Volvo XC90 vs Porsche Macan [2014-2019]

Volvo's flagship SUV in India is this XC90. In its latest iteration, it gets some new features, some new exterior shades, but the design and styling remains the same. And this is particularly good, for it retains its mature demeanor with sheer elegance. Peculiar highlights like the Thor-hammer shaped DRLs and tall tail lamps continue to shine on a big SUV with neat proportions.

When we drove the Porsche Macan especially in the racy Turbo guise, we were zapped by how this SUV was able to feel more like a sportscar than a jacked up crossover. It feels like a Porsche in every way, be it in the way it drives, to the way it looks and the way it feels solidly put together too. But the Rs one crore plus rupee price tag was a big shame and that meant, the German manufacturer was never able to sell it in good numbers. Now with fresh competition in form of the Jaguar F-Pace, Porsche has come up with a cheaper version on the SUV called the R4. But does it feel every bit Porsche like its more powerful brothers? We drove the R4 over two days to find out.

The Porsche Macan might be the second SUV Porsche has ever made, but compared to its first, the Cayenne, it is a completely different animal. And a more desirable and likeable one at that. In India, the Macan is sold in three trims – the Macan S in diesel guise, the Macan Turbo, and the Macan Turbo with a performance pack. Our car is the Turbo. It retails for around Rs 1.18 crore ex-showroom and honestly, at this price point, it doesn’t really have any competition.