First quick feedback of Macan Turbo vs BMW iX

[Fun TC Driving]

Great, conside summary by ETmaniac above when he posted, “ The two are different cars, each with their own advantages. Hard to compare really. If you want a sporty good looking and driving car, get the Macan. If you want space, efficiency and comfort, get the iX. My wive has the iX, loves it.”

So true his characterization of our iX M60. It was the perfect, first all EV for us — for we entered this world with typical newbie range anxiety. Its range is super. With the new for 2026 seats it will be comfortable (our 2024’s are not and there are many on the BMW forum who complaint about their iX seats — though it has a few supporters). Tons of room in the iX, and all the big software things continue to work, get OTA upgraded, et. BUTevery third time or so we get in even though we have an entry procedure, the car chooses something different through small and quick to correct, to erroneously do, e.g., no steering wheel return to its pre-set driving position, and the same with seats. Again little things but no matter how many times I, the dealer, BMW Assist over the phone have set and re-set the car, still the baby things occurs without warning. Never yet a big thing, but a continued irritation. As to handling, it is pretty good but 300 pounds more than a Macan and five inches longer, it does not handle the way I want. Certainly not up to optioned-Macan levels.

Hence we eagerly looking to the end of our BMW lease, witha Macan turbo with every perfomrance option will be next. But if we were a family with large teenagers routinelyriding around with us in the back seat, kudos instead would go to the iX — and it would under those circumstances be replaced by a 2026 iX version. We eacch have different needs and priorities. We want SPORTY handling most of all and thus Macan ahead!

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[Yves]

Great, conside summary by ETmaniac above when he posted, “ The two are different cars, each with their own advantages. Hard to compare really. If you want a sporty good looking and driving car, get the Macan. If you want space, efficiency and comfort, get the iX. My wive has the iX, loves it.”



Hence we eagerly looking to the end of our BMW lease, witha Macan turbo with every perfomrance option will be next. But if we were a family with large teenagers routinelyriding around with us in the back seat, kudos instead would go to the iX — and it would under those circumstances be replaced by a 2026 iX version. We eacch have different needs and priorities. We want SPORTY handling most of all and thus Macan ahead!

Hmmm the difference in sporty handling between the iX M70 and the Turbo will be very small, especially on public roads, and is mostly due to the size / wheelbase setup … If I would need to buy again today the iX will win it hands down … but as with everything it’s a personal taste … but software wise / efficiency wise the Macan Turbo is for me a major letdown, we still have both and if tomorrow someone passes by and wan’t the Porsche it will be gone, if it was not for the 35% hit I would need to swallow (VAT 21% + …)

 

[Awaz]

I did consider iX once but found it to be a bit too big for narrow London streets and difficult to find parking spaces. And we are mainly just the two of us, with occasional rear passengers.

I guess Belgium has nice streets because when we were in Budapest just over a year ago, I was really impressed with your wide roads @Yves

 

[CandianPorsche83]

I think as @Yves has pointed out, IF you needed more range and more space then IX should definitely be considered as it appears to provide for those things better than the Macan.

For me personally (and i suspect most people), the range really isn't needed 90% of the time. The room would be nice but also not needed. So easy decision for me.

Even if i DID need the range/space it would STILL be hard sell ... simply because i really do think it's ugly .... and can't fathom paying that much for it. Again to each their own!

 

[Yves]

I think as @Yves has pointed out, IF you needed more range and more space then IX should definitely be considered as it appears to provide for those things better than the Macan.

For me personally (and i suspect most people), the range really isn't needed 90% of the time. The room would be nice but also not needed. So easy decision for me.

Even if i DID need the range/space it would STILL be hard sell ... simply because i really do think it's ugly .... and can't fathom paying that much for it. Again to each their own!

Well the new one with the sport package in black is really nice, but again it’s personal, I already blacked out the front grill …
You mention space and range, but for me the real kicker is the software, both in car and the app and the audio system, man I enjoy the B&W system every minute and the Burmester is for me a sever disappointment, it ranks below the HK of the BMW.

 

[Throb]

I guess Belgium has nice streets because when we were in Budapest just over a year ago, I was really impressed with your wide roads @Yves

I assume you mean Brussels.

 

[CandianPorsche83]

Well the new one with the sport package in black is really nice, but again it’s personal, I already blacked out the front grill …
You mention space and range, but for me the real kicker is the software, both in car and the app and the audio system, man I enjoy the B&W system every minute and the Burmester is for me a sever disappointment, it ranks below the HK of the BMW.

