Porsche Macan Electric review

Reinventing oneself at the pinnacle of success is undoubtedly one of life's greatest challenges, yet the best make it look effortless – which brings us to the new Porsche Macan Electric.

You see, the existing (petrol-powered) Macan has just experienced its best sales figures yet. Its blend of delicate driving dynamics, high-quality interior design and reasonably accessible price point seems to have helped it appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers, from young professionals to seasoned boomers.

So is this all-new Macan Electric more of the same? Well, the exterior design bears a close resemblance to the original, but the existence of a pair of motors and a battery under the skin makes this a very different car.

Indeed, the all-new Macan propels Porsche into the ever-growing electric SUV segment, where it will be competing against a disparate range of rivals. They include – but are not limited to – the BMW iX3, Kia EV6 GT, Lotus Eletre, Tesla Model Y Performance, VW ID 5 GTX and the upcoming Polestar 3.

We've already seen the Stuttgart-based car maker enjoy electrified success with the excellent Porsche Taycan so have they managed to maintain that momentum with the Macan Electric? Read on to find out...

At launch, the Porsche Macan Electric is available in two variations: the Macan 4 and the Macan Turbo.

Both models have dual motors and all-wheel drive, sharing a 95kWh useable capacity battery and Porsche’s innovative 800-volt Premium Electric Platform – a platform also shared by the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron. However, Porsche (being Porsche) has put a lot of time and effort into making sure the Macan feels nothing like its Ingolstadt counterpart.

Distinguishing features include a bespoke steering rack, specially developed Pirelli tyres and innovative two-valve dampers first introduced on the Porsche Cayenne. But does this engineering translate into a driving experience worthy of the Porsche badge?

Well, we sampled both the Macan 4 and Turbo on the tight and sinewy Route Napolean just outside Antibes and it was immediately apparent that the Macan’s steering is a cut above the competition’s. It's quick, slack-free free and delivers decent feedback, allowing you to really lean on the front tyres with confidence through quick corners.

It also manages to feel keener and more agile than a petrol Porsche Macan through quick changes of direction despite weighing around 350kg more.

We suspect that's the optional rear-wheel steering system fitted to our test cars. With it, the rear wheels turn at opposite angles to the fronts at low speeds, shortening the car’s turning circle by more than a metre and making it feel alert and agile. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the fronts, helping to improve stability. 

The Macan is genuinely astounding down an undulating country road, exhibiting little body lean and remaining settled over mid-corner bumps. Point to point, a Kia EV6 GT or Tesla Model Y Performance might be able to hang on to the tail of a Macan, but their drivers certainly won’t be as relaxed. 

In terms of pure performance, the 402bhp Macan 4, with its official 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds, is quick enough for any sane person. Indeed, it’s so punchy that the 630bhp Turbo with its 0-62mph of 3.3 seconds and top speed of 169mph (32mph up on the 4) feels a bit like overkill. 

But is the Macan Electric actually fun, as well as fast? Well, yes – but with a caveat. You see, the 4 will plaster a smile on the face of most drivers, but if you’re the kind of person who obsesses over steering feel and on-the-limit handling, you’ll want the Turbo. And that’s because it has a Porsche-developed electric motor that sits way out behind the rear axle (a bit like with a Porsche 911) rather than on top of it as it does in the 4.

That placement, combined with what Porsche calls Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (an electronically controlled differential lock on the rear axle) not only increases agility but also allows you to slide the Macan like it's a big hot hatch, giving you the interaction you’d normally expect from a much lighter and more compact car. 

Will that matter to most people? No, probably not. Hence why we would recommend the 4 to the majority of buyers. But if you’re a keen driver and want a truly interactive driving experience, the Turbo is irresistible.

Better yet, for all its sportiness the Macan is a relaxing cruiser. You might notice some motor whine around town and the rumble of its tyres across a coarse surface (especially if you opt for 22in wheels), but wind noise is well suppressed and ride quality on the optional air-suspension is superb. Even the brakes are remarkably easy to modulate, which is not always the case in electric cars where the regenerative braking system has to blend in with the physical brakes. 

The Macan Electric's official range 380 miles for the 4 and 367 for the powerful Turbo, so you’ll be looking at around 300 miles in the real world. On our test route (a mix of town, country and motorway driving) a Macan 4 returned 2.9 miles per kWh, giving a theoretical range of 300.3 miles. That’s further than an EV6 GT and similar to a Model Y Performance.

Driving overview

Strengths Amazing pace; agile handling; plush ride; great brake feel

Weaknesses Some tyre noise

The new Porsche Macan Electric’s interior design marks a dramatic change from the petrol-powered model, with inspiration drawn from the recently revised Cayenne and Panamera.

Notably, the dashboard features a striking three-screen configuration, consisting of a curved 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.9-inch central infotainment touchscreen and, as an option, a 10.9-inch touchscreen for the front passenger.

That passenger screen can display journey information or stream video from Netflix and other providers, but is tinted so it can't be seen from the driver’s side. We found it much more intuitive to use than the clunky system in the Ferrari Purosangue (not a direct rival, we admit) and far more useful than the minimalist set-up in the Lotus Eletre.

The main infotainment screen features sharp graphics and is responsive to prods and swipes. We also found it useful that certain Apple CarPlay applications such as Apple Maps can now be displayed on the 12.6in digital instrument cluster right in front of you.

