[Taboleo] Experience Porsche Sensibility with the Electric SUV 'Macan Electric'

Streamlined Body Created by Cutting-Edge Aerodynamics
Increased Driving Range and Enhanced Performance
Turbo Model Equipped with 639-Horsepower Powertrain
High-Performance Driving Sensibility Realized in the Electric Vehicle
Impressive Driving Experience with AR HUD

For Porsche, the Korean market is the fifth largest in the world. Porsche Korea recorded its best-ever performance in 2023. Why do domestic consumers prefer Porsche? There are many reasons, including high-performance driving, a luxurious brand image, outstanding technology, and high residual value, but among them, it is likely because many models combine sports car and family car qualities.

The representative Porsche model that sells well domestically is the sports utility vehicle (SUV) Cayenne. However, there is no electric vehicle lineup. What if you want to drive a practical electric car while maintaining Porsche's sporty sensibility? The car made to meet this demand is Porsche's first pure electric SUV, the Macan Electric (EV). On the 10th, I personally test-drove the Macan EV, Porsche's second electric vehicle, on a 320 km round trip from a hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul to Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.

Makhan Electric Turbo driving scene. Photo by Porsche Korea

The first impression from the exterior was that it was "sleek." The design emphasized curves incorporating cutting-edge aerodynamic technology. Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) system includes adaptive rear spoiler, air curtains located below the headlights, and a sealed underbody cover, integrating comprehensive aerodynamic technologies. Thanks to this, it achieved a drag coefficient of 0.25 while maintaining a streamlined body line. This helped increase driving range and secure performance.

Sitting in the driver's seat, the body and seat felt cozy and comfortable. The seat positions of the driver and front passenger were lowered compared to the previous generation, and the legroom (space between the occupant's knees and the seat) increased, while the position of the second-row seats was lowered by 15 mm. Although the seats being lower reduced the sense of openness, it enabled sporty driving that is not felt in typical SUVs.

Driving on the road, the smooth acceleration was impressive. The Macan 4S and Macan Turbo test-driven that day were equipped with powertrains producing up to 516 horsepower and 639 horsepower (when launch control is activated), respectively. The time to reach 100 km/h from a standstill was only 4.1 seconds and 3.3 seconds. Despite having powerful motors and battery performance, rapid acceleration was possible with almost no jolting. It seemed that Porsche's unique high-performance driving sensibility was perfectly integrated into the electric vehicle.

Makan Electric Interior. Provided by Porsche Korea

Porsche applied the ‘Premium Platform Electric (PPE)’ with an 800V high-voltage architecture to the Macan EV. With 270 kW fast charging, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 21 minutes. When fully charged, the driving range is 450 km for the Macan 4S and 429 km for the Macan Turbo. The smooth ride comfort was also delivered when sitting in the front passenger seat.

Another impressive feature during driving was the augmented reality (AR) head-up display (HUD). Arrows and warning signs from the navigation system were projected onto the actual road environment, making it much easier to see directions. Warnings from the driver assistance system were also displayed as is.

Personally, as someone who is bad with directions, I have no sense of where 300 meters ahead is. But this navigation showed the right turn sign directly on the road I was looking at. Using the AR HUD, I thought there would be no chance of ever getting lost.

While the Macan EV is flawless in terms of design, driving performance, ride comfort, and convenience features, there is one drawback: the price. The Macan 4S starts at 111.4 million KRW, and the Macan Turbo starts at 138.5 million KRW. However, adding options can increase the price by tens of millions of KRW. For those who can make generous investments including Porsche’s electrification technology and brand value, it is worth considering. Another attractive factor is that Porsche used cars maintain a relatively high residual value.

Makhan Electric driving scene. Photo by Porsche Korea