Having just taken delivery of my new Macan EV, I wanted to share my initial thoughts and compare it to my other Porsches: a 911 (992 4S Cabriolet), a Taycan GTS, and my previous Macan Diesel. I also spent some time test-driving a Cayenne. Here are my first impressions after a few days of ownership.
First Impressions: A Blend of Familiarity and Electric Innovation
Exterior Aesthetics
The Macan EV’s exterior design is genuinely stunning. To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by how visually appealing it is from every angle. The feedback from everyone who has seen it has been overwhelmingly positive, a stark contrast to the more divided opinions I encountered when test-driving the Cayenne. The Macan seems to have a universally appreciated aesthetic. A highlight for me are the 21-inch Macan Turbo wheels. I chose them based on their appearance in the configurator and, importantly, for range considerations. Range is a key factor for me, as I regularly drive 325km to my vacation home and want to maintain normal highway speeds. With my Taycan and its 21-inch Spyder wheels, achieving that range required a conscious effort to limit speed to 120km/h, which felt slow for a Taycan GTS. Despite concerns about range reduction with larger wheels, I opted for these 21-inch wheels as they look fantastic and, surprisingly, seem to appear larger than other 21-inch designs.
Interior Space and Quality
Stepping inside, the Macan EV’s interior is noticeably more spacious than the Taycan, a welcome change for my kids who often felt cramped in the back of the Taycan. It also feels wider than my previous ICE Macan. In terms of interior quality, while my Taycan GTS with its Alcantara interior has a more luxurious and immersive feel, the Macan EV, especially with the Crayon interior I selected, evokes a similar sense of spaciousness and quality to the Cayenne. Perhaps the Crayon color palette contributes to this feeling of airiness, making it feel just as substantial as the Cayenne.
Ride Comfort and User Experience
The Macan EV delivers a very comfortable ride. While it might not reach the absolute pinnacle of luxury experienced in the Taycan, which excels in user experience with features like door weight and sound dampening, the Macan EV is exceptionally comfortable in its own right. For city driving, the higher seating position in the Macan EV is a significant advantage, offering improved visibility and a more commanding view of the road – reminiscent of both the Cayenne and my previous ICE Macan. The 911, of course, exists in its own realm, a raw adrenaline machine incomparable to the comfort-focused Macan EV or Taycan. While the 911 is comfortable for a sports car, it prioritizes performance over outright comfort in the same way as these SUVs. A notable improvement in the Macan EV is the gesture control for the trunk, which operates more reliably than in my other Porsches. The unlock and lock features are also remarkably refined and responsive, surpassing both the Taycan and 992 911 in terms of speed and precision.
Advanced Features and Technology
The Innodrive system in the Macan EV is a significant leap forward. While the car’s interface doesn’t explicitly reference “Innodrive,” the top-tier Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist are noticeably superior to both my previous Macan ICE and even the 992. It also represents a substantial improvement over the Innodrive in my Taycan. The new capacitive steering wheel is a welcome addition, requiring only a touch to register your hand’s presence, eliminating the need for steering wheel movement. The Macan EV’s lane-keeping and traffic assist features perform admirably, navigating lanes and highway driving with ease. While perhaps not as advanced as Tesla’s Autopilot, it offers everything I need for assisted driving.
Panoramic Roof and Sound System
The panoramic roof is excellent, flooding the interior with natural light. While not completely silent at high speeds, it features a fantastic interior curtain for sunny days and offers both tilt and full opening options. The Bose sound system is impressive, approaching the audio quality of the Bose system in my Taycan. While the Taycan’s system might have a slight edge, possibly due to insulated windows, the Macan EV’s Bose system delivers rich and immersive sound.
Convenience and Comfort Features
The automatic lock/unlock system is flawless – it works perfectly every time, requiring no adjustments. The “Sports sound” feature, while not as engaging as the Taycan’s which benefits from simulated gear changes, is a nice addition and something I wouldn’t want to miss. The massage seats are a significant upgrade, finally delivering a truly effective massage function, unlike the underwhelming systems I’ve experienced in Mercedes-Benz E-Class and GLC models. As someone who exercises frequently, I find the massage seats particularly beneficial. The 360-degree cameras offer excellent image quality, although there is occasional minor lag. The top-down view is particularly impressive and potentially on par with the Cayenne’s system. The Matrix LED headlights effectively block light from oncoming vehicles, although they are not quite as dynamically adaptive as the Taycan’s Matrix LED system, which excels at filling in dark areas without dazzling other drivers.
Driving Dynamics and Performance
For daily driving, the Macan EV’s higher driving position provides a more comfortable and commanding feel. Surprisingly, the Macan EV has become the Porsche I’m most likely to engage in playful maneuvers with, like small slides, thanks to its abundant power and playful handling. Perhaps the combination of power and enhanced visibility contributes to this newfound agility.
Acceleration and Speed
The 0-100 km/h acceleration is breathtaking. The Macan EV delivers a punch that surpasses my other Porsches, feeling like a rocket. It feels even quicker than the Taycan, despite having only slightly more horsepower on paper (a difference of 40hp). The 911 offers a different kind of speed experience; being significantly lighter, it’s incredibly agile and the sound of the sports exhaust is irreplaceable. However, in terms of sheer acceleration, the Macan EV is truly impressive. At higher speeds (+200km/h), the 911 reigns supreme, capable of reaching speeds up to 320km/h. However, for the 120-250km/h range, the Taycan is exceptionally quick and stable, making high-speed cruising effortless and comfortable even for passengers. I haven’t yet taken the Macan EV on a long, high-speed journey. On mountain roads, the 911 remains in a class of its own. The Taycan feels more planted and stable in comparison, while the Macan EV holds its own admirably.
Minor Desires for Improvement
Reflecting on my configuration choices, the only lingering question is whether I prefer the modern and spacious feel of the Crayon interior over the more traditional black. While I would likely choose Crayon again, the black interior remains a tempting alternative.
Range and Charging
Range is a crucial aspect for any EV owner. While I haven’t undertaken a long trip yet, the Macan EV demonstrably offers over 100km more range than my Taycan. Consistently seeing a projected range of 450km+ even with spirited driving segments is a significant improvement. Range anxiety is virtually eliminated, making daily driving and longer trips much more relaxed. Furthermore, the charging infrastructure in Portugal is continually improving.
Minor Dislikes and Areas for Refinement
There are a few minor annoyances. Firstly, the lack of customizable driver profiles for settings like chassis height in normal mode and speed warnings is a step back from the Taycan. While some settings are retained for a single drive or driving mode, true profile-based memory is missing. Secondly, the change in cruise control stalk and key button operation compared to other Porsches is perplexing. Muscle memory from my other Porsches leads to unintended actions, like opening the frunk instead of unlocking the car. The altered cruise control stalk operation also requires a period of adaptation. Thirdly, water accumulation in the trunk when opened after rain is a minor but noticeable issue. Finally, the “Hey Porsche” voice assistant remains somewhat limited in its capabilities. The inability to permanently disable speed limit warnings, requiring manual deactivation each drive, is also an oversight. And the infotainment system still lacks seamless integration between radio and Apple CarPlay – a surprising omission in a modern vehicle. Lastly, the absence of 22kW AC charging is a missed opportunity for faster home and public charging.
Overall Assessment
Despite these minor shortcomings, the Macan EV is an exceptional vehicle. It’s a truly perfect daily driver with a spirited character. The real-world range of 430km+ is more than sufficient for my needs, making it a practical and enjoyable electric SUV.
