MSRP: $49,900 (Macan S); $72,300 (Macan Turbo); as tested: $80,990

When the first Cayenne appeared 12 years ago, many a car scribe raised an eyebrow. What, they sniffed, is sports car icon Porsche doing, making Sport Utility Vehicles?

What they were doing, it turns out, is making money. Cayenne — the luxury, midsize SUV quickly became the company's best-selling model; a cold weather counterpart, to a lineup weighted towards fair weather sports cars.

That success was followed by the Panamera luxury sedan. So, it comes as no surprise that the 2015 Porsche lineup includes another new model, and it's not a sports car. The Macan is a five passenger compact, luxury crossover. At rollout, it's offered in two models — S (MSRP:$49,900) and Turbo ($72,300). A diesel powered model is said to be in the offing for next year, with a hybrid version to follow.

You could drive an economy car in between the sticker price of the Macan's S and Turbo models. Knowing that the performance of the "base" S models would suffice for the vast majority of buyers, and given its more wallet-friendly MSRP, that's the model I was angling for. However, an S was not available at this time, so we elected to drive the range-topping turbo here, and will note some of the model differences as we go.

The most obvious difference between the two Macan models is their motors, both of which are linked to a 7-speed, dual clutch, PDK automatic transmission. The S gets a 3.0L twin turbo V6 rated at 340 h.p. and 339 lb. ft. of torque. Porsche says that the standard issue six will get from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds (5.0 with the Sport Chrono package, and its launch control feature), and has a top, track speed of 156 mph.

Porsche uses the word "catapults" to describe the Turbo model's thrust, and it's an apt description. The new-for-2015, 3.6L twin turbo engine in the top Macan is quite responsive at all engine speeds, and when provoked, it jumps. Posting 400 horsepower (@6,000 rpm) and 406 lb. ft. of torque (@1,350-4,500 rpm), it can accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.6 seconds (4.4 with Sport Chrono).

Practically speaking, this means that the Turbo Macan will take you from standstill to summonsable speed in the time it takes to power down the window and say, "Yes Officer?"

Macan can be equipped to tow a maximum, braked trailer weight of 5,219 lb. While we can lament the lack of a stick shift offering, the PDK automatic is smooth when left to its own devices, and responsive, when you elect to paddle shift it yourself. The engine has a suitably snarly exhaust note at idle, adjustable to add bark or muzzle as you see fit. Fuel economy is middling — EPA estimates that both S and Turbo Macans will return 17 mpg's city/23 highway Given the car's performance and price range, though, this is likely to be neither a surprise nor a deal breaker to potential buyers.

Macan Turbo is a fine, freeway flier. At 65 mph in top gear, the engine loafs along at an unstressed, 1,800 rpm. Handling is at the highest end of a category with traditionally low standards. But, SUV's have evolved, and crossovers have splintered away, forming their own sub-segments. Vehicles like Macan blur the lines between car and crossover. Macan has more than enough grip to keep drivers engaged during spirited sessions. And for those who use it as a winter foil for their summer sports car, it will provide a worthy diversion, and a more practical one at that.

Front cabin in the Macan is inviting space. The 18-way adaptive sport seats wrap around you like a leather glove. Heat them up and turn on the sound system and you can almost ignore how miserable November in the northeast can feel, on a raw, rainy day. The driver's view of the three dial dash display is framed by a multi-function steering wheel derived from the sports car side of the family tree. Black on black color scheme on my test car led to a subdued look, but fit and finish of interior materials are first rate.

Driving position is very good, and the outside rearview mirrors are as generously oversized, the interior rearview is regrettably undersized. Here as in most all Porsche models, the center stack houses rows of switchgear. At first glance, it's crowded, but a second look reveals that it's also orderly. Therefore, after some study time, you figure out which quadrants you need to focus on, to make your adjustments with minimal distraction from your driving.

Back seat accommodations are nicely appointed but reveal the limitations of a compact form. Tall people in front leave little legroom for those behind. Cargo space ranges from 17.7 — 53 cubic feet, which lags most competitive models. The load floor is flat and lift over height is low.

Handsome and uncommonly roadworthy, Macan is a worthy addition to the Porsche clan. The compact crossover is a true 'tweener — more of a large hatchback than a small SUV. Therefore, it's not as practical as Cayenne, but more dashing and sporting. I enjoy the Turbo model's pin-your-ears-back character, but I'm curious about the S model. The numbers suggest that it'll give you all the giddy-up you'll ever need. And it will leave you with a lot more in your pocket as you contemplate Porsche's long and tempting options sheet.

A regular contributor to the Times Union for more than 20 years, Dan Lyons is the award-winning author of six books, and photographer of 150 calendars. Read Dan's recent reviews on line anytime, at