[ADVICE REQUEST] 2026 Macan EV Build-Out

[shawn]

Hello and happy holidays everyone!

I recently placed an order for a Macan EV at my local Porsche center, and it'll the first Porsche in our family!
Build-out is linked here (https://porsche-code.com/PTLQPGM7) with options pasted below:

Exterior & Interior:
• Exterior color: Provence
• Full Leather Interior in Black/Chalk
• Side Blades in Exterior Color (Provence)
• Window Trim in High Gloss Black
• Roof Rails in Black Aluminum
• Trailer Hitch without Tow Ball

Comfort & Convenience:
• Adaptive Sport Seats (18-way) with Comfort Memory
• Bespoke Seat Badge, Illuminated (Neodyme)
• Interior Accents (Neodyme)
• Front Ventilated Seats
• Rear Heated Seats
• Advanced 4-Zone Climate Control
• Seat Consoles in Leather (Chalk)
• Seat Backrests Shells Leather (Chalk)
• Interior Trim in Leather (Chalk)
• Center Console Surround in Leather with Deviated Stitching (Chalk)
• Center Console Armrest with Porsche Crest
• Compass Display on Dashboard
• Sport Chrono Stopwatch Dial/Compass Dial and Power Meter (White)
• Thermally & Noise Insulated Glass (Front and Rear)
• Heated Windshield
• Heated GT Sport Steering Wheel in Leather
• Roof Lining in Race-Tex
• Fixed Luggage Compartment Cover in Leather (Chalk)

Performance & Handling:
• Rear Axle Steering

Wheels & Brakes:
• 22" Macan Sport Wheels
• Wheel Center Caps with Colored Porsche Crest

Lighting & Visibility:
• LED Matrix headlights in Black
• Under Door Puddle Light Projectors

Extras:
• Burmester® High-End Surround Sound System
• Porsche Electric Sport Sound
• Remote ParkAssist incl. 3D Surround View and Porsche Digital Key
• Air Quality System
• Power Sunblind for Rear Side Windows
• 115-volt Socket in Luggage Compartment
• All-weather floor mats
• Luggage compartment liner, flat




Date to finalize order is mid-January 2026 with estimated delivery in April 2026.
Prior to finalizing our order, I wanted to ask the community about your thoughts:

1. How bad is the cell reception blockage on the option for the Thermally & Noise Insulated Glass (Front and Rear) ($960 - VW6)
2. Do you think Seat Backrests Shells Leather is worth it? If not, why? ($1760 - AFU)
3. What are your thoughts on Bose vs Burmester® High-End Surround Sound System upgrade? ($4870 - 9VJ)

Any input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Looks like a luxuriously fun build. Personnally I think your not going to notice leather on the back seats or the fixed compartment cover. Consider removing that and use the money to get the HUD unless you have deep pockets then get both . If you have not tried it the Augmented Reality is amazing. I wish I could have tried it before my order in 2024 and I would have picked that up.

Also, are you going to use your cell phone to move the car around? If not then you can save $500 (approx) but just picking the 3D park option without the remote feature. I personnally think the remote parking part is a risky - reliable connection dependant - gimmic and prefer being in the car when its moving.

Have a look at the carbon fiber steering wheel option. Since you will be looking at the steering wheel most of the time you will notice it more than anything else and I really love the look over just matt plastic. (Assuming you like the look of carbon fiber of course.)

Rear axle steering a great choice. I love it!!

Finnally, consider the sport design package in high gloss black. I know its a bit of $$ but getting rid of that matt black plastic on the exterior transforms the car, especially with a light colour you have selected. Compare it in the configurator and see if you like it. The gloss black has a maintenance beneift as it does not grey out over time like the matt black plastic does. I would have opted this in a heart beat if they offered it on the Macan 4 when it first came out.

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[surfcitydermatology]

Great Build!!!!

