R2 compared to Macan EV, Cayenne EV, Gravity - my review

[California Gold]

As someone with a household that's about to have an R2 pretty soon, has a Gravity and is going to be getting Cayenne Electric Turbo early next year (waiting on the 2027 model) to replace that Gravity I know where you're coming from.

I haven't test driven or seen the Cayenne Electric yet but they should be coming to US dealerships here in the next 2-3 weeks from the port so I'm excited to test drive and get a feel for one. A lot of promising reviews so far with it.

The R2 is a great every day car and seems like a solid contender for a road trip car.

I do disagree with your take about the Gravity in regards to comfort/suspension but I wouldn't be surprised if the one you drove was as bad as you say it was. I can't say that I have that issue with mine, my qualms like most Gravity owners starts and ends with the software. The drive is great, I've taken several road trips but I can't depend on a car that literally has software issues to the point where I can't drive it because of system fault errors. I've grown tired of it, and I was a big Lucid person (I have the Air currently and am selling that off as well because in 3 years they haven't made much progress on the software front albeit it's been much more stable compared to the Gravity). The key fob inconsistencies and the overall aspect of not having Apple Car Key on my phone is also kind of crazy for the Gravity not to have so all in all I wouldn't recommend it but it looks like you've already ruled it out.

If it's between the R2 and the Cayenne Electric, they're two diff cars. Even though I haven't driven the Electric version yet I have driven a Cayenne. It's much sportier and all the driving dynamics are tailor made for an enthusiast driver that the R2 doesn't really come close to hitting. But we're talking about a car with options that you'd likely be able to buy 3 R2's with so it's an apples or oranges comparison. If you're looking for a simple all around every day drive go for the R2. If you're looking for a luxurious, sporty, fun ride without much compromise (except for price of course) go with the Cayenne Electric.

I did test drive the R1S Gen2 Quad Max but I was left pretty unimpressed with the whole package for what the price tag was. But that was just me.

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[JWreck]

As a multi-Porsche-vehicle owner, please buy the Cayenne so 1) Porsche survives and 2) I can buy it from you at 70% off in 3 years. TYVM

 

[3dogfl]

Besides the R2, the only other real interest for me is the iX5.

 

[rogunenode]

The Macan EV is another one with great suspension and steering, but in my opinion, it feels like a hot hatch with zero storage and functionality. I had it as a loaner for a week and ended up using it more like a sports car than a family cruiser.

I'm test driving a used Macan 4S ev later today. Your take is a plus for me. Used comes out about the price of an ix3. Any other pro's or con's in your week with it? I have a feeling I won't like the low regen. We'll see.

 

[Ps702]

I'm in a similar space. I've been comparing a new R2 against a used Audi GT or Porche Taycan or possible a new (leased) Lucid Air Touring. I'm not at all sure about the longevity of Lucid as a company, so I wouldn't touch it as an outright purchase. The Audi/Porche platform feels nice, but there's no way I can justify it as a new purchase. As a 3-4 year old used car with the massive depreciation, perhaps. But these are all hitting different use cases, and I'm aware of that. For me, 95% of the time is going to be highway driving, so the off-roading capabilities of the R2 are wasted. OTOH, entering retirement, I can say I've enjoyed getting out on the slick rock in the past. I can see it as a possible future.
To be frank, there's no one vehicle that's the best for all eventualities. I need to look at what I'm going to want to do the majority of the time and what will give me the most flexibility. Currently, the R2 is right up at the top of the list for me.

I get flack for this, but I don't think Etron GT/Taycan are daily drivers.

They have all the compromises of a sports car:
The B pillar, ingress/egress, tight interior, lack of room to stow anything, long front hang, low front (going up driveways at angle & constantly lifting the front) lack of rear seating room, useless sun visor and the dreaded ticket booth scenario

As someone with a household that's about to have an R2 pretty soon, has a Gravity and is going to be getting Cayenne Electric Turbo early next year (waiting on the 2027 model) to replace that Gravity I know where you're coming from.

