Porsche Macan 4S Electric AWD SUV Review: A Heavyweight Electric Titan With the Soul of a Proper Porsche

Some cars reward discretion. Others demand to be seen, preferably somewhere scenic, with good tarmac and an audience that understands what they are looking at. The Porsche Macan 4S Electric falls very firmly into the latter category. It is far too resolved, far too handsome, and frankly far too confident to be hidden away. So a few colleagues and I took it exactly where it belonged, across the Sussex Downs, through the Surrey Hills, and eventually into central London, where elegance is judged ruthlessly and patience is optional.

This all-electric Macan carries a considerable burden. Its job is to convince committed Porsche loyalists, many of whom still worship at the altar of combustion, that electricity can deliver genuine driving pleasure. That is not a small task. Yes, the Macan EV shares its underlying architecture with Audi’s latest electric efforts, which are excellent in their own right, but Porsche has gone much further. This does not feel like a shared platform car with a different badge. It feels like a Porsche that has simply moved on. Bon courage to anyone still clinging to nostalgia.

Specs, When the Numbers Start Smiling Back

The Porsche Macan 4S Electric approaches performance with the calm confidence of something that knows it is faster than you expect. Two electric motors, one front, one rear, establish all-wheel drive without any mechanical theatrics, delivering 448 horsepower as standard. Engage launch control and Porsche briefly lifts the veil, releasing 516 horsepower and a frankly antisocial 820 Nm of torque. Acceleration is instant, clean, and relentless, like being pushed by an invisible hand that has no intention of letting go.

Officially, 0 to 62 mph takes 4.1 seconds. Subjectively, it feels quicker because there is no noise, no build-up, no warning. For perspective, the top petrol Macan GTS, even with its optional sport package and very willing V6, manages the same sprint in 4.3 seconds. That small numerical difference tells a larger story. The future of speed, whether you greet it with enthusiasm or reluctance, is electric. C’est un fait.

There is a compromise, if you are the sort of person who enjoys large numbers for their own sake. The Macan 4S Electric tops out at 149 mph, compared to the petrol GTS’s 169 mph. In reality, this matters only if your weekends involve autobahns and optimism. Everywhere else, the electric Macan feels effortlessly rapid, delivering its performance repeatedly and without fatigue.

Power comes from a 100 kWh battery, with 95 kWh actually usable, mounted low in the chassis to keep the centre of gravity exactly where Porsche wants it. Official range sits between 318 and 377 miles. Driven with enthusiasm rather than reverence, we comfortably saw just over 320 miles, which feels refreshingly honest. Charging from 10 to 80 percent takes around 21 minutes at maximum power, just enough time for a coffee, a croissant, and a brief existential reflection on how quickly all this has become normal. Très rapide, tout ça.

Exterior Design, Muscular Without Showing Off

In green metallic, the Macan 4S Electric looks grounded and purposeful. Side-on, it presents as a coupe-SUV with less roof and more presence than most, its pinched waist and sloping roofline exaggerating the already vast 22-inch wheels. The proportions are carefully judged, giving the car a planted, almost predatory stance.

From three-quarter view, it becomes genuinely compelling. There is something boxer-like about it, compact, muscular, and coiled, suggesting both mass and speed in equal measure. The haunched bonnet makes its Porsche lineage clear, while the recessed headlights, sharp intakes and discreet aero work give the front end a calm authority. It looks fast without needing to say so, like a Weimaraner that knows exactly what it is capable of.

Interior, Rock-Solid Luxury With Human Intelligence

Open the door and the immediate impression is one of solidity bordering on the geological. Everything feels as though it has been carved rather than assembled. You get the sense that a hammer would bounce off most surfaces without leaving a mark. And yet, this robustness is paired with tactility. Leather is supple and cool to the touch, surfaces are smooth and inviting, and the whole cabin manages that rare trick of feeling both bombproof and indulgent.

