“EVs are no fun to drive”… that would be your takeaway if your only EV experience was this $120k Porsche Macan GTS. I was invited to a test drive today. Most of you know we have a Polestar 2 and Ioniq 5, so I was excited to compare them to this Porsche… unfortunately I could not wait to get out of this terrible car. But I thought I’d write up some of the issues for comparison.
Interior: a couple of good points, some mechanical switches… ok, just one good point. Screens were friggin everywhere in this thing, the steering wheel was a very thin diameter, and despite the big sunroof it felt very dark compared to our Polestar or Ioniq 5…it did have blue seat belts though.
Driving: even in Sport Plus mode the Macan GTS EV felt like driving our Ioniq 5 in Eco mode. The steering felt numb, the accelerator only responded if you pushed it hard, & the regen was minimal! Reminder, this was the GTS spec. It did not feel like it was designed by or for car enthusiasts. I had to dig into the menus for regen. I randomly tapped an icon that had no description to get the lightest regen I’ve ever experienced. I drive both our Polestar and Ioniq in 1 pedal mode, which feels like driving a manual car in 2nd gear as you come out of a curve, very fun! This car, no fun. It felt like driving a Buick with a 4 speed automatic, including the giant lurch right as you ease off the brake.
Hyundai handles this regen UX by adding it to something a lot of drivers are already familiar with, paddle shifters. Tapp the paddles and you move through 5 levels of regen from none to 1 pedal mode. The Polestar only has off, standard, and one pedal but it is very strong.
Conclusion: do not waste money on this car (thanks for letting me drive it though). Do yourself a favor, get an Ioniq 5, maybe the 5N if you want to go nuts. It will be way more fun and cost half… I was very happy to get back in our Polestar 2.
They did bring a variety of Porsches to this event. I thought it was telling that they did not bring a Taycan which is known for being a great driving car. Maybe they didn’t want people to go back to back between that and a 911?
Good write-up. Strange that Porsche wouldn’t have organized a peppier vehicle even if its a second-car grocery getter in GTS form. I like the idea of regen control on the paddles.
The Taycan was probably broken, why it wasn’t available.
Having driven a lot of cars and a lot of EVs I think you can tell I was pretty surprised. I’ve driven a gas Macan, for what it is, it’s a fun car to drive! So this threw me.
LOL RE Taycan, the drive leader told me that the first Tacan release was plagued with problems, but when they did the facelift in 2024 they actually changed a lot below the skin and its much more reliable now. Still I think the damage was dine and sales cratered.
Depreciation was crazy though and you can pick them up used for a song. I have 2 friends with used Tacans and they have been lucky, no issues so far… lock on wood for them, everyone!
I’ve read post-2023 there are fewer issues popping up. Something about a heater that needs replacement. Also perhaps that Porsche owners nit-pick the hell out of something.
The wagon version Taycan is about the sickest looking thing on the road, even better looking than the Panamera Turbo wagon!
Sorry to hear you did not like it. The Taycan drives okay. (in my book)
But having an overwhelming Adrenaline inducing effect seems to be harder with electric.
I must admit, that I just purchased another ICE car, the first “SAV” for us, because I could not afford or find an argument for an EV, that gets used to tow, has to take 2 dogs, several people and all of that in rough dirt road environment.
I would have easily fallen for a used ICE Macan for that, but it had naturally become another Beemer.
What I want to say.: What is the use-case for the electric Macan, that another electric does not serve better? Looking posh, while making you poorer every month, every day?
And when you turn that ignitition of the old 6 Cylinder within the walls of your garage, something combusts, and explodes and makes you go all giddy.
Somehow after 5 years of day to day electric I am still not fully “converted”.
And I do understand, how the electric Macan does not catch on, despite all the horsepower.
The industry might be on a conquest to ad some “spark” to the electrons.
(Not physically, recommended.)