You’re right it being blacked out does help a lot!

 

[Awaz]

What about BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, coming soon?
Newer EV platform, which promises an increase in overall efficiency of 25 per cent – and an increase in driving range of 30 per cent.

 

[Throb]

What about BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, coming soon?
Newer EV platform, which promises an increase in overall efficiency of 25 per cent – and an increase in driving range of 30 per cent.

And 800V architecture, which will render the iX obselete overnight. The new iX3 is going to be a huge car for BMW. Production starts in 2025.

 

[Yves]

And 800V architecture, which will render the iX obselete overnight. The new iX3 is going to be a huge car for BMW. Production starts in 2025.

800V is not the ends of all means, my iX and Macan do not differ that much in charging time, and I beg to claim that the iX charges more km/minute because of efficiency ... Also the times I need to fast charge are limited and in many cases I have 400kw chargers at best that are being shared as soon as a second car connect to it ...

 

[Throb]

800V is not the ends of all means, my iX and Macan do not differ that much in charging time, and I beg to claim that the iX charges more km/minute because of efficiency ... Also the times I need to fast charge are limited and in many cases I have 400kw chargers at best that are being shared as soon as a second car connect to it ...

I have an i5, so I'm well aware of BMW's charging curve. I also appreciate you can gain more range per minute at a lower power than you can in a Taycan or Macan due to efficiency. None of these will matter to people that have no experience of either, however. They will see a brand new BMW, with better technology, the new design language, in a package almost as big, and for a lower selling price. It will cannabilise the iX's sales.

*The iX is also not being replaced directly, with the iX5 taking on that role, so maybe that will give people the impression that BMW don't see the vehicle as a priority.

 

[Awaz]

Yes, and BMW iDrive X Infotainment With High-Tech Displays would be something else.

 

[Etmaniac]

Hmmm the difference in sporty handling between the iX M70 and the Turbo will be very small, especially on public roads, and is mostly due to the size / wheelbase setup … If I would need to buy again today the iX will win it hands down … but as with everything it’s a personal taste … but software wise / efficiency wise the Macan Turbo is for me a major letdown, we still have both and if tomorrow someone passes by and wan’t the Porsche it will be gone, if it was not for the 35% hit I would need to swallow (VAT 21% + …)

Yves hi, so, efficiency wise. What are you seeing compared to the iX? I know you have shared some data before but would be good to mention in this thread?

I have a Tesla X and my wifes iX is even more efficient than the Tesla (or perhaps my driving style is to blame If your Macan efificency is worse than others you may want to highlight this to Porsche as there may be a underlying technical issue. I had that with my Tesla once, ultimately they replaced the complete battery. Also note, that efficiency is also related to the wheel size and rim. Not sure if the iX 70 or whatever the fastest iX is will be the most efficient version of the iX. Even with Tesla, the Plaid is less efficient, and you take a 10% hit if you take the 22" rims.

 

[Etmaniac]

Yves hi, so, efficiency wise. What are you seeing compared to the iX? I know you have shared some data before but would be good to mention in this thread?

I have a Tesla X and my wifes iX is even more efficient than the Tesla (or perhaps my driving style is to blame If your Macan efificency is worse than others you may want to highlight this to Porsche as there may be a underlying technical issue. I had that with my Tesla once, ultimately they replaced the complete battery. Also note, that efficiency is also related to the wheel size and rim. Not sure if the iX 70 or whatever the fastest iX is will be the most efficient version of the iX. Even with Tesla, the Plaid is less efficient, and you take a 10% hit if you take the 22" rims.

Actually, I stand corrected. iX for 2024 usage for the whole year was 22kWh/100km. For the Tesla X that was 22.6 kWh/100Km for the past 100.000 km. Not that different. I did lose about 10% of the battery over the past 5 years in the Tesla. So if you state the Macan does 22kWh at 125km/h I would be pretty happy with that..

 

[Yves]

It's a difficult to compare now, as the iX is mainly driven now by my Wife and The Macan by me, I always try to optimise, software no heating etc ... while my wife puts heating on max, so the iX is showing less range now then the Macan, but if both are driven same way the difference was like 50 to 75km more range on the iX, the ix is on 22 inch wheels and the Macan on 20 (took them on purpose for consumption, to compensate for the Turbo)
On paper the Turbo has more range, 590km vs 550km for the iX, but in real world driving the 50km difference is the other way around ... I do not think there is any issue with the Porsche as they have had it for one month to run all diagnostics possible. In the end it was a defective e sound module ... nothing with battery ...

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