Test Drives

Porsche Macan S: An SUV That Still Feels Like a Porsche

/ NordicThrottle / Leave a comment

Test Drive

This review is based on my experience during a test drive. It reflects my first impressions behind the wheel rather than long-term ownership.

What is there to say about a Porsche?

Before you even get behind the wheel, you expect a certain level of quality, refinement and driving experience from the badge.

The Macan S delivers exactly that.

What surprised me wasn’t that the Macan felt premium. It was just how successfully Porsche managed to make an SUV still feel unmistakably like a Porsche.

First Impressions

From the moment you get inside, there’s no mistaking what you’re sitting in.

The interior has the premium feeling you’d expect from Porsche. The materials feel excellent, everything feels solid and well put together, and the cabin gives you an immediate sense of quality.

Nothing about it feels like Porsche simply took an ordinary SUV and added a prestigious badge to the steering wheel.

It feels properly engineered as a Porsche.

And once you start driving, that becomes even more obvious.

Behind the Wheel

The combination of the 3.0-litre engine and Porsche’s PDK transmission is heavenly.

It’s one of those combinations that simply works.

The gearbox is smooth when you’re driving normally, but when you ask more from the car, it responds quickly and confidently. The engine and transmission feel perfectly matched, and the entire drivetrain has a level of refinement that makes the Macan S incredibly satisfying to drive.

But the thing that impressed me most wasn’t actually the engine.

It was the chassis.

You have to remember that this is an SUV. It’s not a 911 or a 718, and you shouldn’t expect it to behave exactly like one.

Yet the Macan S feels remarkably flat and planted on the road.

There’s very little unwanted body movement, and the car gives you this feeling of being stuck to the ground. It doesn’t constantly remind you that you’re driving something taller and heavier than a traditional sports car.

That’s where the Porsche DNA really comes through.

Comfort & Refinement

What’s even more impressive is that the Macan doesn’t sacrifice comfort to achieve that.

The ride is incredibly composed.

Very little road noise or disturbance makes its way into the cabin, and the car isolates you from the outside world extremely well.

When you’re simply cruising, it feels like a proper premium SUV. It’s quiet, comfortable and refined.

Then you find a more interesting road and the chassis reminds you that this isn’t just another luxury SUV.

That balance between comfort and control is probably one of the Macan S’s greatest strengths.

Interior

The interior continues the same theme.

Quality.

Everything you touch feels like it belongs in a premium car. The materials are excellent, the controls feel solid and the entire cabin has a sense of attention to detail.

More importantly, it actually feels special sitting behind the wheel.

There are premium cars where much of the experience comes from the badge in front of you.

The Macan doesn’t need to rely on that.

Even if you ignored the Porsche crest on the steering wheel, the quality of the cabin would tell you that you’re sitting in something special.

Performance

The Macan S is certainly not slow.

The 3.0-litre engine gives it plenty of performance, and paired with the PDK, acceleration feels smooth and effortless.

But this is also where I found the one thing I wanted more of.

Power.

Not because the Macan S feels underpowered. It doesn’t.

But when you put your foot down in a Porsche, there’s an expectation of that extra oomph. That moment where you floor it and the car gives you something that feels genuinely special.

The Macan S gives you a taste of that, but I couldn’t help feeling that it could have given me a little more.

Strangely enough, I think that’s almost a compliment to the rest of the car.

The chassis feels so planted, the PDK is so good and the entire car feels so capable that you get the impression it could comfortably handle more power.

And Porsche did offer exactly that.

What About the Macan GTS?

The Macan GTS sat above the S and offered the extra performance that I imagine would suit this chassis extremely well.

On paper, it sounds like the obvious answer to the one thing I wanted more of from the S.

But there’s another side to that.

The GTS also came with a considerably higher price tag.

And that makes the Macan S interesting.

You’re still getting the Porsche experience. You’re getting the excellent PDK, the beautifully composed chassis, the premium interior and more than enough performance for everyday driving.

You just don’t quite get that final level of punch that I found myself wanting when I really put my foot down.

Whether that extra performance is worth stepping up to the GTS is another question entirely.

Things I Didn’t Like

Finding something I genuinely disliked about the Macan S is difficult.

The only real criticism I came away with was that I wanted a little more power.

That’s it.

The Macan S does almost everything else so well that I struggle to find something meaningful to complain about.

And I’d rather say that than invent faults simply for the sake of having a longer list of negatives.

Final Thoughts

The Porsche Macan S is a fantastic example of what happens when a manufacturer refuses to let practicality completely dilute the character of its cars.

Yes, it’s an SUV.

It’s comfortable, quiet, practical and refined.

But underneath all of that, it still feels like a Porsche.

The way it stays flat through the road, the way the PDK works with the engine and the overall sense of control make the Macan S feel much more special than an ordinary premium SUV.

Would I have liked more power?

Absolutely.

But that’s partly because the rest of the car feels capable of handling it.

The Macan S left me with very little to complain about. It manages to deliver comfort and refinement without completely sacrificing the driving experience that you expect when you see a Porsche badge.

And perhaps that’s the biggest compliment I can give it.

It doesn’t feel like Porsche built an SUV and tried to make it sporty.

It feels like Porsche built a Porsche that happens to be an SUV.

Nordic Throttle Verdict

Would I drive it again?

Absolutely.

