9 month - 4200km personal review of my Macan 4

[Cogs79]

Hi Folks,

Just wanted to post a super long review of my 2024 Macan 4 EV since I got it last December. As a quick recap, I went from a 2014 Chevy Volt (love that car!) to this beast. It's the first Porsche that I have ever owned although I have enjoyed my brother's 2014 Panamera on some road trips.

My Macan 4 has:


Premium package
Comfort package
Heated and ventilated 18-way sport seats
Heated rear seats
Roof rails
Gloss black side window trims
Side blades in black
Electric logo
Sport Chrono package
Power steering plus
Rear-Axle Steering
21" Macan Offroad design wheels in grey
Heated GT sports steering wheel
BOSE sound system
115V power socket (need to find where it is!)
LED Matrix lights
Surround view with Active Parking support
4-zone climate system
Luggage compartment partition net (never used, not worth it!)
PID (Innodrive with active lane keeping)
Black leather interior

I did not spec the car, it was already at the dealer and had everything I really wanted. Would have been nice to get the HUD but I love everything that it came with.

The first 2-3 months were a rollercoaster of emotions. I never spent anywhere near this kind of money on a car so I had really high expectations on everything, especially quality. Instead I honestly was borderline depressed at having spent so much money and had pretty much all of the known issues. From the sound cutting out, to the rattling rear door, to the rattling front suspension when going on speed bumps, to the "Assistance Services" errors nearly daily, iPhone not connecting some days, charge port error, the Plug and Charge not being enabled etc etc. Driving a car at this price point with front and rear rattling was extremely discouraging and disheartening. It never left me stranded though.

So far the majority of those were fixed and/or have not happened since. The Assistance services might trigger an error rarely (maybe 2-3 times in 6 months) but always disappear instantly or seconds later. And I feel those errors are legit as they always happen when the sun is blinding me (so likely impacting the sensors, or the spray from rain is also blinding everyone. I still have an occasional rattle in the rear but I am 78% certain it's the rear cargo cover that bounces around. But the front suspension rattle (on speed bumps) is still there. The dealership confirmed it happens on their Turbo and 4 as well so it's either normal, or all Macan EVs will need a fix at point. I honestly don't think it's normal to hear metal hitting metal in a 5200+ pound car.

The service from the Porsche dealer closest to me (Porsche Prestige) has been beyond amazing. Getting a Macan S (ICE) as a courtesy car was really nice to compare with the EV. My service rep is extremely knowledgeable and provides detailed responses, status updates etc. Great drinks and desserts too. Love the dealership! Even the guy shoveling the snow took the time to say Hi. Definitely a family-oriented experience with them.

Now, after the first three months, I have gotten over the emotions and absolutely love the car. The 18-way seats are perfect in terms of comfort for longer drives, and firmness/support. I am a tad worried about the longevity as both front seats already have creases in the leather. Will keep an eye on that but they look and feel fantastic. The ventilated feature is ok but feels only effective initially. Would I option that in the future, I guess so but it's not as effective as I hoped it would be in our super hot and humid Montreal summer. I love the look of the interior, especially with the PCM being integrated in the dash instead of looking like a cheap tablet stuck on top of the dash like most cars. The PCM is fast, responsive and looks good. I am in Apple Carplay 95% of the time anyway, but the interface is good. I really like the gage cluster screen. Not only because of the fancy curvature, but also the high resolution and color contrast. I find there is more than enough space in the rear (no kids so not really used much), and plenty of cargo space for our needs. The mix of buttons and touch-sensitive buttons (that still require a physical press) on the center console works really well. I like having buttons for HVAC and manual vents as I adjust them all the time when my wife is in the car. Anyway, I think the interior is an amazing place be, and much prefer it to the spartan Tesla interior.

I also love the styling of the car. Mine is the simpler black-on-black combo with the 21" Offroad wheels, but it looks aggressive and sleek nonetheless. Having said that, I think the Macan EV looks fantastic in every color combo that I have seen on this forum. Porsche really nailed the color choices. I find the car looks much better in person than in photos (i.e. not a melting blob like most crossovers look like). Of course the extending spoiler is always sexy to have even though it's not as impressive on Panameras or whatever. I wish there were more "Electric" badges, or at least one on the rear to highlight it.

