Marques Brownlee's Auto Focus Macan Turbo review

[jason4s]

Skipped over the review, I like the style I think you are all being too harsh, he's not an automotive journalist, plenty of channels of that kind to follow, for his audience it's fine, at least he picked up a couple of the weaknesses which I agree with 100%:
- grossly overpriced (even for a Porsche, it's my 2nd one)
- not good looking enough (it's obviously no looker (taycan) but also very disappointing compared to a 2014 Macan, very bloated/rounded, not athletic enough)
- zero leg room in the back (a lot less space than a hatchback, yes I measured)
- cheap scratchy piano black (for the price this is a crime)
- no 1 pedal drive (I have on my other German EV and I want it, "real" Porsche owners don't have to switch it on, should be an option
- does not drive like a Porsche (owned Porsche/VW/Audi/etc. for 10+ years, this drives more like the Audi it's based on (this is not true of the Gas Macan/Q5)
- useless passenger screen (cannot comment as do not have it; the only benefit is less of that cheap piano black but way too expensive for that, 1K+)
- Burmester for 5K is daylight robbery, even with how awful the Bose sounds the price for the BM is eye-watering
- probably some more I missed as I just skipped over the video

We can probably agree to disagree on many points here as they are subjective.

- I think the front end of the Macan EV looks significantly better than the Macan ICE. On the other hand I do think the Macan ICE has the better back end.

- Leg room is objectively better than the Macan ICE.

- If Porsche added 1 pedal drive it causes inconsistency in the driving experience depending on whether you have it on or off. And I guarantee people will find another reason to complain about how it doesn't "drive like a Porsche".

- Plenty of Porsche owners and reviewers say that the Macan EV "drives like a Porsche". But this is subjective and I don't discount your experience, people probably just have different expectations of it. I will point out that many people say it drives better than the ICE Macan. And it completely blows away the Q6 in every back-to-back review I've seen.

Sponsored

 

[sor]

We can probably agree to disagree on many points here as they are subjective.

- I think the front end of the Macan EV looks significantly better than the Macan ICE. On the other hand I do think the Macan ICE has the better back end.

- Leg room is objectively better than the Macan ICE.

- If Porsche added 1 pedal drive it causes inconsistency in the driving experience depending on whether you have it on or off. And I guarantee people will find another reason to complain about how it doesn't "drive like a Porsche".

- Plenty of Porsche owners and reviewers say that the Macan EV "drives like a Porsche". But this is subjective and I don't discount your experience, people probably just have different expectations of it. I will point out that many people say it drives better than the ICE Macan. And it completely blows away the Q6 in every back-to-back review I've seen.

That’s just it. Without real expertise it is one guy’s opinion on a bunch of subjective things, and many of these I don’t agree with. It’s really kind of meaningless and the lack of understanding on how to charge a non-Tesla is just icing on the cake. That one is not subjective.

The leg room is good for its class and it’s better looking (by far) that the ICE version (and again better looking than any other EV in its class). If I clicked with him and trusted his opinions I’d maybe care more, but I’ve already seen enough over the years.

 

[Petzi]

Someone who reviews gadgets should at least be able to turn on the charging planner to find a fast-charging station. or to look at the map where he could have seen the capabilities of charging around him...
Blaming Porsche for the poor performance of a Tesla charging station is, in any case, a new low.

 

[No_Wonk]

What was he talking about boosting recuperation with a button? is that a thing or he just made that up? I can only toggle recouperation on/off if I add a shortcut to that button.

 

[Somehow]

Stopped watching MB car reviews long time ago and this one prooves they didn't get better over time. Interestingly enough I do kind of like Miles' car reviews on his own channel, but didn't like his part in this review.

 

[Fly4ever]

I was equally confused why he had a problem with the Macan's pricing but didn't seem to have an issue with the significantly more expensive Cayenne.

Most likely because he considers the Macan less of a car and falling behind on value relatively to the Cayenne.

 

[SergeyIndy]

What was he talking about boosting recuperation with a button? is that a thing or he just made that up? I can only toggle recouperation on/off if I add a shortcut to that button.

