What is it?

The Macan joined Porsche’s SUV line-up back in 2014 to sit alongside its larger brother, the Cayenne.

But, unlike its related stablemate, the Macan came with a more attractive price tag and smaller dimensions to make it easier to live with. It’s no surprise then, that a decade on from its original launch it’s one of the best-selling models in the firm’s line-up.

However, now as we enter the electrified era, the Macan is also following suit, and for this new generation, Porsche has ditched an internal-combustion engine completely and gone down the EV route. Does that mean this best-seller will start to flop? We’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

On the face of it, the Macan has matured over the years like a fine wine, but dig a bit deeper and besides from this new car coming with only electric power, you’ll find the same mechanicals and underpinnings from the Audi Q6 e-tron. But, to keep up its appeal and represent the Porsche brand, the Macan has a host of chassis tweaks and upgrades to make this the sportier alternative.

Jump inside, and you’ll notice that the interior not only has a more modern feel than before, but a host of technological upgrades have been sprinkled all over. This includes three screens which are located in front of the driver, central on the dashboard and for the front passenger.

What’s under the bonnet?

A wide selection of different variants of Macan are available, however we’re driving the 4S which features dual-motors allowing for a total power output of 448bhp and 820Nm of torque – which makes it the most powerful Macan you can get with the exception of the Turbo model.

In the 4S model that we’re testing, acceleration is pretty brisk with a 0-60mph time of just 3.9 seconds and the car will go on to a top speed of 149mph, too. One of the Achilles' heel with all electric cars are their ranges, however Porsche claims that the Macan can do a respectable 377 miles between trips to the plug – this is thanks to the car’s rather large 100kWh battery pack. Furthermore, the car can also be charged at speeds of up to 270kW meaning a 10 to 80 per cent charge can take as little as 21 minutes when using a DC rapid unit. If you go for the entry-level model – which isn't as powerful or quick, it does allow for an extra few miles to be squeezed out of its battery with a claimed 392 miles.

What’s it like to drive?

Luckily, driving this new Macan doesn’t feel too dissimilar to the old internal combustion variant. The steering has a great response and all the controls are nicely damped giving that reassurance of quality. Body control is excellent and is kept to a minimum, and when you really push the 4S to the ragged edge, it doesn’t let go, either. The only downside is when pushing out of a corner, the tyre noise is fairly noticeable.

With the exception of the narrow rear window, visibility is great. Furthermore, all variants of the 4S come with the firm’s Active System Management system, which allows the driver to alter the stiffness of the ride depending on the driving conditions and what road surfaces the car is on. We put the Macan in its most hardcore setting, however, it makes the car too uncomfortable and very coarse – but, the comfort setting is where the car feels most suited. But, the Macan’s excellent handling does put it at the top of the class, regardless of whether it’s an EV or not.

How does it look?

From a distance, this new model doesn’t differentiate itself too much from the old Macan. However, whereas the previous generation looked more like a Cayenne that had shed a few pounds, up close, this new car is very different. The slim headlights and full-width rear light bar all fit with Porshce’s latest design language, but at second glance, you could mistake it for not even being a vehicle from the same company – which is good or bad depending on how you look at it.

Additionally, you can buy the new Macan in a wide variety of whacky paint schemes to really make this SUV stand out even further.

What’s it like inside?

As previously mentioned, the Macan’s new interior features a total of three screens, and thankfully they are all very intuitive. But, the boffins at Porsche have also included physical shortcut buttons such as a volume control knob – which makes life a lot easier than having to navigate your way around different menus.

Step into the back and the space for rear passengers isn’t too bad at all, and the boot capacity stands at 540 litres – which is impressive. Also, compared to the old model, the space jumps to an extra 52 litres with 488 litres on the old petrol and diesel variants. Finally, the ‘frunk’ also features an extra 84 litres of space – ideal for storing the charging cables.


What’s the spec like?

The entry-level Macan starts at £67,200, but you’ll have to pay at least £77,650 for the 4S like the one we’re testing which adds the extra power, all-wheel-drive and additional electric motor setup.

All models come lavishly equipped with Porsche's Active Management system and the two touch screen displays – but the passenger screen is an optional extra. Like with all Porsches, an abundance of different options are available which can escalate the price tag somewhat.

Verdict

It’s a brave move from Porsche to take one of its best-selling models and throw away a petrol and diesel engine. For some, it will be music to their ears and others will find it difficult to swallow. However, for many people, this electric Macan makes perfect sense with its impressive performance and decent electric range figures. What’s more, it feels agile and the Porsche ‘DNA’ has definitely been rubbed off on this SUV – which could be a deal clincher for some.

However, we’d argue that the lesser model with its single-motor, cheaper price tag and increase in EV range might be the more sensible choice.