Back to Taycan CT from Panamera & Macan EV

[SergeyIndy]

^ Excellent feedback @DES_MX.

- I also experienced the cheapness of the interior, but did not go there as other people test drove the 3 examples that I did, and some of the trim was scratched and dinged up.

- Do not start me on the Bose in Macan EV, as I was hammered by comments that it needs to "break in" to sound better. It sounded horrible, flat, and cheap and no settings would help it. However, perfectly new Taycans with Bose sounded amazing, so I am not buying the breaking in nonsense, it is just the cheapest thing Bose could make for it. Also, there are reports at scale that Bose just stops putting sound out, and needs to be hard reset but disconnecting a connector in the trunk.

- Driving was not great either as I am comparing it to our Macan GTS as Macan EV is supposed to be a replacement. Macan GTS is truly the sportiest SUV and the quality is off the charts. So, when I got into Macan EV, the first impression is exactly, you are in entire class quality below.

Are you getting the 2025 Taycan CT or still on the fence? I drove a RWD 2025 and it was just pure joy, revised air suspension, more power from the rear, even base interior was super nice, Bose sounded great - basically you do not want to leave the car. Dealer had a new 4S, take it out for however long you want, and I said, I am blown away already by the RWD, I do not want to test my senses in the new 4S to compare to my all out J1.1 Turbo.

Sponsored

 

[W1NGE]

Interesting feedback, I've driven my Macan4 in Amsterdam for about 2600km since September 2024 (travelling a lot and mainly driven my 2025 Panamera in Dubai). Have to say if comparing to the old Taycan and the Panamera - the Macan feels made of cheap plastic. While I haven't experienced full list of issues, here are some major ones:

- Bose speakers in Macan are way worse comapred to my 2025 Panamera., can't compare to old Taycan as it had full custom audio setup. In the Panamera (and old Taycan) I feel like sitting in a premium interior. In Macan I feel like sitting in a Q6 e-tron (test drove one recently) with base trim.

- Materials... door padding (below the arm rest) are made of thin plastic film, I grabbed it slightly with my watch by accident and it immedeately ripped a hole - seriously worse than KIA (and Kia isn't a bad brand lol). Maybe full leather fixes this, but the base one is horrible

- Doors indeed don't close. All 4! Not like 1 door, all of them. I have to slam them like on an old Opel for them to actually be shut. My 3.5 year old has better success than me, since he kinda slams everything at this age.

- Macan4 is relatively slow to accelerate. Its advertized as 408HP 650NM (so 150 NM more than my old Taycan4 and my 2025 Panamera), but in reality it takes forever to even reach 100kmh. All my Porsches accelerate 0.2-0.3 faster than factory speficiation. i.e. 2023 Taycan4 did 4.9 - 4.95 vs 5.1 and the Panamera is good 0.4 faster than factory spec since it hits consistently 0.7G on G-meter, and Macan 4 barely hits 0.64G. I think it just matches factory spec at 5.1-5.2

The good things are - its still the best SUV I actually drove still from the agility and stability on the road perspective, yet its playful and you can easily drift it without even disabling assists. HOWEVER - its far from what the 2023 Taycan4 could do - I remember just sending it into corners on highway exits or roundabouts, and it was a pure joy. Surely the 2025 model will be more of that.

Sound Plus in Macan ICE is significantly better than Bose in Macan EV - simply poor!

Cheap plastics too.

Doors, astonishing to think its a problem but it is - in think all were made on a Friday.

Manual charge port cover - disgraceful IMHO.

 

[SergeyIndy]

Sound Plus in Macan ICE is significantly better than Bose in Macan EV - simply poor!

Cheap plastics too.

Doors, astonishing to think its a problem but it is - in think all were made on a Friday.

Manual charge port cover - disgraceful IMHO.

This is one I drove with a common problem manual charging flap sticking out, as if it was made for another car or it is from another car.

Compare this to a much more curved body of Macan GTS, pure perfection:

 

[senwar]

I have a Macan 4S EV this weekend and won't be surrendering my Taycan GTS any time soon. Two entirely different propositions but I found the Macan disappointing if I'm honest and had expected more. Consumption was disappointing 2.5 mi/kWh and if it weren't for the bigger battery there would be little range advantage.

Interesting to read - was thinking of trying similar as I did originally put a deposit down about 3yrs ago but cancelled when I got my CT4 in Nov 23. I do feel like I need a bigger 4x4 but am not a huge fan of the Macan EV but thought I'd try.

When I had my car in at the dealership a few weeks back, we went out in a road test in mine (had a rattle) and the tech said how much he loved the GTS and also how the Macan was not seen as a premium car. Was very critical of the materials used as well to save cost.

