From Macan and Macan 4 to the Top-Tier Model

So far on this blog, I’ve shared test drive reviews of the base Macan and the Macan 4. Both received high praise. I still believe they are truly well-crafted cars. However, what they had in common was a restrained power output and a setup that felt more like a gasoline engine vehicle than a full EV. This made them very approachable even for first-time EV drivers, which was one of their great strengths.

This time, I was able to borrow the Macan Turbo Electric for an entire day.

I’ve driven it around town, on winding roads, and the highway. To be frank, this feels like an entirely different beast from the other two. It almost feels wrong to group it under the same Macan name because the character is so distinct.

Overwhelming Lightness Felt the Instant You Start Driving

The first thing I noticed stepping in and putting my right foot on the accelerator was the lightness of the car.

Often when you say an EV feels “light,” you’ll get pushback because, physically, they are heavier. But those who object usually have never owned an EV or ridden one extensively on urban and general roads. While it’s true the car has notable mass, an EV’s very low center of gravity combined with a motor delivering maximum torque from the first revolution means you simply don’t feel the weight in everyday driving.

It’s smooth and nimble. Both the Macan and Macan 4 felt light for their size, but the Turbo Electric takes that to another level. The Macan Electric weighs more than 2.4 tons officially, yet there’s no disconnect between the numbers and the driving feel. I was genuinely puzzled for a while, wondering what exactly creates this sensation.

The accelerator response is superb. Just a few millimeters of pedal input propels you forward exactly as intended, but it’s never twitchy or difficult to control. It’s a sensation of the car moving forward with just a slight thought focused on the right foot. Torque delivery is immediate from the first rotation of the tires, making stops, starts, and corner exit acceleration flow seamlessly. This setting is clearly distinct from the Macan and Macan 4.

As a side note, I drove this on a blazing hot day with outdoor temperatures around 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. The air conditioning impressed me — it cooled more effectively than both the Taycan and my Tesla Model 3 at home. Considering Japan’s hot summers, this is a welcome feature.

Forget You’re Driving an SUV on Winding Roads

Once you leave city streets and hit the twisties, this car’s true nature reveals itself.

It’s incredibly agile — you genuinely forget you’re driving an SUV. The first car that came to mind was the 911 Dakar, a special off-road 911 with very high ground clearance. Although the Macan sits even higher, I felt a similar unique agility and poise found in that model.

The line tracing is precise to an extraordinary degree. It feels like driving a car weighing around 1,600 to 1,700 kilograms. Even during quick S-turns, there’s almost no body roll or sway. This is the EV advantage of having heavy batteries mounted low under the floor. I doubt many engine cars, even tuned for sporty mountain runs, can keep up on steep uphill roads. Acceleration is explosive, and throttle response is lightning quick. There’s no shifting at all, which means the car feels seamless through corners. On such roads, it’s hard for internal combustion cars to match this sportiness. The chassis is simply on a different level — that’s my conclusion.

To me, it corners at almost the same speed as my 981 Boxster GTS when I’m pushing it hard. Body roll is well controlled, removing any insecurity in corners. Frankly, I felt like I was driving a 911.
 

The Greatest Advantage of Air Suspension Is Not Just Ride Comfort

When you hear “air suspension,” many imagine something soft, floaty, or perhaps unreliable.

But the biggest benefit of Porsche’s air suspension isn’t just comfort. Of course it’s comfortable—the air suspension-equipped cars feel a step above normal suspensions. That said, the real advantage lies elsewhere: the ability to change ride height while driving.

Selecting Sport or Sport Plus mode significantly lowers the vehicle. Lower ride height means a lower center of gravity, something impossible with the standard suspension Macan. This applies on the highway as well—ride height automatically lowers at higher speeds. While many cars seem stuck to the road at speed, Porsche air suspension cars actually lower the chassis physically to enhance grip.

Based on my experience driving various Porsche SUVs, I want to emphasize one point: always choose the highest-spec suspension option on your Porsche. From normal springs to PASM, PASM to air suspension, and in the latest Cayenne Electric, to Active Ride. It’s worth investing here over other options—it’ll boost your satisfaction with the car significantly.

Why the Turbo Model Is a Different Animal

Let’s look at the figures.

Peak output is 584 PS (430 kW), climbing to 639 PS (470 kW) with overboost. Maximum torque hits an astonishing 1,130 Nm, breaking the four-digit mark. Zero to 100 km/h is a blistering 3.3 seconds, and top speed reaches 260 km/h. Max range is 591 km on a single charge; my dashboard showed 433 km with 100% battery at the start. Considering Japan’s growing number of charging spots, this range is more than enough.

Researching why the Turbo feels so different from the Macan and Macan 4 clarified things. The Turbo uses a fundamentally different motor and rear axle structure, plus completely distinct air suspension tuning. Despite sharing the Macan name, the foundations of its driving dynamics are worlds apart. No wonder it’s so sporty.

Let’s also touch on the brakes. As with all Porsche EVs, you still press a pedal, but most deceleration is handled by regenerative braking. On typical roads, about 90% of braking is purely regenerative. The pads only engage when coming to a complete stop, but even then, braking feels strong with a firm pedal and excellent control.

On the other hand, there was a minor note on ride comfort. The air suspension keeps things mostly comfortable, but there’s a slightly taut sensation, similar to higher tire pressures. From my seat behind the wheel, it wasn’t an issue, but when my wife drove and I sat shotgun, I felt some sharpness and minor bouncing. This likely varies with tire pressure and wheel size choices.

Turbo Night emblem

Highly Recommended for Those Who Want One Car to Do It All

Finally, I put it on the highway.

Stability is outstanding, a hallmark of modern Porsches. I felt completely confident stretching the distance. From city to winding roads to highway, few Porsches are so versatile. Even those who found the base Macan a bit lacking should find the Turbo more in line with Porsche’s legendary character.

To me, the Macan is no longer just an SUV. It’s more accurate to think of it as a sports car. While this statement presumes the legacy of previous Macans, the EV’s elevated chassis performance places it in a realm far beyond the gasoline-engine Macans. At least from a driving dynamics standpoint.

That said, its extreme sportiness brings a caveat. For existing owners of Porsche two-door sports cars like the 911 or Cayman, this Macan may overlap too much in character. And in head-to-head comparisons with 2-door cars’ dynamics, it inevitably falls short of a Cayman, Boxster, or 911. This might cause the Turbo’s impressive performance to seem somewhat diminished.

Therefore, I believe this car truly shines for those who can only own one Porsche. One car that is sporty, can carry the family, and can cruise comfortably at highway speeds for long distances. If that’s what you’re after, I recommend the Macan Turbo Electric. It’s the Porsche that can do the most across the widest range of scenarios. That’s my final verdict.