From a BMW i4 to a Macan 4 - here's my comparison after 10 days......

[sor]

I liked the i4 more than the iX but ended up with an iX anyway for practical reasons. I’m hoping the Macan splits the difference and is more nimble. It will definitely have a snappier interface than iDrive 8.0. Also the doors are much more solid on the Macan, and I won’t miss having to lean forward to reach the screen.

BMW NK is still realistically a few years away for me, for it to trickle into models and trims I’d want.

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[ColdCase]

There is something to be said about keeping the tech simple, not all of us want to be reverse engineering and bothered by endless amount of irrelevant detail. I just want to drive and I've come to appreciate and trust how well the Macan is put together as a package.

The BMWs I've owned of the last century were a marvel to drive, feeling just right, durable. There main stream efforts have departed miserably recently with ugly cars, unnecessary complexity, unnecessary technology questionable ergonomics, poor durability and reliability, poor driving dynamics, soft. No longer a mans car. They've also been making more of their fair share of lemons.

There may be a couple useful points in the OPs list, but my mind went blank after the first couple of items that seemed irrational. I mean comparing driving dynamics of a coupe to a SUV.... It seems to be a list from a different and closed minded perspective than most of us. Although I think If I wrote a review a few days after buying the Macan I may have had some similar complains. Those just turned out to be learning curve things, however. After living with it a few months I've come to appreciate the Macan just feeling right, fiting my use case well. I've now learned how to adjust the steering wheel and seats so I can see all the instrument cluster and drive hours in comfort (but some say I'm a genius and patient and perhaps others would be challenged). I've learned how to use the Nav and to tell the car what I want to do, and it executes it flawlessly. Controls are in the right place and its intuitive. I initially thought I would like a second diamond button, however I've learned I don't need it.

I also drive a BMW designed/built Mini SE that feels just right for its use case... but the tech is not as well put together and useful as the Macan's. And it is different control wise. I find myself feeling uncomfortable when first strapping in, takes me a block to adjust. But that just may be me. Its nice to have choices. I think the Macan's technology it light years ahead of other makes/models as there is no need to toy with it, just drive. I'd be interested in the OP's perspective after he's owned the Macan for a year and then drove the current Macan sized BMW SUV offering.

 

[Petzi]

I swapped from a BMW i4 e-drive40 (60k miles in 3 years - 3.4miles/kwh over that time) which I loved, to the Macan 4 only 10 days ago as I fancied trying a different style of car. The i4 was one of the first in the UK, so like the Macan, an early example of an all new model.

I realise that some of these will be subjective, but here's my initial comments on how they compare......and the Macan's idiosyncracies.......

