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Motor Trend
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2025 Porsche Macan 4 Electric First Test: Feeling Like a Porsche?
Pros Long range Quick charging Porsche design Cons Quite pricey Lacks the Porsche feeling Interior materials are questionable The 2025 Porsche Macan Electric marks the brand's first foray into the all-electric SUV world, and with four trims—Base, 4, 4S, and Turbo—there's a Macan EV tailored to many types of drivers. Power ranges from 355 hp in the base model up to a stonking 630 hp in the range-topping Turbo, and every version comes equipped with a large 100-kWh battery (95 usable). The 2025 Porsche Macan 4 Electric impresses with its range, charging, and comfort, but lacks the thrilling Porsche feel. Priced at $90,365 as tested, it offers solid EV performance but falls short on interior refinement and emotional driving experience. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next We spent a couple of weeks behind the wheel of a Macan 4, one of the midlevel trims delivering 402 hp, and came away impressed with its relatively long range and speedy charging capabilities. But despite its electrified bona fides, we couldn't help but ask ourselves: Does the Macan 4 Electric really feel like a Porsche? Engaging, but Not like All Porsches The base-model Macan Electric and the Macan 4 we had in for testing are clearly aimed at buyers seeking a more relaxed and comfortable driving experience, and its off-the-line performance reflected that. When we pinned it, the Macan 4 hustled from 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 4.5 seconds, doing so with quiet confidence, and the test team reported it exhibited smooth, quick launches with a linear feel as it did. But there was no "wheee!' moment, no snap-back-into-the-headrest drama under hard acceleration. And that's exactly how the Macan 4 Electric felt out on the road, as well. It didn't deliver the kind of thrills we've come to expect from a Porsche. There was no real emotional spark to the proceedings. Those qualities seem reserved for the more powerful 4S and Turbo models—and based on our First Drives, they deliver. But when you're spending over $90,000 on an EV (and a Porsche, no less), you expect something that truly grabs your attention. Let's get one thing straight: Speed isn't everything. And although we wouldn't call the Macan 4 quick, it certainly isn't slow, either, with enough power to keep things moving. We were also fans of its composed ride, and despite steering tuned more for comfort than aggression, it still felt plenty connected. The Macan 4 Electric is a solid electrified SUV to be sure, just not an overly exciting one from behind the wheel. Macan Electric Does EV Things Well As an EV, the Macan 4 more than hits the mark. Its 95-kWh of usable battery delivered 282 miles of range during our 70-mph steady-state Road-Trip Range test—just shy of its 308-mile EPA rating—and it aced the fast-charging trial, adding 175 miles in just 15 minutes on a 350-kW charger. In addition, charging from 5 to 80 percent took only 22 minutes, just behind its Audi Q6 E-Tron platform mate. Those are strong numbers, and they should matter to anyone buying an EV. On top of that, the native navigation system has been improved to make road-trip planning smarter, showing available chargers along your route and estimating charging times based on charger power and your battery's current state of charge. Like the Taycan, the Macan Electric doesn't offer true one-pedal driving, though it does take advantage of brake regeneration to recover energy. Unlike some competitors, Porsche keeps it simple; there's no adjustable regen level, just an on/off switch. Even with regen enabled, lifting off the throttle doesn't produce a sudden slowdown. Instead, the Macan gently coasts while gradually losing speed. When you press the brake pedal, the system captures that energy and feeds it back into the battery, just like other EVs. When examining the inside of the 2025 Porsche Macan 4 Electric, we came away satisfied with what we saw and touched, though it lacked the wow factor some other EVs in its class deliver. On the plus side, the leather throughout the cabin is soft. The seats feel comfortable and well cushioned—thankfully so because those 14-way power-adjustable seats tack on a $1,350 premium. The 10.9-inch touchscreen fits neatly into the dashboard and delivers crisp, clear navigation visuals via Apple CarPlay. Meanwhile, the 12.6-inch curved gauge cluster adds a touch of high-end sophistication to the cockpit. But take a closer look, and you might find yourself underwhelmed. The hard plastic on the center console feels out of place in a vehicle at this price point. We noticed the entire panel housing the A/C controls sinks noticeably when you press one of the touch-sensitive buttons. Plus, there's more piano black trim than we'd prefer. Overall, the cabin proved to be less refined than we expected. We also ran into a few hiccups with the infotainment system. On our first time in the car, connecting to Apple CarPlay was a breeze, but strangely, no audio played. We tried switching to the radio but came up empty there, too. Thankfully, the issue only popped up once during our two-week loan, but it wasn't the best way to kick things off. There were a few other features that stood