Macan vs. gen2 Taycan - my thoughts here…

[matrix]

Had a Macan Turbo EV for half a day covering about 300 km on mixed roads (fully optioned with rear steer, burmester, head-up display, insulated glass, etc) . I came away rather disappointed unfortunately. The drive is not even close to the Taycan and the steering feels numb and not as responsive and driver focused. Full acceleration feels like the vehicle is on it's edge and feels a bit twitchy and unstable (even on the 22" the test vehicle was equipped with).

Was also interested in trying out the Burmester stereo so spent some time with that using my own music via both the built in Spotify and via CarPlay. To my big surprise, the BOSE in my Taycan sounds better than the Burmester in the Macan and I fiddled around with every EQ/surround/linear setting available. Weird. Maybe the system was not bedded in enough.

The AR heads-up display that many talk good about is from my point of view superflous and quite annoying to have in my field of view. But let's just leave it at that. I don't like head-up displays on any car and this takes it just one step further with all things going on. I much prefer a quick glance at the main screen when I need info instead of having it in my field of view all the time.

Another surprise was the rear-steer that felt rather unatural. Ok, you get a shorter turning circle when manouvering in tight spaces, but from a pure feel I didn't like it and the standard turning circle is still very manageable. If I had the choice I would not option RAS.

Car on test had full leather (also on the upper door cards). Somehow it felt cheaper than the Taycan and specifically the dashboard and also center storage felt really cheap and plasticy. I much prefer the Taycan layout even with the touch screen for climate controls. The 18-way seats didn't feel as good as in the Taycan either. I really like the adjustable headrest in the Taycan, but there was none of this in the Macan with 18-way seats (you have to go 14-way to get that).

Noise level was also higher in the Macan than in the Taycan (both equipped with insulated glass). The 22" wheels probably makes this wors in the Macan so I would definitely go for smaller rims for those who want a quieter ride.

I just did some quick testing of the Innodrive features and they work out okay. I'm in the boat where I use ACC + active lane keeping and I found those to be very similar between Macan/Taycan. Maybe the Innodrive features with adapting to speed/road is improved with the Macan, but didn't get enough time to test this out and I perfer not to get nannied in the curves or adapt to speed limits.

Only reason for me switching to the Macan would be if I absolutely wanted the higher SUV seating position and couldn't manage the low down position in the Taycan. There are some good bargains for a second hand Taycan and I would pick this option any day instead of buying a new Macan.

Sorry if I sounded harsh in many of my observations, but I was genuinely surprised by many of my findings. Before my test drive I was genuinely interested in the Macan and have had thoughts putting in an order. But after the test drive I was just so happy being back in the Taycan.

These are just my quick thoughts and I know that we all value different things and have different perferences when it comes to cars. A test drive is therefore always the best way to find out if it floats your boat or not

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[daveo4EV]

Had a Macan Turbo EV for half a day covering about 300 km on mixed roads (fully optioned with rear steer, burmester, head-up display, insulated glass, etc) . I came away rather disappointed unfortunately. The drive is not even close to the Taycan and the steering feels numb and not as responsive and driver focused. Full acceleration feels like the vehicle is on it's edge and feels a bit twitchy and unstable (even on the 22" the test vehicle was equipped with).

Was also interested in trying out the Burmester stereo so spent some time with that using my own music via both the built in Spotify and via CarPlay. To my big surprise, the BOSE in my Taycan sounds better than the Burmester in the Macan and I fiddled around with every EQ/surround/linear setting available. Weird. Maybe the system was not bedded in enough.

The AR heads-up display that many talk good about is from my point of view superflous and quite annoying to have in my field of view. But let's just leave it at that. I don't like head-up displays on any car and this takes it just one step further with all things going on. I much prefer a quick glance at the main screen when I need info instead of having it in my field of view all the time.

Another surprise was the rear-steer that felt rather unatural. Ok, you get a shorter turning circle when manouvering in tight spaces, but from a pure feel I didn't like it and the standard turning circle is still very manageable. If I had the choice I would not option RAS.

