It’s curtains for the Porsche Macan in petrol form. The German marque has deleted the ICE variant of its most popular model, cutting its days short in favour of an all-electric medium SUV offering — the new 2025 Porsche Macan.
It’s spirited, soaked in tech, and fundamentally a Porsche behind the wheel — but it’s also jumped significantly in price (roughly $30,000 above the outgoing Macan’s entry point into the range).
Porsche affirms this new Macan is light years ahead of its predecessor — so does the upgrade in drive and tech stack up against the upgrade in dollars?
What’s the story behind the new Macan EV?
An electric Macan has been looming for a while now. Sales of the outgoing internal combustion engine Macan will be halted at dealerships beginning in Q2, 2025.
It’s worth noting that not a single piece of the old Macan is being carried over to this new version, with the exception of the literal badge on the bonnet. This is a key thing to consider when asking yourself if the entry-level variant’s price jump over its predecessor is a pill worth swallowing.
Initially, of four total model variants, only the 4 (one up from the base model) and Turbo (the weaponised top-spec) trim levels will be available in Australia. Both have dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrains.
Who’s the buyer?
Well, unlikely someone who was previously scraping their pennies together to buy into the Porsche brand, courtesy of the outgoing Macan. But with a better product, and the brand’s widespread allure across many demographics, there’s no doubt this vehicle will be successful.
Despite a global slowdown in EV ownership, I doubt going all-electric will deter affluent urban dwellers from considering the Macan offering. They’re cashed up, can support an EV lifestyle, and likely have a multi-car garage with an ICE vehicle still in the mix.
Tell us about your first impressions.
The new Macan is more refined from every angle, inside and out. The ‘Porsche Flyline’, as it is affectionately known, is rendered here in unmistakable, near-perfect effect. Inside, the tech makes it immediately feel like you’re behind the wheel of a jacked-up Taycan.
Despite the emphasis on digital displays, there are still plenty of buttons for a classically tactile Porsche experience. Rear legroom was not as radically capacious as I had hoped — perhaps I’ve come to expect too much from electric cars.
I was also drawn to the dark and dangerous ‘Turbonite’ badging, which is available exclusively on the Turbo variant. Hot stuff.
Give us the top lines on performance, efficiency, and range. What’s it like to drive?
To be honest, I forgot I was behind the wheel of an EV until about 10 minutes into the drive. The Macan’s regen braking is incredibly mild.
Range peaks at about 654 kilometres on a full charge for the timid entry-level model of the new Macan; and comes down to 616 kilometres for the Turbo variant. It has a 270-kilowatt-hour maximum charging speed. Porsche claims a drag coefficient of 0.25, aided by variable cooling air flaps and an adaptive rear spoiler. And at 2 tonnes, the Macan’s towing capacity is an impressive bonus.
Tech & connectivity — what’s the word?
There’s a hell of a lot of it. The driver is treated to a 12.6-inch instrument cluster that’s shared with the Taycan, and a 10.6-inch infotainment display.
If you’d like to option a third screen for the passenger (a silly spend for the sake of some YouTube or Netflix on the go), that’ll cost an $2,700. A smarter splash of cash (definitely arguable), is the optional heads-up display ($4,120). It’s the brightest and sharpest I’ve ever seen and features augmented reality that tracks upcoming threats as they appear on the road in front of you.
Navigational routes that align you with charging options are accessible through the in-house navigation; and if you opt for CarPlay, Apple Maps can now be transferred across to the driver’s instrument cluster.
And the lowdown on safety?
Unsurprisingly, Porsche’s medium-sized family SUV is about as safe as it gets. Aside from optional augmented reality tracking on the HUD, all Macans gets the greatest hits such as speed sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection assist, swerve and turn assist, lane change assist and lane keeping assist.
As an electric car, the new Macan also features a pedestrian warning sound that varies in pitch, depending on speed and acceleration, so those outside get an audible representation of the vehicle’s intentions.
The most memorable — or heartbreaking — thing about your drive?
The Turbo’s wild 1130Nm of torque — as much as the speed demon inside me wants to champion it — is unnecessary for the usage applications of this new generation of Macan.
On all fronts, the Macan 4 is more than enough. In the Turbo, you’re paying for a blistering straight-line speed that’s never going to be used through the corners; and even if it is, it’s a cumbersome unit in almost every lateral direction. All the little luxuries that make for a lovely daily driver are still available in the 4.
One thing you should know before a test drive.
It’s worth double-checking whether the rear legroom works for you. It didn’t for me, but I never found myself spending any serious time in the back seats. You might be surprised at the lack of it, like I was, for an electric car.
Tell ‘em the price, son!
The Macan 4 starts at $134,400, and the Turbo at $184,400 (both before on-roads). Pricing for the base Macan and range-splitting 4S are still incoming.
If you’re interested in another mid-sized EV, read our words on the KIA EV5. Or, if all this electrifying family-friendly chat has you champing for a good ol’ fashioned V12, consider our comprehensive review of the Ferrari 12 Cilindri.