So glad to see leather on the seat rear. one thing rarely talked about is the adaptive sport seats have a huge silhouette and is otherwise a LOT of plastic. It obviously depends on how much the rear seats are used as to how valuable an option it is, I actually downgraded my seats to 14 way on my turbo just to improve rear occupant visibility as my children are small

I would consider sports design package as I prefer the high gloss front apron and lower side trims - if you do go for this I’d consider changing the side blades to high gloss black too - I think it works really well with Provence.

my biggest regret so far is not option drive assist - I have adaptive cruise control and use it 99% of the time

I see no value in the tinted headlights, I’ve not seen them in real life but can’t imagine it makes much difference unless you went for glacier blue (which wouldn’t really work with Provence)

Have you optioned a GTS with your build (a number of options are standard and a lot of options are a cheaper upgrade) to see the price difference?

I also originally optioned a rwd and switched to a turbo at the last minute - reduced range aside - I love knowing that my car is the fastest on the road at any given time, it can get you out of many sticky situations when in the wrong lane

Already tried the other configs, with price still being around $5k-15k+ additional with options included. Makes sense given the base increase in pricing for the engine upgrade itself.

Seems like a good business model too as it becomes very tempting to config a max spec on the higher tiered variants.

 

[shawn]

I’m confident that search response is an AI hallucination, I have seen an almost verbatim response when searching the same topic a month or so ago… can’t rely on an AI based search on a very new subject being remotely accurate, an easy trap to fall into… while I can’t say whether drive assist is level 2+ (it does appear so, especially with the driver monitoring cameras above the steering wheel on MY’26 photos we’ve seen), I’d be inclined to take what the Porsche config description states over that response, and as suggested that implies something that supercedes innodrive.

Fair point but why have the "innodrive" option available on the new 2026 Taycan and Panamara and then have another system called "drive assist" on the Macan and the Cayanne EV? The Taycan is the more expensive vehicle. If drive assist is all that then they should say it like they do for innodrive. Anyway, I guess the first receipents of the 2026 models will be able to tell us. I hope you are right.

 

[shawn]

Had a quick check on German website. It's not watered down - new functionality. Now independently (self steering) until 210 kmh with active lane change (indicator activated, except PTS). Functionality however specific to countries so can't comment on US.

Ok that sounds promising

 

[MMR]

Fair point but why have the "innodrive" option available on the new 2026 Taycan and Panamara and then have another system called "drive assist" on the Macan and the Cayanne EV? The Taycan is the more expensive vehicle. If drive assist is all that then they should say it like they do for innodrive. Anyway, I guess the first receipents of the 2026 models will be able to tell us. I hope you are right.

It’s my one regret not optioning it on my MY26 Turbo - I’d love to be able to pay to “turn it on” retrospectively

 

[JohnnyRoaster]

I am probably in the minority on this, but I would recommend the passenger display as a relatively inexpensive option. I would not have chosen it but it happened to be on my Macan 4. I was searching for Burmester and insulated glass so that severely limited my search. My wife finds it handy for navigation on trips and I like to have it set to what music is playing the rest of the time. It’s way better than piano black plastic.

 

[surfcitydermatology]

This is certainly very unique build, and I understand the theme that OP is going for but based on other cars owned, new to Porsche option packaging. Let me unpack a couple of things that may be helpful and focus on functional elements since cosmetics and colors are personal preference.

- Base model from the packaging standpoint has the most minimal standard equipment so any option that is included or optional on higher trims will cost more. OP does not seem to be concerned with cost so that may not be relevant but wanted to point this out.
- Base from the handling standpoint has unique character with rear only motor, but from the performance standpoint it is very slow given the weight. OP says it is fast enough, but has the OP driven it to understand the dynamics of something this heavy and slow with numbers telling you everything you need to know. This will probably be the only car on the road at this price that is that slow, but understand that other things matter more.
- The other downside of the Base trim without front motor, is that there is no benefit of regen from the front axle, therefore, some rear motor regen and physical front brakes blending going on to make it seem natural, so again recommend OP driving one and understanding the braking dynamics.
- Thermal Glass main function benefit is its thickness that helps with frameless doors, so I always option it for that benefit alone, however, in terms of its thermal and noise properties those appear to be very minimal based on numbers and experiences, since the glass must allow certain frequencies such as emergency vehicle sounds to be heard.
- Drive Assist is not checked, so as long as you understand what you are missing by not optioning this, then go for not having it.
- Leather is certainly will be nicer but leather trimmed seat consoles and seat backs will be prone to scratches.
- Bose audio from my experience is about the worst in any current cars and sounds like lifeless FM reception, so BM audio will sound like an HD radio.