1. Macan feels bigger than the i4, even though the 4 corner dimensions are almost identical
2. Driving the Macan in normal mode is more involving to drive than the i4 in Eco-Pro, which is the mode I tended to use most
3. Tech in the Macan is WAY behind the BMW i-Drive system - so clunky and inflexible in so many ways
4. Windscreen wipers on the Macan are shocking - thin blades that don't clear the screen properly and the washer jets not being on the arms (as in the i4) makes them messy
5. Visibility of the dash through the steering wheel on the Macan is very poor - either the screen needs to be further back or the steering wheel needs to retract further. I'm only 5'9 (172cm) and sit with my arms slightly bent, yet I can't get the steering wheel far enough way to properly see the dash.
6. Road noise (both from the A-pillar and the wheels) is noticeably louder than the i4 - I'm on 21 inch wheels, compared to 19s on the i4
7. Driving in rain, the water beading along the windows and around the mirrors makes a very audible sound, audible over the radio
8. App center and data connectivity are poor - my Macan is still not connected, awaiting Porsche Pro at the dealership to relink the vehicle as it wasn't working
9. The centre under-armrest storage space is small and the lack of a pull-down storage bin under lights 'auto' button is unhelpful - i4 had much more space
10. Passenger seat-belt rattles when not in use - whoever signed off on that design, without padding on the pillar, needs firing!
11. Driver's seatbelt not having a clip top prevent the buckle falling all the way down is a bizarre omission. Even a basic Peugeot 106 has this!
12. The i4 warned if you'd left a mobile device in the charging tray - the Macan doesn't. Already up to 4 for occasions where I've forgotten my phone.
13. Crusise control - the i4 let you deactivate the 'adaptive and assitance' parts, so it was a simpler standard type cruise control. The Macan forces you to use 'adaptive', which constantly over-reacts to the surrounding traffic. Perhaps not a big issue in the US etc. but on crowded UK roads, a real pain!
14. Audio controls - lack of a 'back' button on the steering wheel compared to BMW is a nuisance
15. Accelerator pedal - BMW have floor hinged accelerator pedals, but the Macan doesn't. It feels somewhat 'odd', more like a truck pedal.
16. The 14-way seats should really have the ability to pull the back side bolsters in - the seats are quite wide as standard, meaning I'm moving around more than in the i4, where I could get the seat to really hug me. I know I could have had the 18-way (at more cost), but I didn't like the massive plastic rear of them, as they impinge on rear seat leg clearance.
17. Navigation - the i-drive on the BMW allowed 'alternative routes' to be viewed and then selected, plus offered the option to ignore alternatives when traffic conditions dictated they would be helpful. The PCM system just offers one route and constantly reroutes (though not always) without asking if you wish to accept, and doens't seem to have options for selecting 'fastest', 'shortest', 'most efficient' style of route in the settings.
18. Real time traffic alerts on screen are good, but the navigation system drove me into a 5 mile traffic jam this week, rather than take an alterantive route that got me to the destination sooner than the 'traffic jam' route.
19. Doors on the Macan are far too lightweight - they repeatedly don't close fully when being shut. Seems like they have taken weight out of them without realising the consequence.
20. Interior trim in the Macan seems more lightweight than the i4 - just doesn't feel the same quality or durability, especially on the door sills etc.
21. Bose sound system isn't as good as the i4 with the Harmon Kardon. Lacks warmth and involvement, despite trying lots of combinations of settings.
22. Efficiency - the Macan is noticeably worse (3.1 miles/kwh currently), though I appreciate it's early days (only approaching 1000 miles). Seems to be particularly poor over 70mph (<2.9 miles/kwh), whereas the i4 would still achieve 3.2-3.3 miles/kwh even up to 75mph.
23. Memory seats - repeatedly, despite opening with my key, the driver's seat hasn't moved from my wife's position even though she used her own key. Doesn't seem to remember who is who......
24. Passenger mirror dipping for parking - the i4 mirror instantly dipped as soon as engaing reverse. The Macan takes a couple of seconds, which when trying to ark quickly is a nuisance.
25. Floormats - the i4 mats were heavyweight, easy to clean and filled each footwell. The Macan mats are flimsy, don't easily clean and why doesn't the drivers mat go right up under the pedals? It stops short and rubbish from shoes falls onto the footwell, not the mats, making it harder to keep it all clean.
26. Charging cable - the i4 cable comes in a nice ba, helpful when its wet, but the Macan's is just loose in the frunk. Who really stores there lead in there anyway........?
27. PCM in the Macan is so unreliable and flakey. I've had 3 instances already where the radio won't work and all audio - warning sounds, indicators etc. - all go silent while driving. The only solution was to stop and restart the PCM. The i4 i-drive by comparison was rock-steady all the time.
28. Regenerative braking - the i4 had the ability to increase the natural regenerative braking, with the 'B' mode. I find the Macan runs away even on gentle slopes, and I have to ride the brakes, particularly when following ICE vehicles with their natural engine braking. I think Porsche really needed to at least include some flexibility in how people drive, but I guess they think it'll mean more pad and disc sales over the servicing life.........
29. Lack of a Digital key card or 'Phone as a Key' (PAAK) is a major shortfall. I used PAAK alot on the i4 and the 330e before that, especially when I was going to places where I didn't want to carry a key, or while moving the car around on our driveway. For someone like Porsche not to have this when it's been standard on BMWs since the late 2010s is crazy.
30. Preconditioning the battery - when on a journey, and approaching a charging station set within the navigation, the i4 would precondition the battery. It showed an icon on the screen to confirm it was doing so. I can't see anything on the Macan that indicates it does the same.......?
31. Navigation in the PCM doesn't seem to find all HPC stations (even when no filters are used)that are within Porsche's own charging network! I searched Ionity the other day while about to drive past one, and it wasn't listed.......
32. Charging ports - great to have both sides in the Macan, as the i4 being one sided was less flexible.

