was not on ours is because our next door neighbour has just bought a 280 petrol.

 

[P R]

Agree that the Stelvio should be on any short list .... the only reason it was not on ours is because our next door neighbour has just bought a 280 petrol.

Buy a Quad then.. that should out-do him nicely