I haven't test driven or seen the Cayenne Electric yet but they should be coming to US dealerships here in the next 2-3 weeks from the port so I'm excited to test drive and get a feel for one. A lot of promising reviews so far with it.

The R2 is a great every day car and seems like a solid contender for a road trip car.

I do disagree with your take about the Gravity in regards to comfort/suspension but I wouldn't be surprised if the one you drove was as bad as you say it was. I can't say that I have that issue with mine, my qualms like most Gravity owners starts and ends with the software. The drive is great, I've taken several road trips but I can't depend on a car that literally has software issues to the point where I can't drive it because of system fault errors. I've grown tired of it, and I was a big Lucid person (I have the Air currently and am selling that off as well because in 3 years they haven't made much progress on the software front albeit it's been much more stable compared to the Gravity). The key fob inconsistencies and the overall aspect of not having Apple Car Key on my phone is also kind of crazy for the Gravity not to have so all in all I wouldn't recommend it but it looks like you've already ruled it out.

If it's between the R2 and the Cayenne Electric, they're two diff cars. Even though I haven't driven the Electric version yet I have driven a Cayenne. It's much sportier and all the driving dynamics are tailor made for an enthusiast driver that the R2 doesn't really come close to hitting. But we're talking about a car with options that you'd likely be able to buy 3 R2's with so it's an apples or oranges comparison. If you're looking for a simple all around every day drive go for the R2. If you're looking for a luxurious, sporty, fun ride without much compromise (except for price of course) go with the Cayenne Electric.

I did test drive the R1S Gen2 Quad Max but I was left pretty unimpressed with the whole package for what the price tag was. But that was just me.

Road trips are maybe a few times a year for me. Highway driving is one thing, then you have the garbage roads in Los Angeles.
Side to side movement from poor road conditions is what I used the Gravity on. It could have been the bigger wheel option, but it was more movement than I was expecting with the Dynamic suspension option.
EVs really need proper suspension development due to their weight.

I was with an in depth interview with Porsche NA for the Cayenne Electric, not the Coupe.
Drove it in multiple scenarios, full interior use case.
Its one of the best SUVs ive driven and definitely the best riding EV, even though it lost a point for not having Porsche Active Ride. 1100hp is overkill for an SUV, for a car give me 2000hp.

Porsche is going back to the drawing board for NA on the interior storage space. It has no room in the doors and even worse the center console. Its so bad they already are designing a new center console.
After showing me the new prototype console, it was still not useful. They showed me photos of cars of center consoles that I preferred. It could tell it was Tesla, MB, Rivian. I chose Rivian.

Cayenne console is beautiful but useless. Side door is just a thermos or bottle holder. So there a huge compromises for the high price.

IMO no one can touch Porsche in suspension and driving dynamics

 

[JWreck]

I get flack for this, but I don't think Etron GT/Taycan are daily drivers.

They have all the compromises of a sports car:
The B pillar, ingress/egress, tight interior, lack of room to stow anything, long front hang, low front (going up driveways at angle & constantly lifting the front) lack of rear seating room, useless sun visor and the dreaded ticket booth scenario




Road trips are maybe a few times a year for me. Highway driving is one thing, then you have the garbage roads in Los Angeles.
Side to side movement from poor road conditions is what I used the Gravity on. It could have been the bigger wheel option, but it was more movement than I was expecting with the Dynamic suspension option.
EVs really need proper suspension development due to their weight.

I was with an in depth interview with Porsche NA for the Cayenne Electric, not the Coupe.
Drove it in multiple scenarios, full interior use case.
Its one of the best SUVs ive driven and definitely the best riding EV, even though it lost a point for not having Porsche Active Ride. 1100hp is overkill for an SUV, for a car give me 2000hp.

Porsche is going back to the drawing board for NA on the interior storage space. It has no room in the doors and even worse the center console. Its so bad they already are designing a new center console.
After showing me the new prototype console, it was still not useful. They showed me photos of cars of center consoles that I preferred. It could tell it was Tesla, MB, Rivian. I chose Rivian.

