I won't be buying another car without a plug, and I'm actually happy that Porsche will no longer make ICE-only Macans after 2026 because it means that Porsche will put more effort and resources into their EVs and be less splintered. (I do wish that they'd come out with a Macan E-Hybrid to match the Cayenne and Panamera E-Hybrids that seem to be on the production plans til at least 2030.) I've been debating getting our fourth PHEV (either a used 2021-2023 Cayenne E-Hybrid or a special-order 2025 Cayenne E-Hybrid or a special-order 2024/2025 Mercedes GLE 450e) vs. getting our first BEV (either a 2021-2023 Taycan CT4 or a special-order 2025 Macan 4). As such, I've spent a lot of time comparing features and stats and debating them in my mind with the aid of pros-and-cons spreadsheets.
The Macan 4 looks impressive to me, and I like (1) the upgraded 800-volt system (with built-in capability to handle "lesser" DC-fast-charging stations) and the ability to charge faster; (2) the larger battery pack and going well over 300 miles of range on a full charge at 70 mph; (3) the reverting to physical toggle switches for climate controls (as have the new Cayennes and Panameras, going away from the haptic-touch controls of the last few years); (4) ACC and heated steering wheel and ambient lighting and apparently PDLS are now standard; (5) keeping the new drive-mode shifter on the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel and making much more space in the center console (all Porsches appear to be going in this direction for MY 2025).
Things that I don't like in the Macan 4 that differ from getting a new Cayenne E-Hybrid: (1) glass roof is standard (I hate them); (2) no option for an infrared camera; (3) probably no dual sun visors on each side in the front; (4) air suspension standard (something that can and will break eventually, and be very costly outside of warranty); (5) frameless doors (glass exposed when doors are open); (6) poorer color selection; (7) less practical for long road trips (due to current poor public-charging infrastructure).
Where the Macan 4 excels for me over the Cayenne E-Hybrid is that I would spec it much cheaper (by about $20k), not having to worry about catalytic converter theft, not having to go as often (and pay as much) for routine maintenance (Porsche suggests once every 2 years for its BEVs), long-term cost to fuel it would probably be much less, and not going to gas stations at all. The Macan 4 would probably be more fun to drive and dynamically superior in stability at high speeds and in curves than the Cayenne E-Hybrid. And I personally have gotten beyond liking the sounds of any ICE and its exhaust system and the awkward showing of any tail pipes (from behind) on any PHEV.
The big fail for me on the Macan 4 is in its exterior appearance; it looks horrible. I wish that Porsche had tried harder to keep the ICE Macan look on the exterior. The rear of the Macan 4 is especially bad-looking, and I'm confused as to why they made a rear wiper optional (not like having a rear wiper would hurt the horrendous bad rear-end looks!). The separated headlights on the front end (well below and separated from the running lights) on the Macan 4 are also not a good look to me.
I don't like the start/stop button and still prefer to have a slot to insert a key fob and turn it; I don't like keeping a key fob in my pocket while driving and want a place to keep it while driving (and having to insert it and remove it when getting in and leaving). But all Porsches have gone in this direction. Having the recent-years design with a fake-key-insert that you turn to start the ICE was the worst of all, as potential thieves might think you left the key in your car.
Taycan CT4 vs. Macan 4: the new MY2025 Taycans are just too expensive, with corresponding rapid drops in depreciation that are insane. I've looked extensively at used, CPO-warranty 2021-2023 CT4 cars lately, but other owners and dealerships just don't spec them the way that I would, and the battery packs are noticeably smaller than the MY2025 Taycans (with MUCH less range on a full charge). I prefer the exterior Taycan looks to the Macan 4 by a long shot, but the haptic climate controls are a problem. The MY2025 Taycans will have a standard powered charge-port door, which I think is a huge mistake (as many Taycan owners have had problems when their powered charge-port door wouldn't open when they needed to open it), and the Macan 4 comes with manual charge-port door standard. The front doors in the Taycan are also not easy to get into if you have any health issues with hips or knees or backs, either; I am guessing that the Macan 4 doors will be better in that regard.
The worry with buying any BEV now is the rapidly improving tech -- both the warts and recalls with the early-adopter cars and the fact that all these current BEVs will plummet in value as soon as solid-state batteries come on the market in cars (which is likely to happen sometime in the next 3-6 years from what I read); it'll be like a flip cellphone without internet access going to the iPhone -- but in terms of charging speed, range, and safety. For that reason, once I go "full BEV", I'm committing myself to keeping that first BEV for a number of years and not worrying about depreciation.