So, while I like the Macan, some of the above issues really are frustraing, though I'll come to live with them. I just feel that the Macan is not nearly as rounded as the i4, though they are of course different types of vehicle. I know BMW's i-drive was much derided but it had matured into a great in-car system that the PCM just doesn't match up to in any way. In an ideal world, a Macan with the i4 tech and better regenerative braking would be a pretty decent vehicle.

Overall, the Macan feels something of a prototype - too many things just aren't quite right.

it's really very nice and polite how everyone here reacts to this ridiculous list. doesn't anyone here realize that this is completely frivolous?

which of these so-called "comments" are actually facts? many of these points are simply wrong. (31. 30. 28. 22. 20. (haha) 19. 18. (absurd to blame the car) 17. 13. the rest is personal taste or inability to read or understand the owner's manual.

but above all: all 32 points - at least the part that refers to what is actually there - can already be determined in the showroom of the pc. the seats, the control panel, the pcm etc. the rest you know after a short test drive, whereby i test drove on three different days before buying. @petejigsaw didn't do a test drive? who promised him that the macan would have paak?

altogether a very strange thread....

 

[Yves]

it's really very nice and polite how everyone here reacts to this ridiculous list. doesn't anyone here realize that this is completely frivolous?

which of these so-called "comments" are actually facts? many of these points are simply wrong. (31. 30. 28. 22. 20. (haha) 19. 18. (absurd to blame the car) 17. 13. the rest is personal taste or inability to read or understand the owner's manual.

but above all: all 32 points - at least the part that refers to what is actually there - can already be determined in the showroom of the pc. the seats, the control panel, the pcm etc. the rest you know after a short test drive, whereby i test drove on three different days before buying. @petejigsaw didn't do a test drive? who promised him that the macan would have paak?

altogether a very strange thread....

None the less most of them are valid points ... and though I love driving the Macan, I hate it's buggy software and lack of features like Apple CarKey, no manual pre conditioning and or integration with CarPlay navigation integration (my iX will automatically show a pre conditioning button when using Navigation in CarPlay and it nows I'm driving towards a charger)
Just some quick remarks.

I hope someone at Porsche follow at least some forums to gather feedback (or the OP has send them directly to them)
As it is a very complete list of granted personal observations, but I agree with most of them ...

 

[strwbryfruitcake]

I agree with a lot of these comparisons, but dang, it seems like people don't understand the brand...
Porsche as a brand want you to experience the car THEY want you to(for the most part), not the other way around as it is with most other brand of cars, to an extent.

 

[petejigsaw]

@petejigsaw Wow - that is quite the list! TBH - if I had a list of concerns similar to that, I wouldn’t have moved forward with the Macan. Did you thoroughly test drive the Macan prior to your purchase?

I don’t dispute your perspective; however, for me, I didn’t consider the i4. I didn’t want the compromises offered by the i4’s shared ICE platform, nor do I care for the i4’s aesthetics, as it seems to sit rather high on top of its battery pack.

I’m a longtime BMW owner - moved on to my Macan 4 after five great years with my M2 Comp - but the Macan 4 was the right choice for me.

I hope you’re able to find happiness with another EV - best of luck.

again somebody that bought a very expansive car without any test drive (each of the complaints obvious after 10 minutes), or bmw promo department in overdrive.

i would never 1.) compare bmw to porsche, 2.) rather take the bus than drive the beever.

To clarify, as you both appear to suggest I shouldn't have gone forward with the Macan 4 and that I should have test driven one........I DID carry out a comprehensive test drive, and identified many of these issues. However, my i4 was at the end of its lease and I had to change. None of BMWs options appealed or were available (iX facelift model for example), so I looked at alternatives.

There are no EVs that are perfect - the i4 isn't I assure you - so the Macan was a somewhat compromise choice. That I have some comments on it is down to personal thinsg I prefer, but the car itself is fun to drive and the niggles will fade.

I've never had a Porsche, mainly BMWs, so this is a different experience. Whether I repeat that experience in the future, time will tell...........

