Porsche Macan Electric review with YouTuber Cars With Luke
The popular car vlogger gets to grips with the Porsche Macan Electric in snowy Lapland
Porsche Macan 4 Electric in snowy scene, sun setting in distance
As a 911 GT3 owner, Cars With Luke knows a thing or two about Porsche. But what happened when he reviewed the Macan 4 in snowy northern Finland? Find out his thoughts on the Porsche all-electric SUV
Living in Switzerland, where he takes full advantage of its breathtaking mountain roads, Cars With Luke is used to dealing with snow. But driving an all-electric Porsche Macan 4 SUV in Finnish Lapland in February? Well, that’s on a whole new level for the hugely popular automotive YouTuber.It felt like the perfect place for Luke to put the Macan to the test for one of his acclaimed car reviews. Home to the Porsche Arctic Center and the thrilling Porsche Ice Experience, the roads around Levi, a winter resort situated 170 km (110 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, are covered with ice and snow throughout much of the year.So how does it feel driving an all-wheel drive Macan 4 in these conditions? And what’s it like to live with an all-electric SUV with sportscar performance?
Porsche Macan 4 Electric in snow, reindeer behind
YouTuber Cars With Luke got to test the all-electric Porsche Macan 4 SUV in the most challenging of conditions – the snowy roads near the Porsche Arctic Center in Levi, Finland Photo: Porsche
Talk us through the design of the Macan 4 Electric, Luke “The first time you see it, it definitely looks something fresh and new – but you know straightaway that it’s a Porsche. The headlights, for one, are a standout for me. It may be an all-new design for the Macan, but it never deviates far from what you imagine a Porsche to be. “So, while it looks new, clean and modern, it’s still very identifiably a Porsche, with that classic sloping fly-line, those elegant proportions. I noticed when taking pictures that from every angle it always looks good – which is not often the case with other cars. Whether from the side, the front, the rear or the three-quarters view, I couldn’t fault it. It’s such a good-looking car.”And what are your impressions of the Macan from the inside?“Living in Switzerland, I’ve got used to low temperatures in the winter, but it was particularly cold up in Lapland at around -10 Celsius. So it was nice to jump in the Macan, where I was very grateful for the heated seats and heated steering wheel, for starters. “But, just like the view from the outside, there’s plenty of impact when you’re sitting in the driver’s seat too. It’s a true Porsche which is, for someone like me who has such a connection with the brand, hugely important. It has plenty of the touchpoints that I notice in other Porsche cars I’ve driven, as well as my 911 GT3, that are almost indescribable. It’s just a feeling it gives you, even if it’s just the way it smells, for example. “Those elements of the Porsche DNA in the interior of my 911 GT3 are carried through to the Macan. I loved the head-up display, which is so clean in its design. Everything is so user-friendly and so nice to reach out and touch, from its leather to the carbon fibre.”
Porsche Macan 4 Electric charging at Ionity charging point
The latest Macan – shown here at a fast DC charging point in northern Finland – is the first all-electric SUV from Porsche Photo: Porsche
Could you point out some of the details about the interior of the Macan that you like the most?“I always love Porsche steering wheels. They are my favourite when it comes to their size and proportions. I always say when I sit in a Porsche, it just feels like home. It’s very much a feeling that, once you get in it, you don’t particularly want to get out again. In the kind of weather we had in Finland those heated seats and steering wheel – and the massage seats – meant that I felt very relaxed when sat in the Macan.”What’s the Macan Electric like to drive? “Ever since I got back from Finland, people kept on asking me what it’s like to drive an electric Porsche. And I explained to them that it didn’t feel like what you would imagine an electric car to be. I think that was the biggest surprise to me. Some electric cars I’ve driven I’ve thought, ‘Oh, they shouldn’t have made this electric’. But with the new Macan – which was designed as an electric car – from the very first moment I pulled away, it didn’t feel out of place being an electric car. It just felt right.”