Car on test had full leather (also on the upper door cards). Somehow it felt cheaper than the Taycan and specifically the dashboard and also center storage felt really cheap and plasticy. I much prefer the Taycan layout even with the touch screen for climate controls. The 18-way seats didn't feel as good as in the Taycan either. I really like the adjustable headrest in the Taycan, but there was none of this in the Macan with 18-way seats (you have to go 14-way to get that).

Noise level was also higher in the Macan than in the Taycan (both equipped with insulated glass). The 22" wheels probably makes this wors in the Macan so I would definitely go for smaller rims for those who want a quieter ride.

I just did some quick testing of the Innodrive features and they work out okay. I'm in the boat where I use ACC + active lane keeping and I found those to be very similar between Macan/Taycan. Maybe the Innodrive features with adapting to speed/road is improved with the Macan, but didn't get enough time to test this out and I perfer not to get nannied in the curves or adapt to speed limits.

Only reason for me switching to the Macan would be if I absolutely wanted the higher SUV seating position and couldn't manage the low down position in the Taycan. There are some good bargains for a second hand Taycan and I would pick this option any day instead of buying a new Macan.

Sorry if I sounded harsh in many of my observations, but I was genuinely surprised by many of my findings. Before my test drive I was genuinely interested in the Macan and have had thoughts putting in an order. But after the test drive I was just so happy being back in the Taycan.

These are just my quick thoughts and I know that we all value different things and have different perferences when it comes to cars. A test drive is therefore always the best way to find out if it floats your boat or not

good review - I'd suggest you need to compare Macan EV to other "SUV's" for it to shine vs. comparing it to arguably _THE_ best sports sedan on the market (and even a better sports car than some others)

• Taycan is the best sports sedan on the market - bare none - that happens to be an EV - no SUV can or should match it
  • if _ANY_ SUV was able to match the Taycan it would say more about the Taycan and it's failings than it would be about how good the SUV was…
• Macan EV is probably the best "porsche" like SUV you can get - I prefer it to the Cayenne, X5 and virtually any other SUV - for around town I don't need the Taycan level of "sports car feel" vs. daily convenience - but that's a personal choice/preference
• when I want the "best" sports car feel I'll get in my 911 TurboS or GT3 depending on the mood and the goal…

Macan EV is not magic - but it's damm good for an SUV - but go in with SUV expectations - personally the EV drive train is what does it for me - I'm done with ICE drive trains for daily drivers.

I'll also take it over the rivian, probably the Lucid when it comes out and definately anything from the Japanese or Korean's - it's also better than anything Mercedes has going in EV suv's right now.

also there is an $85,000 spread between the cost of my Macan EV Turbo and a Taycan Turbo I'd build and order (probably more cause I didn't do "everything" to the last detail for Taycan - once I was $80,000 over I accomplished my analysis) - that's almost another entire Macan - so I'm gratified there are some differences given how much more Taycan costs…

Taycan is a "Halo" product, Macan is a volume product - in my opinion it's the best EV mid-sized SUV on the market - that doens't make it the best car - that makes it the best SUV and it's pretty good for what it is and still very very practical and functional - and range is excellent along with Taycan gen1 charging speeds (slighty better actually).

YMMV my $0.02

 

[Jonathan S.]

Love the BSG reference!
(The original series premiered when I was of a highly impressionable age. Years later, I realized how utterly absurd that show had been, but even more years later, I was more sensibly impressed by a few episodes I watched of the reimagined series, although seems like it became mystically silly after awhile.)

I'm confused though by how the vastly improved tech/software of the Macan isn't also applied to the new Taycan.
Do you think the underlying platforms are just too different to slap all that Macan tech/software onto the Taycan?
Based on my MY22 A6ar and 4CT, I'm already puzzled enough at how VAG doesn't seem to take advantage of economies of scale for such aspects of their vehicles. (Only the tense female voice seems to be a common element!)
Granted, wouldn't want to end up like Stellantis where a Maserati shares user-facing parts with Dodge.
But reinventing the wheel for the Macan tech/software yet not allowing the more expensive Taycan to benefit...

