porsche macan electric review main exterior image

Porsche Macan Electric review: It’s all about the driver

October 31, 2025 Matt Allan

The Porsche Macan Electric needs to balance EV performance with Porsche’s trademark driving feel. Does it succeed?

Porsche was perhaps the first brand to prove that electric cars could be fun.

We’d had EVs before with spaceship-like acceleration but beyond straight line sprinting they delivered very little dynamically. The Taycan, on the other hand, was rapid, responsive and genuinely great to drive.

However, in sales terms, it lags behind Porsche’s other models. The brand’s big sellers are its SUVs – the Cayenne and Macan. So to make real progress in its electrification push, Stuttgart’s finest has brought battery power to its big guns. We’ll see the all-electric Cayenne next year but the Macan Electric is already here and looking to set a new standard in its class.

The Macan Electric is an all-new car based on the VW Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture. It shares this with the Audi Q6 and A6 e-tron but Porsche has done a lot to ensure it is its own vehicle with a distinctly Porsche feel.

That shared base makes the Q6 an obvious rival for the Macan, alongside other premium and sporty options such as the BMW iX3, Tesla Model Y Performance and Polestar 4. There are also more leftfield alternatives such as the Lexus RZ 550e F Sport and the Genesis GV70 vying for drivers’ attention. So can the Macan follow the Taycan in bringing something new to the party?

Porsche Macan Electric design, interior and technology

Visually, the Macan Electric is a clear evolution of the previous model, even if it is entirely new.

There’s the same low, wide bonnet with the headlights pushed out to the corners, the same deep front bumper and the same SUV body with a hint of a coupe-style roofline. But everything has been chiselled and tightened. The lights are sharper quad units, the bumper is smoother and the roofline a little sleeker. It’s a handsome and unfussy thing that will appeal to existing Porsche drivers and newcomers to the brand.

Inside, there’s a similar unfussy approach that feels designed to let the driver focus on driving. It might sound obvious but so many cars fail to do this. From the overall simplicity of the design to specifics like the easily accessible air con rocker switches, the steering wheel-mounted drive mode dial and two-press system to kill the ADAS, it’s all about attention on the road.

Even the touchscreen is easy to use. There’s lots going on but the things you want to access regularly are quick and easy to find and the whole setup is clear and responsive.

Those in the front seat are treated to wonderfully comfortable sports seats inspired by the tombstone pews of the 911. Behind them, there’s decent but not exceptional space for two adults, while the boot will hold up to 540 litres of luggage.

Porsche Macan Electric interior image — A driver-focused cabin show rivals how it should be done

Porsche Macan Electric battery, motor and powertrain

Porsche sells all manner of all-wheel-drive Macans, from the 402bhp 4S to the lairy 630bhp Macan Turbo.

But our test car was the entry-level single-motor model, badged simply Macan.

This uses a 335bhp/437lb ft motor to drive the rear wheels, with an overboost function that cranks it up to 355bhp for short periods. Engage that from a standstill and the 0-62mph run will take 5.7 seconds.

It’s no slouch but there are less performance-focused cars out there that are just as quick, and similarly priced alternatives such as the Genesis or Polestar are notably quicker.

There’s more to performance than straight line speed, however. Even this “slowest” Macan is plenty punchy enough and is calibrated to make it easy to use its power. The throttle is well-balanced and linear, with a gradual sharpening through the drive modes. Importantly, the brake is equally well judged. There is an automatic regeneration mode, but deactivate that and there’s a confidence-inspiring power and evenness to the braking that delivers a seamless handover from regen to friction and gives total belief in the car.

Porsche Macan Electric driving image — The base Macan Electric is quick but not breath-taking

From the steering wheel you get Porsche’s trademark accuracy and predictability. It perhaps isn’t as meaty or communicative as older ICE Macans but it still delivers clean, sharp and linear steering that lets you exploit the rear-biased chassis.

There’s a bit of body roll through corners but it’s progressive rather than lurching, and there’s plenty of grip. But at times you’re reminded of the electric Macan’s weight penalty. This is a 2.2-tonne SUV – 300kg more than a petrol one – and sometimes it shows. Petrol versions feel more dynamic.

The Macan also demonstrates a sometimes unsettled ride. It’s generally controlled and comfortable but even with Porsche’s active suspension management (an £900 extra) there’s sometimes a chatter and odd resonance over uneven surfaces.

Every version of the Macan Electric comes with a 95kWh battery which Porsche says will offer up to 398 miles. Our test car’s official range was 361 miles, with consumption of 3.34m/kWh. As ever, official and real-world don’t tally but you will still easily get 300 miles on a charge. Pretty darned good for a sporty five-seater.

When it comes to charging, the Macan’s 800V architecture allows it to suck down energy at up to 270kW, meaning a 10-80% charge takes an impressive 21 minutes.

Porsche Macan Electric price and specification

In the realms of Porsche, this entry-level Macan seems relatively cheap (remember, that’s relatively cheap).

Our test car started life with a list price of £68,500. That’s still around the same as the more powerful and quicker Polestar 4 Performance or GV70 and more than an iX3 or equivalent Q6 e-tron.

For that you get 20-inch alloy wheels, full LED lights, heated eight-way power adjustable seats, a powered tailgate, two-zone climate control, a 10.9-inch touchscreen with and a heat pump.

However, Porsche’s options list is notorious and our test car weighed in at a less affordable £82,000 after add-ons.

Porsche Macan Electric digital dials — Big, clear, brilliant

You could save a few quid by avoiding the embossed crest on the headrests (£185), the Bose stereo (£917) or the powered towbar system (£945). But there are other elements you would really expect as standard. Asking buyers of a near-£70k car to pay extra for a heated steering wheel, keyless entry or front Isofix mounts reeks of money grabbing, especially when you’ll get them as standard on a £51,000 Volkswagen.

If you want the extra punch of an AWD model, budget at least £72,000, plus a few bob for those options.

Verdict

Porsche’s brief with the Macan Electric was to retain the appeal of the previous generation while giving it a thorough modern update.

And, it has pretty much nailed that. The pace of the entry-level car isn’t mind-blowing and there are sharper handling variants like the GTS.

But even this basic car feels more dynamic that its rivals and it blends its drivability with comfort and quality. Just as importantly, it’s a mighty impressive EV with strong real-world range and boredom-beating charging speeds.