Porsche Macan GTS 2021 review: what the critics say
This petrol-powered SUV is ‘curvaceous and dressy without being indiscreet’

The GTS will be the last petrol-powered version of Porsche’s popular Macan SUV, before a new battery-electric model arrives in 2023. It is a “stirring swansong”: a well-built car that is “curvaceous and dressy without being indiscreet”, said The Daily Telegraph. The only issue for Porsche is that the electric version is going to have to be damn good to mark any sort of advance on this, the ultimate combustion Macan.

The GTS supersedes the older Turbo model at the top of the Macan range and brings with it a “unique personality all of its own”, said Auto Express. Its 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine produces 434bhp and 550Nm of torque, with a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds. It’s also more economical than its predecessors, although 24.8mpg combined and 258g/km are “hardly anything to write home about nowadays”. Prices start from £64,770.

There’s been a thorough reworking of the interior, mixing Porsche’s haptic control centre console with its latest 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system (but with some old-school buttons still positioned on the roof), said Evo. “While the quality isn’t in question”, the design does seem as though it might have been conceived just to see the car out of production until its all-electric replacement arrives.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The rise of runcationsThe Week Recommends Lace up your running shoes and hit the trails on your next holiday
-
Amorim follows Maresca out of Premier League after ‘awful’ seasonIn the Spotlight Manchester United head coach sacked after dismal results and outburst against leadership, echoing comments by Chelsea boss when he quit last week
-
January’s books feature a revisioned classic, a homeschooler's memoir and a provocative thriller dramedyThe Week Recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Call Me Ishmaelle’ by Xiaolu Guo, ‘Homeschooled: A Memoir’ by Stefan Merrill Block, ‘Anatomy of an Alibi’ by Ashley Elston and ‘Half His Age’ by Jennette McCurdy
-
The ultimate films of 2025 by genreThe Week Recommends From comedies to thrillers, documentaries to animations, 2025 featured some unforgettable film moments
-
Into the Woods: a ‘hypnotic’ productionThe Week Recommends Jordan Fein’s revival of the much-loved Stephen Sondheim musical is ‘sharp, propulsive and often very funny’
-
The best food books of 2025The Week Recommends From mouthwatering recipes to insightful essays, these colourful books will both inspire and entertain
-
Art that made the news in 2025The Explainer From a short-lived Banksy mural to an Egyptian statue dating back three millennia
-
Nine best TV shows of the yearThe Week Recommends From Adolescence to Amandaland
-
Winter holidays in the snow and sunThe Week Recommends Escape the dark, cold days with the perfect getaway
-
The best homes of the yearFeature Featuring a former helicopter engine repair workshop in Washington, D.C. and high-rise living in San Francisco
-
Critics’ choice: The year’s top 10 moviesFeature ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘It Was Just an Accident’ stand out