• Good equipment levels
• Not the most practical SUV
• Five-star Euro NCAP rating

You wouldn’t think it to look at, but the Macan’s curvy body hides a surprisingly practical interior that suits small families exceptionally well.

There’s room for four adults of average size to fit in the Macan, but five is going to be a squash as the middle seat is very narrow and the transmission tunnel that runs beneath it is thick.

The rear of the cabin is quite dark, but there shouldn’t be too many complaints from average-height passengers. It’s also very easy to get in and out of, thanks to its slightly raised ride height compared with a regular estate car.

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Boot space and storage

The boot measures 488 litres, but this expands to 1,503 litres if you fold flat the 40:20:40-split rear seats.

If you’re worried about how high you’ll have to load things into the boot, choosing the air suspension system will allow a 50mm drop at the rear (activated by a button in the boot) to make life a little easier.

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Is it easy to park?

The Macan might be the smallest Porsche SUV (behind the Cayenne) but it’s still a pretty large car. For reference, it’s around 300mm longer and 92mm wider than a Nissan Qashqai. Rear visibility isn’t all that brilliant either thanks to a low roofline.

A rear reversing camera isn’t standard on base-level cars. But we imagine very few people will choose a Macan with no options on it.

Available options also include Porsche’s surround view system, which includes a 360-degree bird’s eye view camera. It’s very intuitive to use and is worth the money. An automated parking system is also an option.

Safety

• Five star rating
• No Isofix for front seat
• All models get extensive driver-assistance tech

Those buying a Macan with family in mind will be pleased to discover it has a five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating and comes with two Isofix child seat points in the rear as standard.

There are a number of airbags and a high-strength steel design, plus Porsche has chosen to install a multi-collision braking system to the Macan which will prevent further collisions if you’re involved in an initial accident. The system holds on the brakes to prevent you being shunted forwards, for example.

Optional safety kit includes lane change assist, blindspot monitoring and warning, radar-guided cruise control, autonomous braking, and a number of lighting packages featuring LED lights that adapt to the conditions and oncoming traffic.

Watch: Porsche Macan crash test video