Considering Macan EV - Tips, advice appreciated

[macan_i_doit]

Thanks all !! Hope everyone had a nice long weekend.

Definitely lots to soak up ... especially with the configurator. I think I'm going the CPO route, so less decisions to make and perhaps a first small step towards a Porsche. Definitely going to try to look for ones with double insulated glass.

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[LinuxLars]

Hi all,

New to this forum. Currently driving a Gen 1 Rivian R1T but lease is ending and with change of work, not much use for a truck.

I'm considering a Macan lease. Wonder if anyone is able to share experience, or pointers.

A few things to note:
- Never driven/owned a Porsche and also a Macan
- Care about noise insulation and range (Gen 1 R1T is like driving through a typhoon)
- I'd love for a trim and spec best for range
- Commute once a week, round trip is about 200 miles now

Truly appreciate your help, guidance or any advice.

Thank you.

I ordered my 2024 Macan 4 EV as soon as they started taking orders.It was shipped on the same boat as the dealer demos, so very early production.

We've had surprisingly few mechanical issues - one of the ports wouldn't open and the dealer had to replace it. There were originally a host of software bugs, and the dealer was patient about reporting them, and most have been fixed I'm aware of. There's still a nightmare in the range estimator because of the split battery (which is genius for slow charging) - the 2 sides drain energy on their own, and the estimator tries - very unsuccessfully to track that. I'm sure they'll find a fix.

Love the car.

Options I ordered I LOVE:
* Sound-insulation glass all around (yes, you lose the rear wiper blade and that hasn't been an issue for me)
* Ventilated leather seats (improves range when it's hot outside because you don't need the A/C)

Options I kind of wish I had ordered but would have to do more research:
* Rear axle steering

Options I regret ordering:
* Porsche Electric Sport sound

I usually get around 305 miles of range at 80% charge, depending on outdoor temperature.

Have fun and good luck!

 

[macan_i_doit]

I ordered my 2024 Macan 4 EV as soon as they started taking orders.It was shipped on the same boat as the dealer demos, so very early production.

We've had surprisingly few mechanical issues - one of the ports wouldn't open and the dealer had to replace it. There were originally a host of software bugs, and the dealer was patient about reporting them, and most have been fixed I'm aware of. There's still a nightmare in the range estimator because of the split battery (which is genius for slow charging) - the 2 sides drain energy on their own, and the estimator tries - very unsuccessfully to track that. I'm sure they'll find a fix.

Love the car.

Options I ordered I LOVE:
* Sound-insulation glass all around (yes, you lose the rear wiper blade and that hasn't been an issue for me)
* Ventilated leather seats (improves range when it's hot outside because you don't need the A/C)

Options I kind of wish I had ordered but would have to do more research:
* Rear axle steering

Options I regret ordering:
* Porsche Electric Sport sound

I usually get around 305 miles of range at 80% charge, depending on outdoor temperature.

Have fun and good luck!

Thank you. I'm considering a used/pre-owned Macan Base vs the 4. Did you try both and if so, what's the key difference besides RWD/AWD?

I'm also prioritizing the sound-insulation glass - from what you shared and from across different posts, this is a worthy option.

 

[Awaz]

Very little difference between the Macan Base and the 4. In the US, I think 4 is $5000 dearer.
I test drove the 4 but bought the base model. Didn't feel any difference.
If you don't get much snow in Sacramento probably base is a better choice. Besides, winter tyres are more important for snow/ice.

Winter tyres are far more important than All-Wheel Drive (AWD). While AWD helps your car accelerate and move forward in deep snow, it does absolutely nothing to help you stop, turn, or maintain control on ice. (per AI).
The lighter front end of the Base model gives sharper, more communicative steering (per AI).

 

[byebye]

My current loaner is a 4, the previous was a base, I prefer the base, it seems lighter and have a better efficiency for no perceived loss of performance.

 

[Awaz]

Unless you go for the Macan 4S or upwards for instant power, the base is probably preferable, as it is somewhat lighter and has better efficiency.

 

[dbsb3233]

Very little difference between the Macan Base and the 4. In the US, I think 4 is $5000 dearer.
I test drove the 4 but bought the base model. Didn't feel any difference.
If you don't get much snow in Sacramento probably base is a better choice. Besides, winter tyres are more important for snow/ice.

Winter tyres are far more important than All-Wheel Drive (AWD). While AWD helps your car accelerate and move forward in deep snow, it does absolutely nothing to help you stop, turn, or maintain control on ice. (per AI).
The lighter front end of the Base model gives sharper, more communicative steering (per AI).

I have the RWD too. We intended to get a 4 but we bought a year ago when ordering to spec means tariff uncertainly so we decided to buy from inventory. The closest car we could find for everything else we wanted was a RWD. And it's perfectly fine for our needs. It's not the rocket ship off the line that some EVs are, but it's still got more than enough power for normal driving. 23k miles in and we've never once felt like we needed more power. (By contrast, our Lucid Gravity GT *is* a rocket ship (828 HP), but other than showing off once of twice, it's just overkill that's never needed.)

EVs are so heavy that they naturally have great traction in rain and snow anyway. If I were gonna be driving in snow on a regular basis, I might hold out of the 4, but it's rare for us (even living in CO).

 

[USMA81]

When picking up my Macan, I drove both the Macan Turbo and a RWD Taycan at the LA Experience Center on their three, separate, low friction surfaces. I came away thinking that I would prioritize AWD in my future vehicle purchases. With AWD, it was difficult to intentionally break loose the traction. I was deeply impressed. I had spec’ed it on my Macan because I drive in winter conditions to ski, and because (duh) the Base wasn’t an option when ordering in 2024. I also would spec it if I lived where it rains heavily / regularly. AWD is not going to matter most of the time, but sometimes it might. Still, AWD doesn’t mean I can drive faster or that it will help in every situation. Is it worth the extra cost? For me, it is, “yes,” but that’s subjective and situationally dependent.

