[Thoughts] - Macan 4 Loaner vs. Macan Turbo EV (owned)

[joeev]

What were the tire pressures for the 22's? Dealer usually will set at Full Load (44 psi) but setting the pressures at Partial Load (39 psi) greatly improves overall ride.

Adding to CraigW1's comment, 39psi is the partial load value for summer tires. For all seasons, unfortunately the recommendation is 44psi partial, 48psi full load

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[daveo4EV]

What were the tire pressures for the 22's? Dealer usually will set at Full Load (44 psi) but setting the pressures at Partial Load (39 psi) greatly improves overall ride.

pressures are 43 psi front - 45 psi rears - door sticker wants 48 psi - I'm considering if I'm going to take any pressure out…it's a heavy car.

 

[bbmertz]

• once the car is "moving/rolling" the acceleration differences are less pronounced for accelerating/passing etc…the car is quite spunky

I completely agree with this observation. I missed the off-the-line acceleration in the Macan 4 relative to my previous Teslas which is why I bought the 4S instead.

 

[Yves]

What about consumption and range? Really curious on that front …

 

[TomekGnomek]

Handling is virtually identical between the two models - this is not surprising

This is my observation as well and for me it was surprising.

There is another thread where I compared it to Taycan and some comments suggested Turbo is a must have for fun driving. I disagree, one you option air suspension, put optional PTV and rear-axe there is no difference to me other that straight line acceleration.

There should be some difference due to mounting of the read motors in 4S and Turbo but this is not something I can feel or notice.

 

[AlanH]

Hello all,

this post is to simply share some long term observations as I now have the opportunity to swap between a Macan 4 EV and Macan Turbo EV on a daily basis…the options are not quite the same but both cars are well optioned and equipped and I've noticed some concrete differences…which I'm sharing here

first off: why the Macan 4 Loaner? Well my wife's and my 2021 Cayenne TurboS eHybrid is in the shop for some service - at my request they did a battery diagnostic and they found what I suspected - some of the battery cells are no longer giving us their full effort, and the car is remarkably down on power with in pure-EV-mode (eMode) - and I want this fixed while the car is still in warranty - so my lovely Cayenne is in for service while we wait for non-deterministic parts delivery schedule…I'm anticipating this will take a while - we'll see - details can be found here: https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-9y0-2019/1499616-status-update-2021-cayenne-turbos-ehybrid.html

given this long duration service I was given some preferential treatment on my loaner selection from my local Porsche dealer - originally I was given a poorly optioned base 2025 Cayenne - and I request a Macan EV at their first opportunity - and about a week later I swapped the Cayenne base for the well equipped Macan 4 EV - I'm much happier…

the Macan 4 is well optioned but not "over the top": it has Innodrive, HUD, Bose, Passenger Display, Massage Seats, heated steering wheel, air suspension, comfort access, etc…

but does not have: Noise Insulated glass, full leather, headliner, rear window shades

22" wheels are on the car…with the nice silver rims.

Car is gentian blue (one of my favorite colors) with a black interior

I can't tell if it has RWS and I can not rule it in or out

this posting is a supplement to my original thoughts when I first had a Macan 4 - see this thread…https://www.macanevowners.com/forum/threads/turbo-service-and-macan-4-loaner.22167/

when I had the previous Macan 4 I was not switching back/forth between the 4 and my Turbo because the Turbo was in for service.

Since it's my cayenne in service - I am now in/out of both the 4 and the turbo sometimes multiple times in the same day - this has afforded a rare "A/B" test of trim and "power level" and options…as I sometimes get out the 4 and right in the Turbo and I can immediately "see/feel" some differences…

TLDR; the 4 has impressed me - and many would do well with it - options matter more than power as the 4 is simply excellent - but it's no turbo.

