Porsche Macan GTS price update – Macan GTS or Cayenne S?

Our little Macan really goes wild. During our endurance test of the Porsche Macan GTS, two people asked us independently the same question: should I buy a Porsche Macan GTS or the new Cayenne S Electric? It’s a tough choice. Meanwhile, it’s finally raining again—and surprisingly, it’s quite enjoyable.

Powerslides in the Rain

What do we find? With the Macan GTS, you can enjoy some great drifting in the rain. Electric cars, especially electric SUVs with all-wheel drive, aren’t exactly known for their ability to perform impressive powerslides. Due to months of drought, we hadn’t really thought about it before. But when it finally rained last week and we took a sharper turn, the rear end suddenly spun nicely.

It’s not excessive, as PSM, Porsche’s electronic stability system, stepped in perfectly. Still, the system leaves quite a bit of room for maneuver. The rear end can move quite far before the electronics intervene. There are electric cars where you can’t turn off the stability system, but fortunately, Porsche doesn’t go that far with such interference.

There’s a physical button on the center console that allows you to disable PSM. And surprisingly, the GTS is easy to put into controlled drift mode. You can adjust power delivery smoothly using the throttle pedal. This sounds obvious, but with electric drivetrains, such precision isn’t always available. The enormous and instantly available torque sometimes makes it difficult to get the car to do exactly what you want.

The Macan GTS is different in this regard. The balance is excellent, the handling is precise, and the response to the gas pedal is highly predictable. As a result, drift isn’t only easy to initiate but also remarkably easy to maintain. It’s entertaining and especially well-suited to the Porsche brand.

A braking intervention that wasn’t necessary

Yet, we were also startled recently during our durability test with the Porsche Macan GTS. I was driving at a normal speed through an intersection. Along that intersection ran a bike path with two cyclists on it. Nothing unusual, you might think. But the Macan’s safety systems saw things differently.

Although there was even a green lane between the Porsche and the cyclists, the car apparently assumed a collision was imminent. As a result, it applied sudden, completely unexpected braking. The electronics misjudged the situation, and I was terrified.

Two things became clear to me afterward. First, it will still take some time before we can all drive from point A to point B fully autonomously. Second, even Porsche, with all its knowledge and experience, apparently cannot always get such systems to work flawlessly. After all, it wasn’t even a near-miss — there was simply nothing wrong. That’s exactly why that sudden braking was so remarkable.

Porsche Macan GTS endurance test: convincing even over long distances

Last week, we drove the Macan GTS to the Paris Motor Show. It was a great opportunity to experience once again how the Porsche performs over longer distances. Both on the way there and back, we stopped at a fast charger once. We used up about ten percent of the 100 kWh battery pack during that time.

The Macan GTS can charge rapidly at up to 270 kW and achieves this power level without much difficulty under the right conditions. It’s convenient that you can see on the central screen what charging capacity the car is capable of at that moment. As the battery pack drains further, its potential charging capacity increases. This way, you know better when it’s wise to stop for a charge.

What was also noticeable during the trip to Paris was how many fast charging stations are now available along the route. Fastned in particular can be seen more and more often. The days when you had to thoroughly prepare all charging stops for a long electric drive are long behind us.

Yet not everything is perfect. The Macan’s navigation system reacts quite slowly when you ignore a suggested charging stop. The Porsche clearly prefers safety by directing you to a fast charger as soon as the battery drops to about twenty percent.

But if you think you can still make it to the next charger, like I did, being a bit stubborn, the navigation keeps sending you back to the previously suggested charging location for quite some time. Instead of calculating a new route directly to the next charger. It could be smarter, especially in a car of this class.

Macan GTS or Cayenne S Electric?

We’ve been receiving quite a few questions lately about choosing a new car. Recently, a kind entrepreneur from Friesland called. He wanted to buy a Porsche SUV but was unsure between the Macan GTS and the new Cayenne.

What interesting questions. My neighbor always calls such dilemmas “champagne problems.” And she’s definitely right about that. But it remains an interesting choice that isn’t easy to make either.

I now know both cars quite well. The Cayenne is the newer of the two and impresses especially with its charging performance. With a suitable DC fast charger, it can reach up to 390 kW. The Macan GTS is limited to a maximum of 270 kW, though that doesn’t feel like a constraint on the road.

If you choose the Cayenne, I would recommend going for the S Electric at least. It has 666 horsepower thanks to Launch Control, compared to 571 horsepower in the Macan GTS. The electric Cayenne is such a good car that, in my opinion, it requires a substantial amount of power. Of course, this comes at a higher price. The Cayenne S Electric costs over 131,000 euros, while the Macan GTS starts at 110,600 euros. That’s a significant difference. Personally, I also find the Cayenne Coupé more stylish than the regular Cayenne, but that’s a matter of taste.

My choice remains the Macan GTS

Which of the two would I end up buying myself? The Macan GTS. Not because the Cayenne falls short, on the contrary. But because I’m still deeply impressed by the Macan’s dynamic character.

The way it handles winding roads, the precision of its steering, and especially the sense of engagement you feel as a driver make it special. You’re not just driving a fast electric SUV— the Macan GTS truly invites you to drive and even put in some effort.

The Cayenne is larger, heavier, and more modern in several aspects. It certainly has an advantage when it comes to fast charging. But the Macan feels a bit lighter and more direct. And that’s exactly what decides it for me.

Ah, as my neighbor would say: champagne problems. But very pleasant ones at that.

Text by Werner Budding