 

[Vinicius]

I ordered my 2024 Macan 4 EV as soon as they started taking orders.It was shipped on the same boat as the dealer demos, so very early production.

We've had surprisingly few mechanical issues - one of the ports wouldn't open and the dealer had to replace it. There were originally a host of software bugs, and the dealer was patient about reporting them, and most have been fixed I'm aware of. There's still a nightmare in the range estimator because of the split battery (which is genius for slow charging) - the 2 sides drain energy on their own, and the estimator tries - very unsuccessfully to track that. I'm sure they'll find a fix.

Love the car.

Options I ordered I LOVE:
* Sound-insulation glass all around (yes, you lose the rear wiper blade and that hasn't been an issue for me)
* Ventilated leather seats (improves range when it's hot outside because you don't need the A/C)

Options I kind of wish I had ordered but would have to do more research:
* Rear axle steering

Options I regret ordering:
* Porsche Electric Sport sound

I usually get around 305 miles of range at 80% charge, depending on outdoor temperature.

Have fun and good luck!

Can I ask you why you regret ordering the Porsche Electric Sports Sound? I'm asking because this is one of the options I regret NOT ordering. The Rear Axle Steering is ditto for me.

I still wonder if I should've ordered the HUD. I was afraid it would be too distracting - and it's kinda expensive.

I wanted the sound-insulation glass, but I went with the rear wiper blade since I live in a tropical country (Brazil) and it's kinda mandatory due to the rains. I still don't get why these options were mutually exclusive...

Thanks!

 

[LinuxLars]

The Electronic Sports Sound is not interesting to me; I never use it. I love the "infinite-power-quietly-at-your-command" thing.

Rear wheel steering wasn't available when I ordered this in early2024. I'd have to test-drive both to see if I notice a difference. I do hear good things about it.

I had a Macan EV loaner for a few days with HUD. While I dig them actually getting the "floating in front of the car" thing to look great, I found it kind of annoying. I do wear polarized sunglasses so during the day it was subdued but visible, and I still found in annoying. If I was doing unfamiliar trips at night regularly, that might be a win for me.

I LOVE the sound insulation glass, because: it 1) is quieter; and 2) lowers cabin temp in the summer and insulates it in the winter (requiring less juice to be comfortable in the car. Maybe not a LOT less, but less.

 

[pm4s]

I wanted the sound-insulation glass, but I went with the rear wiper blade since I live in a tropical country (Brazil) and it's kinda mandatory due to the rains. I still don't get why these options were mutually exclusive...

Probably a million reasons but IMO nobody wanted the headache and extra cost.

I have thermal/acoustic glass, car looks beautiful, no ugly rear wiper ruining the look, zero maintenance, largest view out, wiper does not intrude, cheaper, more aero, more quiet, no wind noise, lighter, no rear wiper motor, glass more durable as single piece, no need to seal/waterproof the hole as there isn't one, glass doesn't get scratched by wiper blade dragging sand, dust, dirt, etc.

Now for the wiper you introduce a hole between 2 sheets of glass (outer/inner), a thermal coating and an acoustic mid-layer.
You have to strengthen the area of the hole, perfectly align all 4 layers, seal the hole while taking into consideration the constant vibration and loads from the arm doing its swiping motion.

Porsche engineers had 2 options:
1) design it properly like all the cars that offer both options

2) Offer 4 options to the Porsche victims and go for a beer instead:
a) no wiper (Porsche: at least we save money on wiper)
b) wiper at extra cost (Porsche: are we the only ones to think of this? that's why we are the best)
c) wiper but in high-gloss black at 3x the price (Porsche: come on, we'd put high-gloss black option on high gloss-black and people would still spec it, that's how good we are)
d) glass (Porsche: ditch the wiper, let's make some real money )

 

[Vinicius]

@LinuxLars, thank you for the answers. I believe I would have the same experience with the HUD as you did. I also wear polarized sunglasses all the time, btw. I don't miss the sound insulation glass since I don't know what's like to have it. Maybe it's that kind of comfort that you don't expect much, but completely changes your perspective after having it - like flying business class. Unfortunately, I really needed the rear wiper, since it's basically a safety feature for us. Cheers!

 

[LinuxLars]

Thank you. I'm considering a used/pre-owned Macan Base vs the 4. Did you try both and if so, what's the key difference besides RWD/AWD?

I'm also prioritizing the sound-insulation glass - from what you shared and from across different posts, this is a worthy option.

I didn't. I generally get around 306 miles of range estimated 80% charge, which is a lot higher than the EPA with my Macan 4 AWD. I'd have to ask some questions about actual range, and I've heard that the FWD drives peppy, weighs a little less, and feels more like a gas Macan than an EV (I'm guessing that was wishful thinking, and who knows?)

I'd want to drive a RWD and compare before making a call next time. We live in Fort Worth, and at best, we usually get iced in a couple of days a year. The AWD works great on ice. (Ditto my old 2014 Q5 TDI)

 

[alxman]

Summer is almost over, thankfully! It has been one of the hottest and longest summers I have experienced here in Atlanta. And, I’ve been living in “Hotlanta” for 25 years now! For those considering the Thermal and Noise Insulation windows, I strongly recommend them. This is the first car I’ve owned that barely feels hot inside despite being parked outside under 90+ degree weather while running errands like shopping, eating out, or exercising at the gym. And by the way, I have not had any problems with cellphone connectivity.

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