Think I'll skip. To be fair, I'd struggle to get anything better than what I have, it really is just SO good

 

[W1NGE]

Interesting to read - was thinking of trying similar as I did originally put a deposit down about 3yrs ago but cancelled when I got my CT4 in Nov 23. I do feel like I need a bigger 4x4 but am not a huge fan of the Macan EV but thought I'd try.

When I had my car in at the dealership a few weeks back, we went out in a road test in mine (had a rattle) and the tech said how much he loved the GTS and also how the Macan was not seen as a premium car. Was very critical of the materials used as well to save cost.

Think I'll skip. To be fair, I'd struggle to get anything better than what I have, it really is just SO good

New J1.2. GTS at 30K off list would be the only option...

 

[Voltaire]

(headlights do not swivel when turning) - are you kidding me!

The matrix headlights on US-spec J1.2 Taycans don't swivel either. At least the standard matrix - I don't have the HD matrix lights.

 

[DES_MX]

The matrix headlights on US-spec J1.2 Taycans don't swivel either. At least the standard matrix - I don't have the HD matrix lights.

Just to get this right - the EU one’s standard Matrix ones (not the HD upgrade) have auto high beam and can disable/focus up to 13 zones on the highway right?

Not much interested in swivel just auto high beams and disabling them partially for oncoming traffic

 

[DES_MX]

Just saw similar spec CT refresh parked on my weekend trip to Norway. On pics the new grille and lack of “tears” seemed not as good as the original Taycan, but in real life the refresh is so amazing. Also same rims as in my spec - the Turbo S Aero style 20”s. What a car! Placed the order. Can’t wait

 

[SergeyIndy]

The matrix headlights on US-spec J1.2 Taycans don't swivel either. At least the standard matrix - I don't have the HD matrix lights.

My comparison was to ICE Macan GTS where they do swivel when equipped with PDLS. Macan EV drivers reported that they cannot see into the corner at speed, since the lights do not swivel.

However, I was sure expecting them to swivel on the Taycan as long as the they are designated as PDLS but now have to dig into it further for both J1.1 and J1.2. J1.2 HD-Matrix lights on the configurator do not call out swivel function, but this may be due to a wider dynamic beam as replacement. Will dig into tech spec docs to find out.

 

[Voltaire]

sure expecting them to swivel on the Taycan as long as the they are designated as PDLS

It looks like the configurator has been updated since the last time I looked at it. It now lists PDLS and dynamic cornering lights as features of the HD-matrix headlights. Maybe someone with a J1.2 and HD matrix can confirm, but it looks like those lights will indeed swivel (I know they don't actually move).

This makes me wonder about retofit options, but so far my dealer has not known the answer to this question.

 

[SergeyIndy]

It looks like the configurator has been updated since the last time I looked at it. It now lists PDLS and dynamic cornering lights as features of the HD-matrix headlights. Maybe someone with a J1.2 and HD matrix can confirm, but it looks like those lights will indeed swivel (I know they don't actually move).

This makes me wonder about retofit options, but so far my dealer has not known the answer to this question.

I was not able to 100% confirm what's going on as information is not precise.

The issue is that Porsche PDLS option by design includes Static and Dynamic features, and it is 100% clear as you spec other models such as ICE Macan. I have Macan GTS with PDLS and the headlights physically swivel as well as level - so you see them moving, no question. PDLS+ simply means Auto High Beam, but if the headlights swivel then High Beam also swivels.

However, for Taycan, it is not very clear what's going on. The best I could figure out is that:

J1.1: Standard LED does not have PDLS but Matrix LED do have PDLS and should level and swivel.
J1.2: Standard now Matrix LED does not have PDLS but HD Matrix do have PDLS with level and swivel. Auto High Beam is standard on both.

 

[DES_MX]

I was not able to 100% confirm what's going on as information is not precise.

The issue is that Porsche PDLS option by design includes Static and Dynamic features, and it is 100% clear as you spec other models such as ICE Macan. I have Macan GTS with PDLS and the headlights physically swivel as well as level - so you see them moving, no question. PDLS+ simply means Auto High Beam, but if the headlights swivel then High Beam also swivels.

However, for Taycan, it is not very clear what's going on. The best I could figure out is that:

J1.1: Standard LED does not have PDLS but Matrix LED do have PDLS and should level and swivel.
J1.2: Standard now Matrix LED does not have PDLS but HD Matrix do have PDLS with level and swivel. Auto High Beam is standard on both.

Thank you for checking! In any event it looks like the matrix functionality is there and auto high beam (otherwise why matrix right?) so that should be plenty enough! As a side note - I can confirm also that Macan EV standard lights don’t swivel

Sponsored