Porsche's first fully electric model was Porsche Taycan presented in 2019, the Macan model came in 2014. Originally, the Macan was available with different petrol engines, but now you can choose the Porsche Macan that runs on electricity. The Macan 4 is the first existing Porsche model that originally only came in a petrol version but is now also available as an electric version. My and others' theory why they are now releasing an electric version of an existing model is because they want to feel out the market before doing the same with Panamera, Cayenne and finally 911. The Macan is Porsche's slightly smaller SUV under its sibling Cayenne. So spontaneously it feels like the Macan is more suitable for those who live in the city or do not have a whole family to fit in. Then an electric version fits very well, I think. Even though the Macan is a smaller SUV than its larger sibling, the Cayenne, it is by no means small. You have plenty of space both in the front, back and in the rear boot. 

I pick up the car at the Porsche centre in Smista south of Stockholm where journalists pick up Porsche's Swedish press cars. My time with the Porsche Macan 4 would start with a weekend in Gothenburg. So the journey started directly down to Gothenburg. Just as I already stated in my article about Audi Q8 e-tron Dakar my driving style is not fully compatible for longer journeys with larger electric cars and this is also the case with the Macan 4. To get the most out of an electric car if it's a bit bigger, you have to get used to not being in such a hurry in life. With a larger electric car, it is advantageous to keep a lower speed than the prevailing one and a bonus is if you choose to be behind a truck that contributes to lower air resistance. Not something I see as something you associate with the Porsche brand. If it is also cold and you intend to drive a long way, just realise that you will have to plan several stops to recharge. However, I must admit that the Macan 4 is better than the Audi Q8 e-tron Dakar and you get further on a full charge thanks to regular tyres and the fact that the Macan 4 does not have a roof rack mounted. So the journey down to Gothenburg was still relatively smooth and painless.

In terms of shape, Porsche has really succeeded as you can easily see that it is a Porsche no matter what model it is. The Macan 4 is no exception and you immediately recognise the shapes, both exterior and interior. The car I borrowed is in a bright orange colour called Papaya Metallic. If the car is clean, it looks very nice. Eriksberg crane in Gothenburg and on the Hissings side are also orange. So that's where the photography had to be, I decided. From the beginning the plan was to take the pictures up on Ramberget where I photographed a Range Rover P530. Then with Ola Serneke and Gothenburg's new skyscraper Karlatornet in the background, which was not yet built. When I arrived at Ramberget, I discovered that the road you drive up the mountain was closed off with a gate you could not open. So the pictures of the Range Rover were the last I took up there. 

The Porsche Macan 4 shares a platform with the Audi Q6 e-tron, a platform called PPE. As a power source we find an 800-volt system. The system has a permanent synchro motor at the front and rear. These are the same motors in the Macan. In the Macan Turbon, which I have not yet driven but will of course, there is more power for the rear motor. Of the 100 gross kilowatt hours, 95 are available. In 21 minutes, you can charge from ten to eighty per cent if everything works properly. Unfortunately, they do so very rarely for various reasons that are not on the car but the charging station. One positive detail is that the Macan 4 has energy recovery. It can be used to advantage when the car is driven downhill and recover electricity that can then be used. According to WLTP, the range of the Porsche Macan 4 should be 61.3 miles. As you probably already know, air resistance is an enemy of range. The Porsche Macan 4 has made the best of the situation with an almost completely smooth underside. Thanks to tear-offs, air is released more effectively from the rear of the car. 

But the Porsche Macan 4 is a fun car to drive and also to ride in. If you have a passenger next to you, they can enjoy themselves with their own screen in front of them. This is where you can get navigation and other settings. The driver cannot see the screen as it has a surface treatment that means it can only be seen if you look straight at it. But one idea, which may come later, is to be able to connect another phone and be able to stream films on that screen for the passenger if they have headphones so the driver is not disturbed.

Like all Porsche models, the Macan 4 is a car you experience from the driver's seat. It has extremely fine steering as Porsche cars always have. Thanks to the 50-50 weight distribution on the Macan 4. However, the Turbo has 48-52 which will be exciting to see if it feels any difference. Like most electric cars, the 0 to 100 kilometres per hour sprint is fast. Nothing surprising in a Porsche. In the Macan 4, the time it takes to get to 100 kilometres per hour is completed in 5.2 seconds. If you want to see how fast you can drive in a Macan 4, I can unfortunately disappoint you as the top speed is limited to 220 kilometres per hour. Nothing you need in Sweden anyway. 

The overall impression of the Porsche Macan 4 is good which is absolutely not surprising when it is a Porsche after all. I can admit that long-distance travelling may not be the Macan 4's forte. But it is almost never in a slightly larger electric car. For shorter journeys, however, the Macan 4 is a very pleasant car to live with. The days I had it flowed extremely well and it was a bit sad to return the car a week later. But let me come back when I test drove the sibling with Turbo as the last name in the model designation. 

Porsche Macan 4

Price: From 980 000 SEK (basic price).

Motor: Electric. Battery 100 kWh of which 95 kWh usable. Charging power AC/DC 11 kW/270 kW. Heat pump.

Transmission: Front and rear engines, four-wheel drive.

Power: 408 hp (300 kW), 650 Nm.

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h: 5.2 seconds

Top speed: Limited to 220 km/h.  

WLTP range: 613 km

Luggage volume: 631 litres

Dimensions: length 4780 mm, width 1940 mm, height 1620 mm

Weight: 2 405 kg

Web: www.porsche.com