Mention the name Porsche and most will think of an iconic sports car with a distinct shape, rear wheel drive and an engine in the back. In 2025 though, the German car maker’s best selling model – the Macan – mixes things up a bit.
Sure, it still has a distinct shape and can be had in rear wheel drive. But it’s an SUV and now Porsche have removed the combustion engine and gone all-in on an electric platform. It’s a bold move – and it will be interesting to see if it pays off.
It makes sense then that we find ourselves in a Macan 4 Electric, which is just up from the base trim, and features all-wheel drive. It’ll shift its 2330kg weight from 0-100km in 5.2 seconds, slightly faster than its less equipped sibling at 5.7.
But it’s not quite as fast as the 4S or ‘Turbo’ variants which will get there in as little as 3.3 seconds. Our Macan 4 Electric outputs 285kW of power (or 300 when launch control is activated) and 650nm of torque.
Unlike other EVs, acceleration doesn’t take your breath away in a show of force, but instead feels quite linear and controlled. The Porsche has an optional artificial sound that can be activated when the car is in Sport mode too.
It’s one of the better implementations we’ve heard, with a deep tone that doesn’t get too repetitive or feel overly synthetic. At least they’ve managed to keep the car Porsche in appearance and it still very much identifies as a Macan as well.
That said, most of the panels are new and it’s larger in all dimensions, including the height by a massive 1mm over the prior generation. It’s more muscular than sporty, with our car optioned in their purplish-grey Provence hue (from their ‘Dreams’ selection).
You might be surprised, but it somehow suits the car more than you would think, and donning some fat 22-inch rims wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres wearing 255’s up front and 295’s at the rear certainly helps.
The interior is plush, classy and feels very much like it should. Ours was dressed in black and beige but there are many different combinations you can choose from when customising your own spec.
We felt the beige helped bring light to the cabin (along with a massive glass roof), but those with children may want to opt for something easier to clean. The steering wheel is thin but feels good in the hands. On colder days it can be optioned with a heating element.
That’s true too for the front and rear seats. The interior has been maximised for comfort thanks to the new electric platform, with a lot of room afforded to both rows, with up to four climate zones.
While there are five seats in the Macan, it is still more comfortable for four occupants, with a completely flat floor and the rear seat featuring a large fold down armrest. Those up front have electrically adjustable seats with three memory settings.
Legroom is decent in both cases, with a large floating centre console and storage area. Phones can be charged wirelessly in a compartment at the front, while reaching into the forward space isn’t the easiest thing to do.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available however we would recommend plugging your phone in when using it for music and maps on longer drives. Ours slowly depleted to the point it turned off – but this isn’t a problem isolated to the Macan.
The climate controls are located in the centre console, where you’ll find some great feeling physical toggle switches and buttons. Our only gripe was that instead of having individual buttons, the entire glossy panel acted as a single button.
It means taking your eyes away for some functions. Apps and other options can be accessed via the infotainment screen – and for those with a bit of extra money and consideration for their passengers, a third screen can be installed as well.
This is very cleverly configured so that it doesn’t distract the driver. The instrument cluster is large, rich and clear too, with many different views and information available. An optional head-up display can project more information across a massive 87-inch area.
It blends seamlessly with the outside view in front of the driver’s eyes. The Macan 4 Electric features a 100kWh battery which Porsche claim is good for a combined electric range of 624km, which sounds impressive – but we all know real world figures will differ.
We took on the challenge of taking ours for a family road trip out of Sydney to the Hunter Valley wineries. With a near full battery, we headed north, with a detour via Pie in the Sky at Cowan for a run up the “Old Road” – otherwise known as the Old Pacific Hwy.
The Macan did quite well, with the lower centre of gravity giving it a very planted feel going through the bends. Regenerative braking isn’t too obvious when it’s on, but helped on the downhill runs.
After a couple of goes, we remembered our challenge and had to proceed onwards to the Hunter. Even so, range anxiety hadn’t kicked in at this point, and we were confident of reaching our destination, with more than half a battery in reserve.
Even with the enthusiastic runs we realised we needn’t have worried, with almost 75 per cent charge and more than 400km remaining on arrival at our first winery. After some exploring and taking in the sights, we headed back home.
We managed to go a little further than expected, to a more conveniently located charger near a spot we could unwind after the day’s adventure (that included ogling the Porsche). After more than four hours of driving, we returned to Sydney.
What we were left with was 11 per cent battery, having covered 345km at an average consumption of 20.5kwh/100 – well within Porsche’s claimed consumption for the car. As a practical family car, the Macan 4 Electric has a respectable 540-litre boot too.
You can expand that to 1348-litres with the second row folded down. There’s also an 84-litre frunk for holding a little more than just the charging cables. It’s a capable and obviously very safe vehicle too.
To be honest, we can’t fault the car. It’s a Porsche, it drives and feels great and yes, it’s electrically powered. Of course, all of this comes at a price with the Macan 4 Electric starting from about $134,400 plus on-roads.
What we could determine from our loan car was that the options list was extensive, with at least $30K in extras added to ours. That paint, an extra $2880, the wheels, an extra $7780, the passenger screen, the HUD, the audio and plenty more, all came at a cost.
But that’s also what people love about Porsches – making it their own in every possible way. Our only question is whether ditching the combustion engine will prove to be a good move for the brand with their most popular model.
You can find out more on the Porsche Cars Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was supplied by Porsche Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle. Featured image courtesy of Pesti Pictures.
