Electric Jolt: Tagaytay run with the Porsche Macan EV

First Drive with the Porsche Macan 4 Electric

When Porsche decided to make the Cayenne in the early 2000s, the Porsche purists were not happy.

Why was a car brand known for making such cars as the 911, the 959, and winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans now making SUVs? As it turned out, Porsche was right. The Cayenne sold well, and subsequent generations sold even better as the buying public embraced crossover SUVs. To date, the Cayenne continues to be Porsche’s cash cow as the SUV didn't just help the brand recover; the Cayenne future-proofed them.

Given the success, it wasn’t surprising Porsche decided to make a smaller crossover to slot below it called the Macan. In its latest iteration, however, Porsche decided to take inspiration from the Taycan EV flagship to come up with the sporty yet practical Macan 4 Electric.

Also referred to as the Macan EV, this all-electric crossover is set to disrupt and change the premium compact crossover market with its sports car-like performance in signature Porsche style. Since its Philippine launch a few months ago, I’ve been curious about the all-electric Macan’s performance and just how it would fare in both long drives and in city traffic. Porsche Philippines recently invited AutoIndustriya.com to try out the Macan EV, and boy, we were excited.

With a day drive to Tagaytay via Tanauan and Talisay, Batangas, and back to Metro Manila via CALAX, we had plenty of time to familiarize ourselves (and have fun) with the Macan EV. Will it live up to Porsche’s sporting heritage? And does the Macan EV have what it takes to deliver the brand’s signature performance without internal combustion?

Sleek and Suave

We first need to talk about the EV’s sharp looks. When I first saw the Macan EV via pictures, I wasn’t too convinced of the appearance. Yes, it has the hallmarks of a Porsche vehicle but it didn’t immediately stand out when I first laid eyes on it in front of a screen. That all changed when I finally got to see it in the metal. Despite waking up in the early morning to meet up for the Macan EV drive, it was all worth it as my senses were immediately struck by its design.

It may be a crossover but Porsche was able to integrate the signature “fly line” into the Macan EV’s design. The result is an aerodynamic coupe-like profile which gives it a striking yet elegant appearance. Also worth mentioning are the eye-catching LED daytime running lights which the recently updated Taycan inspired. But it is perhaps the rear of the Macan EV that I like the most.

Borrowing inspiration from both the regular Taycan and Taycan Cross Turismo, the sleek LED taillights light up with a prominent red hue which neatly contrasts with the sleek exterior. Paired with either the Volcano Gray or Mineral White paint, the taillights immediately stand out to grab your attention. I could talk about the Macan’s exterior all day long but that’s only half the story. It was now time to experience the Macan EV on the road.

Smooth (and Quiet) Operator

With 98% on its 100 kWh battery, we had way more than enough range on the Macan EV to head to Tagaytay and back. Unfortunately for us, we first had to deal with EDSA traffic. I was dreading the traffic would consume so much energy before we wouldn’t be able to stretch its legs. However, I was more surprised with how smooth the powertrain was. Yes, the lack of a vibrating engine felt weird at first but it was easy to adjust to. 

Since there was no up-and-down motion of a piston engine, I was able to enjoy (and observe) just how quiet the Macan EV was. I have to give props to the engineers at Porsche for ensuring that the EV would remain cool, calm, and collected despite the Macan's supercar-like performance pedigree. From making generous use of sound-absorbing materials to the thick side windows, as well as almost not having tire noise, the Macan EV is one serene electric crossover.

After going through slow-moving traffic along Mandaluyong and Makati in relative silence, we finally got to EDSA Magallanes to head on to Skyway. I was already expecting a big chunk taken out of the battery pack, but right before we hit the on-ramp towards Skyway, the Macan EV only used 4%. That means it still had 94% left.

The misconception about EVs is that the battery will get rapidly consumed in traffic, but when you think about it, the energy usage isn't bad in slow-moving conditions. Generally speaking, the drive system (motors) has a bigger impact on consumption when being driven than the lower voltage systems (e.g. A/C) in the vehicle when it's stationary. With the traffic behind us, it was time to have some fun with the all-electric Macan, responsibly of course.

Instant Power

EVs deliver instantaneous torque when you bury your foot on the accelerator, and unleashing all of its power can be like turning on a light switch. The Macan Electric is no different as we found out when we finally got to the expressway. Floor it on an open stretch and you'll immediately be pinned into the driver’s seat. That's just the way it is for these EVs with performance capabilities. 