 

[petejigsaw]

it's really very nice and polite how everyone here reacts to this ridiculous list. doesn't anyone here realize that this is completely frivolous?

which of these so-called "comments" are actually facts? many of these points are simply wrong. (31. 30. 28. 22. 20. (haha) 19. 18. (absurd to blame the car) 17. 13. the rest is personal taste or inability to read or understand the owner's manual.

but above all: all 32 points - at least the part that refers to what is actually there - can already be determined in the showroom of the pc. the seats, the control panel, the pcm etc. the rest you know after a short test drive, whereby i test drove on three different days before buying. @petejigsaw didn't do a test drive? who promised him that the macan would have paak?

altogether a very strange thread....

Sadly, this is the type of crass and belittling reply that gives Porsche owners such a bad rep among the motoring community (yes, even on a par with BMW owners!!!! ).

What is so strange about my thread? Why is it a ridiculous list?

Its not me DEMANDING anything, just makiing observations of the differences between what I have had an what I have now, and where as a first time Porsche driver, I'd suggest they look to improve. Motoring journalists criticise new models all the time, but do they then own the same car themselves? Of course they do, despite what they don't like.

Noone promised me PAAK and I ordered knowing it wasn't there - I was simply commenting that its a major oversight, reinforced by Porsche now looking to introduce it, just years behind other manufacturers......

As I stated in a previous reply, I DID have a long test drive before ordering and spent hours at the dealer speccing the car. I had to change cars due to a lease expiring and opted for something different this time. OK, perhaps its too different for me, but I enjoy driving it and won't be getting rid of it.

My issues are around a very flaky PCM that detracts from - but doesn't erase - the fun of the driving, some very poor ergonomics and driver assistance systems that aren't flexible enough.

I think I best now withold from any further comments, as clearly they are not welcome.

 

[strwbryfruitcake]

you should engage, who cares what they say. we're all a bit weird for caring so much to be on a forum discussing the car good or bad.

that being said, porsche is a company that replaces door handles with nylon straps and charges you extra for it, puts center lock wheels on street cars for no beneift other than homage, and ridiculous shit like 16k for pts and 25k+ for cxx. they know they are behind in tech, they don't care. they know they don't have the best ergo, they don't care. theyre a pure luxury brand so a lot of ergonomics are just not there. I came from bmw to porsche, and for a few years it def felt like a downgrade in tech, but I've just accepted it as the driving experience and interior quality is unmatched.

my mother has a pretty new x5 with all the tech stuff, and its so cool I get jealous, but the driving experience is something you experience 100% of the time in the car, whereas the tech is only during interaction and taking my eyes off the road, which is limited. I rather spend money on the driving experience vs tech, but I'll welcome it as porsche feels like they want to introduce it.

imagine the 2025 gt3rs not having HUD, what a missed opportunity but thats just how porsche is :/

 

[rjf]

imagine the 2025 gt3rs not having HUD, what a missed opportunity but thats just how porsche is :/

I definitely agree with all of your observations noted - PTS pricing, centerlock wheels, cloth
door pulls. Porsche is an interesting brand.

So this is definitely off topic, but I have to say - I would hope Porsche never adds HUD to the 911/Cayman/Boxster lineup - especially the GT cars - that just seems a step too far.

 

[pm4s]

Agree with everything on the list except I have not driven the i4/iX to compare (could not stomach the looks).
I do have 1 question for the OP:
no. 28, Have you tried the regenerative braking setting of the Macan before typing this?
Macan unfortunately does not have the 1 pedal driving option of my Cooper SE but at least has 2 levels of regen, what I would classify as off and less off.

 

[Petzi]

Why is it a problem for some that the car itself preconditions the battery? this are exactly the same people that do not understand half of the functions of the car, never ever looked into the manual. why do they think they could manage preconditioning better than the car does it?

 

[Mr_Frenchy]

I guess the main issue is :
-People coming from BMW who would like a Porsche which drives, infotainments, breaks, etc etc like a BMW.
-People coming from Tesla who would like a Porsche which drives, infotainments, breaks, etc etc like a Tesla.
- People coming from Mercedes who would like a Porsche which drives, infotainments, breaks, etc etc like a Mercedes.
And so on, and so on

And people like me, coming from Porsche who would NOT want a Porsche which drives, infotainments, breaks, etc etc like a BMW, a Tesla, a Mercedes and any others brands...
Hence the choice of the Macan, not perfect but I feel at home.

