I know it's not an apples for apples comparison, but here goes!

My wife and I were considering a 2023 Macan GTS and were very fortunate to get an overnight loan from our dealership.
We loved the drive, great power, sound and handling!
But - we were left wanting a little bit by the tech. We are coming from a 2020 BMW X3 which just felt superior interiorly with the infotainment system/android auto, HUP display.

We watched a few videos and it seems the 2024 Cayenne S would tick our boxes with drive and interiors!
-Yes, I know it's a bigger car, won't handle the same but we are not going to be throwing it round corners. It'll just be daily drives. I just want something more engaging / fun than our current X3.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

None of them (including BMW ) will give the technology of other manufacturers which cost a fraction as much .
Most who go into Porsche know tech is the Achilles heel .

 

I love the 2024 Cayenne S but once I configure it to any way that gives you all the tech and performance features, it is always $30,000+ more than a Macan GTS. If money is not an issue, then it is a great option.

You can build a Macan GTS, well equipped for at or under $100k US. The 2024 Cayenne S configured well is about $130k+ US.

 

My wife doesn’t care how any of these cars drive. She got a Cayenne because it’s big and comfy.

 

Same goes to my Wife, LOL I offered even brand new GLS but she just love her 2019 Q7 so much

 

I would check out commercial reviews of the 2024 Cayenne. Tech is a plus, but mamy examples of cost-cutting. May not be an issue for you, but suggestions point to the 23 vs. 24.

 

I know it's not an apples for apples comparison, but here goes!

My wife and I were considering a 2023 Macan GTS and were very fortunate to get an overnight loan from our dealership.
We loved the drive, great power, sound and handling!
But - we were left wanting a little bit by the tech. We are coming from a 2020 BMW X3 which just felt superior interiorly with the infotainment system/android auto, HUP display.

We watched a few videos and it seems the 2024 Cayenne S would tick our boxes with drive and interiors!
-Yes, I know it's a bigger car, won't handle the same but we are not going to be throwing it round corners. It'll just be daily drives. I just want something more engaging / fun than our current X3.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

your post is a bit misleading in ways......
1 the Mac GTS ticked the box's but for the tech compared to the BM that has been explained and seemed to be the main issue ?
I also came from a BM 330i m and way ahead of the P but thats it full stop and we all live with this easily.
I don't get by watching vids ticks box's of the Cayenne yet it has the same tech.

Think you really need to decide that you either want the BIGGER P or not more than anything else.
Good luck.

 

just bring a broken iPad on the trip and try to get it back up and running...should make you appreciate the lack of gremlins

we like the GTS over the cayenne, but if we had 4 adults it would be a no brainer...cayenne!
2 gsd's and my wife and I we love the macan...
good luck

 

but if we had 4 adults it would be a no brainer...cayenne!

This would be the primary driver (no pun intended) for me. Love my Macan S, but I don't use it if we've got four adults for more than a 20 minute drive or if we have to haul a bunch of stuff.
YMMV.

 

Did he just say BMW X3 interior is superior to Macan GTS? LOL From my experience, idrive was as dumb as PCM, and interior/ancient center fascia/console was not even comparable to Macan. How about X3M? I think it is not good decision to buy Porsche having driving unrelated tech in mind.

 

I had a new Cayenne Platinum coupe as a loaner a couple of weeks ago and absolutely hated it. Drove like a lifeless bloated whale compared to our Macan.

 

Good analogy!

We have both and they are not comparable in our view as they serve totally different needs and purposes. My wife loves her Macan since she drives it in town and never even driven our Cayenne since it is just big to her. I drive the Cayenne locally and since it is a top spec with all the tech, it does not drive or feel like a whale, to me. However, Cayenne is a supreme and sublime long-distance cruiser, and super versatile, as it can be a sports car like on very twisty mountain roads (in all in spec) or a capable almost off-roader (gravel, mud, sand) when needed.

We are currently in the mountains of North Carolina, and it carves Blue Ridge Parkway like a champ, with full family onboard, and then can go into the field with a gravel road to get to the house we are renting (not that Macan cannot do the same), while Macan is staying back home, looking pretty, only because we need more room for long stays out of town.

 

Other than the same badge I see very little in common. If tech is important to you Porsche isn’t ever going to satisfy. They just don’t care. The Cayenne to me had no driving excitement. It’s too big and high and heavy compared to a GTS.

 

Agree that the tech in the Macan is a bit lacking and dated, the updated Cayenne is better and reminds me more of the Taycan. Given how unstable the PCM was in my 2022 Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, I would not want to go back to frequent lockups and reboots.

For me, the driving dynamics are more important, unless you need the additional space or towing offered by the Cayenne. After having owned a 2015 Macan Turbo, a 2021 Cayenne Turbo Coupe, and a 2022 Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, I am back and very happy in my 2023 Macan GTS, and even put a few bucks back in the bank.

