► New Macan GTS Electric costs from £89k
► 563bhp and 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds
► Mild chassis tweaks from halo Turbo version
The Macan GTS Electric is now the fifth variant in the line-up of Porsche’s (not-so) baby SUV. At £89k, it fits in just below the near £100k Turbo and should – in theory – deliver the sweet spot that the letters G, T, and S so often nail when affixed to the rump of Stuttgart’s finest.
But given just how many different versions of the Macan Electric are on offer, what can Porsche do to differentiate it? And is it enough to keep you away from rivals such as the Lotus Eletre, Polestar 4 and BMW iX3? We’ve driven the new Macan GTS Electric in the South of France to answer both of those questions.
At a glance
Pros: Great cabin, good dynamics, plenty quick enough
Cons: Fake engine sound doesn’t move the game on
What’s new?
Given the precise space within which the GTS Electric needs to slot in (just above the 4S Electric, but leaving margin to the big daddy Turbo Electric model), you get the feeling that any changes were made with a high-degree of product planning oversight.
The all-wheel drive GTS Electric uses the same dual-motor setup as the Turbo, meaning the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus e-diff is fitted as standard. As is air suspension, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and a ride height that matches the lowest level achieved by the Turbo.
There have, however, been a few choice tweaks to ensure that, in Porsche’s words, the GTS delivers a more ‘emotional’ driving experience than the Turbo. For example, the air suspension receives a specific tune, while the dampers and anti-roll bars have also been stiffened to provide more agility on the rear end. What’s more, the optional rear-wheel steering has a more aggressive, pointier preset than the Turbo.
From the outside, there’s a healthy smattering of black detailing to set the GTS Electric apart from others in the range. See black apron, side blades, wheel arch trims and adaptive rear spoiler, as well as tinted headlights and taillights.
Black side skirts running along the car get wider towards the rear, plus 21-inch Macan Design alloys (in Anthracite Grey) feature as standard. As an option, you can spec even larger 22-inch RS Spyder Design wheels – also in Anthracite Grey. Three new exterior shades debut – namely Crayon, Carmine Red and, the car you see in the pics, Lugano Blue.
What are the specs?
Like all Macan Electric models, the GTS uses a 100kWh (94.9kWh useable) battery pack and has a maximum fast-charging rate of 270kW. That’s enough for a 10-80 per cent refill in 21 minutes. Combined WLTP range, meanwhile, is 363 miles claimed – more like mid 200s in real-world driving conditions.
As for performance, the GTS – unsurprisingly – fits in very neatly between the 4S and Turbo Electric variants. Peak power is 563bhp (with launch control activated) dropping to 509bhp in regular driving conditions, with torque rated at a hefty 704lb ft. 0-62mph takes 3.8 seconds while top-speed is pegged at 155mph.
The GTS also has the lowest centre of gravity in the Macan Electric model line and boasts a 48:52 rear-biased weight distribution. It’s not light, however, coming in at 2395kg which, admittedly, is roughly in line with rival electric SUVs.
How does it drive?
First thing’s first, the Macan Electric is a fine thing to drive whichever flavour you sample. Good handling, impressive comfort and ample pace. And, unsurprisingly, the GTS version builds on that.
For starters, there’s a strong, responsive surge of pace that (owing to a revised torque curve) doesn’t feel quite as pointlessly neck-snapping as the Turbo variant. It’s just about restrained enough for proper road use without going crazy and as such there’s enjoyment to be had from the powertrain.
We tried the new Porsche Electric Sport Sound (PESS) and, while far from the worst EV soundtrack we’ve heard, it arguably doesn’t provide any obvious benefit over the (very subtle) motor whine.
On 22-inch wheels and Continental Winter Contact TS 860 S tyres the refinement is hugely impressive, so much so you’d almost doubt that snow-capable rubber is fitted. Meanwhile, the ride does its best work at speed but generally feels accomplished on all but the most broken road surfaces.
