The 2024 Porsche Macan Turbo (Electric) is a thrilling blend of acceleration and mountain road prowess that redefines expectations for electric vehicles. This all-electric marvel matches the raw acceleration of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, hitting 60 mph in a mind-blowing 3.1 seconds.
Full-throttle acceleration in the Macan Turbo (Electric) is an intense experience, pushing the driver into the seat with relentless force. The car’s electric powertrain delivers power instantly, making it feel like an all-wheel drive electric catapult. Weight transfer during acceleration is expertly managed by the chassis, contributing to a powerful and engaging driving dynamic.
The Macan Turbo (Electric) distinguishes itself with a larger and more potent rear electric motor compared to other Macan EVs. This contributes to the vehicle’s extraordinary performance. It matches the sprint time of the Cayenne Turbo GT, a feat that few supercars could achieve even a decade ago.
The deep purple paint of the test car was striking, matched by the 22-inch wheels that give it a distinctive presence. The ‘fly line’ of the rear roof emphasizes the car’s elegant yet sporty design.
While the experience is distinctly different from a combustion engine vehicle, the Macan Turbo (Electric) provides a smooth yet intense rush of power, only accompanied by a synthesized whispering. It’s a bit eerie, but in a good way.
When it comes to interior design, the Macan Turbo (Electric) retains the classic Porsche design philosophy, which includes an intuitive human factors experience and effective dash panel design. Porsche still leads the industry in user experience with an array of features on the SiriusXM radio and other applications.
The car’s four wheels dig and grab for maximum torque, and the electric motors deliver power with incredible efficiency. Acceleration is utterly relentless, whether from a standstill or a rolling start. A co-pilot touch screen controls important secondary functions. There is also LED accent lighting that offers a range of color options, though some animation effects may be considered an over-the-top addition.
The Macan Turbo (Electric) can cover a quarter-mile in about 11.5 seconds, just a second or so slower than a Ferrari 488.
The seats in the Turbo model offer excellent support with aggressive bolstering, which is very helpful during cornering.
Contributing to the impressive acceleration is a combined maximum torque figure in the Sport+ setting of 833 lb. ft., made possible by the powerful electric motor on the rear axle.
The optional 22-inch alloy wheels with carbon-fiber aero blades add to the car’s visual appeal and are worth the investment.
The all-electric powertrain delivers torque to the ground with a level of efficiency gasoline-powered vehicles simply cannot match. Almost anyone with a strong heart can enjoy the Macan Turbo’s incredible performance once they get used to it.
The Macan Turbo (Electric) integrates Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and an electronically controlled rear-axle differential lock, which puts the massive torque to the ground with minimal loss and offers a balanced performance across both the front and rear wheels. The vehicle manages mountain roads as well as any Porsche, with predictable handling and roll rates. It takes corners smoothly.
Optional rear-wheel steering is available, and the car handles tight maneuvers in both city and parking environments with exceptional agility.
In short, the Macan Turbo EV provides almost everything a performance vehicle enthusiast could want, except an exhaust note symphony. The overall experience is that of a close-coupled 2+2 super-sedan rather than a typical SUV crossover.
Under moderate driving circumstances, the power that can be delivered comes from only the rear motor, a design choice that promotes highway range and efficiency. The Macan Turbo’s wheel/tire package is sizable, but the multi-link suspension design ensures excellent management of movement and firmly plants the tire treads on the pavement. The ride remains free of any undesirable effects such as tramlining (pulling from side to side).
The shift lever to change from drive to reverse is located to the right of the steering wheel. This setup frees up valuable space on the console. Knurled switches provide analog-like control, and there is a big toggle switch included.
Each of the three displays can be personalized with a rotary scroller located on the righthand steering wheel.
The Macan Turbo (Electric) is remarkably fast, with an ability to accelerate from freeway speeds to extra-legal speeds.
Considering that Porsche strives to provide an experience with its CUVs that’s similar to its sports cars, the rear seats provide better comfort for children and athletic young adults than grown men.
The potential range of the Macan Turbo (Electric) is up to 288 miles, which is considerably more than early versions of the Taycan.
Sport Chrono brings the highest performance settings, and the car delivers on its promise of performance. On a mountain test run, with considerable and frequent rapid acceleration, the charge meter decreased from 97% to the low 60s. The Macan (Electric) and Macan Turbo (Electric) vehicles have more than enough range for practical everyday use.
There are limitations, of course. It is meant for those with garage space and charging stations and isn’t designed for long-range trips.
Since electric vehicle politics remain in flux, some may wonder if Porsche will add a gasoline engine CUV to the lineup. Every car company has been forced into developing both a gas engine and an electric motor, and architectures that can be deployed in either fashion with great ease.
The Macan Turbo (Electric) is simply a remarkable high-performance vehicle. If you have the space, consider buying one just for the sheer thrills of exceptional acceleration.