YouTuber Cars With Luke at Porsche Ice Experience, Finland
Cars With Luke has over 430,000 followers on his popular YouTube account, who tune in for his road tests and reviews Photo: Porsche
“I really appreciated how comfortable it is, how beautifully it rides and, obviously, how quiet it is. As a 911 owner, the best part of it was being so surprised at how much fun it was. “Of course, we had conditions that allowed us to have plenty of fun up in Lapland. The wheels were fitted with studded tyres, and we had this big snowy playground to play in. You put the Macan in Sport mode and it really comes to life. At one point, I even thought it had a 911 Dakar vibe about it.”It’s the first all-electric Porsche SUV, so let’s talk about the charging experience in the Macan. How was that for you?“Charging is an important part of the ownership experience, so it was great to learn how straightforward it was to do that. We pulled up at a fast DC charging point, swiped the card, plugged the Macan in and sat there for around 20 minutes – and it charged to around 80 per cent in that time. I took that time to chat with my passengers about the car and just enjoy sitting inside the Macan some more. Then, it took a few seconds to unplug it and we were on our way again. It was that simple.”
Rear view of Porsche Macan 4 Electric in Finnish Lapland
Fitted with studded winter tyres, the Macan 4 dealt with the icy conditions of Lapland at the height of winter with ease, says Luke Photo: Porsche
How did the Macan 4 perform on snowy roads?“Studded winter tyres on a four-wheel drive Macan were the perfect combo. There was never a moment where it didn’t perform – whether that was in Sport mode and sliding it around corners on the ice track or just driving along normal country roads. There are lots of long, straight stretches covered in ice. But even driving at around 100 km/h I was very relaxed. I didn’t feel that I had to adjust my speed. It just did what it had to do, without any problems.”You’re lucky enough to drive so many great cars as well as your own 911 GT3 – could you see the Macan sitting next to it in your garage?“If I bought an SUV, it would be the Macan. I love its proportions. It’s not too big, not too small. And it’s so usable – you can park it in the city with ease, but you have lots of space inside too. I came away thinking that it’s a car that does everything. “I was so surprised at how playful it is, with all this power going to the rear wheels. This makes it super exciting. With its electric motor mounted in the back, it has this rear-weighted feeling [like the 911], which is super special. Putting it in Sport mode and sliding it around corners at the Porsche Arctic Center in Levi was such fun. You can really drift this car.”
Porsche Macan 4 Electric in Arctic, Northern Lights in sky
Luke, who owns a 911 GT3, says his biggest surprise was how much fun the Macan 4 is to drive. But, he adds, at the same time it’s also a comfortable, relaxing place to be too Photo: Porsche
“And yet, driving between the different shoot locations, we had the heated, massage seats on, and it just felt so relaxed, enjoying the silence. For me, as an electric car, it has the best of both worlds. One of the biggest things I was left with after driving the Macan was the fun factor of it – I bet it is great driving up a twisty mountain pass in the summer – but at the same time, if you have kids, and need that space and practicality, it’s got that too. “At the end of the day, after plenty of long drives, I didn’t want to get out. I remember arriving back at the hotel each night and just sitting in the Macan for an extra 10 minutes because it was so comfortable. I imagine the Macan would be a great daily driver for a Porsche enthusiast.”
?si=_XzhklpdKMvSelvWWhat, for you, is so special about the Porsche community, Luke?“I can be parked up on the side of the road on a mountain pass and when a 911 goes past they nearly always stop and turn around and come back, you know? The Porsche community is full of very cool people.“Whenever I see that Porsche logo it reminds me that I am part of a really special club and community. Whenever you pass another Porsche driver on the road, you just nod. You both know why you’re there – just two people, out there, enjoying the drive.”
Consumption and emission information Macan 4 Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 21.1 – 17.9 kWh/100 km (preliminary value); CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km (preliminary value); CO₂ class: A (preliminary value).
Continue reading
Porsche 718 Boxster S on the Ring of Kerry, Ireland
How much is a Porsche 718 Boxster? Find out how much the Porsche 718 Boxster costs, and more important details about this two-seater, mid-engined roadster Read more
Driver stands in front of white Taycan indoors, hall behind
Beyond limits: the record-breaking Taycan From endurance to drifting to acceleration, the Porsche Taycan has racked up performance record after record for electric vehicles in no time at all. And it hasn’t stopped yet Read more
Woman walking towards Porsche Macan Electric connected to Porsche charger
How much is a Porsche Macan? The Porsche Macan is one of the most popular Porsche models. Find out how much the Porsche Macan costs, and more essential details about this unique compact SUV Read more
Related topics