[tsbrown]

On the subject of Macan vs X3, the comparisons given by others here align with my experience. I’ve driven the’24 Macan S and own 2 X3 30i’s (wife’s cars) and the Macan drives better but I thought the throttle response was sluggish even on the S. The X3 is a better value and probably overall better SAV/CUV, but if you want the Porsche for driving dynamics and to get into the brand it’s probably the entry point for that.

[Slack Beries]

My wife’s most recent two prior cars are a 2020 X4 m40i and a 2016 base Macan.

As others have said the X3 has much more space in the second row and in the rear storage. Maintenance on the Macan is also more expensive.

If you are particular about the vehicle features you may have more difficulty finding your desired specification with the macan because Porsche offers so many features as options it’s easy for something to be missing. On the X3 side I think it’ll be far easier to find a desirable specification—but look into whether you want run flat tires or not.

The turbo lag in the base Macan is so bad that you learn to hit the accelerator a good half second to three-quarter second before you really need the thrust. However I can’t speak to the base X3.

I personally did not like the comfort of the X4 seats (same as X3’s) and the Macan handles better. Overall I strongly preferred the X4 to the Macan.

An X3 with the B58 is a perfect grocery getter.

[allinon72]

My wife had a 2022 X5 and wanted to go back to a smaller car (missed the size of her 2017 X1), We drove a used Macan base in a similar price range, and it drove well, handling was good and felt great in the cockpit. However, in typical Porsche fashion it lacked any features at all and the overall feel of the cockpit looked dated. I didn't see one reason to choose it over a new X1, which we ultimately purchased. It has every option that our loaded X5 had and I personally feel that the B48 is underrated, even in FWD form. Women like features, especially if they've already had them, and by the time you check some boxes on the Macan, it really begins to not make sense.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by allinon72

My wife had a 2022 X5 and wanted to go back to a smaller car (missed the size of her 2017 X1), We drove a used Macan base in a similar price range, and it drove well, handling was good and felt great in the cockpit. However, in typical Porsche fashion it lacked any features at all and the overall feel of the cockpit looked dated. I didn't see one reason to choose it over a new X1, which we ultimately purchased. It has every option that our loaded X5 had and I personally feel that the B48 is underrated, even in FWD form. Women like features, especially if they've already had them, and by the time you check some boxes on the Macan, it really begins to not make sense.

What year and trim level Macan did you test drive?

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by Slack Beries

My wife’s most recent two prior cars are a 2020 X4 m40i and a 2016 base Macan.

As others have said the X3 has much more space in the second row and in the rear storage. Maintenance on the Macan is also more expensive.

If you are particular about the vehicle features you may have more difficulty finding your desired specification with the macan because Porsche offers so many features as options it’s easy for something to be missing. On the X3 side I think it’ll be far easier to find a desirable specification—but look into whether you want run flat tires or not.

The turbo lag in the base Macan is so bad that you learn to hit the accelerator a good half second to three-quarter second before you really need the thrust. However I can’t speak to the base X3.

I personally did not like the comfort of the X4 seats (same as X3’s) and the Macan handles better. Overall I strongly preferred the X4 to the Macan.

An X3 with the B58 is a perfect grocery getter.

Turbo lag and throttle response seems to be common on base and Macan S models.
Our LCI ‘22 X3 30i seems to have slightly better performance than the pre-LCI ’18 and they are nearly identical spec so maybe there was updates to the throttle or transmission programming. But even then if you put it in sport individual and adjust the engine and transmission settings in idrive to your liking they drive almost the same.
And just found that I’ve been calling the engine the B48 for years when it is in fact the B46. Still it’s a very good 4 cylinder.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by Condorll

Yes she has car fever this spring. Wants to trade in her 2017 Acura RDX (V6 290hp 0-60 6 seconds) for a CPO 2022-23 X3 30i or CPO 2022-23 Macan (base 4cyl). She doesn't like the X3 40i, too hot to handle for her, so we are staying with the 4 cyl turbo engines. We test drove both yesterday and found the BMW engine smoother, faster and more responsive? BMW also has HUD which the Macan doesn't. Love the Macan cockpit though, seating position feels like a sports car, not an SAV like the X3.

Anyone have any comments, experience with comparing these two cars with the base 4 cyl engines? Hard for us to judge on a 15 minute test drive, but leaning towards the BMW X3 even though I would love to have a Porsche in the garage next to my 2023 X5!

All comments appreciated!

A family member bought a new BMW X4 M40i last June. Built to order. (Oh, her previous vehicle was a 2012 Infiniti Journey EX35.)

