Porsche Macan Electric review: Is it still a true Porsche?
These days, car journalists often find themselves in an awkward position.
You see, as electric cars slowly begin to look more reasonably priced when compared to their combustion-powered counterparts, we now find ourselves analysing whether the electric variant is actually worth the extra money.
When it comes to the UK market, this is one problem for the new Porsche Macan Electric, because it costs a little over £12,000 more than the combustion variant that is sold alongside it. In mainland Europe, the ICE car has been taken off sale altogether, which means electric is the only option for customers looking for a Macan.
Is this a bad thing, though? Porsche has form at making desirable EVs with the likes of the Taycan saloon. And yes, it costs more money to buy than the equivalent combustion car, but you're also getting the benefits of EV power (faster acceleration, refinement, a smoother drive...)
In this review, we'll take into account everything the Macan has to offer, from its performance to its price, and its practicality to its drivability. We will also answer one key question: does it feel like a true Porsche?
The focus of this review is the entry-level, single-motor car, which also happens to be the most efficient version of the new Macan Electric. Porsche claims an official electric range of up to 398 miles, but when driven on a mixture of motorway and country roads, a real-world figure of 320 miles was indicated. That should be ample for most people, especially because it can charge at up to 270kW.
Much like the electric range, performance is also pretty good. The rear-mounted motor produces 356bhp and 415lb ft on overboost, which is good for a 0-62mph time of 5.7sec and a top speed of 137mph. Both are impressive figures for an SUV that weighs just over 2.2 tonnes.
In practice, this performance is more than good enough for the average person. Up to about 60mph, the car feels very potent, and then begins to tail off thereafter. Crucially, however, it has enough performance to push itself out of fast corners and make light work of overtaking - as a Porsche should.
But while the Macan Electric's performance is enough, does it feel like a Porsche when the going gets twisty? For reference, the entry-level car that is the subject of this test rode on standard 20in alloy wheels and steel-coil suspension. The options it had fitted to it were the Sport Chrono package and Porsche's adaptive dampers.
Despite going without air suspension, the Macan Electric provides good isolation from lumps and bumps, and road noise is certainly quieter than other variants on larger alloys.
It handles and steers with impressive balance considering its weight and raised body, but feels like it can't quite match the combustion-powered Macan for outright cornering poise and dynamism.
What's more, the Macan Electric doesn't feel like the most interactive car to drive; you sometimes feel as though you're sitting on it rather than in it. For example, Porsche doesn't give you paddles for the regenerative braking, and the powertrain feels quite sterile. Having said that, it has no obvious failings. It's certainly no Taycan, but it is still an accomplished, effortless, polished driveline.
A reasonably efficient one, too, with a claimed energy efficiency of between 3.1mpkWh and 3.7mpkWh, which is competitive with the Polestar 3 and Genesis Electrified GV70.
Having said that, it is smaller than both of those cars. But this doesn't mean it feels smaller than those cars to sit in - not by a long shot.
Which brings us to the Macan Electric's interior. The overall driving environment is similar to that of the Taycan because it clearly embraces digital technology, with large screens for both the driver and passenger.
The instrument display and infotainment system dominate the dashboard, and the head-up display is also quite large. Helpfully, Porsche has fitted physical buttons for the climate controls, which means that it is still an intuitive, well laid-out dashboard and pleasant place to sit.
Elsewhere inside, there is as much usable space as you would expect to find in an SUV of this size, with enough second-row space for adults of average height to be comfortable on longer trips, and a boot that's actually larger than plenty of its rivals.
All things considered, the new Macan Electric offers plenty of pace and range and enough dynamic edge to make it feel like a Porsche to drive, but it's certainly no Taycan for the SUV class.