 

[Bao1303]

Interesting to see how we value and perceive the same things differently. I also come from BMW X5, to a Taycan, we also have an Audi etron which we are considering to swap with a Macan or an IX, and my son drives an I4 M50 and I have test driven all quite extensively except for the Macan, only short test drives. Completely different cars and use cases but since we are comparing apples and oranges anyhow, why not:

• I am 183cm. And cant for the life of me find a good driving position in the I4. Best seats ever in the Taycan. Macan and IX also very good
• One other annoying thing for me (in MY driving position) is I cant see the main screen properly in the BMWs - but the Macan is excellent. I would actually skip HUD in the Macan as I find it too dominating
• When it comes to tech, its probably just me getting older but I dont care anymore. BMW is better but most important is to have driving related stuff easily accessible, and I actually prefer the Taycan, with Macan a good runner up. However the steering wheel layout and driving assistance controls on BMW are superior. However while frequently using these gadgets in my previous cars I never do in the Taycan, it just drives so well. I havent driven the Macan very hard yet but if its anywhere near the taycan, all assistance systems except for acc will be turned off anyways
• Havent tried the audio system in the Macan but the I4 was rubbish, however based on my experience with the Taycan I would assume the Macan is even more rubbish, only at 3 times the cost...
• I find the interior in the I4 quite "simple". Solid but simple. Subjectively the Macan (to me) feels much more exclusive - but as mentioned - I do not have enough time in it to comment on noise, pcm instability and creeks

But all the above aside, when it comes to driving, the I4 is excellent. Quite close to the Taycan, and I would assume quite a lot better than the Macan. And at least over here, a comparable taycan is over 2 times the price and a macan roughly 1.5x. It is just slightly more expensive than a Tesla Y performance - god forbid - so I consider the I4 a bargain

 

[CHP]

I am coming from a GLE, first Macan had software glitches and went back.

- Seating position in GLE was great, but Macan (14 Comfort) is significantly better. More comfortable (long distance, similar to new Panamera, better than Taycan) and engaging (better than Panamera, worse than Taycan). Feels like a glove. Got a lot of courtesy cars ;-).

- Visibility Instrument cluster has always been a problem in GLE, Macan works perfect for me. I am 183 cm. No difference to Tycan or Panamera for me.

- Macan is significantly smaller. Lots of pros and cons which are obvious.

- Seatbelt is a disaster. Totally agree.

- Tech is give and take. I really like portrait orientation of main monitor (for navigation) but I also like physical buttons for climate control. You can't have it all I guess. I miss the touchpad (I am an apple guy) though as I don't like reaching out to main display. Prefer the Panamera interior although operation of vents is awkward. Innodrive not cutting edge technology. Really like HUD in new GLC which can display maps (missed opportunity). Voice control better in GLE.

- Prefer steering wheel and buttons on Macan. Much easier to use, especially toggling between different display options.

- Missing upper storage compartment for sun glasses

In summary, Macan is obviously a compromise but that compromise works well for me. That's why I reordered a Macan.

 

[W1NGE]

I am coming from a GLE, first Macan had software glitches and went back.

- Seating position in GLE was great, but Macan (14 Comfort) is significantly better. More comfortable (long distance, similar to new Panamera, better than Taycan) and engaging (better than Panamera, worse than Taycan). Feels like a glove. Got a lot of courtesy cars ;-).

- Visibility Instrument cluster has always been a problem in GLE, Macan works perfect for me. I am 183 cm. No difference to Tycan or Panamera for me.

- Macan is significantly smaller. Lots of pros and cons which are obvious.

- Seatbelt is a disaster. Totally agree.

- Tech is give and take. I really like portrait orientation of main monitor (for navigation) but I also like physical buttons for climate control. You can't have it all I guess. I miss the touchpad (I am an apple guy) though as I don't like reaching out to main display. Prefer the Panamera interior although operation of vents is awkward. Innodrive not cutting edge technology. Really like HUD in new GLC which can display maps (missed opportunity). Voice control better in GLE.

- Prefer steering wheel and buttons on Macan. Much easier to use, especially toggling between different display options.

- Missing upper storage compartment for sun glasses

In summary, Macan is obviously a compromise but that compromise works well for me. That's why I reordered a Macan.

Landscape (horizontal) orientation surely?

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