Picking the Macan S over the standard Macan says you wanted the version with something genuinely worth talking about under the bonnet. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 produces 354 HP and 480 Nm of torque, and through the seven-speed PDK gearbox and Porsche's All-Wheel Drive system, it delivers performance that feels immediate and composed rather than dramatic for its own sake. The Sport Chrono Package sharpens things further with a drive mode selector that meaningfully changes the character of the car depending on what you ask of it, while Porsche Active Suspension Management keeps the chassis tied down without turning the ride stiff or uncomfortable. Power Steering Plus gives the wheel a weighted, communicative feel that most compact SUVs simply do not offer, and it goes a long way toward justifying the sports car comparisons that follow this car around. LED headlights and a Bose Surround Sound system round out a specification that covers both the practical and the enjoyable without feeling patched together. This is a coherent, driver-focused JDM example that arrives well-equipped and needs very little added to make it the right car.