 

[matrix]

good review - I'd suggest you need to compare Macan EV to other "SUV's" for it to shine vs. comparing it to the best sports sedan on the market

• Taycan is the best sports sedan on the market
• Macan EV is probably the best "porsche" like SUV you can get - I prefer it to the Cayenne, X5 and virtually any other SUV - for around town I don't need the Taycan level of "sports car feel" vs. daily convenience - but that's a personal choice/preference
• when I want the "best" sports car feel I'll get in my 911 TurboS or GT3 depending on the mood and the goal…

Macan EV is not magic - but it's damm good for an SUV - but go in with SUV expectations - personally the EV drive train is what does it for me - I'm done with ICE drive trains for daily drivers.

I'll also take it over the rivian, probably the Lucid when it comes out and definately anything from the Japanese or Korean's - it's also better than anything Mercedes has going in EV suv's right now.

also there is an $85,000 spread between the cost of my Macan EV Turbo and a Taycan Turbo I'd build and order (probably more cause I didn't do "everything" to the last detail for Taycan - once I was $80,000 over I accomplished my analysis) - that's almost another entire Macan - so I'm gratified there are some differences given how much more Taycan costs…

Taycan is a "Halo" product, Macan is a volume product - in my opinion it's the best EV mid-sized SUV on the market - that doens't make it the best car - that makes it the best SUV and it's pretty good for what it is and still very very practical and functional - and range is excellent along with Taycan gen1 charging speeds (slighty better actually).

YMMV my $0.02

Totally agree and many good points with the apple to apple comparisons. I probably just realised that I'm not a "SUV"-person and prefer the tight and hunkered down feeling of the Taycan. The new Macan is in isolation a great car with many pros also (towing capacity, better back seats, easier to load with stuff, etc). I probably just had too high expectations before my test drive in regards to driving dynamics, but I do realise that physics have it's limitations and that also the Macan is a class below Taycan when it comes to luxury feeling. I haven't tested the 25 Taycan with Active ride, but reading your thoughts about it makes me exited o test it! Seems to be epic.

Great thing about Macan is the towing capability with electric deployable tow hook (at least on EU models).

I have owned a couple of 911 before and can miss it from time to time. A GT3 Touring would be a nice addition. One day maybe...

 

[daveo4EV]

Love the BSG reference!
(The original series premiered when I was of a highly impressionable age. Years later, I realized how utterly absurd that show had been, but even more years later, I was more sensibly impressed by a few episodes I watched of the reimagined series, although seems like it became mystically silly after awhile.)

I'm confused though by how the vastly improved tech/software of the Macan isn't also applied to the new Taycan.
Do you think the underlying platforms are just too different to slap all that Macan tech/software onto the Taycan?
Based on my MY22 A6ar and 4CT, I'm already puzzled enough at how VAG doesn't seem to take advantage of economies of scale for such aspects of their vehicles. (Only the tense female voice seems to be a common element!)
Granted, wouldn't want to end up like Stellantis where a Maserati shares user-facing parts with Dodge.
But reinventing the wheel for the Macan tech/software yet not allowing the more expensive Taycan to benefit...

speaking to the differences between Macan and Taycan tech - I'd suggest there are a number of issues:

• different development cycles - Macan was supposed to debut in 2022
• different development teams - you can "see" Porsche's org chart in their car software if you sample enough different cars - it takes awhile to cross-pollinate tech between internal organization
  • just look at how long it's taken to get a common "steering wheel" in their entire line up
• strategic isolation - don't "adopt" another model's stuff until it's proven
• complexity mitigation
• different hardware/supply chain requirements with different lead times
• internal bickering
• different market goals and allocation of resources
• different design leads - designers never like other designers work and strive to be unique/different - adopting some other designer's "look/feel" isn't what they do unless there is a strong leadership to be cohesive coming from an overall design leader

 

[Jonathan S.]

^ Interesting, thanks. (Sure is frustrating though that the more-expensive Taycan is inferior to the less-expensive Macan for tech/software that in theory it should be able to equal.)

 

[XLR82XS]

Was also interested in trying out the Burmester stereo so spent some time with that using my own music via both the built in Spotify and via CarPlay. To my big surprise, the BOSE in my Taycan sounds better than the Burmester in the Macan and I fiddled around with every EQ/surround/linear setting available. Weird. Maybe the system was not bedded in enough.

Bedding is not the case. Bose IS better in Taycan. The Burmester in a Macan was not nearly as good as Burmester I had in a Panamera Turbo and Taycan.

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