out in a positive way. For example, the ambient lighting isn't just for looks. It flashes bright yellow or red on the upper door panel to warn you of cars in your blind spot or when a car is approaching, respectively. At night, this lighting adds a sleek, modern vibe to the cabin. Still, there's nothing that felt particularly unique or groundbreaking, and given it's a Porsche, we expected something a bit more upscale and special. Is the 2025 Porsche Macan 4 Electric Worth It? After two weeks behind the wheel of the 2025 Porsche Macan 4 Electric, we concluded it's a great EV—but it doesn't quite deliver what other Porsches do. As we mentioned, the interior materials could be of higher quality, and the driving experience lacks a certain flair. Another sticking point is value. The Macan 4 Electric starts at $80,795, and prices climb quickly once you start adding options. With extras such as rear steering and the Sport Chrono package, the final tally hit $90,365—a hefty sum for what you get. But more than that, what's missing from the Macan 4 Electric is that intangible something —the special feeling that defines a Porsche, especially one powered by an internal combustion engine. Take the Macan powered by the 261-hp 2.0-liter turbo, for instance. That isn't the fastest Macan, either, but it feels like a Porsche. There's a certain character to it: the sound, the surge, the connection to the road. It's the DNA we expect to be baked into every model bearing the rearing horse crest, electrified or otherwise—an experience that the otherwise competent Macan 4 didn't quite deliver.
Korea Herald
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Porsche Macan EV, too good to be electric
Porsche is seeking a turnaround in South Korea, its fifth-largest market, with the Macan Electric, an electrified version of its bestselling sport utility vehicle and its first all-electric model. In 2023, the German luxury carmaker reached a milestone achievement by exceeding annual sales of 10,000 units in Korea for the first time. However, with sales dropping by nearly 30 percent last year, the success was short-lived. '(The gas-powered) Macan has been in production for over 10 years. With two facelifts, the SUV hit cumulative global sales of 844,236 units by 2023,' said Lee Suk-jae, head of retail qualification at Porsche Korea, during a press briefing on Thursday. 'The Macan Electric continues this legacy, having already delivered over 18,000 units globally, following its release in Korea last month,' he added. The Macan Electric comes in four trims — the Macan, Macan 4, Macan 4S and Macan Turbo — each offering upgraded driving performance. The Korea Herald checked out the upper two trim models, the Macan Turbo and Macan 4S, during a recent media drive covering a round trip of some 300 kilometers across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Among its four driving modes of Normal, Sport, Offroad and Sport Plus, the Macan Turbo's aptly named Sport mode boasts sports car-like performance, with the immediate thrust of its electric motors, and a high voltage nickel, manganese and cobalt battery with 100 kilowatt-hours capacity. When stepping on the accelerator, the car instantly goes from 50 kilometers per hour to 110 kph in less than three seconds. The official zero to 100 acceleration of the turbo model is 3.3 seconds. The all-electric Macan even captures Porsche's iconic sports car DNA by incorporating an artificial engine sound, creating the illusion of riding a gas-powered car. The cabin remained exceptionally quiet at high speeds, with external air effectively sealed out to prevent wind noise. The vehicle's air suspension enables more dynamic driving by allowing drivers to feel the road surface while minimizing up and down body movements. Although this was not enough to prevent body roll during high-speed, winding courses, the car's rear-end electric motor, which combines the dynamic torque distribution of the all-wheel drive and rear-axle steering, ensures lithe handling during cornering acceleration. Switching to Normal mode provides a quieter, more comfortable ride that's ideal for city driving. Even with regenerative braking mode activated, the system minimizes the jerky and abrupt movements often experienced in EVs. The Macan 4S, positioned between the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo, demonstrates performance comparable to the Turbo model. As for the exterior, the Macan Electric's sleek design includes headlights that are seamlessly integrated into the bumper and its frameless doors, a feature rarely seen in SUVs, enhance the sporty Porsche aesthetic. At the rear, the vehicle features a 3D taillight strip with a sculptural design and standard 22-inch wheels. The vehicle's wheelbase has been extended for the battery, but its overall length has not increased by much, resulting in shorter overhangs and a more robust look. Inspired by the Porsche Spyder, its side blades are available in various materials and colors to suit customer preferences. Inside, the head-up display incorporates augmented reality technology for the first time to quickly deliver information such as driving directions, lane markings and distance warnings. The Macan, Macan 4, Macan 4S and Macan Turbo are priced at 99.1 million won, 159 million won, 114.4 million won and 138.5 million won, respectively. hyejin2@