Macan EV just like Taycan has standard not controlled by the driver intelligent recuperation and you can see it on the power meter when you say going slightly downhill. Then the driver controlled recouperation button can add more, but nowhere close to 1-pedal. I keep mine OFF in the Taycan as it feels just too much and unnatural even though it is a fraction of the standard Tesla, of which I drove may be once about 2 blocks and had to get out and say, hard no to this stick in the mud experience.

Our CEO's exec assistant recently drove her grand kids in a Model X when visiting her kids, and we ended up talking about EVs, and she said the grand kids were getting car sick in the back when she was driving them a little around town. Who can stand this 1-pedal nonsense golf cart mode, not me. Do not get me started on the Model X as I have not seen a single one around town without some parts hanging, panels misaligned, or steering wheel peeling badly..

 

[realfan]

What was he talking about boosting recuperation with a button? is that a thing or he just made that up? I can only toggle recouperation on/off if I add a shortcut to that button.

There is that "button" on the screen under the vehicle settings which you can toggle on/off to create some breaking when you let off the pedal. I have been experimenting with it and I don't think it's really impacting my mi/kwh so I have it on for now. Without it, you just coast when you let off the pedal.

I didn't add it as a shortcut to the steering wheel as I want to find my comfort zone and leave it either always on or off.

 

[MMR]

There is that "button" on the screen under the vehicle settings which you can toggle on/off to create some breaking when you let off the pedal. I have been experimenting with it and I don't think it's really impacting my mi/kwh so I have it on for now. Without it, you just coast when you let off the pedal.

I didn't add it as a shortcut to the steering wheel as I want to find my comfort zone and leave it either always on or off.

I’ve found my mi/kWh is noticeably better with regen switched off. In fact, I get better efficiency in Sport Plus with regen off than I do in Normal with it on.

These days, I drive in Normal with regen off for most journeys.

 

[realfan]

I’ve found my mi/kWh is noticeably better with regen switched off. In fact, I get better efficiency in Sport Plus with regen off than I do in Normal with it on.

These days, I drive in Normal with regen off for most journeys.

This is very interesting. I will give that a try tomorrow on my daily commute. Thus far, I've stayed in normal but I will make that change tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[MMR]

This is very interesting. I will give that a try tomorrow on my daily commute. Thus far, I've stayed in normal but I will make that change tomorrow. Thanks!

Normal is still more efficient than Sport Plus. The difference was that, for me, regen was enabled by default in Normal but disabled in Sport Plus.

I couldn’t work out why I was consistently getting better efficiency in Sport Plus until I discovered the regen button. Once I turned regen off in Normal, the efficiency improved noticeably.

 

[Awaz]

Is it true Regen Off is better at open roads where the car just coasts and coasts, but in the city with a lot of traffic, stoppages, etc., Regen On is better?
This is what the Porsche techy guy told me

 

[MMR]

Is it true Regen Off is better at open roads where the car just coasts and coasts, but in the city with a lot of traffic, stoppages, etc., Regen On is better?
This is what the Porsche techy guy told me

My experience has been different. The Macan EV is a coasting colossus.

I look at it this way: the most efficient use of energy is to use it in the first place rather than recover only part of it later, because regeneration can never recapture 100% of the energy you put in. The only regen I use is when I brake.

 

[Wivenhoe]

Most likely because he considers the Macan less of a car and falling behind on value relatively to the Cayenne.

I would agree that the Macan now looks expensive compared to the Cayenne EV. I collect my Cayenne EV Coupe this week - I had to agree to full list but did get some dealer options in the deal.

I have just optioned up a Macan 4S to a lesser spec than my Cayenne. The Cayenne is £ 106k and the Macan would be £ 99k.

Whilst the 4S is 0.6 seconds quicker to 62 mph the base Cayenne has an increased battery capacity and later tech, charging up to 400kw, a variable light panoramic, HD lights not LED, comfort mode air, alleged higher spec interior, the curved screen etc. I suspect in a few years the Macan residuals will suffer from competing with Cayenne‘s on the same sales lot.

Sponsored