Macan EV 4 in White + Standard Interior Beige -- delivered & owner review

This is my second car, so take my review/impressions with a pinch of salt.

Exterior
- Aimed for a minimal look, as my ultimate goal was a Rivian (not available in Europe).
- Happy with the basic white color; it pairs nicely with the black accents.
- The white Porsche lettering at the rear is matte/frosted, giving it a cool appearance. Initially, I regretted not choosing the black version, but the white looks great.
- Off-road wheels provide contrast to the elegant body curves, but I like the contrast. If I had a second chance, I’d go for the Spyder wheels.
- Charging flap has a bit of getting used to but I don't regret optioning it as I forget closing the manual ones because of Tesla.
- Side blades in a body colour was a good move.


Interior
- Chose the standard interior, and my feelings are mixed:
- Hard plastic with a leather texture in the center console feels cheap and isn’t well-molded in some areas.
- The beige colour is darker than what you see in the configurator but I still like it.
- Despite the plastic, it still feels well-made, though leather might add more premium details.
- The design feels like it lacked exploration of different materials. For example, the Polestar 2’s interior looks and feels better despite being all plastic.
- Comfortable non-leather seats, though they seem designed for larger people. I need to stretch a bit to comfortably rest my arms on the center console and door rest (I’m 177 cm, 56 kg).
- Bose sound system is excellent—very balanced clear sound compared to Model 3 I drove for two years.
- The laminated glass option makes the cabin quieter, but there’s noticeable noise from the panoramic roof.
- Standard steering wheel instead of the GT wheel, and I’m satisfied with it.
- Door buttons feel a bit flimsy compared to the Polestar 2 and even the Tesla. I feel like I could brake them if pull/press a bit harder.
- Would recommend a more premium interior option if you want better finishes. The center console is the most disappointing aspect of the standard interior.
- I didn't spec the sport sound and I kind of regret it because the car has very nice sound designs (minus the belt rattle)
- The laminated glass has some strange pattern/cutout around the rear mirror that is bit ugly but you only notice it when you are looking directly at it.
-Interior is specious but the visibility is sporty. You don't get the same Papa Mobile vibe you get in the Tesla like you are driving an aquarium. Which I miss but I do like the extra privacy the Macan gives.
- No passenger display and no regrets. I like the integration of the display with the dash and the central vents.

Charging
- I use the Charge Connect (the one with the display)—it’s the only way to have more control over charging, which is disappointing since this should be standard.
- Using the Route Planner is easier than Tesla. You also get access to real time info about charging satiations (availability, last used, operator, payment methods, etc.). I thought I will be missing Tesla's seamless charging experience but Porsche is doing a better job because it gives you access to 1000 of chargers not just a few Superchargers (in Portugal). Payment is via a card, plug and charge (similar to Tesla) or app. Only downside is that you need to keep an eye on Payment method because some chargers don't support all ways.

Comfort Entry
- Works well for locking and unlocking the car but it's dependent on the fob and if you keep the fob in your backpack, it might not get good enough signal and all the comfort entry stuff become annoying entry...
- Opening the trunk and frunk with a gesture works but it takes some getting used to. Sometimes the touch is not enough, sometime it's too sensitive, etc.
- Windows don't close automatically when you leave the car... Come on!

Innodrive
- Smooth cornering, but the stalk takes some time to get used to.
- Occasionally received emergency shutdown warnings, with the seatbelt tightening as if the car thought I was having a medical emergency. This happened even while I was alert and driving on the highway. I wore a cap so maybe it couldn't see my eyes or something?!
- I noticed it prefers the outer lane... It's centering but with a slight offset.

Infotainment
- Super responsive! Although I’m not a fan of the redesign, it’s very modern and up to date.
- I wish the black theme had more contrast, similar to the Taycan.
- The user experience is so well-done that you could use it without CarPlay if the built-in navigation included speed cameras and more accurate routes (it sometimes takes me down narrow roads where Google Maps and Waze don’t).

Driving
- The Macan 4 offers plenty of power, with smooth steering (optioned the Powersteer Plus and rear steering).
- Initially regretted that 4 doesn't have the torque vectoring option, but the driving experience is already fantastic—much better than the Polestar 2, Model 3, Model Y, Audi Q5, Defender, and Fiat 500e (the cars I've driven. The most specced one was the Audi and the Macan beats that).
- I miss one-pedal driving, but the precision of the brake and accelerator pedals makes up for it, and I even prefer this setup in some situations.
- The gentle creeping is well-implemented, making it great for slow traffic.
- For a new driver like me, I enjoy the communication light.
- Absolutely loving the dash display. Looks great and the gages are very well thought of.
- Parking is super easy compared to Tesla. You get a nice top view and some sort to visualisation about possible damage of the car if you don't correct the manoeuvre. Super useful to have actual cameras and sensors.
- Matrix LEDs are giving you lots of visibility at night but I wish they had HD as an option. The ones I had on the Audi were absolutely unreal. These ones are closer to Tesla's but more accurately blocking cars.
- Coming from a Tesla it took me a while to get used to using the brake and manually activating the hold by pressing the pedal all the way.