She loves her X4. And she's not into fast cars. The X4 only goes as fast as she tells it to with the accelerator.

[Condorll]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

A family member bought a new BMW X4 M40i last June. Built to order. (Oh, her previous vehicle was a 2012 Infiniti Journey EX35.)

She loves her X4. And she's not into fast cars. The X4 only goes as fast as she tells it to with the accelerator.

The X4 M40i is basically similar in price to the X5. Don't see the attraction to the X4 unless a more compact vehicle is desired.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Condorll

The X4 M40i is basically similar in price to the X5. Don't see the attraction to the X4 unless a more compact vehicle is desired.

That’s a fairly compelling reason.


edit: I just built one of each as similar as possible and you are exactly right. About $2,000 difference. The X5 I built isn’t an M Sport version. And I left leather off of both of them, because putting leather in the X5 jacks up the price by $2,700. But, it does include extended merino leather and the multi-contour seats, which are worth every penny of the $750 price.

So, since we’re talking X5 and not X6 I switched and built an X3 M40i. The price difference is right at $8,000.

[Alfisti]

The in-between answer is Stelvio.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

The in-between answer is Stelvio.

But why trade the reliability of the BMW?

[pbonsalb]

If you are leasing for 3 years and live near an Alfa dealer, the Stelvio would be reasonably low risk (still risk because if the car is in the shop for a month, you still pay the lease but can’t drive it and don’t get the lost month back at the end). If you buy and plan to keep and get an extended warranty and live near a dealer, the same applies. I personally would not buy one under any other circumstances, though everything I read says the performance versions that I would like drive really well.

[Alfisti]

The 2T Stelvio/Giulia has been fine and BMW has hardly been a paragon of reliability for two decades.

[P1]

The X3 makes a lot of sense of paper. Hard to argue. But the Macan is just so much better looking. I couldn't get an X3.

[Alfisti]

TBHI don't think they serve the same market, the X3 is a full size up IMHO, the Macan is tiny.

[Burrcold]

Macan, only because it doesn't feel like I'm driving a bus (not talking about size).

[JimmyTheHand]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

TBHI don't think they serve the same market, the X3 is a full size up IMHO, the Macan is tiny.

They have a similar width, the X3 is a about 60mm/2.5 inches longer and about 60mm/2.5 inches higher - where the X3 really looks bigger is because it is an estate where the Macan is a hatchback and has less room in back, but then I never sit in back so not really an issue to me. The Macan was wider (less door mirrors) and longer than the X3 F25 I traded it in against.

But I'd say X4 is more the same market as Macan

edit: correct cm to mm

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by Condorll

Yes she has car fever this spring. Wants to trade in her 2017 Acura RDX (V6 290hp 0-60 6 seconds) for a CPO 2022-23 X3 30i or CPO 2022-23 Macan (base 4cyl). She doesn't like the X3 40i, too hot to handle for her, so we are staying with the 4 cyl turbo engines. We test drove both yesterday and found the BMW engine smoother, faster and more responsive? BMW also has HUD which the Macan doesn't. Love the Macan cockpit though, seating position feels like a sports car, not an SAV like the X3.

Anyone have any comments, experience with comparing these two cars with the base 4 cyl engines? Hard for us to judge on a 15 minute test drive, but leaning towards the BMW X3 even though I would love to have a Porsche in the garage next to my 2023 X5!

All comments appreciated!

If you prefer the way the X3 drives then get it. Only reason people get the Macan is because it drives better. Also, the looks. Personally, I prefer how the Macan looks and drives, but that is just personal...I thing the X3 40i is a sweet spot for the X3. I've driven the 30i as a loaner many times and I think it won't be much of an upgrade over a Subaru Outback in terms of interior build quality. JMHO.

[Leucosticte]

Originally Posted by chassis

The B48 is as close to bulletproof as BMW can get. Efficient, reasonably powerful, easy to work on and reliable.

Don't know about it being easy to work on but the rest is true.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by JimmyTheHand

They have a similar width, the X3 is a about 60cm/2.5 inches longer and about 60cm/2.5 inches higher - where the X3 really looks bigger is because it is an estate where the Macan is a hatchback and has less room in back, but then I never sit in back so not really an issue to me. The Macan was wider (less door mirrors) and longer than the X3 F25 I traded it in against.

But I'd say X4 is more the same market as Macan

60cm or 2.5in? big diff

[JimmyTheHand]

Originally Posted by Mavus

60cm or 2.5in? big diff

#

oops - 60mm/6cm

[chassis]

Originally Posted by Leucosticte

Don't know about it being easy to work on but the rest is true.

Very easy to do regular maintenance on the B48.