 

Tbh the tech in the Macan is lacking quite a bit but the handling in the GTS is superior to any Cayenne I have driven. The Cayenne GTS I just bought comes close in my opinion but still feels bigger and just slightly worse even with PDCC however I needed the extra size.

As for the 2024, dont get it. It looks worse than the 2023 in person. Not a fan of the blocky look but the interior is a deal breaker for me. I have to stretch to reach the tiny shifter from my driving position (5'10), they got rid of the turnkey start (replaced with awkwardly positioned button) and the central tach (cost cutting with just 1 screen). The only real change from what I have heard is the air suspension going from 3 to 2 chamber and is allegedly more comfortable but I didnt feel any difference on test drives. The 2024 is more quiet though, which is arguably a negative if you're buying the V8 with sport exhaust.

My salesperson also said the tech in the 2024 is the same as 2023 except the passenger screen anyway so if you need more space, get a CPO 2022 or 2023 GTS which lowers the price delta as well. And you will get a car with most of the reliability kinks worked out and an extra 2 years of warranty. (Unless you really like the 2024 exterior and interior over 2023 ofc)

 

+1 to this very valid point to consider previous gen CPO. There is a significant usability difference with 2024 Cayenne redesign that I am not a fan of having previous gen design (2020) that is more practical for usability in the SUV with the turnkey start (vs. 2024 power button) and the gear shifter in the center panel that you can rest your hand on and can shift gears manually (vs. 2024 Taycan style shifter to the right of the instrument cluster). It just does not work for the Cayenne since Cayenne is not an EV yet.

On the current gen Macan that we will be getting this fall, the shifter is still there, but you cannot use it for manually shifting gears as you can on our existing 2016, not sure why they made that change.

 

I know it's not an apples for apples comparison, but here goes!

My wife and I were considering a 2023 Macan GTS and were very fortunate to get an overnight loan from our dealership.
We loved the drive, great power, sound and handling!
But - we were left wanting a little bit by the tech. We are coming from a 2020 BMW X3 which just felt superior interiorly with the infotainment system/android auto, HUP display.

We watched a few videos and it seems the 2024 Cayenne S would tick our boxes with drive and interiors!
-Yes, I know it's a bigger car, won't handle the same but we are not going to be throwing it round corners. It'll just be daily drives. I just want something more engaging / fun than our current X3.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

If you like the size of the Macan but want better tech, I would highly consider the Audi SQ5 Prestige (same platform as the Macan). You’ll lose a little bit on the driving dynamics but the tech is far superior and it has plenty of power for daily driving.

 

Probably the best value, tech and comfort is a Genesis GV70. Use the money you save for five star hotels.

 

I had one of these and it was great. But if youre cross shopping with a GTS then the GV70 is far behind if youre comparing performance and driving feel.

 

My wife has a 2019 Cayenne S. When she wants to have fun, she drives my 2021 Macan GTS. Much more tossable.

Just be aware that Porsche technology is far behind BMWs of the same model year. But my GTS feels way better to drive than my (long gone) 2020 BMW M550.

 

Your X3 is closer in size to the Cayenne than it is the Macan. As long as you equip the Cayenne S (what OP mentioned) it will probably handle better than your existing X3. We have been doing a lot of comparisons of the X5M and Cayenne S, we like both a lot, the X5 M is bigger and has a harsher ride vs the Cayenne. You definitely need to configure the Cayenne S with air + PASM (I think PASM is standard on the '24) otherwise you will find it doesn't handle well at all. Neither is going to handle as well as the Macan GTS (it's a physics problem).

 

Having the same dilemma right now! Wondering what you chose?

 

Having the same dilemma right now! Wondering what you chose?

We haven't yet decided. But we have decided that the macan isn't big enough for us.
Deciding beyween a Cayenne S and a X5m60i now

 

Well, the Macan GTS was the best vehicle I’ve ever had the pleasure of driving for 3 years. I really wanted the Cayenne Coupe, and I was willing to wait 3 months for the exact build, but Porsche wouldn’t lease/finance the build because the specs were over the Maximum Residualized MSRP (MRM). So, I purchased my Macan from the lessor and sold it as part of a deal to acquire a Maserati Levante F-Tributo. I have to say that I’m delighted with this vehicle. More hp than the base Cayenne (424) and it handles exceptionally well. The interior, in my opinion, is much more comfortable than the Cayenne equipped with either 14 or 18-way sport seats. Who knows what will happen when this lease is up in 3 years? I may purchase it or come back to Porsche and finally get my Cayenne Coupe.

 

What is included when people mention “tech”? Driver assistance / safety features? CarPlay with the macan is good enough for me; I rarely think about the other options (except the 360 camera - that’s super useful).

 

If this is going to be your primary vehicle then I'd probably go Cayenne just because of the extra space. We were facing this decision and decided to get a Macan GTS plus a Q5 as the family vehicle.

 

I’ve seen this conversation come up many times and I’ve only been here for a few days. The only consideration between the two should be space. The Macan doesn’t drive like the Cayenne, the former is much more thrilling.