In terms of drive, I haven't tested a 4S or Turbo, but for our 100km/h speed limits, the 4 is still extremely fast and neck-snapping (until 100-110km/h. Above that and it's not a bit anemic). If we didn't have intense winters, I am sure the 2WD model would have been more than powerful enough for me. The torque delivery is smooth and instant. The throttle control is excellent, and the regenerative braking is also smooth. I thought I would miss one-pedal driving from the Volt but I now much prefer to coast. This car feels like it can coast for miles. I am used to having 0 noise from the Volt, so I am still the tiniest bit annoyed by the space shape-like droning sound. Not a big deal. I don't have the optional Sound feature and don't really need it. I don't have the acoustic glass, but find the interior is extremely silent nonetheless. Would always want more sound insulation but I am not feeling like I desire for a more quite cabin. The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S probably help with that. I think having the rear-axle steering is really nice. Is it absolutely necessary? Probably not, but I definitely appreciate having it, especially in tight spots. As expected in a Porsche, the drive and handling is best described as ultra precise. The car is perfectly connected to my brain, and turns/responds to steering input with a precision that has become instinctive now. It's hard to explain, but it behaves exactly how I dreamed a car should behave. The air suspension (on Normal) absorbs and smooths out bumps but it does not hide them. Sport+ really makes a noticeable difference, with significantly tighter and firmer suspension. Love it for sportier and precise feel. You do feel every single road imperfection, not only the bumps, but road undulations in Sport+ so it's not a mode that I use every day. I love the adjustable height, and actually do take advantage when driving on highways and during the winter when entering my driveway. I am afraid what it will cost to replace in the future but that's for future me to worry about.

Anyway, love the car! For those that are having some of the smaller issues, hopefully there will be a light at the end of tunnel like it has been for me! Thanks for reading, especially if you took the time to read all of this!

e

Sponsored

 

[tauCete]

Thank you for the write up.

 

[castlg]

My experiences over 8000 miles and 5 months are very similar. It have not experienced the number of software problems quoted but I have had a couple. Nothing that didn’t correct themselves after a few minutes or getting out of the car, allowing it to lock, then unlocking it.
The driving dynamics are better than anything else on the road. The exterior and interior styling are also the best around.
I charge at home so I appreciate the fast charge times which are as good or better than the competition.
Now that a Tesla supercharger adapter is available that will be helpful for those of you who need it. The EA network is poor both in reliability and availability.
Longer trips without a spare does make me nervous, but I see there is an inexpensive compact spare from a third party which people have used successfully.
I suspect in 2 years we will see some of Rivian software being used, which will allow full OTA software updates, and I also expect 500 mile range with 15 minute charging.

 

[pdealessandrini1930]

Hi Folks,

Just wanted to post a super long review of my 2024 Macan 4 EV since I got it last December. As a quick recap, I went from a 2014 Chevy Volt (love that car!) to this beast. It's the first Porsche that I have ever owned although I have enjoyed my brother's 2014 Panamera on some road trips.

My Macan 4 has:


Premium package
Comfort package
Heated and ventilated 18-way sport seats
Heated rear seats
Roof rails
Gloss black side window trims
Side blades in black
Electric logo
Sport Chrono package
Power steering plus
Rear-Axle Steering
21" Macan Offroad design wheels in grey
Heated GT sports steering wheel
BOSE sound system
115V power socket (need to find where it is!)
LED Matrix lights
Surround view with Active Parking support
4-zone climate system
Luggage compartment partition net (never used, not worth it!)
PID (Innodrive with active lane keeping)
Black leather interior

I did not spec the car, it was already at the dealer and had everything I really wanted. Would have been nice to get the HUD but I love everything that it came with.

