Macan Turbo versus BMW iX M70

[hanashra]

Hello all, I am currently in a thought process on either ordering an all new Macan Turbo or the iX M70. Although it might look a bit like an uneven comparison, for me these cars are currently in many areas what I am looking for one way or the other. I like the luxury finish of the iX and the space on the one hand, but I would not neccessarily need it as the Macan has a big enough trunk to carry my dailies and give quite a sporty blast.
What I am a bit unsure is the whole software stuff. Whilst I am used to BMW in the i5 M60 and quite like it, I dislike the software of my Tacan (2021) a lot. And from test driving the 2025 Macan I am also not very optimistic on that side. Now whilst I am happy to hear any thought of yours on whatever you can bring to the table for my comparison, I am particularly interested in anything around the software, charging planner, etc. of the newest Macan to help me making my final decision. Thx all

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[sor]

I came from an iX M60 and would not go back. I can’t overstate how much more enjoyable of a drive the Macan is for me, for multiple reasons. However I’m not super demanding software wise, I’m 99% just in CarPlay and the driving assistance works well enough.

 

[EVowner]

I would say it really boils down on how you feel about iX looks. To me it was dealbreaker, but looking back at "Porsche quality experience" I might have chosen differently.

I believe iX has much better value proposition than Macan and I would imagine it will be getting even better as Neue Klasse will roll out in few months. BMW will be replacing iX tech soon with all the new stuff from that car, so you might get some good deal on it. BMW SW is light years ahead of Porsche in almost every department and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

That said driving feel, charging speed and looks will be better in Macan, but based on my experience alongside with physical buttons (both on wheel and climate control) I would honestly say that's about it.

You are also right in that it is not exactly fair comparison and size wise you should be looking at Cayenne instead Macan. Which I was interested myself as an upgrade from Macan, but I somehow cant see myself going with Porsche again unless they properly fix all issues on my Macan first and even after that I would still had to think hard.

 

[hanashra]

Hey thx for the thoughts. I have to be honest: I like the look of the iX M70 with frozen dark grey and 23inch rims. Of course the Macan is way more -lets say- handsomely aggressive
What worries me somewhat is you saying "lightyears ahead" in terms of software. I do have a Taycan Turbo S 2021 as sort of a fun car and as much as I love the sheer and raw power as much I hate fiddling around with the software. So far I have not been able to see an all new Macan (according to my dealer the ones produced as of 02/2026 will get even better hardware and stuff). The current 2026 one looks decent in terms of software but most of the downsides wont show up during a 2hr test-drive.....
I looked at the Cayenne already but I simply don't see myself driving that....

 

[EVowner]

Let me put it differently.
In Porsche if you want to update SW you need to go to dealer. Only thing that is capable of being updated with OTA are few apps that are available in their App store.
SW updates don't take minutes but hours and based on many reports even days with updates sometime bricking various parts of the car.

Since you have Taycan I am sure you know all this yourself. Now Taycan both old and refreshed one runs on their own SW. Macan is build on Android Automotive, so everybody was sort of hoping that now Porsche will be able to move with the time and provide OTA updates. That is not the case and state is exactly same as it was with Taycans and I highly doubt that it will be different even in Cayenne or MY26 Macan.

Not having OTA updates might not be technically a problem if the SW that is in the car was fully stable and did not require fixes. In my experience that is not the case, because for every issue that I reported up till now they always said oh yeah we have new SW that fixes that. Sadly in my case, that so far did not solved anything and while I believe that my particular car must have some HW/SW issue that is source of all the weirdness (random SOC drops + random high consumption, crazy blind spot monitoring and even music stopping to play during drive) the way everything seems to blamed on SW does not show confidence.

I fully agree with you on that you will not discover probably any issues during 2hour test drive. Which is not just Porsche specific thing. If I would ever buy any other EV I would most likely loan it for at least a month first, even at my own expense, as issues seems to be plague of any new one these days, because car industry decided that SW QA is no longer a thing apparently.

 

[hanashra]

I agree on your Taycan assumption. I know what is required but I have to state that mine has barely ever any issues with software. I am more fighting missing features as in charging planner is just not what I would want to have or that the displays respond slower than I am used to and stuff. That’s down to hardware and won’t be resolved by any update.
But back on the Macan I have to say that with an EV you can no longer separate car from software. It needs to work together and in particular all the fancy comfort features can be pain in the … should they refuse to work.
From what I am hearing currently you are saying that if (un)stable software would be a dealbreaker for me, I should rather go with the iX (although being replaced by Neue Klasse).

