Everyone who has driven an EV comes away wowed by the impressive acceleration available at any speed. However, most EVs lack the crisp handling and steering feel of traditional internal combustion performance vehicles. Sure, the low center of gravity makes EVs feel secure on the road, but few are able to mask the massive weight they carry. Porsche has now raised the EV bar and added a dose of fun-to-drive into the electric vehicle recipe.
The Macan Electric, while built on an all-new platform, is similarly sized to the gas-powered Macan, Porsche’s best-selling vehicle. The Macan Electric can be had with a single motor driving the rear wheels or dual motors providing all-wheel drive. Horsepower ranges from 355 in the base model to 630 in the Macan Turbo Electric. The Turbo, which also packs 833 lb-ft of torque, can deliver 0-60 acceleration in a scintillating three seconds. Power aside, the Macan Electric sets itself apart when you turn into a corner. Switching from Normal to Sport or Sport Plus modes firms up the suspension to give your Macan sportscar like-agility. And when the road ends, the Macan Electric can keep going. The offroad driving mode and the standard air suspension give the Macan up to 8.9 inches of ground clearance.
On the inside, the Macan Electric offers plenty of room for four adults and a spacious cargo area. While the driver has oodles of tech at their fingertips, the optional 10.9 inch passenger display gives the front seat passenger access to navigation, infotainment settings, and even streaming video content. Fortunately, the passenger screen is designed so that it is not distracting to the driver who has a head-up display with augmented reality to keep their eyes forward.
Through the good folks at Porsche Danbury, I had the opportunity to get some seat time in a Macan 4 Electric. Porsche Danbury, founded in 1989, was purchased by Georgica Auto Holdings in December 2022. The dealership, located on Sugar Hollow Road adjacent to its sister Audi and VW dealerships, just went through a major facility update to bring it up to Porsche’s latest Gen 4+ standards. Porsche Danbury General Manager Brett Drago discussed the improvements: “Our renovation efforts have resulted in several exciting new features, including redesigned and increased seating areas, revamped coffee and refreshment bars, enhanced decor, and a complete digital transformation. The highlight of the showroom is our 19-foot by 16-foot digital wall, which offers a stunning visual experience and represents our commitment to bringing customers the most immersive and dynamic Porsche environment possible. Phase two is coming in January and we cannot wait.”
Porsche Danbury is a multiple winner of Premier Porsche Dealership awards. During my time at the dealership, I found the staff to be professional, courteous and thoroughly knowledgeable. They quickly had my phone synced to the vehicle for the full personalized driver experience.
I’ve driven a lot of EVs and while the acceleration rarely disappoints, the driving experience is often a bit soulless. Not so with the Macan. It drives like a Porsche, with great steering feel, crisp handling, and an overall engaging experience. Based upon the runaway success of the gas-powered Macan, I have no doubt Porsche is going to have another hit on their hands. •