I am interested to see if you are going to make any changes and post revised code after forum feedback.

Thanks for the feedback. I've been going back and forth switching from the Macan Base RWD to the Macan 4 AWD. I'm located in Southern California and do not plan on taking the vehicle to any snowy conditions. In this context, my understanding was that RWD would favor steer/driving dynamics, but I wasn't aware regarding the concerns of braking dynamics.

For those who have tried Macan Base RWD vs Macan 4/4S/GTS/Turbo AWD, how different is the feel for the braking dynamics in your opinion?

 

[PastaSource]

Fair point but why have the "innodrive" option available on the new 2026 Taycan and Panamara and then have another system called "drive assist" on the Macan and the Cayanne EV? The Taycan is the more expensive vehicle. If drive assist is all that then they should say it like they do for innodrive. Anyway, I guess the first receipents of the 2026 models will be able to tell us. I hope you are right.

I suspect this is just down to the newer hardware required for ‘drive assist’, and that they’re not adding that to 26 Taycan/Panamera. I agree that the naming is confusing and poor.

 

[surfcitydermatology]

I suspect this is just down to the newer hardware required for ‘drive assist’, and that they’re not adding that to 26 Taycan/Panamera. I agree that the naming is confusing and poor.

Lots to think about, but in thinking big picture: I never liked the way any car felt that steered automatically on roads. My tolerance goes up to Adaptive Cruise Control, but anything further than that makes me sleepy as the driver engagement decreases with decreased input from driving itself.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Awaz]

@surfcitydermatology
We all have different preferences and choices, but I think rear-wheel drive are more fun in general, particularly if you get a chance to really play with them and have the talent to go a bit sideways. I'm not saying, its a sports car, but the best sports cars are rear-wheel drive for a reason.
And as far acceleration and torque, I find it's plenty in the base model, in our speed limited roads. Starting the car from home in city centre, where the speed limit is just 20mph, I can't imagine flooring the foot down all the way.
I think someone mentioned braking dynamics of dual motors for better regen. I am not sure how true that is when the base model has the best range.
I see regen functioning on the regen meter, every time when I brake, or have the regen function on and lifting the foot off the pedal.

 

[MaccyT]

It’s my one regret not optioning it on my MY26 Turbo - I’d love to be able to pay to “turn it on” retrospectively

Don’t count too much on that. Porsche really seems to do unique builds compared to sometimes their Audi/VW brothers where there is an App Store called Functions on Demand but Porsche is lacking it. Except one batch of Taycans but they also removed it there.

I have a guy who is doing retrofits on basically all VAG cars except Porsche. It’s all locked down or missing the hardware in almost all cases. He advised to go all the way when buying a Porsche because of that.

 

[cogtooth]

My 4S is hardly ever powered on four wheels in most driving unless going uphill. Likewise, it is rarely regenerating using four wheels, using mostly just the rear wheels for regeneration. I would think the added weight of the front motor would hardly change the feel since it is hardly ever in operation.

 

[jwatte]

I would absolutely add the AR HUD. Totally worth it.

If you have the money and don't want to compromise, get the Burmester, but if you can put the money towards a higher level motor, I'd go for that instead of the Burmester and stick with the Bose.

Heated window is more of a cell phone blocker than noise/thermal insulation. If you park outside and live in Northern climates, you'll probably still want it. If you're a garage parker or not-much-snow climate dweller, maybe forgo the heated front window.

Sport Chrono is good; I wish I had gotten it for the extra drive mode.

 

[PrudentOcean]

My 4S is hardly ever powered on four wheels in most driving unless going uphill. Likewise, it is rarely regenerating using four wheels, using mostly just the rear wheels for regeneration. I would think the added weight of the front motor would hardly change the feel since it is hardly ever in operation.

That is just wrong.

The Macan EV uses permanent magnet motors, and unless they are receiving current, they act as generators and are producing a braking force. Most of the braking force always comes from the front axle, therefore in a 4/4S/GTS/Turbo the front motor is regenerating more than the rear motor.

Unless you are braking, the front motor in your 4S is always receiving some current.

 

[Awaz]

@surfcitydermatology
Since you are going for a base Macan, look at this video. Notice at 5:16 “…both the steering and acceleration is incredibly good on this car…”

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