 

[sor]

I will just add that I appreciated the software OTAs that occurred roughly once a year on my iX, but I’m also not hopping into the Macan every day and thinking “I really need a software update”. It just works and I’m not thinking about it at all, honestly. I know that this isn’t the case for others who might have older builds (I guess?), or other more serious issues with their cars.

 

[JonoNZ]

We have an iX M60 and a Macan Turbo — I love the iX but the Macan drive experience is a completely different league. The iX is a cruiser with neck-snapping acceleration, but the Macan Turbo is a 10/10 on the dynamics fron, where as the iX is maybe a 4/10 on a good day. I love them both but we use them for different things.

Tech on the iX is slightly better (and has Apple CarKey and has for like 5 years), but once thing settle down the differences aren’t that important.

 

[hanashra]

The new Macan seems to have Apple Car key and other new stuff. I found this on google:

Starting in autumn, the Macan will optionally feature the expanded Surround View driver assistance system with active parking support. New additions include a “transparent hood” function for improved forward visibility, up to five storable parking spaces, and programmable segments for automated reversing over distances of up to 50 meters. Also new is the digital vehicle key, which can be paired with iPhone, Apple Watch, and Android devices.
With the changeover to the new model year, games from Gameloft and Obscure Interactive will also be available via the Porsche App Center and can be controlled via the touchscreen or a Bluetooth controller. AirConsole brings a wide selection of family games and classic titles into the vehicle, which can be operated using a smartphone. The optional front passenger display allows applications to be used in parallel even while driving, without distracting the driver. Porsche is also integrating AI into its voice control system to further enhance human–machine interaction.
Personalization options are being expanded as well, including new choices for door sill guards and LED door projectors. The Charging Planner has also been optimized: customers can now prioritize or deliberately exclude specific charging stations and charging providers when planning routes.
Maximum towing capacity for all all-wheel-drive Macan models increases by 500 kilograms to 2,500 kilograms. Depending on the market, this increase can also be retroactively certified for vehicles that have already been delivered.

 

[byebye]

As someone (@Yves ?) stated, the IX seems more efficient than the Macan EV.
If range is a concern, check that.

If there is no problem for you to buy a car that will not have any software improvements for years because Porsche thinks that it's better (?) to give the new software features only to new customers, Macan EV will be perfect for you. And, no, it's not possible to buy after the initial purchase new features.
Nowadays, there's no other brand than Porsche which can guarantee that a new EV car is stucked in the past to be exactly as the same as in the original purchase order.
It's more or less a "Christine car", and it could have big value for you if you want to pay a tribute to Stephen King.

Driving the Macan EV turbo is obviously the key selling point, but it's not totally guaranteed as it's a luxury for some owners.

 

[jwatte]

The software in the Macan is different, because it's Android Auto, not VAG Special.

 

[hanashra]

Wouldn’t Android Auto as base open up all the possibilities for future updates? On the other hand is the Macan EV already available for some time and it did not change.

 

[Yves]

If I only could have one car I would stick with the iX, the software is constantly being updated, the B&W sounds better in any way.
I guess the driving in the Macan will be a bit sportier but guess the difference with an M70 will not that big in that respect for public roads, on track the Macan Turbo will be more agile but on a daily drive But choice is personal …

 

[hanashra]

I totally agree with you. In terms of feeling the Macan is way ahead in providing sportiveness. The iX feels to me more like what has already been said as in a business lounge that will kick you in the back if you floor it. The raw specs of the M70 and the Macan Turbo are pretty much exactly the same.
I also like about my BMWs that the OS (in my case 8.5) roughly quarterly gets OTA updates. No new features but improvements and some tweaks around the UI, which feel nice. Having said that, even here, it will only be done for roughly three years from release as the hardware changes. Not that much of an issue though for me as I normally tend to swap every three years anyway.
What comes to play is now an offer by my Porsche dealer who would take my 2021 Taycan for a really reasonable price in return for buying the Macan. That now also makes me think as I don't think, I will sell that car easily at some point and this might be a deal.....

Edit: Range is not an issue for me. My current daily is the i4 M50 and the Macan seems to be on the same level in terms of range. So it will work out.

 

[byebye]

Wouldn’t Android Auto as base open up all the possibilities for future updates? On the other hand is the Macan EV already available for some time and it did not change.

The main reason is the Porsche will... and probably on the top of that some technical missteps when they designed the hardware of the Macan (The update of the electronic modules is PITA for dealerships with old procedures such as the need to connect the 12v battery to a charger, even though I'm sure they can improve that with software updates to maintain the 12v battery during the process with the HV, Porsche doesn't).

I can't imagine the cost for me after the guarantee period: no free loaner, exaggerated time in the dealership at a cost and so on

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