$21k Kia K4 has better backkup camera than _ANY_ of my Porsche's

[byebye]

How did we ever manage without cameras....??

25 year ago, cars were smaller, and as a consequence easier to park without cameras. Obviously at that time, the tech wasn’t ready to provide us with such systems.

However, if you don’t see the problem with an over priced Option regarding the very old tech which makes the 360 camera almost useless ; I’m not in your team.
knowing that this cameras were so bad, I would have probably delayed my macan purchase: I hate being in a situation where it’s so risky to park you car, scratch your wheels etc. Remember, I live in Paris where underground parkings are so tight From the very entrance to the exit.

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[sor]

This is the kind of hyperbole though that really puzzles me.

Camera is almost useless? Really? I have to give the benefit of the doubt and imagine people have broken hardware, and not assume they’re throwing a tantrum over something that makes no sense. I can sort of understand someone saying “I spent a lot of money, it should have the best of everything”. It isn’t the best. I really can’t wrap my head around it being described as useless though.

I use it every day, particularly the overhead view while parking to check my centering and distance from curb. I like the side view option to check garage doorframe distance as I back into my one car garage. I use it in conjunction with my side mirrors. It all works rather well, aside from the screen being on the small side.

 

[byebye]

Frankly, @sor the camera is almost useless in specific conditions: same underground parking, cameras were efficient with my 2012 Audi a6 360 view, and it’s not the case with the ones in the macan.
I’ll take photos of the screen to show you the problem.
and it’s the same for the back view when you park your car in an inclinated place, which is classical in underground parkings: you don’t know for sure how far the back corner is from the wall.

For instance, there is almost a uturn between walls to exit my underground parking, and with the 360 view in the macan, I’m not able to determine how far the left front corner of the car is from The wall. (and I need to be as close as max 20 cm).
it wasn’t a problem with the 2012 a6 system.
that’s just a fact.

There wasn’t front camera on my previous model S, so I can handle it, but I know what a good (even old) 360 view is able to do.
The Macan 360 view is catastrophic, and that’s why Porsche will provide 2026 models with a new setup. Just another fact, why would they improve such a thing just one year after the initial launch? Because they know it’s garbage and a shame On a 2025/2026 car.

We, the early adopters, are stuck with that shitty camera setup, and also some minor and major things (the inability to use the second screen without the sound or with headphones, the erratic red/yellow/white circles of death …).

Just one year after the initial launch, and maybe (time will say) no path to upgrade? Frankly …

 

[tmrqs]

The only case of factually terrible camera I have seen on this board is here - providing below for convenience.

That one is visibly defective and I would understand people being so upset about it.

All the other pictures I have seen have a decent quality.
Not the best, not the sharpest, but in no way worth the number of posts seen on this board...

 

[W1NGE]

25 year ago, cars were smaller, and as a consequence easier to park without cameras. Obviously at that time, the tech wasn’t ready to provide us with such systems.

However, if you don’t see the problem with an over priced Option regarding the very old tech which makes the 360 camera almost useless ; I’m not in your team.
knowing that this cameras were so bad, I would have probably delayed my macan purchase: I hate being in a situation where it’s so risky to park you car, scratch your wheels etc. Remember, I live in Paris where underground parkings are so tight From the very entrance to the exit.

Actually cars in general have got smaller - notably American brands (barges to something more European in proportion).

The Macan (ICE / EV) is by no means a large vehicle IMHO and classed as a compact SUV. Lack of rear seat legroom is testament to that.

I had 360 on my Taycans, have it on my Macan T and 911 and honestly don't have an issue on any. 911 has arguably the better implementation particularly for kerb avoidance.

UK parking spaces aren't spacious either and likely on par with most of Europe. The only place where the spaces are large are at Costco!

Personally I avoid multi-storey car parks like the plague due to generally poor ingress / egress arrangements and narrow spaces. I have a ding fobia and so prefer to park away from most and walk. Appreciate that this is not realistic for many.

These should not be optional and built into the standard pricing structure would be my main gripe.

The first concept of a reversing camera was introduced in 1956 (Buick Centurion) and rolled out in 1991 (34 years ago).

Clearly many folk take issue with what's on offer from Porsche (but actually that should extend to the wider VAG group where I suspect the hardware comes from a shared parts bin). I suspect the software is more the issue but until Porsche fess up / acknowledge an issue we'll never truly know.

 

[jeremydfw]

Pretty simple.

Go buy a Kia then.

 

[byebye]

You seem happy with the 360 view of the 2024-2025 Macan EV, I’m mot, it’s not a big deal, isn’t it?

 

[W1NGE]

The only case of factually terrible camera I have seen on this board is here - providing below for convenience.



That one is visibly defective and I would understand people being so upset about it.

All the other pictures I have seen have a decent quality.
Not the best, not the sharpest, but in no way worth the number of posts seen on this board...

Agreed. This one looks like moisture ingress which i think is the subject of a TSB and replaced under warranty.

 

[tmrqs]

@W1NGE and I agreed on something!

Hell just froze over.

 

[JohnnyRoaster]

I just got my 2025 Macan 4 and now understand the frustration with the backup camera. Coming from a Mercedes EQB 350 it is definitely a step down in image quality. The 360 view is okay but the rear camera feels like it's on a slight delay. My car was delivered in July and doesn't have any open recalls when I enter the VIN.

 

[Wivenhoe]

I may be missing something here but in the 360 camera doesn’t the Side View show you how close you are to kerbs, cars etc in both sides and the manual confirms the distances front, sides and rear ?

 

[Legis]

The cameras on this car are horrible. Worse resolution than a phone from 2010 with a terrible fisheye lens that make my BMW X3 from 2018 look like a technical miracle.

 

[byebye]

Yes horrible, moreover, you never see the corners of the car, front and back, it's all red with continuous tone and the car is not so close from the wall. So I need to disable the red/yellow/white colour to see something, but I still can't see the corner of my car.

so totally useless in tiny aera...

 

[byebye]

Same thing for the front... where is the front right corner ? When the area is red, with continuous tone, it's almost impossible to know where the corner is...

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