Start to push on in Sport or Sport Plus drive modes and the good news is the Macan GTS Electric does feel slightly more agile and keener on turn-in than the Turbo. It’s hard to be sure, but we’d wager that much of this is down to that more direct tune on the rear-wheel steering such is the difference it can make to even the most ungainly cars (which the regular Macan Electric is not).
Overall, it’s a satisfying car to pelt along at seven or even eight-tenths, with a great steering setup (Porsche EV products are particularly good at this) and encouraging bite and feel to the brake pedal. There’s plenty of precision for a car this hefty and, honestly, it feels at least 500kg less than the quoted weight when driven at fast road speeds.
What’s it like inside?
Enjoy a good smattering of Race Tex (Porsche’s answer to alcantara)? Good, because there’s plenty of it in the Macan GTS Electric. The upholstery, GT Sports steering wheel, armrests, door panels and dash get the treatment and give the cabin a sportier look than even the top-spec Turbo version.
The Sport Chrono Package is fitted as standard, while – for the first time on the Macan Electric – the optional GTS Interior Package allows colour coordination between the exterior and interior. Thus, should you pick either Carmine Red, Slate Grey Neo or Lugano Blue exterior paint, the decorative stitching in the cabin is matched.
Otherwise, the Macan GTS Electric gets the same exceptional cabin as other models in the range, meaning there’s a well-judged mix of touchscreen and physical controls. The 12.6-inch digital dash is standard, as is the 10.9-inch central touchscreen. A 10.9-inch passenger information display is also available as an option. All use crisp, responsive software with enough functionality to rival your smartphone.
However, keeping the balance is a centrally mounted selection of physical dials and switches for the climate control and media – meaning you needn’t take your eyes off the road just to knock the temperature up by a couple of degrees. All-round space is excellen, plus those in the front benefit from the standard-fit 18-way electrically adjustable adaptive sports seats.
Finally, boot space compares well with rivals thanks to a capacious rear cargo area (that includes underfloor storage for the charging cable) and a useful 84-litre frunk for hiding smaller items away.
Before you buy
As ever with Porsche cars, there’s plenty of options to spend your cash on if the £89k asking price doesn’t clean out the budget. The aforementioned rear-wheel steering and 22-inch wheels are two examples, while others include a massage and ventilation function for the front seats, the Sport Design Package for the exterior, Burmester surround-sound system (note this reduces rear boot space) and the passenger information display.
One thing that stands out about the latter is Porsche’s new in-car gaming tech. Also playable on the central screen when the car is stationary, the AirConsole function allows Bluetooth-enabled controllers to be paired to the car and used on a wide variety of video games. And, because of the privacy screen on the passenger information display, this can be used while the vehicle is in motion.
AirConsole is one of the features debuting on the Macan GTS Electric that’s also being rolled out across the range as part of a model-year update. Other new toys include enhanced voice recognition, Apple and Android Porsche Digital Key functionality and a suite of intelligent parking aids. One, called Trained Parking, can learn up to five individual parking routines and perform them automatically when requested.
As for rivals, the Lotus Eletre 600 GT is a similarly priced alternative despite it being larger and heavier than the Macan Electric. A Polestar 4 is closer on dimensions and offers a strong drive, yet the lack of physical buttons is a pain. Meanwhile, the new BMW iX3 is a game-changer for premium electric cars, yet – at the time of writing – doesn’t offer a version capable of matching the Macan Electric GTS’ performance.
Verdict
Like the rest of the Macan Electric range, the GTS version is a thoroughly accomplished product. It’s got a great cabin, strong pace and dynamics, all the tech you could ever need and usability not overly affected by its sporting nature. Arguably, it’s the one to get – even over the pricier Turbo.
However, could Porsche have taken the GTS element a little further? The changes from the Turbo are extremely subtle and it shows in the driving experience. As it is, it feels like a convenient bridge between 4S and Turbo, rather than the more defined individual experience we’ve enjoyed from Porsche’s ICE GTS models.