Off-Road Performance
- Tried a trail, and the Macan 4 managed decently but not as well as a Defender so I am not taking it to Iceland that's for sure
- Has good ground clearance but approach and departure angles aren't good for offroad.
- I did some gravel and sharp rocks and it did well but I didn't feel confident at all.
- Overall, it’s more suited for city driving rather than serious off-roading.


App
- It works but I think they need (and they probably are already working on it) a complete redesign.
- The usage of stock photos to explain certain features is very 2010...
- Not having proper visualisation of the car but instead a list of checkbox (windows closed/open, lights on of/ etc) is very cheap.
- Not being able to use the App as a key is the biggest drawback for me. I loved the auto lock/unlock of the Tesla.

Issues
- Had issues with the car not going into drive, often due to doors not being fully closed—learning to slam the doors properly now. Sometimes it happens if you don't put your seatbelt on but only sometimes ?!
- Experienced a rattle from the passenger seatbelt, but adjusting it fixed it (mostly).
- 200km on a breaks still squeak loudly when coming to a stop or turning around. Update: 700km and squeaking is massively reduced.
- Car shutting down when entering because sometimes I touch the locking sensor as I grab the handle...
- Door not closing fully and they need a bit of extra force. Update: Service told me it's normal for a brand new car and should get better.

Overall it's just a magical thing to drive. I totally understand the following of the brand and why people get very religious about it. Not going to be my only Porsche that's for sure

Code: https://www.porsche-code.com/PRWPMFX5

Thanks for the review!

Nice review, thanks

are you seat centers suede/alcantara? or is that fabric? I know the options are much different you guys in Europe

i think the cars with the highest leather options look the best...but it just sucks it only comes in one color... I would have definitely chose that if i could get the color i wanted.

Thanks for the review and the fantastic pic @nulled.
I agree with you about noise from the panoramic roof and rattle of the seat belt (but I solved myself)

krissrock said:

are you seat centers suede/alcantara? or is that fabric? I know the options are much different you guys in Europe

i think the cars with the highest leather options look the best...but it just sucks it only comes in one color... I would have definitely chose that if i could get the color i wanted.

Click to expand...

I think they call it race tex on the config but it's just fabric that has sort of canvas texture to it. It feels more comfortable than leather but probably pain in the ass to clean...

Racetex (a.k.a., alcantara) is suede like and looks different. What you have there looks like fabric—an option I believe you have in EU, but not in the US.

LivingTheDream said:

Racetex (a.k.a., alcantara) is suede like and looks different. What you have there looks like fabric—an option I believe you have in EU, but not in the US.

Click to expand...

Correction. They call it Sport-Tex

Thanks for the review, great looking spec. Enjoy.

nulled said:

Correction. They call it Sport-Tex

Click to expand...

Sport-Tex must be the fabric. Race-Tex is the Porsche equivalent to Alcantara—that’s what it’s called in the USA configurator.

Diego said:

I agree with you about noise from the panoramic roof and rattle of the seat belt (but I solved myself)

Click to expand...

What’s the best way to resolve the seat belt rattle — adding a seat belt clip, sticking soft material on back of seatbelt, or third-party seatbelt cover?

nulled said:

This is my second car, so take my review/impressions with a pinch of salt.

Exterior
- Aimed for a minimal look, as my ultimate goal was a Rivian (not available in Europe).
- Happy with the basic white color; it pairs nicely with the black accents.
- The white Porsche lettering at the rear is matte/frosted, giving it a cool appearance. Initially, I regretted not choosing the black version, but the white looks great.
- Off-road wheels provide contrast to the elegant body curves, but I like the contrast. If I had a second chance, I’d go for the Spyder wheels.
- The charging flap design is awkward—it requires placing a whole hand on top to open and doesn’t follow the car's body curvature well.


Interior
- Chose the standard interior, and my feelings are mixed:
- Hard plastic with a leather texture in the center console feels cheap and isn’t well-molded in some areas.
- The beige colour is darker than what you see in the configurator but I still like it.
- Despite the plastic, it still feels well-made, though leather might add more premium details.
- The design feels like it lacked exploration of different materials. For example, the Polestar 2’s interior looks and feels better despite being all plastic.
- Comfortable non-leather seats, though they seem designed for larger people. I need to stretch a bit to comfortably rest my arms on the center console and door rest (I’m 177 cm, 56 kg).
- Bose sound system is excellent—very balanced and superior to the Model 3 I drove for two years.
- The laminated glass option makes the cabin quieter, but there’s noticeable noise from the panoramic roof.
- Standard steering wheel instead of the GT wheel, and I’m satisfied with it.
- Door buttons feel a bit flimsy compared to the Polestar 2 and even the Tesla. I feel like I could brake them if pull/press a bit harder.
- Would recommend a more premium interior option if you want better finishes. The center console is the most disappointing aspect of the standard interior.
- I didn't spec the sport sound and I kind of regret it because the car has very nice sound designs (minus the belt rattle)
- The laminated glass has some strange pattern/cutout around the rear mirror that is bit ugly but you only notice it when you are looking directly at it.
-Interior is specious but the visibility is sporty. You don't get the same Papa Mobile vibe you get in the Tesla like you are driving an aquarium. Which I miss but I do like the extra privacy the macan gives.

