New Porsche Macan EV arrives with $30,000 price hike as petrol version gets the axe

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The Macan medium SUV has long been Porsche’s best-seller in Australia and globally, but a bold shift to an electric-only new generation threatens its position.

The luxury SUV has just launched here in Macan 4 and Macan Turbo grades, costing $134,400 and $184,400 (plus on-roads) respectively. An entry-level Macan RWD ($128,400) and Macan 4S ($149,300) join the lineup early in 2025.

Last year the Macan made up roughly half of all Porsche sales (it outsold the 911 by more than five-to-one), helped by it being the most affordable model in the German brand’s line-up by some margin.

No longer. The outgoing Macan 2.0L petrol costs from $95,100, but price of entry for the new Macan EV is over $30,000 higher. Common sense and market trends suggest this less attainable price and luxury EV sales slowdowns will present a challenging sales environment for the new car.

Porsche’s Taycan – its other electric-only model – has suffered a 50 per cent drop-off in sales globally in the first nine months of 2024. Over the same period in Australia, sales are down 37 per cent.

Positive thinking

Vice president of the Macan product line, Joerg Kerner, told Australian media: “At every point we are much better than the combustion car,” he said of the new Macan EV.

“I think it will be a best-seller because I think it’s the best car and the sportiest car in this segment,” he continued.

The higher price is a key area where the new EV trails the combustion Macan, but Porsche spokespeople in Germany insisted a cheaper, smaller-battery Macan was not on the cards to reduce costs.

Every Macan EV features very large (and heavy) 100kWh battery packs. This translates to impressive driving range. The RWD version boasts 654km between charges, while even the higher energy consuming Turbo offers 616km.

Thanks to 800-volt architecture and charging capacity up to 270kW, charging speeds also impress. In ideal ultra-rapid DC charging conditions, the battery goes from 10-80 percent in 21 minutes, adding roughly 100km range every four minutes.

“You cannot compare the entry-level (Macan EV) with the entry combustion model,” said Ben Weinberger, Porsche spokesman for Macan and Cayenne. “In terms of technology and performance, that’s a whole different level,” he said in response to the higher pricing.

Could the petrol-powered Macan live on?

Last month, there were reports Porsche CFO Lutz Meschke told investors combustion-engine Macans (and soon-to-be EV-only 718 Cayman/Boxster models) could potentially continue longer than previously considered, even with their EV-only platform modified to suit internal combustion powertrains.

With the same question posed to Mr Weinberger, he debunked the latter point. “In the Macan, at the moment, it’s not possible and not planned,” he said. “It’s not, let’s say, possible especially with this car. This was developed as an electric car from scratch.”

He highlighted the larger Cayenne SUV remained a combustion alternative, showing that Porsche continued to offer a variety of vehicles in combustion, hybrid and pure electric forms.

But when exactly will internal combustion Macan production dry up? Australians can no longer order petrol Macans, and must rely on current dealer stock if they want to get hold of one.

But things are different overseas. Asked when piston-powered Macans would stop rolling off the production line, Mr Weinberger stated: “We are kind of flexible depending on customer demands, but we do not comment on exact timings.

“We have the flexibility in our Porsche plant in Leipzig where both (Macan) models are built, and we can build both versions.”

With luxury EV demand and sales currently enduring stormy seas, this hedging of bets between combustion and electric Macans looks a savvy move by Porsche. 

Exactly how much longer the combustion Macan production line stays open will be very interesting to watch, including whether the position will change for the Australian market.