If any automaker can afford to lean into electrification with a little extra weight it’s Porsche.
That’s true both literally and figuratively, with this premium brand proving itself as profitable as it is willing to push the envelope while others might prefer to play it safe. So while some have scaled back their electric vehicle (EV) plans in the face of shifting public sentiment, Porsche is continuing its quest at a pace befitting the brand itself. That’s at least in part why it’s worked so rapidly to roll out two new versions of the 2025 Porsche Macan Electric — a crossover the brand is betting big on.
Alongside a new entry-level version that trades traction for range is the 2025 Porsche Macan 4S Electric, which employs a second electric motor to generate considerably more output. Together, they double the number of this EV’s trims to four, although the big story is the unique flavours they bring to the lineup.
A Macan First
The very fundamentals of the 2025 Macan Electric are enough to make it stand out not just amongst the four (and counting) emissions-free versions, but in the nameplate’s entire 10-year history. That’s because it’s the first rear-wheel-drive Macan to ever hit the market, with a single electric motor in the back providing propulsion.
That motor is the same one used in the all-wheel-drive Macan 4 Electric introduced earlier this year, and it generates 335 hp on its own. While that number might not seem like much in an era of high-output EVs, it’s more than adequate considering this one’s mission to make it farther on a full charge.
On that note, the entry-level Macan Electric uses the same 100-kWh battery pack as the others; and while official range estimates weren’t available at the time of writing, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Macan 4 Electric can travel as far as 496 km. That means this rear-wheel-drive version should handily eclipse the elusive 500-km mark. Meanwhile, every model can reach charging speeds as fast as 270 kW when hooked up to a DC fast-charger, with the benchmark jump from 10 to 80 per cent taking a claimed 21 minutes in ideal conditions.
Relative Weight Reduction
But back to performance. Like any EV, the big battery pack mounted beneath the floor means more weight than a similarly sized conventional vehicle. In the case of the Macan Electric, it tips the scales at 2,270 kg (5,004 lb) compared to 1,883 kg (4,151 lb) for the gas-powered Macan’s cheapest — and lightest — trim. But then the single-motor version weighs 120 kg (265 lb) less than the Macan 4S Electric that’s launching alongside it and it shows.
Shedding that much mass from the front end has a way of making the Macan Electric feel like a much sharper machine. Turn-in response is exceptional, and while the version tested here was also equipped with rear-axle steering that made it even more precise when cornering, the relative weight reduction is the real star of the show. Rather than the characteristic bulk that comes with battery power, this Porsche is light and lithe, with the ability to corner in a way that feels more hot hatch than heavy EV.
Of course, it’s still an EV, which means the way it generates and delivers output is entirely different from a gas-powered vehicle. That’s also why its 335 hp is hardly something to scoff at, and it becomes even less so with launch control activated. That’s how to tap into 20 extra horsepower to go with 415 lb-ft of torque. For a bit of perspective, that’s nearly as much torque as the 2025 Porsche 911 T-Hybrid and its electrically-driven turbocharger spins up (449 lb-ft).
Macan 4S Electric
It’s also enough to hustle the Macan Electric to 100 km/h from a standing start in a claimed 5.7 seconds — somewhat sleepy compared to other EVs on the market, but again, it’s important to remember that quickness isn’t this crossover’s raison d’ȇtre. (Maybe sinn des lebens is a more appropriate turn of phrase.) Besides, those chasing bragging rights can always turn to the Macan 4S Electric, which has extra traction, output, and performance by comparison.
According to Porsche, the 4S version uses a more robust rear-mounted electric motor that has a diameter of 230 mm (compared to 210 mm), while the motor up front measures 210 mm — the same as the other all-wheel-drive variants. And while all of them — including the single-motor setup — run on an 800-volt architecture, this one has a 600-amp pulse inverter in the back compared to the base version’s 480-amp unit.
That’s the part that converts the battery’s direct current into the alternating current needed to turn the electric motors. The higher the amperage of the pulse inverter, the more efficient and effective it is. That’s how the Macan 4S Electric is able to generate 442 hp, a figure that increases to 509 hp and an impressive 605 lb-ft of torque with launch control. For the sake of comparison, the Macan 4 Electric makes 382 hp in normal driving conditions and 402 hp to go with 479 lb-ft of torque with launch control.
Expensive EVs
Porsche claims the Macan 4S Electric can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds. More than a quicker crossover, it’s also fitted with standard adaptive air suspension, while a torque-vectoring system that isn’t offered with the single-motor version is available along with rear-axle steering. Both upgrades were fitted to the one tested here, with the resulting performance impressive in its own way.
While not quite as nimble as the lighter rear-wheel-drive version that’s able to pivot more quickly when diving into corners, the 4S makes up for it with extra output that complements the optional rear-axle steering to rocket out of corners more quickly when pushed. It, too, manages to shed most of the perceived bulk of its big, heavy battery, which barely registers whether on a winding road or simply cruising around town.
That’s perhaps this crossover’s most impressive attribute, with a driving feel that’s much closer to that of a conventional model. However, there’s a hefty premium to pay for the way this one’s powered. The 2025 Porsche Macan Electric starts at $94,900 before options, freight, and taxes, compared to the $67,000 for the cheapest gas-powered trim. Then there’s the Macan 4S Electric that’s $106,900 — a more than $11,000 price hike compared to the GTS trim that sits atop the conventional lineup.
In fairness, the Macan Electric feels like a considerably more modern vehicle — mostly because it is. It’s also slightly more spacious, with the flat floor providing more passenger room to go with more cargo space (540 L versus 488 L). But there’s a serious cost increase that comes with opting for the electric version of this crossover.
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Final Thoughts
This being Porsche, there will no doubt be at least two more versions of the all-electric Macan (those being the GTS and Turbo S variants). And while they’ll each have their own merits, the entry-level model might just be the pick of the bunch. It isn’t just the range that’s appealing, either — it’s a delight to drive that makes up for its relative lack of output with impressively agile dynamics.
While others in the premium space are sure to follow, the 2025 Macan Electric is uniquely Porsche. It’s exactly the kind of crossover expected of this brand — it just so happens to be powered by electrons. While that specialness comes at a considerable cost, it’s surely worth every penny to those who’d rather not sacrifice fun on the road to an emissions-free future.
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