Charging
- No issues with charging the car.
- I use the Charge Connect (the one with the display)—it’s the only way to have more control over charging, which is disappointing since this should be standard.
- Portugal doesn't support Porsche Charging Card because of Mobi.e's monopoly on the charging infrastructure in the country. Which is sad because this cancels the Plug&Charge feature. I was really looking forward to having a unified charging experience. Porsche Porto gave an alternative card for charging that works for the local system but that's just annoying they they kick you out of the ecosystem.

Comfort Entry
- Works well for locking and unlocking the car.
- Tried using a gesture to open the frunk, but it didn’t work.


Innodrive
- Smooth cornering, but the stalk takes some time to get used to.
- Occasionally received emergency shutdown warnings, with the seatbelt tightening as if the car thought I was having a medical emergency. This happened even while I was alert and driving on the highway. I wore a cap so maybe it couldn't see my eyes or something?!


Infotainment
- Super responsive! Although I’m not a fan of the redesign, it’s ok.
- I wish the black theme had more contrast, similar to the Taycan.
- The user experience is so well-done that you could use it without CarPlay if the built-in navigation included speed cameras and more accurate routes (it sometimes takes me down narrow roads where Google Maps and Waze don’t).


Driving
- The Macan 4 offers plenty of power, with smooth steering (optioned the Powersteer Plus and rear steering).
- Initially regretted that 4 doesn't have the torque vectoring option, but the driving experience is already fantastic—much better than the Polestar 2, Model 3, Model Y, Audi Q5, Defender, and Fiat 500e (the cars I've driven. The most specced one was the Audi and the Macan beats that).
- I miss one-pedal driving, but the precision of the brake and accelerator pedals makes up for it, and I even prefer this setup in some situations.
- The gentle creeping is well-implemented, making it great for slow traffic.
- For a new driver like me, I enjoy the communication light that warns me of danger


Off-Road Performance
- Tried a trail, and the Macan 4 managed decently but not as well as a Defender so I am not taking it to Iceland that's for sure
- Experienced some aggressive bouncing over uneven terrain, even when driving slowly.
- Overall, it’s more suited for city driving rather than serious off-roading.


Issues
- Had issues with the car not going into drive, often due to doors not being fully closed—learning to slam the doors properly now. Sometimes it happens if you don't put your seatbelt on but only sometimes ?!
- Experienced a rattle from the passenger seatbelt, but adjusting it fixed it (mostly).
- Pedestrian sound error on the dash, then disappeared and couldn't find it int he notifications.

Overall it's just a magical thing to drive. I totally understand the following of the brand and why people get very religious about it. Not going to be my only Porsche that's for sure

Code: https://www.porsche-code.com/PRWPMFX5

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Thank you for the amazing review and congrats on the new car. You Coming from a Tesla makes your input very very important to me. I am coming from a model s and used to the fsd. You mentioned your Macan cornered well and that’s exactly and only what I wanted to do. Be able to follow the lane and traffic for when in traffic jams and cruising on highway. You coming from model 3 which is one of the most fun and fast teslas to drive makes it interesting you found the Macan fun and fast which is great news.

bbmertz said:

What’s the best way to resolve the seat belt rattle — adding a seat belt clip, sticking soft material on back of seatbelt, or third-party seatbelt cover?

Click to expand...

Third part seatbelt cover worked for me: I'll post later in the "Modifications and Customizations" section

bbmertz said:

What’s the best way to resolve the seat belt rattle — adding a seat belt clip, sticking soft material on back of seatbelt, or third-party seatbelt cover?

Click to expand...

I move the clip higher up and that solved the rattle.

fsabek said:

Thank you for the amazing review and congrats on the new car. You Coming from a Tesla makes your input very very important to me. I am coming from a model s and used to the fsd. You mentioned your Macan cornered well and that’s exactly and only what I wanted to do. Be able to follow the lane and traffic for when in traffic jams and cruising on highway. You coming from model 3 which is one of the most fun and fast teslas to drive makes it interesting you found the Macan fun and fast which is great news.

Click to expand...

You’re very welcome! Honestly, driving this car has been such a joy compared to the Tesla that I almost forgot about Innodrive altogether—I only remembered to test it at the last moment before taking an exit on the highway. The visualizations are impressive—quite similar to Tesla’s, though not as detailed. I haven’t had the chance to test it in traffic yet, but I’ll make sure to do so and share my thoughts. The only downside for me is the stalk—it feels like overkill. Tesla’s streamlined one-button approach is fantastic in comparison. I’ve heard that the HUD enhances the Innodrive experience, but I can’t really speak to that yet. However, the visualization on the dash is clear enough to see when it’s engaged.