What is it?
Porsche’s ‘Turbo’ name generates quite a lot of buzz, even today. Applied to the brand’s tip-top performance models, it has – naturally – reflected a turbocharger or two being attached to a petrol engine, bringing heightened power outputs and supercar-rivalling acceleration.
The new electric Macan is one of the latest Porsche models that can get that Turbo badge. But can this battery-powered model provide a fitting continuation to this famous nameplate? We’ve been driving it in the UK for the first time.
What’s new?
The Macan is based upon the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) setup that you’ll also find underneath the new Audi Q6 e-tron. Its benefits are designed to be greater levels of space and excellent road-holding ability. It also means that the new Macan is equipped with 800-volt charging architecture, which allows for super-speedy charge times – 10 to 80 per cent can be topped up in 21 minutes at a rapid charger, in fact.
The Turbo also gets several tweaks above and beyond the standard Macan. Air suspension comes equipped as standard, for example, alongside Porsche’s Active Suspension Management system, which allows you to tweak and tune the car’s ride when you’re on the move.
What’s under the bonnet?
It’s a dual-motor setup powering this version of Macan, bringing instant delivery of an incredible 1,130Nm of torque to both axles at the drop of a hat. With boost function engaged the Macan Turbo will also put down 630bhp, meaning that this practical SUV can go from 0-60mph in just 3.1 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 162mph. They are performance figures that you’d usually associate with a tip-top supercar.
When it comes to range, the Macan has a claimed full-to-empty figure of 367 miles, but this will, of course, be less if you make the most of all of this car’s performance on a frequent basis. As mentioned, rapid charging does mean you shouldn’t have to wait around for long when topping back up again.
What’s it like to drive?
At lower speeds, the Turbo feels like any other Macan Electric. Sure, it’s a little stiffly sprung – even in its softest-riding modes – and that causes it to thunk into potholes and road imperfections, but it’s an otherwise quiet and refined way to get about. Naturally, that all goes to one side with even the slightest prod of the throttle, after which the Macan fires towards the horizon with unbreaking ferocity.
The steering, as we’ve come to expect from Porsche models, has some great balance to it and this allows you to power through corners with confidence. In sportier driving modes you get a futuristic noise to accompany the acceleration, too, and this actually adds a little drama to the process – though you can switch it off should you prefer to.
How does it look?
The new Macan Electric does take inspiration from its petrol-powered predecessor, but it’s an altogether new thing. It looks far wider in the metal than it does in images, too, but with its Taycan-like front headlights and full-width rear light section the Macan certainly has the futuristic design edge that many EVs like to have.
The Macan has also been designed to be as aerodynamic as possible through slippery design touches. An active rear spoiler and active front cooling flaps work to increase or lower drag when required – though the former does restrict your rearward view significantly when it is in operation.
What’s it like inside?
There’s a pleasant blend of high-tech screens and good materials inside the Macan Turbo. Up front sits a dual-screen layout – and you can even get a third ahead of the passenger as an optional extra – and they’re both easy to operate and get lots of standard features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There’s a good level of space, too. Rear-seat legroom isn’t bad, while the 540-litre boot is well-shaped and easy to access. Handily, there’s also a ‘frunk’ included on the Macan. Located where you’d usually expect to find an engine, it brings an extra 84 litres of space and provides an ideal area to store the charging cables when they aren’t in use.
What’s the spec like?
Because it sits at the top of the Macan Electric range, the Turbo does attract the highest price tag and kicks off at £95,000. Our test car, with a variety of extras such as a panoramic sunroof (£1,283), rear-axle steering (£1,445) and that third passenger-focused display (£1,112) came in at a hefty £118,761, which is a considerable amount – even given the amount of performance that the Turbo brings.
Compare that to the £67,200 that the Macan Electric starts at – with that entry-level model still able to deliver a respectable 5.5-second 0-60mph time and an improved range of up to 398 miles – and the Turbo means you are paying quite the premium for that additional performance, though you do get a fair amount more standard equipment.
Verdict
The Macan Electric does a good job of continuing the Turbo name. While it might not have the mechanical component that has been so core to previous combustion-engined Turbos, as the fastest and most powerful version of the Macan Electric it certainly continues its ethos.
But as with other Turbos, you are paying a premium for the privilege. Unless you need the manic acceleration of this car, the ‘regular’ Macan is probably the smarter choice and, with a longer range, you’ll have more time to enjoy it between trips to the plug, too.
- Model as tested: Porsche Macan Electric Turbo
- Price: £118,761
- Engine: Twin electric motor
- Power: 630bhp
- Torque: 1,130Nm
- Max speed: 162mph
- 0-60mph: 3.1 seconds
- MPG: NA
- Emissions: 0g/km
- Range: 367 miles
- Maximum charging rate: 270kW