It’s such a good system that we’re not entirely sure you need to option Porsche’s new head-up display, which uses augmented-reality technology to place some information, such as directions from the sat-nav, in your line of sight.

Another thoughtful addition is the standard 15kW wireless phone-charging pad, which is cooled to stop your phone overheating. Physical toggles are provided for climate control adjustments, which is good news for usability, when many models now force you to use the touchscreen to change temperature settings and so on.

In terms of audio systems, the standard stereo boasts 10 speakers and 150 watts. Upgrades are available, including a Bose system with 14 speakers and 710 watts (standard on the Turbo), or a premium Burmester set-up with 21 speakers and 1,470 watts. The Burmester system is very pricey but sounds superb. 

Design-wise, the interior surpasses its petrol-powered counterpart, resembling a Taycan's, with its floating centre console, tall side windows and abundance of soft-touch materials. You can, of course, go absolutely overboard with the configurator and option everything from an extended leather package to carbon-fibre trim, but even if you stick with the regular specification you won’t feel short-changed.

Crucially for a sports SUV the Macan offers an excellent driving position. You sit closer to the ground than you do in the petrol Macan, so you immediately feel as though you’re in something properly sporty, and there’s plenty of adjustment for the steering wheel.

The seats are wonderfully supportive on a twisty country road thanks to great side support, but it's a shame you have to shell out if you want the 14-way seat option that brings adjustable lumbar support, or even more for the 18-way version.

Interior overview

Strengths Beautifully finished interior; excellent driving position

Weaknesses You’ll want to upgrade the seats

With a wider interior than the petrol version, the Porsche Macan Electric has plenty of room in the front. You’re unlikely to knock elbows with your passenger and even very tall drivers won’t feel hemmed in. 

There are two fixed cupholders just in front of the armrest, and under the armrest you'll find a cubby that houses two USB-C sockets. The arrangement is perfect for storing a passenger's phone, while the driver can use the cooled wireless charger located in a hidden cubby beneath the central air vents.

Thanks to a longer wheelbase than the petrol version, rear leg room has increased noticeably. It’s not "limo-like", as it is in a Kia EV6 GT, but six-footers will fit with ease and head room is superb. However, unlike some competitors – such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – the Macan lacks the flexibility to recline the rear backrests or adjust the rear seats to prioritise passenger leg room or boot space.

That said, the rear seats do split in a handy 40/20/40 arrangement, so you can fold down the narrower central section and slide through longer items, while still leaving room for two rear passengers.

In terms of boot space, the Macan officially has 540 litres at the back, and the boot floor sits flush with its load lip, making loading a doddle. For comparison, the BMW iX3 has 510 litres, the Kia EV6 GT and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N have 480, and the Genesis GV60 Performance has 432.

You get underfloor storage for the charging cables unless you option the upgraded sound systems, which comes with a subwoofer that takes up space. And unlike in all the rivals mentioned above, there's another luggage compartment under the bonnet, which is easily big enough for a carry-on suitcase.

For those requiring more boot or rear-passenger space, the VW ID 5 GTX (549 litres) or Lotus Eletre (688 litres) are worth considering.

Practicality overview

Strengths Decent sized rear boot; additional front boot; plenty of rear head room (without panoramic roof)

Weaknesses Kia EV6 GT has more rear leg room; rear seats don’t recline

The Porsche Macan 4 Electric undercuts the likes of the Polestar 3 Long Range, Mercedes EQE SUV and Lotus Eletre, but it's a touch more expensive than the BMW iX3, Tesla Model Y Performance and Kia EV6 GT. It’s also more money than a petrol Porsche Macan – a model that will be on sale until the end of 2025. 

In terms of depreciation, Taycans haven’t held on to their value as well as the industry predicted (a problem across the electric-car market as a whole) so we’ll be interested to see if that has an impact on the new Macan’s PCP finance rates. You can find the latest prices using our new Porsche deals page. 

Of course, resale value won't be an issue for those lucky enough to have a Macan on their company car list. Electric cars attract fantastic benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax breaks right now, so it will set you back a tiny amount in monthly salary sacrifices compared with combustion-engined SUVs in the same price bracket.

Standard features for the 4 include 20in alloy wheels, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a powered tailgate and a heat pump. You have to pay extra for keyless entry, privacy glass, a heated steering wheel, full leather seats and adaptive cruise control. The Turbo comes with extra standard kit, but it costs tens of thousands of pounds more.

Both cars get the same 95kWh battery with a peak charging speed of 270kW. In theory, that allows you to charge from 10-80% in around 20 minutes (significantly quicker than rivals), but you'll need to find a very fast charging station to do so.

In the UK, you're much more likely to come across a 150kW charger, which can deliver a 10-80% charge in just over half an hour. A 0-100% charge from a 7kW home wallbox takes around 15 hours.

Porsche gives you a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, while the battery is guaranteed to maintain at least 70% of its capacity for eight years/100,000 miles.

The list of standard safety technology includes automatic emergency braking (AEB), traffic-sign recognition and lane-keeping assistance. Adaptive cruise is available as an option. 

The new Macan is too new to have featured in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey but Porsche as a brand managed only 20th position when it was ranked against 31 other manufacturers. Mercedes came 24th while Tesla was up in tenth.

Costs overview

Strengths Quick potential charging speed; cheap company car choice

Weaknesses Expensive; lots of equipment optional; Porsche reliability record

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