Cayenne console is beautiful but useless. Side door is just a thermos or bottle holder. So there a huge compromises for the high price.

IMO no one can touch Porsche in suspension and driving dynamics

As a previous Taycan 4S cross turismo owner, I disagree. That was the best damn do-everything daily car I’ve had, without exception. Road trips were great with how smooth it was and the ultra fast charging (even if the range wasn’t fantastic, 15 min to 80% sure made up for it), boot, frunk, back seats…throw it into sport or sport plus when you want to have some fun. Rear axle steering and PTV+ made it ride on rails. Unless you have 4 adults or large children, you couldn’t do better.

 

[babylou]

Did spec Porsche Activate Ride? Have you experienced it?

I did not spec Porsche Active Ride. I have experienced it in the Taycan. I feel the system improves ride comfort when cruising but detracts from "sportiness". It feels unnatural. As you crank the drive mode knob from normal - sport - sport+ Porsche reduces the effect of PAR which shows they believe PAR detracts from sportiness. Other negatives is it costs ~$7500, adds ~66 lb weight, sucks alot of battery power that is not reflected in range numbers because those are tested on a dyno that leaves the suspension inactive, and is complex thus has a high risk of repair issues.

 

[rogunenode]

As a previous Taycan 4S cross turismo owner, I disagree. That was the best damn do-everything daily car I’ve had, without exception. Road trips were great with how smooth it was and the ultra fast charging (even if the range wasn’t fantastic, 15 min to 80% sure made up for it), boot, frunk, back seats…throw it into sport or sport plus when you want to have some fun. Rear axle steering and PTV+ made it ride on rails. Unless you have 4 adults or large children, you couldn’t do better.

The CT Taycan is a beauty. I am afraid to test drive one as I may bite. However, I do quite a bit of parallel parking in busy areas, and the Taycan's length would be a daily negative.

 

[babylou]

Porsche is going back to the drawing board for NA on the interior storage space. It has no room in the doors and even worse the center console. Its so bad they already are designing a new center console.
After showing me the new prototype console, it was still not useful. They showed me photos of cars of center consoles that I preferred. It could tell it was Tesla, MB, Rivian. I chose Rivian.

Cayenne console is beautiful but useless. Side door is just a thermos or bottle holder. So there a huge compromises for the high price.

IMO no one can touch Porsche in suspension and driving dynamics

For sure the Cayenne console is useless. I already have planned a few tweaks once I get mine to increase utility.

I also feel the Rivian R2 has nailed interior utility. The doors with the mega-bottle storage and sunglass shelf is two steps ahead of everyone. Console is perfect too except the damn phone chargers still barely function, WTF?

 

[Ps702]

I'm test driving a used Macan 4S ev later today. Your take is a plus for me. Used comes out about the price of an ix3. Any other pro's or con's in your week with it? I have a feeling I won't like the low regen. We'll see.

I had the base Macan which was fast enough. I was full throttle in the canyons many times which felt so nimble and handled so well, not much body roll. It also felt lighter and more nibble than my Taycan in hairpin turns.

The issue with Porsches you don't order yourself are the options.
I think the Premium package is nice to have, rear steer is not required because its not too big.

Center console is really cheap with the black plastic. Again I see it as a 2 seater hot hatch, not a family hauler.

For a daily I should be able to fit 4 adults without moving front seats, have room in the front for 3 phones, water bottles, wallet and a purse, without playing Tetris. Macan can't do this.

Spirited will get you maximum use and enjoyment from the Macan.

R2 compression/rebound is good, body roll you definitely feel because its an off road vehicle. Macan is more sporty so you don't get as much body roll.

