Following on from the huge success of the Cayenne, Porsche entered the compact SUV space in 2014 with the original Macan. The car went on to be one of the brand’s biggest success stories, bringing Porsche’s sports car DNA into a compact SUV format. It shares the same electric platform as the Audi Q6 e-tron and promises to be the most engaging and driver-focused SUV in its class. However, in a packed field of rivals including the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQC, does the Macan still rank among the best? We’ve been taking a closer look to find out.
The new Macan proves that Porsche’s electric future doesn’t mean sacrificing driving enjoyment. It’s quick, composed and engaging in a way few electric SUVs manage. While it isn’t the cheapest or most practical option, it remains the benchmark for keen drivers.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioAs a general rule, electric vehicles tend to cost more to buy than their petrol counterparts and that appears to be a message that Porsche has taken to heart, with the cost of the Macan going up significantly compared to the old combustion-engined car. A look at Porsche’s online configurator shows prices for the most basic entry-level cars starting at £68,600, with the range-topping Macan Turbo kicking off at £97,500. There are also a number of trim levels sitting between those models, ranging from £71,900 to £89,000. Those numbers certainly place the Macan at the punchier end of the market, and Porsche’s extensive list of optional extras can quickly see the price rise even higher. If those price tags do seem a bit steep, then the used market could represent a solution. Second-hand versions of the current second-generation car can be found on AA Cars from around £60,000, with plenty of used stock available thereafter. While this is cheaper than what the new market can provide, it is still very much at the higher end of the segment, making the Macan one of the most exclusive cars in its class.
Having done away with petrol power, the Macan is now exclusively available as an EV. At the bottom of the range is the only rear-wheel-drive version, which produces 360 bhp using overboost and allows it to complete a 0–62 mph sprint in as little as 5.7 seconds. All subsequent versions of the car come with all-wheel drive, with power outputs ranging from 408 bhp to a whopping 639 bhp in the range-topping Turbo car. That model also offers performance that can put many sports cars to shame with a top speed of 162 mph and a 0–62 mph time of just 3.3 seconds. Regardless of which trim level you go for, all versions get a 100 kWh battery, around 95 kWh of which is usable, and benefit from an 800-volt electrical architecture that supports DC fast charging up to 270 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% charge in approximately 21 minutes.
While old-school petrolheads will undoubtedly bemoan the loss of the internal combustion engine options, when you get behind the wheel of the Macan it is clear to see that Porsche has gone to huge lengths to retain the car’s dynamism, while also offering a good level of everyday usability. Around town, the car feels responsive and easy to manage, with instant torque and acceleration making it easy to get away quickly at lights and junctions. Despite its hefty proportions, the Macan also feels pretty manoeuvrable and visibility is good thanks to the raised seating position. While all that is great, in truth, it is on faster roads where the Macan really comes into its own. On the motorway, acceleration is effortless, particularly in the more powerful versions, and the car remains stable and composed at motorway speeds. Once you get to 70 mph the car becomes a confident long-distance cruiser with wind and road noise kept out impressively, leading to a pretty relaxed experience.
While the Macan may feel relaxed on those long motorway drives, it also has it in it to become an absolute beast – and that is definitely meant as a compliment! For an SUV, the handling is outstanding with the low-mounted battery helping to keep the centre of gravity down. Elsewhere, the steering feels sharp, accurate and way more engaging than the vast majority of cars in this class. The ride may be firmer than some of those rivals, particularly on larger wheels, but the suspension setup does strike an impressive balance between comfort and control. On bendy roads the car feels grippy and encourages you to push it, with the body roll you often see in SUVs of this size brought well under control. Overall, the Macan benefits from Porsche’s years of expert knowledge when it comes to ride and handling, with the result being a car that offers a level of driver engagement that few can match.
Unsurprisingly for a car with such a high price tag, the cabin feels incredibly premium. The interior design is modern, clean and unmistakably Porsche, with excellent build quality throughout. Up front, there is a curved digital instrument display that sits ahead of the driver, as well as a 10.9-inch central touchscreen for infotainment purposes. In higher-spec cars, you can also add a passenger-side display, allowing the front passenger to control navigation and media without distracting the driver. As ever with Porsche, the quality of the materials used is incredibly high, with leather, aluminium and soft-touch surfaces seen throughout the range.
With such a focus on luxury and performance, practicality does become something of a sidenote in the Macan. While its 540 litres of boot capacity is perfectly acceptable, it is far from leading the class, despite the space itself being well-shaped and easy to access. Inside the cabin, storage is solid rather than outstanding, with door bins, cupholders and a central storage area dotted around the interior. Despite this, key rivals will offer more on this front, so buyers will have to decide if it is a price worth paying for the extra performance. Elsewhere, with no engine under the bonnet, Porsche has given the Macan a small but handy frunk, which is perfect for keeping charging cables.
All versions of the Macan come with a good level of kit, with even the entry-level car getting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, electrically adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems. Higher trim levels and optional packs add even more luxury features such as heated and ventilated seats, memory functions, ambient lighting and upgraded interior materials. As with most Porsches, the options list is extensive, meaning buyers can tailor the car to their tastes.
The Macan is offered in four main trims: Macan, Macan 4, Macan 4S and Macan Turbo. Each step up brings increased performance and additional standard equipment, with the Macan 4S probably representing the sweet spot of the range. Colour options include black and white as standard, with a range of blues, greys, greens and reds available for either £778 or £2,361, depending on which shade you go for. Alternatively, Porsche will produce paint to sample, although that option costs a substantial £7,913.
Porsche has kitted the Macan out with a wide range of safety systems, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and traffic sign recognition. The approach was enough to impress the judges at Euro NCAP, who awarded a full five-star score back in 2024. With a reputation for high build quality, Porsches tend to be a good choice when it comes to reliability, although long-term data for the latest Macan does remain limited.
The Macan offers a competitive electric range, with official WLTP figures ranging from 362 miles for the least efficient model all the way up to 381 miles in the longest-range option. While these figures are strong for a car of this type, it is worth noting that real-world numbers are likely to fall some way short of the claimed range. As a zero-emissions vehicle, the Macan produces 0 g/km of CO₂ and benefits from lower road tax rates. Despite this, the car does fall under the government’s Expensive Car Supplement, which applies to vehicles over £40,000. The tax costs £425 a year for five years, applied from the second year of registration.
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