The first 2-3 months were a rollercoaster of emotions. I never spent anywhere near this kind of money on a car so I had really high expectations on everything, especially quality. Instead I honestly was borderline depressed at having spent so much money and had pretty much all of the known issues. From the sound cutting out, to the rattling rear door, to the rattling front suspension when going on speed bumps, to the "Assistance Services" errors nearly daily, iPhone not connecting some days, charge port error, the Plug and Charge not being enabled etc etc. Driving a car at this price point with front and rear rattling was extremely discouraging and disheartening. It never left me stranded though.

So far the majority of those were fixed and/or have not happened since. The Assistance services might trigger an error rarely (maybe 2-3 times in 6 months) but always disappear instantly or seconds later. And I feel those errors are legit as they always happen when the sun is blinding me (so likely impacting the sensors, or the spray from rain is also blinding everyone. I still have an occasional rattle in the rear but I am 78% certain it's the rear cargo cover that bounces around. But the front suspension rattle (on speed bumps) is still there. The dealership confirmed it happens on their Turbo and 4 as well so it's either normal, or all Macan EVs will need a fix at point. I honestly don't think it's normal to hear metal hitting metal in a 5200+ pound car.

The service from the Porsche dealer closest to me (Porsche Prestige) has been beyond amazing. Getting a Macan S (ICE) as a courtesy car was really nice to compare with the EV. My service rep is extremely knowledgeable and provides detailed responses, status updates etc. Great drinks and desserts too. Love the dealership! Even the guy shoveling the snow took the time to say Hi. Definitely a family-oriented experience with them.

Now, after the first three months, I have gotten over the emotions and absolutely love the car. The 18-way seats are perfect in terms of comfort for longer drives, and firmness/support. I am a tad worried about the longevity as both front seats already have creases in the leather. Will keep an eye on that but they look and feel fantastic. The ventilated feature is ok but feels only effective initially. Would I option that in the future, I guess so but it's not as effective as I hoped it would be in our super hot and humid Montreal summer. I love the look of the interior, especially with the PCM being integrated in the dash instead of looking like a cheap tablet stuck on top of the dash like most cars. The PCM is fast, responsive and looks good. I am in Apple Carplay 95% of the time anyway, but the interface is good. I really like the gage cluster screen. Not only because of the fancy curvature, but also the high resolution and color contrast. I find there is more than enough space in the rear (no kids so not really used much), and plenty of cargo space for our needs. The mix of buttons and touch-sensitive buttons (that still require a physical press) on the center console works really well. I like having buttons for HVAC and manual vents as I adjust them all the time when my wife is in the car. Anyway, I think the interior is an amazing place be, and much prefer it to the spartan Tesla interior.

I also love the styling of the car. Mine is the simpler black-on-black combo with the 21" Offroad wheels, but it looks aggressive and sleek nonetheless. Having said that, I think the Macan EV looks fantastic in every color combo that I have seen on this forum. Porsche really nailed the color choices. I find the car looks much better in person than in photos (i.e. not a melting blob like most crossovers look like). Of course the extending spoiler is always sexy to have even though it's not as impressive on Panameras or whatever. I wish there were more "Electric" badges, or at least one on the rear to highlight it.

In terms of drive, I haven't tested a 4S or Turbo, but for our 100km/h speed limits, the 4 is still extremely fast and neck-snapping (until 100-110km/h. Above that and it's not a bit anemic). If we didn't have intense winters, I am sure the 2WD model would have been more than powerful enough for me. The torque delivery is smooth and instant. The throttle control is excellent, and the regenerative braking is also smooth. I thought I would miss one-pedal driving from the Volt but I now much prefer to coast. This car feels like it can coast for miles. I am used to having 0 noise from the Volt, so I am still the tiniest bit annoyed by the space shape-like droning sound. Not a big deal. I don't have the optional Sound feature and don't really need it. I don't have the acoustic glass, but find the interior is extremely silent nonetheless. Would always want more sound insulation but I am not feeling like I desire for a more quite cabin. The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S probably help with that. I think having the rear-axle steering is really nice. Is it absolutely necessary? Probably not, but I definitely appreciate having it, especially in tight spots. As expected in a Porsche, the drive and handling is best described as ultra precise. The car is perfectly connected to my brain, and turns/responds to steering input with a precision that has become instinctive now. It's hard to explain, but it behaves exactly how I dreamed a car should behave. The air suspension (on Normal) absorbs and smooths out bumps but it does not hide them. Sport+ really makes a noticeable difference, with significantly tighter and firmer suspension. Love it for sportier and precise feel. You do feel every single road imperfection, not only the bumps, but road undulations in Sport+ so it's not a mode that I use every day. I love the adjustable height, and actually do take advantage when driving on highways and during the winter when entering my driveway. I am afraid what it will cost to replace in the future but that's for future me to worry about.