Im in the minority by not wanting the screen to overpower the interior. I think the infotainment of the Macan is the right size and prefer physical buttons for HVAC

 

[Rizzian]

As a previous Taycan 4S cross turismo owner

Josh, I might want to message you on the side about this... I've got about 4 months left on my R1S Quad lease and need to find a reasonably priced alternative. R2 is reserved, not yet Ordered because I want Coastal Cloud interior. I've been looking at 2021+ heavily depreciated Taycan Cross Turismo 4 and 4S online and wondering if that might be a nice change for 2-3 years. I work from home and we have another large SUV for road trips, so I'm looking to have fun on the way to the grocery store or kid drop-off at school. My concerns with the Porsche is the lack of OTA updates and every bug being a service appt or flatbed ride. I'm looking at extended warrantees (like XCare) and now that I've seen the MapEV "tuning" ECU swap that unlocks better than GTS performance on base Taycan 4 models, I can't unsee it.

 

[JWreck]

Josh, I might want to message you on the side about this... I've got about 4 months left on my R1S Quad lease and need to find a reasonably priced alternative. R2 is reserved, not yet Ordered because I want Coastal Cloud interior. I've been looking at 2021+ heavily depreciated Taycan Cross Turismo 4 and 4S online and wondering if that might be a nice change for 2-3 years. I work from home and we have another large SUV for road trips, so I'm looking to have fun on the way to the grocery store or kid drop-off at school. My concerns with the Porsche is the lack of OTA updates and every bug being a service appt or flatbed ride. I'm looking at extended warrantees (like XCare) and now that I've seen the MapEV "tuning" ECU swap that unlocks better than GTS performance on base Taycan 4 models, I can't unsee it.

Always happy to chat!

 

[mcdaniken]

Have you considered the Aspark Owl Roadster? I hear they are nice. And if you wait for the Labor Day 'Owlathon', you can get one for only $3 million. I plan on getting 7, one for every day of the week (blue for monday, red for tuesday etc). That way, Ill also get the 'buy 6, get 1 free' discount. Should be a screaming deal at less than $20 mill.

Or Ill just buy an R2.

 

[California Gold]

I get flack for this, but I don't think Etron GT/Taycan are daily drivers.

They have all the compromises of a sports car:
The B pillar, ingress/egress, tight interior, lack of room to stow anything, long front hang, low front (going up driveways at angle & constantly lifting the front) lack of rear seating room, useless sun visor and the dreaded ticket booth scenario




Road trips are maybe a few times a year for me. Highway driving is one thing, then you have the garbage roads in Los Angeles.
Side to side movement from poor road conditions is what I used the Gravity on. It could have been the bigger wheel option, but it was more movement than I was expecting with the Dynamic suspension option.
EVs really need proper suspension development due to their weight.

I was with an in depth interview with Porsche NA for the Cayenne Electric, not the Coupe.
Drove it in multiple scenarios, full interior use case.
Its one of the best SUVs ive driven and definitely the best riding EV, even though it lost a point for not having Porsche Active Ride. 1100hp is overkill for an SUV, for a car give me 2000hp.

Porsche is going back to the drawing board for NA on the interior storage space. It has no room in the doors and even worse the center console. Its so bad they already are designing a new center console.
After showing me the new prototype console, it was still not useful. They showed me photos of cars of center consoles that I preferred. It could tell it was Tesla, MB, Rivian. I chose Rivian.

Cayenne console is beautiful but useless. Side door is just a thermos or bottle holder. So there a huge compromises for the high price.

IMO no one can touch Porsche in suspension and driving dynamics

Yeah Porsche nails it in the main aspects I care about which you highlighted. I think if it had all the other practicalities that some of these other EVs have nailed it would truly be the best all around option. But yeah for the price you’re paying a lot for the fun of the drive. I think with Porsche though that’s essentially what their mantra has been when selling cars. It’s truly been about the driving dynamics first and then everything else.

I’m looking forward to the 2027 model adding a couple of features that they previously announced — massaging seats and automatic doors. I’m going to try and test drive a 2026 here soon as I know some SoCal dealers are receiving theirs from the port in 2 weeks or so.

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