It is a genuine five-seater, which still feels faintly rebellious for a Porsche. The 14-way electric comfort seats are sculptural, supportive, and quietly excellent, with heating front and rear and headrests that fold elegantly back into themselves. The chalk beige and grey leather combination looks far better in reality than in photographs, warm, modern and understated.

The driving position is superb. The steering wheel comes far enough forward to accommodate long legs or a slightly reclined, long-distance posture, which I favour. Rear passengers are treated with unusual generosity, with proper legroom and real support, making this one of the most civilised Porsches I have ever sat in, front or back.

Porsche’s restraint with screens deserves praise. A handful of physical controls on the centre console handle climate and audio without fuss. The 10.9-inch infotainment screen is deliberately modest, while the 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster delivers clear, focused information. A passenger screen allows co-pilots to assist with navigation, leaving the driver to concentrate on the important business of driving.

The augmented reality head-up display is excellent, projecting information far ahead so your eyes stay relaxed, though it does occasionally misinterpret speed limits with optimistic enthusiasm. The diamond-textured drive mode selector sits proudly on the dash like a proper cockpit switch, allowing gear selection with minimal hand movement. Add the panoramic sunroof, which floods the cabin with light even on grey winter days, and superb sound insulation, and you have an interior that feels both cocooning and expansive.

Performance and Driving Feel, Forgetting the Powertrain Entirely

At a little over 2.2 tonnes, the Macan 4S Electric carries its weight low and with intent. That mass brings composure rather than clumsiness, helped by a rear-biased all-wheel drive system that gives the car a natural balance. The steering is the star here. Taut, precise and richly communicative, it feels unmistakably Porsche, so accurate that you quickly forget the car is electric at all.

Throttle response is immediate and beautifully judged, delivering power with the sense that there is always more available. Turn-in is surgical. The chassis reacts almost before you have finished thinking, rotating cleanly and confidently, feeling far smaller than it has any right to. Rear-axle steering tightens everything further, giving the car a Scalextric-like sense of grip, as if the groove has been discreetly deepened in your favour.

Adaptive air suspension allows you to feel the road without ever being unsettled by it. Braking is outstanding, firm, confidence-inspiring and seemingly immune to abuse. You can provoke gentle understeer if you wish, but powering out of corners sees the front motor pulling you straight with calm authority. The g-forces are entertaining for the driver and occasionally educational for passengers.

Tech, Clever Enough to Stay Quiet

The Macan 4S Electric is packed with technology, but it never feels desperate to show off. Driver assistance systems operate smoothly in the background, offering support rather than supervision. Adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and lane change assistance work with a reassuring subtlety.

Surround view cameras and active parking support make urban life easier, while the Burmester High-End Surround Sound system provides a suitably dramatic soundtrack in the absence of engine noise. If pedestrians do not hear you arrive electrically, they will almost certainly hear your music.

Charging and route planning are handled via the My Porsche app, which is refreshingly competent. You can pre-condition the cabin, warm the seats, schedule charging, and plan routes across Europe with intelligent charging stops included. Porsche’s Charging Service, included free for three years, offers access to over 800,000 charge points across Europe at predictable prices, making long-distance electric touring feel genuinely civilised. Très pratique.

Verdict, A Porsche First and an Electric Second

This is an emotionally complicated car for anyone who grew up loving engines. And yet, judged purely on engineering, engagement and depth of ability, the Porsche Macan 4S Electric is extraordinary. It is the most involving electric car at this price point, not because it tries to imitate petrol cars, but because it applies Porsche’s values with clarity and confidence.

It is fast, beautifully balanced, deeply engaging and genuinely comfortable. It feels engineered for people who notice steering feel, chassis response and brake modulation. As a touring machine, it is superb, capable of crossing countries with ease and style. Electric or not, it is unmistakably a Porsche.

Prices start at £76,900, rising to £106,945 as tested. It is not inexpensive, but credibility never is. And this Macan has that in abundance.

Porsche Macan 4S Electric AWD SUV Review

https://www.porsche.com/uk/models/macan/macan-ele…