First Drive: Is the new Porsche Macan GTS Electric the pick of the range?

What is it?

Throughout its range of cars, Porsche’s ‘GTS’ models have come to represent a ‘sweet spot’ in their respective line-ups. From 911 through to Cayenne, the GTS badge has brought all of the performance that you’d expect from a Porsche, but with an even more involving driving experience than you’d get from a range-topping Turbo.

Now, it’s the turn of the latest Macan Electric. With a series of changes, the Macan GTS Electric could be the pick of the bunch from Porsche’s latest EV. Is that the case, though? We’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

The GTS gets a similar mechanical setup to the range-topping Turbo, but is differentiated from that model in a few key areas. Naturally, you’ve got GTS badging, while inside there’s plenty of Porsche’s sporty Race-Tex material used throughout. All versions get sports air suspension with height adjustment, with a 10mm drop for GTS models over other Macans in the range. Importantly, the GTS is one of the first Macans to get a realistic ‘engine’ sound inside, too, designed to mimic one of Porsche’s famous flat-sixes.

At £89,000, the GTS sits bang in the middle of the Macan range price-wise, too, and a considerable amount under the £97,500 tip-top Turbo model.

What’s under the bonnet?

As we’ve touched upon, you get a similar mechanical layout in the GTS as you do in the Turbo. That means twin electric motors – one at front and rear – which combined to bring 563bhp with full overboost engaged. With an impressive 955Nm of torque, that means a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds – only slightly off the three seconds it’ll take to do the same sprint in the Turbo.

Range-wise, Porsche claims that the GTS will return up to 363 miles between charge-ups, while a maximum charge speed of 270kW means that you can take the Macan’s battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 21 minutes when you’re hooked up to a suitably rapid station.

What’s it like to drive?

As is often the case with Porsche cars, the Macan GTS delivers a driving experience that is solid, refined and driver-focused. Against rivals in the market, the GTS feels exceptionally poised and planted through corners, even during our snow-covered sections of test route in France. With all-wheel-drive traction, the Macan tracks pleasantly through bends and when you’re up to speed, it’s all very quiet and comfortable, too.

The performance on offer makes you wonder why you’d really need a Turbo model, too. The acceleration of the GTS is immediate and, at times, violent. It’s coupled with one of the best sound generators, too, which adds a genuine level of involvement and near combustion-like character. You can switch it off via the car’s drive modes and, when you do, you’re left with a quiet EV – but we ended up preferring it switched on.

How does it look?

To our eyes, the latest Macan Electric looks good, with subtle Porsche touches combining with your typical upright SUV stance on the road. The GTS introduces some subtle tweaks here and there, including a slightly reprofiled rear spoiler, 21-inch Macan Design wheels finished in grey and slightly tinted LED Matrix headlights for a stealthier appearance.

Open the door and you’ve got the GTS logos on the kickplates, too. Against other GTS cars in the Porsche range, it’s by far the most subtle and it might’ve been nice for a little extra differentiation between this car and the rest of the Macna line-up.

What’s it like inside?

The interior of the GTS is much the same as any other Macan model, other than the lashings of Race-Tex material and a smattering of model-specific logos. It’s all finished very nicely – as it should be, for nearly £90,000 – and there’s a sense that everything has been well-thought-out in terms of location. The series of haptic buttons for the heating and ventilation, for instance, are easy to use and much simpler than a screen-only alternative.

Space in the back is decent enough too, despite the Macan’s sloping roofline. At 480 litres, the boot space in the GTS isn’t bad, but is less than the full 540 litres that you’ll get from a standard model due to the dual-motor setup.

What’s the spec like?

As mentioned, prices for the GTS start from £89,000, making it cheaper than the Turbo even though it gets a similar level of equipment. The primary screen is quick and easy to operate, and at 10.9 inches is more than large enough to display everything clearly. You can also access a gaming service on this screen, providing extra entertainment when you’ve stopped to charge. There’s the option to use a typical gaming controller for this, too, which is quite a neat trick.

The GTS also gets a dedicated Track Endurance mode which can help to keep the car’s battery cooled and working at its most efficient, even when you’re on circuit. That said, we can’t see all too many Macan Electric owners taking to the track with their cars.

Verdict

The Macan GTS Electric sets itself out as one of the most dynamic cars in its class. With great road-holding ability, exciting performance and a decent amount of range, it really brings a rounded experience that delivers a little bit of something for everyone.

Traditionally, Porsche’s GTS was the pick of the bunch due to their superior dynamics. While the Macan GTS certainly does well in this area, we believe that it’s the best selection from the current Macan line-up due to its price, range and good equipment levels.