Anyway, love the car! For those that are having some of the smaller issues, hopefully there will be a light at the end of tunnel like it has been for me! Thanks for reading, especially if you took the time to read all of this!

e

Hi Folks,

Just wanted to post a super long review of my 2024 Macan 4 EV since I got it last December. As a quick recap, I went from a 2014 Chevy Volt (love that car!) to this beast. It's the first Porsche that I have ever owned although I have enjoyed my brother's 2014 Panamera on some road trips.

My Macan 4 has:


Premium package
Comfort package
Heated and ventilated 18-way sport seats
Heated rear seats
Roof rails
Gloss black side window trims
Side blades in black
Electric logo
Sport Chrono package
Power steering plus
Rear-Axle Steering
21" Macan Offroad design wheels in grey
Heated GT sports steering wheel
BOSE sound system
115V power socket (need to find where it is!)
LED Matrix lights
Surround view with Active Parking support
4-zone climate system
Luggage compartment partition net (never used, not worth it!)
PID (Innodrive with active lane keeping)
Black leather interior

I did not spec the car, it was already at the dealer and had everything I really wanted. Would have been nice to get the HUD but I love everything that it came with.

The first 2-3 months were a rollercoaster of emotions. I never spent anywhere near this kind of money on a car so I had really high expectations on everything, especially quality. Instead I honestly was borderline depressed at having spent so much money and had pretty much all of the known issues. From the sound cutting out, to the rattling rear door, to the rattling front suspension when going on speed bumps, to the "Assistance Services" errors nearly daily, iPhone not connecting some days, charge port error, the Plug and Charge not being enabled etc etc. Driving a car at this price point with front and rear rattling was extremely discouraging and disheartening. It never left me stranded though.

So far the majority of those were fixed and/or have not happened since. The Assistance services might trigger an error rarely (maybe 2-3 times in 6 months) but always disappear instantly or seconds later. And I feel those errors are legit as they always happen when the sun is blinding me (so likely impacting the sensors, or the spray from rain is also blinding everyone. I still have an occasional rattle in the rear but I am 78% certain it's the rear cargo cover that bounces around. But the front suspension rattle (on speed bumps) is still there. The dealership confirmed it happens on their Turbo and 4 as well so it's either normal, or all Macan EVs will need a fix at point. I honestly don't think it's normal to hear metal hitting metal in a 5200+ pound car.

The service from the Porsche dealer closest to me (Porsche Prestige) has been beyond amazing. Getting a Macan S (ICE) as a courtesy car was really nice to compare with the EV. My service rep is extremely knowledgeable and provides detailed responses, status updates etc. Great drinks and desserts too. Love the dealership! Even the guy shoveling the snow took the time to say Hi. Definitely a family-oriented experience with them.

Now, after the first three months, I have gotten over the emotions and absolutely love the car. The 18-way seats are perfect in terms of comfort for longer drives, and firmness/support. I am a tad worried about the longevity as both front seats already have creases in the leather. Will keep an eye on that but they look and feel fantastic. The ventilated feature is ok but feels only effective initially. Would I option that in the future, I guess so but it's not as effective as I hoped it would be in our super hot and humid Montreal summer. I love the look of the interior, especially with the PCM being integrated in the dash instead of looking like a cheap tablet stuck on top of the dash like most cars. The PCM is fast, responsive and looks good. I am in Apple Carplay 95% of the time anyway, but the interface is good. I really like the gage cluster screen. Not only because of the fancy curvature, but also the high resolution and color contrast. I find there is more than enough space in the rear (no kids so not really used much), and plenty of cargo space for our needs. The mix of buttons and touch-sensitive buttons (that still require a physical press) on the center console works really well. I like having buttons for HVAC and manual vents as I adjust them all the time when my wife is in the car. Anyway, I think the interior is an amazing place be, and much prefer it to the spartan Tesla interior.

