2024 Porsche Macan review: First drive of one of the most important new electric cars of the year

The Porsche Macan is a whole lot more than just another fast SUV.

It’s arguably one of the most important new electric car arrivals of 2024 – and it’s one others will be watching intently.

Let me explain…

The Macan is Porsche’s top selling car, accounting for about half of the brand’s sales in Australia.

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Sure, for those not in the market for Stuttgart’s finest you may be thinking it’s still not much of a big deal.

Except that the Macan is a big player in the prestige mid-sized SUV category.

It doesn’t sell in quite the numbers of the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, but it puts up a solid fight – especially considering it generally sells with price tags higher than all of those.

And Porsche is expecting to sell at least as many of the new Macan EVs as the old petrol-powered ones.

That means something like 3000 cars annually in Australia, which is twice as many as Toyota is initially expecting to sell of its bZ4X.

2024 Porsche Macan price and equipment

Here’s where it gets interesting. The all-electric Macan is a whole lot more expensive than the petrol model it will replace late in 2024.

Prices kick off at $133,700 plus on-road costs for the Macan 4 while the faster and better-equipped Macan Turbo sells from $180,100. There’s a whole bunch of options that allow for customisation of just about anything if you want to really make the car your own (or lighten the bank balance a tad).

There will be more variants of the new Porsche Macan EV down the track, including an entry-level single-motor, rear-wheel drive model, but prices will still be well above the $93,800 starting price of the outgoing model.

So, you’re looking at a car that’s stepped up in price and positioning and will no longer have the engine that many buyers would expect in a car wearing a Porsche badge.

Clearly there will be some owners who won’t be ready to make the EV leap.

But equally there will be plenty ready for the step up in performance and driving nous (we’ll get to that) that the second generation Macan delivers.

That’s also why you’re likely to see other brands watching the Porsche experience closely; key rivals are currently having an each-way bet on EV. Porsche is all-in. Yep, Porsche, the brand that’s staked so much of its heritage and reputation on premium unleaded.

The question is whether buyers are ready to blast around town smoothly and serenely.

Tesla has already proven there’s a hearty appetite for mainstream electric cars.

Now Porsche is about to test whether traditional luxury buyers are ready for an EV.

And there’s loads of substance in the new Macan, starting with its standard equipment.

The Macan 4 comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, 360-degree camera, dual-zone ventilation, smart key entry, adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting, adaptive dampers, a powered tailgate, electrically adjustable steering column, heated front seats and electrically adjustable seats with a memory function for saving driving positions.

There’s also a 12.6-inch curved instrument cluster and a 10.9-inch central infotainment screen that is controlled behind the scenes by Android Automotive, giving access to a suite of third-party apps.

It’s a leap to the Macan Turbo, which gets a larger rear motor, 21-inch wheels and more equipment, including a panoramic sunroof, quad-zone ventilation, Sport Chrono pack and Porsche Electric Sport Sound for a futuristic synthesised sound. It also brings adjustable-height air suspension.

The Turbo has some unique design elements, including non-functioning vents built into the rear bumper and a greyed out “Turbonite” badge (in lieu of the yellow and red highlights on the Porsche emblem).

2024 Porsche Macan: What we think

If you’re the type of person who loves to hate EVs and reckons you need a petrol engine to make a Porsche exciting, then strap yourself in because one lap of the block in the Macan and we reckon you’ll start to appreciate the benefits to the driving experience.

It’s starts with a whole lot more thrust.

We tested both the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo.

The Macan 4 uses two electric motors to make a combined 285kW and 650Nm. However, activate the launch control system and it briefly steps the peak power up to 300kW, in turn helping the Macan 4 hit 100km/h from standstill in 5.2 seconds.

That’s brisk and makes for a thoroughly enjoyable car. Even better, it delivers its performance in a thoroughly Porsche way.

There’s no touchiness to the throttle, with predicable linearity but thrust on offer when it’s needed.

Dial up launch control and it bursts away from a standstill.

For the ultimate SUV performance rush, though, the Turbo steps things up big-time with a larger rear motor; it’s the same motor used in the ballistic Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, although it doesn’t produce nearly as much power in the Macan.

Still, with combined outputs of 430kW and 1130Nm, the Taycan Turbo EV one of the most powerful Porsches you can buy.

Utilise launch control and the power kicks up to 470kW, helping the Macan Turbo hit 100km/h in 3.3 seconds. The dash to 200km/h takes 11.7 seconds.

The larger rear motor also gives the car a rear-biased driving feel, the tail occasionally squirming if you power out of tight corners.

We tested cars on optional 22-inch tyres and grip levels were excellent, allowing you to push on and soak up the beautifully weighted steering. It’s another example of delivering on Porsche expectations.

But it’s the ultra low centre of gravity – one that sits 440mm below the previous petrol Macan – that defines the character of the Macan.

Four-wheel steering helps with slow speed athleticism while adding to the sense of security and solidity at higher speeds.

The body control is also fantastic, combining with taut but compliant suspension to deliver on comfort and everyday liveability.

Inside, too, it’s pure Porsche luxury, from upmarket finishes and materials to the 911 steering wheel and sports car-inspired touches, such as the circular gauges built into the digital display and the frameless windows.

The Macan also delivers on space, in part because occupants sit lower than before.

So there’s great headroom front and rear, as well as excellent seats and practical storage options.

2024 Porsche Macan: Verdict

The new Porsche Macan is a car that deserves to do well – and it’s a car that will have the gaze of the luxury rivals firmly on it.

Bold? That’s undercalling it. Ballsy is a better description – and we love that Porsche is having a go.

It sets a new driving benchmark for mid-sized SUVs – or any size SUV for that matter.

It’s a seriously impressive machine that delivers on driving excitement and performance, but with enough of the traditional Porsche traits – brilliant brakes, excellent handling and fantastic attention to detail – to lure the faithful.

The biggest challenge the Macan will face is the price tag.

Sure, by Porsche standards it’s at the more affordable end of the scale, but compared with other luxury SUVs it wears a price premium.

For those prepared to experience it they’ll realise there’s genuine depth to the Macan’s talents.

Yep, it really is a very good SUV.

Score: 4.5/5

2024 Porsche Macan 4 specifications
Price: $133,700 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 613km
Battery capacity: 100kWh (96kWh useable)
Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km
Energy consumption: kWh/100km
Motors: 1 front and 1 rear 300kW/650Nm
AC charging: 270kW, CCS combo plug
DC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
0-100km/h: 5.2 seconds

2024 Porsche Macan Turbo specifications
Price: $180,100 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 591km
Battery capacity: 100kWh (96kWh useable)
Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km
Energy consumption: kWh/100km
Motors: 1 front and 1 rear 470kW/1130Nm
AC charging: 270kW, CCS combo plug
DC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
0-100km/h: 3.3 seconds