The 911 is best on a track, or on open roads whether winding or straight. The Cayenne is a large-capacity cruiser with an athletic edge. But for zipping around the city? Well, Porsche has just the thing, too—it is the Macan, a (relatively) compact crossover SUV that eschewed the superlatives of its stablemates in favour of a more practical, urban outlook. Reasonably sized but not unwieldy, and historically most often seen with a 2.0l inline-four, in many ways it acted like a supersized hot hatch.
View more photos
It makes a lot of sense, then, that the Macan was the first pre-existing line that Porsche converted into an all-electric offering, which it introduced last year. After all, cities are where electrics are at their best. Range is much less of an issue with predictable commutes and home chargers. The hallmark immediate torque of the electric powertrain is helpful for snappy manoeuvres. Petrol is at its least efficient in long traffic jams. You’re being a good neighbour by helping to cut down on noise and pollution. And for the old-school that long for revs, roar, and satisfying gear changes—well, how much of that are you really able to enjoy on crowded city roads, anyway?
View the new Macan from different angles
The new Macan is available in four variants, the foremost of which is the Macan Turbo (RM635,000). The brand’s 800-volt architecture connects a 100kWh battery with two electric motors—one at the front axle and the other at the rear—for 630bhp. This is fully unlocked with the launch control system, providing a 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds and a mind-blowing 1,130Nm of torque. The top speed is 260km/h. The rated range is 590km in the Turbo, while other models top out at 641km—pretty good for an SUV. It helps that the Macan is one of the most streamlined SUVs in the market, with a drag coefficient of a mere 0.25, greatly aiding its efficiency. At a suitable fast charging station, it takes 21 minutes to go from 10 to 80 per cent battery capacity.
And it is, of course, a Porsche, with a whole legacy of handling dynamics behind it. The brand is still the best in the business at concealing an EV’s weight. The Macan may be approaching two and half tonnes, but it still has a tightly controlled, reactive touch, with a saloon-like demeanour. There is, naturally, a full complement of sophisticated technology behind it: the active part of its aerodynamics includes the rear spoiler and cooling flaps on the front air intakes, while intelligent systems distribute power across the Macan Turbo’s all-wheel drive, handling the likes of torque vectoring, and, along with the electronically controlled differential lock at the rear axle, provides optimal traction and stability. Rear-axle steering has debuted as an option for the Macan, which means more stability at high speeds and a tight turning circle of 11.1m at low speeds—yet another plus for a city car.
And it is quick. The base-level Macan (355bhp; 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds) is nippy; the Macan Turbo is downright fast, with its sub-four-second acceleration a rather literal gut punch—and is hovering around 911 GT3 territory.
As before, the rear seats are usable but not cavernous. There is a touch of extra legroom, thanks to subtle adjustments to the seating, with both driver and passengers sitting slightly lower than before. The new electrified layout has also resulted in an extra 135 litres of boot space, which means the cargo capacity is up to 540 litres, depending on model (the Turbo has 480 litres). Dropping the second-row seats balloons it to up to 1,348 litres. There is even an extra 84 litres under the bonnet.
In typical EV fashion, there is a tech-forward attitude to the cabin, mostly expressed through a sleek-looking black panel fascia. There is a 12.6in curved instrument display, paired with a head-up display, and a 10.9in central display. A third screen sits before the front passenger, allowing them to monitor the journey or indulge in their own entertainment. But it is also not too tech-forward—in a move that many will welcome, Porsche has omitted the centre console screen that can be found on the Taycan, and instead has a good old-fashioned set of buttons, levers, and dial. The Macan may be the versatile, urban-focused Porsche of the future, but some things should be kept as they are.
