Mileage: 6,298
Economy: 38.9mpg
How much do you think a one year-old Sapphire Blue Porsche Macan S Diesel costs with just over 6,000 miles on the clock? Answer: exactly the same as a brand new version. No, it’s true. In nearly a year and after 6,000 miles, our new yet second-hand Macan S Diesel has, according to Porsche’s Approved Used scheme values, lost not a single penny in depreciation.
That’s extraordinary, not least because the Macan is a regular production Porsche that’s being churned out at the rate of 50,000 units per year from its factory in Leipzig, Germany. But it shows just how successful and desirable the stylish compact SUV is turning out to be.
It seems buyers can’t get enough of Porsche’s new baby Cayenne, and it’s not exactly hard to see why. It’s undoubtedly better looking than its big brother from pretty much every angle on the outside, yet not a great deal smaller on the inside. In fact, the Macan seems freakishly good at just about everything it does.
• Car depreciation: cars that hold their value best
This 12-month-old version was extremely well specified by its original owner, with just over an eye-watering £14,000 worth of options hiking the price from £44,636 (£46,177 now) in standard trim to £58,861 as tested. And that’s precisely how much the trader still reckons our car is worth today.
The options fitted are the ones you’d go for if you had a big enough budget. They include Agate Grey-Pebble two-tone leather for £2,453, air-suspension with self-levelling ride height (£1,788) and bi-xenon headlamps with Porsche Dynamic Lighting (£1,060). Plus, there’s the brand’s full comms pack including sat-nav and Jukebox (£2,007) and 20-inch Spyder Design alloys (£1,700). While our Macan is second-hand according to the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA), it feels, looks and even smells brand new. The only things giving its age away are the numbers within the odometer and the fact it isn’t fitted with Porsche’s latest infotainment system; there isn’t a mark on its sumptuous grey leather interior trim. The steering wheel, which it shares with the 918 Spyder, also still feels fresh out the box.
On the outside of the car, however, there is a slight blemish – a tiny stone dent on the bonnet. But this is the only proof I can find that someone has actually used the Porsche at all over the past 12 months.
And on the move, it’s every inch as good as I remember the original versions feeling when I first drove them. The air-suspension provides a smooth yet sporty ride quality, with excellent body control. The steering is meaty, although it’s still precise, while the performance from the 255bhp V6 twin-turbodiesel engine and standard seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is effortlessly strong – the car sprints from 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds. So far it’s averaged 38.9mpg over the first 900 miles, too.
And although the Macan’s pert rear end suggests that practicality isn’t the best, the boot is big and very useful every day. even so, there’s not even a skinny spare wheel fitted beneath the floor, which means I’ll need to buy a tin of get-you-home spray, just in case. But the amount of space back there is better than expected, even if there’s not an awful lot of legroom for a tall adult behind the driver.
- Model: Porsche Macan S Diesel
- On fleet since: January 2016
- Price new: £44,636 (2015)
- Price now: £46,177
- Engine: 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbodiesel, 255bhp
- CO2/tax: 159g/km/£180
- Options: Met. paint (£608), leather (£2,453), Torque Vectoring (£785), alloys (£1,700), adaptive sports seats (£1,214), xenon lights (£1,060), black roof rails (£219), heated front seats (£259), Sport Chrono Package (£728), Communication Management (£2,007)
- Options continued: BOSE surround sound (£801), air suspension (£1,788), reversing camera (£332), Bluetooth (£271)
- Insurance: Group: 39 Quote: £717
- Mileage/mpg: 6,298/38.9mpg
- Any problems?: None so far