I also love the styling of the car. Mine is the simpler black-on-black combo with the 21" Offroad wheels, but it looks aggressive and sleek nonetheless. Having said that, I think the Macan EV looks fantastic in every color combo that I have seen on this forum. Porsche really nailed the color choices. I find the car looks much better in person than in photos (i.e. not a melting blob like most crossovers look like). Of course the extending spoiler is always sexy to have even though it's not as impressive on Panameras or whatever. I wish there were more "Electric" badges, or at least one on the rear to highlight it.

In terms of drive, I haven't tested a 4S or Turbo, but for our 100km/h speed limits, the 4 is still extremely fast and neck-snapping (until 100-110km/h. Above that and it's not a bit anemic). If we didn't have intense winters, I am sure the 2WD model would have been more than powerful enough for me. The torque delivery is smooth and instant. The throttle control is excellent, and the regenerative braking is also smooth. I thought I would miss one-pedal driving from the Volt but I now much prefer to coast. This car feels like it can coast for miles. I am used to having 0 noise from the Volt, so I am still the tiniest bit annoyed by the space shape-like droning sound. Not a big deal. I don't have the optional Sound feature and don't really need it. I don't have the acoustic glass, but find the interior is extremely silent nonetheless. Would always want more sound insulation but I am not feeling like I desire for a more quite cabin. The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S probably help with that. I think having the rear-axle steering is really nice. Is it absolutely necessary? Probably not, but I definitely appreciate having it, especially in tight spots. As expected in a Porsche, the drive and handling is best described as ultra precise. The car is perfectly connected to my brain, and turns/responds to steering input with a precision that has become instinctive now. It's hard to explain, but it behaves exactly how I dreamed a car should behave. The air suspension (on Normal) absorbs and smooths out bumps but it does not hide them. Sport+ really makes a noticeable difference, with significantly tighter and firmer suspension. Love it for sportier and precise feel. You do feel every single road imperfection, not only the bumps, but road undulations in Sport+ so it's not a mode that I use every day. I love the adjustable height, and actually do take advantage when driving on highways and during the winter when entering my driveway. I am afraid what it will cost to replace in the future but that's for future me to worry about.

Anyway, love the car! For those that are having some of the smaller issues, hopefully there will be a light at the end of tunnel like it has been for me! Thanks for reading, especially if you took the time to read all of this!

e

 

[pdealessandrini1930]

Thanks for the review.

I share similar roller coaster feelings. Mine is the 14th Porsche and 10th Factory ordered vehicle.

Being 1st week of Macan EV commercial production last year, I was among the unsuspecting Live Beta Testers.

4 Dealer returns including flat beds.

All software issues.

Each resolved.

13.5k miles in 11 months. Last 9 months have been amazing.

Love the car.

After all 911 variants since 1987, one Panamera and an ICE Macan S, this car is amazing once debugged.

Hope you enjoy yours for endless miles.

 

[KombuchaBioleather]

6 months, 4500 miles on my 4S, and I just love, love, LOVE it! Drive it every chance I get, taking the long way whenever I can. The tiny sun shades and piano black on the center temperature control console are the only design flaws I find noteworthy, and both are manageable, though still a little annoying. I got the 18 way sport seats, TB interior, Burmester, RAS, PTV+, Innodrive, Passenger display, and just about all the other performance options, except for HUD (which I don't miss because I don't know what I'm missing!). Exterior is aventurine green and 21" Macan Design wheels, off road package. Love AG paint, but if I had a do-over, maybe would have gone with Oak Green, Gentian Blue, or Ruby Red, which have a little more pop, but I have no remorse over the choice of AG - it's classy/understated. Similarly, I would probably get black window trim over silver if I had a do-over, but the silver still looks good, and . . . did I mention that I absolutely love this thing??! Also, it's a perfect size for my 3 person family. Friends are impressed, etc, etc. All good here!

