CAR WARS! Is The All-New Porsche Macan Going To EAT The BMW X4's Breakfast, Lunch AND Dinner?

CAR WARS! Is The All-New Porsche Macan Going To EAT The BMW X4's Breakfast, Lunch AND Dinner?
With the launch of not one but two all-new German luxury sport-utility vehicles, we're excited to see how these two match up. That's right. We're putting together the all-new BMW X4 and the all-new Porsche Macan.

Though it may seem unrealistic that a BMW buyer would cross-shop a Porsche — if you have the $ for the Porsche, let's be serious, you'd just get it — we think these all-new models will actually be getting compared more often than one would think. That's because the X4 is more of an emotional purchase and if you've been keeping an eye on would-be buyers of the all-new Porsche Macan, they keep stating how the vehicle tugs at their heart strings. Both sets of buyers will be more emotionally tied to the products.

So, we think there's a bit of overlap, especially when you consider the pricing for the 300 horsepower models is actually pretty competitive. Granted, we know the BMW will lease more aggressively and the Porsche will cost you thousands in options.

I will point out at a recent business function a source in-the-know said something along the lines of: "You won't believe what people will do to put a Porsche in their driveway." To give this some context, we were discussing the potential failure/success of the all-new Macan and the individual speaking was stating this about Cayenne owners.

Now if you recall, Agent 001's review of the Porsche Macan said it felt like a jacked up Cayman. And something tells me the X4 won't feel much more special than an X3 that may be slightly tarted up.

That means I have to ask: Do YOU think that the all-new Macan is going to eat the all-new BMW X4 for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Does the X4 have a fighting chance due to its aggressive lease prices?


**Click the "Read Article" link below to see video footage of the BMW X4 and Porsche Macan side-by-side. It's in German, so, have fun with trying to understand that!


Specs:
xDrive28i - 240hp / 260lb-ft - 0-60 in 6.0 seconds (2.0L turbo inline 4 cyl)
xDrive28i - $45,625 (including destination and handling)

xDrive35i - 300hp / 300 lb-ft - 0-60 in 5.2 seconds (3.0L turbo inline 6 cyl)
xDrive35i - $48,925 (including destination and handling)

Macan S AWD - 340 hp / 339 lb-ft - 0-60 in 5.2 seconds (3.0L turbo V6)
Macan S - $50,895 (including destination)

Macan Turbo AWD - 400hp / 406 lb-ft - 0-60 in 4.6 (3.6L turbo V6)
Macan Turbo - $73,295 (including destination)


Read Article

Dexter1Dexter1 - 3/9/2014 11:22:21 PM
+4 Boost
Why doesn't the X4 have more goofy curved lines on its sides? The designer should be shot. Macan wins, no question.


chewychewy - 3/9/2014 11:31:14 PM
+3 Boost
I am guessing on average the price difference will be quite a bit more based on options. These photos make the two look very similar in size but I would have thought that the Macan would be bigger.


dumpstydumpsty - 3/10/2014 1:55:00 PM
+1 Boost
Not surprised at the overall sizes of both vehicles. The newest Cayenne "looks" smaller than the original version. The Macan is based off the Q5/Tiguan, right? Both of those SUVs are smallish, but their ride-heights are kinda high. The lower stance of the Macan is just right for the size of the vehicle - which is probably adjustable anyway.

I would like to see the X4-M or at least an X4 M Performance package.


iamdabest1iamdabest1 - 3/10/2014 12:15:49 AM
+4 Boost
gotta agree with chewy, after options, the x4 will look like a bargain. apples to apples, of course a normal person would probably choose the porsche, but with the significant difference in price after options, there is a substitute and the x4 will be a much better buy. the true competition will be when/ if bmw has an x4M.


w222w222 - 3/10/2014 3:51:03 AM
+5 Boost
X4 looks terrible... Yah the Porsche will eat it for breakfast, brunch, lunch , luner, dinner and midnight snack


Yonder7Yonder7 - 3/10/2014 7:35:07 AM
+2 Boost
ONLY if the price is right, otherwise the X4 have a chance...