so let's get to it - here are my A vs. B thoughts in no particular order

• Let's start with the elephant in the room - the 4 is "down on power' vs. the Turbo - and before I had driven a 4 I would have _NEVER_ considered it. After living with it for a couple of weeks. The power level is "acceptable" and "sufficient" and no one will suffer in this car - especially coming from virtual any other mid-sized gas powered SUV…
  • from a dead stop the 4 lacks greatness - but it's way way better than most ICE SUV's and probably better than most trim levels of a gas Macan
    • I continue to believe even "lesser" EV's are simply better cars for most people the drive vs. the crappy ICE motors and transmissions most people are actually driving
  • once the car is "moving/rolling" the acceleration differences are less pronounced for accelerating/passing etc…the car is quite spunky
  • the car's power level and responsiveness is quite good and again marked improvement vs. most gas powered SUV's
  • for me personally this would given me confidence to forgo the Turbo level in a future Macan EV and live with a 4S or GTS - I personally want a smidge more greatness from a dead stop (but that's a personal failing/weakness) because again once the car is rolling it has more than enough power for any normal driving situation
• the loaner lacks Thermal/Insulated glass - but I have it on my Turbo - when ever I get out the Turbo and then drive the loaner 4 - I feel ike the windows are not quite closed - and I instinctively reach for the power window buttons to 'close' the windows - feeling they are open just a bit letting noise in - alas the windows _ARE_ closed and that's just the increased noise level due to the lack of sound insulation. It's not a bother, but it is an increased elevation in normal road/wind noise - such that at 60 mph or greater it just "feels" like the windows are 'leaking' wind noise
  • having now experienced the difference first hand - noise/thermal windows will remain on my "must have" personal options list - the car is quieter or more comfortable with these windows than it is with out them
  • it's been too cold to experience any difference in thermal situation - so I have no comparison
• Surprise - loaner has the rear wiper - because of this there is less visibility out the back due to a "hump" for the wiper motor/mechanism - it's not critical or annoying - I simply note it - but having now had a Macan EV with the wiper but no Noise-glasss - I'll take the glass thank you very much and a gain a slightly bigger rear window "portal"…
• 22" wheels - the car is a bit more bouncy and ride quality suffers on the more sporty 22" wheels vs my 20" standard wheels on my Turbo - the wife notes this in the 4 "unprompted" - such that she thought it lacked the air suspension - but no it's the 22" tires which are less compliant vs. the taller side wall 20" tires
  • no controlled or meaningful differences in range for the type of driving I'm doing and I don't expect to be able to provide meaningful feedback in this space during my loaner's tenure with me.
• I'm missing the full leather interior - it's just nicer - and less plastic - the loaner does not suck - but it's not a nice and there are more hard plastics
• I'm missing the nicer headliner - loaner has a the standard slightly rougher to the feel cloth headliner vs. the nicer alcanterra headliner in my Turbo
• I miss the rear window shades because it affords greater privacy for the rear area when parked and leaving things in the back seat - you simply can barely see into the back seat with the window shades "up" and I like the lack of visibility "into" the vehicle when parked
• Handling is virtually identical between the two models - this is not surprising
• Loaner has sports chromo - my Turbo has "compass" so I'm lacking sports plus as a setting - so far I'm not seeing anything with the sports plus that I'm missing in my Turbo (which does not have it because of the compass option)
• I like my upgraded rubber floor mats - especially in the wet weather winter we're having
• the loaner has chrome and aluminum trims vs. my Turbo has black roof bars/window trim - my wife and both prefer the black/darker colors vs. the silvers/grey/chrome - personal bias/choice…
• I haven't compared the headlights, nor do I even know if there are differences
• both cars have the HUD - I consider this a stand out feature/option - get it if you even remotely think you'll like having a HUD…

those are the specific differences I've noted so far…

and this brings me to my final point - unlike Porsche's ICE cars - the difference between trim levels on their EV's boil down to simple power difference, no character differences - I would have virtually no complaints between the 4 and my Turbo if the options were identical - the _ONLY_ difference would be the power level - which is more than acceptable …. this renders Porsche's business model "less powerful" and explain much of their problems attempting to compete the EV world - they charge too much for options and there is almost no reason to pick a higher trim level - you gain very very little when I can simply option a lower trim level to be nearly identical … this is not true with say a base 911 vs. a 911 TurboS - it's more than just options…{sigh}

those are my personal observations about my loaner 4 vs. my personal Turbo Macan EV - having access to the 4 vs. my Turbo - I'm glad for the options/wheels I chose - and I'm missing some of my options on the 4 loaner when I drive it…the noise glass and 22" wheel differences are the biggest "surprise" for me personally so there is that - take it for what you will…

I'll share more if I think about it - I think I'll have the 4 with me until at least the end of Feb. unless Porsche surprises me with new battery parts for my Cayenne…

quesitons/comments are welcome.

Thanks for the detailed overview. I have a 4 with full leather and am very happy with it. Your review makes me feel good about my choice.

 

[gianteli]

I've unfortunately spent more time in dealer loaner 4's than in my Turbo. While I agree with a lot of OPs sentiment, the Turbo is an entirely different animal when pushed. I came from a Taycan 4S and the Turbo felt like a step down in dynamics, but a manageable one taking into account one is a sports car and the other an SUV. My first loaner 4 was a disappointment.

I've encountered every software and hardware "bug", but the biggest annoyance is the random creaks and nosies that have me sleuthing around looking for loose bits. The latest was a new one for me... The rear seat latches have two positions (news to me!). The catch can swing up into an extended position that leaves the rear seats nearly vertical. When in the "normal" reclined position, I was getting a very annoying clunky noise that turned out to be the rear seat shifting 5mm or so on starts/stops, so there was metal on metal. The vertical position makes it so the noise goes away but leaves a very uncomfortable seating position.

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