 

[stevo58]

Three months and 4760 km in, we just had our very first issue with our 4. Rear camera is out. I drove 50 years without a rear camera, so I can wait until this one is fixed. Otherwise, zero issues (that weren’t my error in understanding). Occasional “assistance error” warning, but it always cleared up immediately (until the rear camera …). No noises, no seat belts slapping against the side, nothing.

My daughter, who is a UI expert, took one look at the systems, shook her head, and said “Obviously designed by engineers.”

Steven

 

[Cogs79]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for chiming in with your experiences. I forgot to mention a couple of more good things and tiny annoyances:

I have the Bose sound system, and for the first few weeks, I thought it sounded terrible (like others have expressed). But after those few weeks, it's like something switched on (or an equalizer was applied) and it sounded infinitely better. Voices are articulate and bass is powerful without being exhausting. For my wife to notice (and she's not an audiophile like me), that means there really was a noticeable improvement!

I love the air filtration system (and particulate matter/air quality screen). Not sure if the "ionizer" really does anything, but having been hit with poor air quality from forest fires across Canada, the air in the car is noticeably better than outside on those bad days!

I love having manual-adjusting air vents. I know it's fancier to use a screen to adjust, but I adjust them often when A/C is running, and would lose my mind if I needed to use a touchscreen for it.

It's not unique to Porsche, but the "kick underneath the bumper to open the rear hatch" has been surprisingly useful. I didn't realize how often my hands were full carrying stuff. I use it all the time even if I look goofy doing it.

3 minor annoyances are the key fob and the cabin preconditioning every time the doors unlock. The key fob looks cool but it should require long button presses to open the frunk(froot) and trunk(boot). It happened 3-4 times in the first couple of months of ownership where I accidentally opened the trunk or frunk without knowing it. The last straw was when the frunk opened on a rainy day. Now I never carry the keys in my pocket when I am near the car, and obsessively check the app to confirm everything is closed when when I walk in my home and before going to sleep! Very poor UX on Porsche's part!

The cabin preconditioning when the doors unlock is also annoying. It's a waste of energy, since I would precondition the cabin long before I get to the car if I really need it. Sometimes I just need to get something in my car, but I would still get a notification 5 minutes later that the cabin is preconditioned.

The last small annoyance is that approaching the car allows my to open doors without unlocking (good thing), BUT I still need to either use the key fob or open a door to be able to unlock/remove the charger (annoying thing). I know that there is a setting to automatically release the charger when charging is complete, but I am paranoid someone will remove the charger and damage the receptacle. So I really wish that the same proximity logic that unlocks the doors automatically would also unlock the charger.

Oh and not related to Porsche only, but I always hated frameless door windows because of the automatic lowering/rising to protect the glass. I thought the doors all rattled when opening/closing but it's just the windows doing their thing to avoid being damaged. Hate it with a passion!

Small annoyances for sure!

Cogs

 

[TiLaSoul]

I know that there is a setting to automatically release the charger when charging is complete, but I am paranoid someone will remove the charger and damage the receptacle.

If you have keyless entry, you can just hold the glowing button down that's next to the charger and it'll release the cable....

Shouldn't need to touch the key.

 

[de0xyrib0se]

Having long abandoned the “ze German” aura, it’s clear that every manufacturer has its issues. These are complex engineering marvels, and we often assume that paying more means the engineers are perfect - but it doesn’t. What truly drives the ownership experience is the dealer, which, unfortunately, isn’t the manufacturer. Having a dealer who genuinely cares about the brand makes all the difference in the world. My local guys are amazing and love Porsche. The only other place I have found such love for the brand is at a small shop in the South of France.

As for the Macan, I can complain all day. From the underlying VW infotainment OS to the unrealistic camera guidelines. But then again, not why you buy a Porsche. It lives up to the performance expectations in my book (10K km so far). Love the feeling of being glued to the seat when I floor it, even at high speeds.

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