MattDarringerMattDarringer - 3/10/2014 8:52:58 AM
+2 Boost
The Macan when comparably equipped will probably be $20K higher given Porsche's options structure where to get something basic, you have to buy a lot of garbage you don't want.


carloslassitercarloslassiter - 3/10/2014 9:12:34 AM
+2 Boost
If "eat breakfast, lunch and dinner" = "looks better", then yes.


gkearns56gkearns56 - 3/10/2014 9:15:42 AM
+2 Boost
Macan wins on looks. The X4 rear is awful looking. Take a good gander at that nasty black piece of plastic on the lower REAR. What the heck is that about?? Paint the dang thing so it doesn't look like a Pontiac Aztec II.


pepito66pepito66 - 3/10/2014 9:29:15 AM
+1 Boost
The Macan superior quality is easy to see in and out , and the engine options are also very interesting , the bad thing is the high prices and options on Porsche cars.


JRobUSCJRobUSC - 3/10/2014 9:45:26 AM
+3 Boost
It very well may, we'll see since no one has driven the X4 yet. The X4 weighs less and has the torque vectoring DPC system standard. Once you start putting options on both it'll also cost $10k+ less. My guess is BMW was going more for Range Rover Evoque buyers (people looking for something that drives well and looks unique) than Porsche Macan buyers (people looking for a "Cayman on stilts").


jeffgalljeffgall - 3/10/2014 9:58:07 AM
+1 Boost
Neither. The real bargain is the Audi SQ5. Same interior volume as the Macan and more powerful than either BMW and the Macan S.


hhhhhhhh - 3/12/2014 12:28:00 PM
+1 Boost
I cross shopped the SQ5: if one keeps it simple and is looking to add just metallic paint, heated seats and a backup camera, the SQ5 is ~$2K more expensive than the Macan S.

-hh


DTMFanDTMFan - 3/10/2014 10:53:03 AM
+2 Boost
Yeah, I agree, If I was looking at a vehicle in this segment, I'd be hard pushed not to consider the Audi SQ5 instead of the Macan.

I don't like the Macan at all, but there's no two ways about, in the pics above the X4 looks awful - like a potato that's been kicked around the yard!

However, a Deep Sea Blue X4 in x-line trim with 19's looks pretty good.

Apparently there is an X4 M40i coming also, and maybe an X4M too?


GermanNutGermanNut - 3/10/2014 12:26:21 PM
+2 Boost
This is not an even comparison considering the price of a BMW X4 will be $10-15K less than a comparably optioned Porsche Macan.

However, based on the comments from people on this thread (and it seems the large automotive community in general) the Porsche Macan wins on looks and is more than likely going to win the driving dynamics contest too.

The Porsche Macan will eat the BMW X4 for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert around a race track no question about it.



MicrosoftUserMicrosoftUser - 3/10/2014 1:56:23 PM
+1 Boost
Not good! The back and sides of the X4 looks like a small version of BMW's biggest design disastrous in years the 5 Series Gran Turismo.


drpesqdrpesq - 3/11/2014 12:38:53 PM
+1 Boost
The Macan will not eat the X4 for dinner for the same reason the Cayenne doesn't the X5....

More people will want a Macan because Pcars have more badge envy than BMWs (I love and own both), however the apples to apples porsche will A) be NO faster and only subjectively better in handling - if at all - than the BMW, B) cost 15-20% more than the BMW apples to identical apples; C) not lease out as well as the BMW; and D) cost more than the Bimmer to maintain.

For those reasons BMW will sell plenty of X4s. We have an X6 and its an incredible machine. Drives noticeably better than our X5 did on the same chassis. I got it for the wife and she loves it. I personally would never have one. I believe SUVs should be large, heavy and plush. BUT I am clearly in the minority. So many buyers want a lithe, small efficient SUVs (which of course is like wanting a vegetarian crocodile). Both cars will sell well. I can't say I have as much faith in the 3GT sales though...Similar offering to an X4 without the SUV "cool" factor. Poor Germans just can't figure us out - so they're throwing everything they have at us...


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