With 650 Nm of torque and over 400 PS available on tap, the Macan delivers supercar-like acceleration. Overtaking slower cars was a cinch. Keep your foot planted on the accelerator and you’ll easily reach triple-digit speeds in just over 5 seconds. Heck, there were times I had to remind myself to keep a close eye on the speedometer for fear of getting snapped by speed cameras.

I was also able to play around with the drive modes which can be changed via a dial on the steering wheel. It reminds me of a certain "Manettino" dial from an Italian company that also bears a horse on its logo. Drivers can switch between Off-Road, Normal, Sports, and Sports Plus. I decided to go with Sports mode which heightens acceleration and turns on the unique electric sports sound. Drivers can turn on the sound whenever they like but I preferred it during Sport (and Sports Plus) mode, and boy does it deliver one heck of an aural experience. You have to experience it for yourself to enjoy its sound.

The Macan EV may not have the traditional sound of a combustion engine but that doesn’t mean Porsche abandoned the idea of giving the electric Macan some proper performance. It can easily outpace supercars and sports cars with ease all while consuming not much energy and not using a drop of fuel. But if you thought the Macan EV is only great at a straight line, it’s also agile in the twisties.

Tiny Dancer

Instead of taking the shorter way via CALAX heading to Tagaytay, Porsche decided to take the more scenic (and fun) route via Tanauan and Talisay. With several twisty roads and curves ahead of us, I was more than willing to see just how agile the Macan Electric was, and boy did it not disappoint. Yes, it has a battery pack underneath the chassis which makes it heavier than your typical crossover but the result is a lower center of gravity.

Through turn after turn, the Macan made short work of the cures along the Talisay-Tanauan Road. Even more impressive was the fact that there was feedback coming from the steering wheel which lets drivers know what the front wheels are doing. Body roll was almost non-existent as the adaptive air suspension ensured the vehicle remained planted. All of these meant drivers could keep on the power and take advantage of every inch of the road. Combined with the vehicle’s strong regenerative braking, it was also able to recoup energy while on the go and slow down the vehicle without me having to step on the brake pedal at times.

Serving as the climax of this route is going up the snake-like Tagaytay-Talisay Road. With more curves than I could count with both hands, going up the twisty road was quite the trip. But despite the countless turns, the Macan EV remained composed and I still had plenty of fun going up the road without experiencing any hiccups or trouble with the Macan. After nearly half an hour going up the steep twisty road, we finally arrived at Escala with around 75% charge left on the battery.

Going Home

After a heavy lunch and taking pictures of the Macan EV, it was now time to head back to Metro Manila before rush hour. We still had around 69% charge left on the battery as we went around Tagaytay to take videos. Some might already be thinking of charging up before getting back but both Porsche and myself were confident we would be able to get back to the Porsche dealership with more than enough charge left for another trip.

For the trip back we decided to take CALAX via Aguinaldo Highway. While traversing the national road from Tagaytay, we noticed the battery mostly remained between 68% and 69%. Dumbfounded by this, I had to ask the others what were their state of charge as well. The guys over at Porsche confirmed with us that they too were also hovering between similar levels of charge. That’s when it hit me that the regenerative braking of the Macan EV was doing its work to gather used energy while going downhill. I was expecting it to be good but not that good which surprised all of us.

After entering CALAX, going through SLEX, and going up to Skyway, it was back to reality with EDSA traffic rearing its ugly head. We still had around 64% left on the battery which meant it had more than enough range to get us back to the dealership. What we weren’t expecting, however, was the horrendous traffic conditions we faced from Petron outside Dasmarinas Village in Makati to EDSA-Ortigas.

I was again expecting the worst as we might run out of juice even before we get back to PGA Cars. But then I remembered I was driving an EV and unlike combustion cars, EVs actually consume less energy while in gridlock traffic. Despite enduring more than 2 hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic which I would not wish on anyone, we finally got back to the dealership with 56% left on the battery. Yes, it’s that efficient.

Still a proper Porsche

When Porsche first announced they would be introducing an electric vehicle called the Taycan, purists weren’t so sure about it which is somehow similar to when the brand first announced the Cayenne. But over time, customers grew to like the Cayenne so much that it became the brand’s most popular vehicle. With the Macan Electric serving as the brand’s latest EV offering, those looking for performance without the (carbon) guilt can do so in a crossover package.

Some are still unsure about EVs but one thing is for certain, Porsche knows how to make a proper EV that can perform to the letter. It’s also surprising to know that despite its supercar-like acceleration, the Macan EV is easy on the energy bills. That’s not something you would say on a combustion-powered sports car or supercar which can easily gulp on fuel with ease.

The Taycan may be Porsche’s first-ever EV, but I reckon the Macan Electric would eventually become the brand’s most popular electric offering in the future.