Porsche Macan review: This premium electric car is hard to beat

This isn’t just an electric version of the Porsche Macan. It is the new Porsche Macan. The previous-generation car is no more (although it remains on sale in a few markets, including the UK, until 2025), and from now on Porsch’s mid-size SUV is electric-only.

It looks broadly similar to the old car, but with a sharper front end sporting Porsche’s latest four-dot headlight design and a more rounded rear end. The wheelbase has been lengthened in a bid to create more space inside and cope with the battery pack, and the body is smoother to help reduce drag and improve range. It sits on an 800-volt electrical platform that can charge its battery at up to 270 kW – that’s far quicker than many rivals, meaning a top-up can take less than 20 minutes.

There are currently four models available, starting with the entry-level Macan and passing through the 4 and 4S, up to the range-topping Turbo, which offers massive performance and a similarly large price tag. The entry point to the range is surprisingly affordable, though – before you start adding the hugely tempting options. Porsche’s main rivals for the Macan are the Audi Q6 e-tron, Mercedes EQE SUV and Polestar 3.

We’ve driven the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo on a number of occasions, most recently in the UK from Porsche’s base in Reading to the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone. We tested the car on country lanes, through towns and on the motorway. And at Silverstone, we even got to try the Turbo on track.

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Independent rating: 8/10

The electric Porsche Macan comes in four flavours, ranging from the £68,500 entry-level Macan, through the 4 and 4S, and topped (for now, at least) by the £96,900 Macan Turbo. All have a 100 kWh battery, and all but the rear-drive base model have two motors and all-wheel-drive. They also all share the same 800-volt electrical system (double that of most EVs) and maximum charge rate of 270 kW, which fills the battery from 10 to 80 percent in around 20 minutes. A full charge at home takes about 10 hours.

The base-level Macan produces 351 bhp and accelerates to 62 mph in 5.7 seconds. The range-topping Macan Turbo has 623 bhp and hits 62 mph in just 3.3 seconds. For us, the sweet spot of the range is the Macan 4, which has 498 bhp, reaches 62 mph in 5.2 seconds and costs from £71,200.

The Macan 4 we drove had a host of options taking the price up to nearly £79,000. The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) costs £899 and would be worthwhile – our car had a near-perfect blend of ride comfort and handling. It felt sturdy, connected and communicative through bends with little body roll for a tall-ish car, while the steering is Porsche-sharp, too – a reminder of the lineage that goes back to the Porsche 911.

Driving the range-topping Turbo shows how fast an electric SUV can be, but it’s not all straight line performance. Around the track at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, the Turbo felt much lighter than you’d expect from a large, heavy SUV, turning into corners and changing direction sharply. On a slightly damp surface, grip levels were high, while braking performance was also impressive. What was less special, though, was the ride quality away from the track – it felt very firm and a bit uncomfortable at times. Lesser models are more comfortable.

The interior is all very Porsche. By which we mean it’s a little subdued, but looks premium and feels very well made. It’s also similar to that of the Taycan and most recent Cayenne, with a curved, digital display ahead of the driver, a central infotainment touchscreen and an illuminated panel of toggle switches on the centre console for adjusting the interior temperature, fan speed and seat heating. These really are great; they look good and aren’t a distraction, yet can be controlled easily without taking your attention from the road like a touchscreen.

Despite having a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, rear passenger space isn’t as great as you might expect. It’ll be fine for most people, but only just adequate for taller adults – it’s almost as though Porsche needed to keep some room (literally) between the Macan and bigger Cayenne models. Meanwhile the panoramic roof is wonderful for light, but robs a little headroom. Boot space is a respectable 540 litres, but this falls to 480 with the Turbo, and there’s a further 84 litres under the bonnet for storing charge cables. In-car storage is good, though.

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Drivers unsure about the massive touchscreen displays of other EVs will be pleased to see a more refrained approach from Porsche. Like the Taycan, the Macan has a row of physical temperature controls and conventional buttons on its steering wheel. Other buttons look like they’re touch-sensitive, but need a prod which shifts the whole panel – not a great impression of quality. The infotainment screen in the centre at 10.9-inches feels as though it could be a bit bigger, though.

Porsche’s system works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, or if you use the car’s own navigation you can take advantage of its new, bigger head-up display, complete with augmented reality arrows to help with junctions and roundabout exits. A second infotainment screen ahead of the passenger is available as an optional extra (£1,112), complete with a display that cannot be seen by the driver, so can be used to show video.

Porsche offers two upgraded stereo options, including a 14-speaker, 710-watt Bose system for £917 (standard fit on the Turbo) and a 21-speaker, 1,470-watt Burmester stereo for £3,695.

Porsche has always known how to charge for extras, and the Macan is no different – even when other brands are keen to bundle more standard kit than ever. Get greedy with the configurator and you’ll spend a fortune on top of the list price for your Macan. Otherwise, running costs can be very low – as with any EV – so long as you charge during off-peak hours at home and be careful when using expensive high-speed public chargers. And remember, at 270 kW the Macan can fill its battery with pricey electricity more quickly than most.

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The Macan is one of few EVs to use an 800-volt architecture instead of 400. This means it can charge more quickly, up to 270 kW if you plug it into a suitable charger. That’ll fill the battery from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 21 minutes. A full charge from empty using an 11 kW home charger takes about 11 hours.

Naturally, being a Porsche this is a premium car. The Macan starts at £68,500 for the base model, but prices run all the way up to £96,900 for the Macan Turbo. As always, Porsche likes to charge handsomely for optional extras, so be careful when picking the kit for your car.

Porsche has a warranty on its EV batteries. Like many other manufacturers, this lasts for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. If the battery fails during that time, and the car has kept up with its routine service schedule, Porsche will address the problem.

As a premium, all-round EV the Porsche Macan is hard to beat. Avoid the Turbo unless you can truly afford the inevitable depreciation, and go for the 4, or even the base model – but be careful with all those pricey optional extras.

Much like its Taycan sibling, the new Macan looks, feels and drives like a Porsche, despite being electric and carrying a fair bit of weight. Although not a full-size SUV, it could still work well as a premium family car in base Macan and Macan 4 guise, while the Turbo is properly quick (and equally expensive, too).

The Macan EV offers a decent range, plenty of power in any configuration, an enjoyable driving experience and super-fast charging thanks to its 800-volt system. It can get rather expensive if you’re greedy with the options list (just as any Porsche can), and rear passenger space is only just adequate, but in return you get a car that feels every bit as premium as the badge of its nose suggests. From the engaging drive and speedy charging, to the ergonomics of the cabin and snappiness of the infotainment system, this is a top-notch EV from a company that knows what it’s doing.