2024 Porsche Macan Turbo: half Porsche, half Audi, all-electric
The bar for electric vehicles is getting higher and higher, especially for luxury models. The technology is no longer new, and engineers are working with designers to find a balance between aerodynamics and range in pursuit of aesthetics and interior materials.
Whether you like it or hate it, the Mercedes EQE sedan and SUV are the best examples. For $85,000, buyers can get a lot without losing the feel of a luxury class.
For Porsche, the bar is even higher. People not only expect luxury from the brand's models, but also expect a certain level of boutique value when they buy it. At this point, "I drive a Porsche" means more than "I have a Mercedes-Benz".
It is precisely because of this expectation that Porsche has worked hard for itself over the years that the all-electric version of the 2024 Porsche Macan fails.
During a recent trip to Germany, Porsche allowed me to test drive the Macan Turbo for a review. While its exterior design is entirely Porsche-esque, there are a few things that look cheap, like the black side trim that looks out of place under the white paintwork.
Porsche Macan Turbo on the street. 保时捷
Front and side of the Porsche Macan Turbo. Porsche
The SUV's Turbonite metal badge (available only on Turbo models) turns the historic brand badge into a dark gray. This move is similar to what Rolls-Royce offers in its Black Badge range, but despite the contrasting shades of black and paint, it manages to mitigate the effect of "this is a Porsche" by making individual badge elements appear somewhat hidden in sunlight.
The automaker equipped the test car with 22-inch carbon fiber Exclusive Design wheels and Aeroblades, an option on the Manufakur that retails for $7,410. These wheels look stylish, but the price is a headache.
As soon as you jump into the car, you have questions about the acceptability of the car's overall exterior design. The shallow slope of the hood is good, but the pronounced fenders and protruding A-pillars make for poor visibility when parking in tight areas or turning corners on busy city streets.
Judging by the low, sedan-like seating position, you'll be tempted to sit up straight for a better view, but most of the time you'll fail.
Where this car is particularly rugged is its engineering. Powered by the Volkswagen Group's new 800-volt battery electric vehicle architecture, the SUV delivers outstanding performance. This fast-charging, powerful model proves that it has the traditional power delivery and enough speed that it's hard not to recognise it as a Porsche.
The SUV has a 100-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that puts out up to 630 horsepower and 833 pound-feet of torque in the Macan Turbo. These are standard equipment on Porsche sports cars.
Sides and rear of the Porsche Macan Turbo. Porsche
Harnessing the power of two motors, the all-wheel-drive Macan Turbo heads down and shows its Porsche roots with a tighter handling, while the car seems to ask for more.
Despite this, most Macans do not live on winding country roads outside Stuttgart, Germany, nor on wide highways. They are school runners, station wagon travelers, and urban lurkers.
In the city, this SUV is like a tilting ship. At low speeds, on cobblestones, bumps, and other less-than-ideal roads, the car is like a boat on waves, rocking back and forth, and passengers bouncing back and forth in their seats.
While the weight of the SUV isn't noticeable in this bump (the chassis doesn't make a huge boom when it bumps), the skateboard character of its platform stands out. It's like the Macan Turbo's cab and chassis are barely held together by spring springs.
It's a puzzling equation. Part of the reason can be attributed to the big wheels, but not enough to excuse such behavior. Porsche's active suspension management system is generally foolproof, but here it can't overcome the disconnect between the two key vehicle elements.
Close-up of Porsche Macan Turbo wheels in the rain. 保时捷
22-inch wheels on the Porsche Macan Turbo. Porsche
The interior design of the carriage is also quite impressive. Although the wide design of the center console is directly from Porsche's design, putting your hand on it will reveal that the car feels cheap to the touch. Scratch it with your fingernail and the cost-effectiveness of the material is immediately apparent.
Although the test car's interior was wrapped in black leather, the cabin smelled of cutting costs. No flexibility, no frills, nothing that celebrates traditional luxury. Listen, I know luxury doesn't look the same now, but it doesn't look like this. This makes Volvo look like a Rolls-Royce.
The technology installed on the 12.6-inch driver information display and 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen is as advertised, and the screen is easy to navigate, allowing you to set up with just a few touches of the screen without being overwhelmed by cumbersome menus.
Just like the 911 and Taycan, it's a no-brainer to get in this Porsche and drive away. This is one of the highlights of the automaker Hyundai.
The designers of the Macan Turbo took full advantage of the platform to offer two cargo areas (front and rear), giving owners of the previous generation of Macan a coveted space.
The dashboard, steering wheel, center console and screen of the Porsche Macan Turbo. Porsche
Front seats of the Porsche Macan Turbo. 保时捷
While I haven't test-driven the Audi A6 E-tron yet, I had time to explore it when it debuted. It's the same problem as the electric Macan – it lacks character. Audi is a very good Volkswagen. The Macan is a great Audi. Both feel like a project that needs to be managed to cope with growing costs, rather than executing on customer expectations for a well-known brand.
For a Macan that costs more than $100,000, I expect it to be more like a Porsche. For buyers who are less concerned with driving, but more concerned with being seen in a "green" Porsche, the Macan's structure and styling fit the bill. For everything else, I can't imagine not choosing a similarly sized Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV or a larger Volvo EX90, or a gas-powered Macan.