Should you buy a Porsche Macan Electric?

Yes. If you’re shopping for a posh electric SUV, the Porsche Macan is a safe bet. It’s obvious the lessons the company learned from the Taycan have been poured into the car – and it’s produced an even more polished result. So, while it might be Porsche’s first crack at the market, it’s an impressive statement.

However, having now driven a four-wheel drive air sprung car back-to-back with an entry-level rear-wheel drive steel sprung model, we’re not sure the most expensive versions of the car are worth it. The cheapest model is more settled, more comfortable, more fun in the corners and plenty fast enough for what it needs to be.

Our advice is to swerve the four-wheel drive versions and tip some of the money you’ll save into personalising your car. Get some snazzy leather trim, a flash paint job and the passenger touchscreen – and reap the benefits of the extra range. Indeed, the rear-wheel drive car we tried returned more than 4.0 miles per kWh, while our 4S loaner on the same route could only manage 2.8.

That aside, whichever version of the Macan you opt for, you don’t need to make excuses for it. It’s a well-equipped, practical and fast electric SUV that, apart from the four-wheel drive models’ average battery efficiency, makes very few compromises. If you have the means to buy one, we’re sure you’ll enjoy owning it.

What’s new?

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When it was launched in 2024, everything. Consequently, it’s more of a gamble than first appearances would suggest. Stuttgart has flipped the car on its head for its second generation by ditching petrol power completely and turning it into an electric SUV. That presents a problem. Since the start of 2024, electric car sales have been stagnating, which doesn’t bode well for the Macan’s sales record.

The previous model was Porsche’s best-selling car globally, with more 850,000 examples finding homes since it was launched in 2014. Under the skin, the Macan shares its new platform with the Audi Q6 E-Tron, but you’d never know it from the driver’s seat. The cabin is unmistakably Porsche, with high-quality materials and a low-slung, sporty driving position.

There are four main versions: Macan, Macan 4, Macan 4S and Macan Turbo. Power ranges from 360hp to 639hp, and all benefit from a big battery that supports rapid 270kW charging. As ever with Porsche, it’s easy to add tens of thousands in extras – so choosing the right spec is key.

We’d like to stress just how careful you need to be with Porsche’s configurator. The level of customisation is almost endless – there are 72 different paint finishes and 14 unique interior upholstery finishes, all of which will carve chunks out of your bank account. You can easily spend more than £120,000 on one.

The Macan Electric’s closest rivals include the Audi Q6 E-Tron, BMW iX3 and Tesla Model Y – all premium electric SUVs competing for the same space on your driveway. It’s a complete departure from its petrol-powered predecessor, but it still feels unmistakably Porsche – slick, solid and full of character, with a refined, upmarket feel that we think buyers will love.

The question is, does this new Macan retain enough of the old car’s qualities to encourage buyers to overlook their electric car prejudices and make the switch to an EV? Or is Porsche about to break the Macan’s outstanding sales streak? You can read more about how we test cars at Parkers, but in the meantime, read through the rest of the review to find out how the brand has done.