Pros

✓ Fantastic PDK transmission

✓ Excellent 3.0-litre drivetrain

✓ Extremely planted and composed

✓ Very comfortable ride

✓ Quiet and refined cabin

✓ High-quality interior

✓ Still feels unmistakably Porsche

Cons

✗ Could use a little more power

✗ The more powerful GTS comes at a considerable premium

The Macan S impressed me because of how complete it feels.

It isn’t trying to be a 911 with more ground clearance, nor should it.

Instead, Porsche managed to take the qualities you’d expect from one of its cars and translate them into an SUV without losing the character that makes the badge special.

Comfortable when you want it.

Composed when you push it.

And unmistakably Porsche throughout.

The Macan S isn’t a sports car pretending to be an SUV.

It’s an SUV that never forgot it was a Porsche.

BMW M850i: When Luxury Learns to Roar

/ NordicThrottle / Leave a comment

Test Drive

This review is based on my experience during a test drive. It reflects my first impressions behind the wheel rather than long-term ownership.

The BMW M850i occupies a unique place in BMW’s lineup. It’s not a full M car, yet it offers performance that rivals many dedicated sports cars while wrapping it all in a luxurious grand touring package.

Going into this test drive, I wasn’t expecting the M850i to surprise me.

As someone who daily drives a BMW M550i xDrive, I’m already very familiar with BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. On paper, the M850i uses a newer version of the same engine with a little more power, so I expected the driving experience to feel largely familiar.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

From the moment I pulled away, it became obvious that this wasn’t simply a more powerful M550i. It felt like an entirely different beast.

First Impressions

Even before setting off, the M850i makes an impression.

The startup immediately lets you know you’re sitting in something special. This particular car was completely stock, yet the V8 produced a deep, refined growl that sounded incredible without ever feeling excessive. It wasn’t loud for the sake of being loud. It simply sounded like a proper performance car.

Once underway in Comfort mode, the character changed completely.

The M850i became calm, composed and incredibly smooth. The ride quality was excellent, the gearbox almost disappeared into the background, and the car felt perfectly suited for long-distance cruising. It was quiet, effortless and every bit as luxurious as you’d expect from BMW’s flagship coupe.

Behind the Wheel

Then came Sport mode.

This is where the M850i completely transformed.

Throttle response sharpened instantly, the gearbox became more aggressive, and the V8 came alive. The acceleration is nothing short of brutal. The amount of power the car delivers is simply insane, yet it never feels intimidating. It builds speed effortlessly, making every press of the throttle addictive.

Despite already owning a car with the same engine family, I was genuinely surprised by how different the M850i felt. It delivers its performance with a confidence that constantly reminds you you’re driving something special.

Comfort & Interior

What impressed me most was how well BMW balanced two completely different personalities.

In Comfort mode, it’s an exceptionally refined grand tourer. The ride is smooth, quiet and incredibly comfortable.

Switch to Sport, and it becomes an entirely different machine.

Very few cars manage to combine luxury and performance this well. It never asks you to compromise. Whether you’re cruising on the motorway or accelerating out of a corner, the M850i always feels composed and capable.

For me, that’s what makes this car so impressive. It isn’t just fast. It’s genuinely comfortable at the same time.

Design

The M850i is one of BMW’s most elegant modern coupes.

Its long bonnet, low roofline and muscular rear give it real presence without looking overstyled. It has an understated confidence that’s becoming increasingly rare.

Unlike many performance cars that try to grab attention with oversized vents and aggressive styling, the M850i feels mature. It doesn’t need to shout.

Things I Didn’t Like

It’s genuinely difficult to criticize the M850i after a short test drive.

If I had to point out one thing, it’s that the car can almost hide its own performance. In Comfort mode it’s so refined and composed that it’s easy to forget there’s a twin-turbo V8 waiting under your right foot.

That isn’t really a flaw. It simply highlights how successfully BMW has combined luxury and performance in one package.

Final Thoughts

I expected the M850i to feel like a slightly newer, slightly more powerful version of my own M550i.

Instead, I discovered a car with a completely different character.

The M850i isn’t simply about having more horsepower. It’s about how effortlessly it combines luxury, refinement and breathtaking performance into one package.

It cruises like a luxury coupe, sounds exactly as a V8 should, and accelerates with an authority that constantly reminds you you’re driving something special.

BMW didn’t just build a fast grand tourer.

They built one that makes every journey feel like an occasion.

Nordic Throttle Verdict

Would I drive it again?

Absolutely.

Pros

✓ Incredible V8 soundtrack

✓ Brutal yet effortless acceleration

✓ Outstanding comfort

✓ Premium interior

✓ Perfect balance of luxury and performance

✓ Elegant grand touring design

Cons

✗ None that stood out during my test drive.

The BMW M850i completely exceeded my expectations.

I expected familiarity.

Instead, I experienced a car that felt entirely different from the one I drive every day, despite sharing the same engine family.

It’s refined when you want it to be, exciting when you ask it to be, and somehow manages to combine comfort and performance without compromising either.

Some cars are driven.

Others are experienced.

The BMW M850i belongs in the second category.

Audi A6 e-tron: The Drive Impresses, the Price Doesn’t

/ NordicThrottle / Leave a comment

Test Drive
This review is based on my experience during a test drive. It reflects my first impressions behind the wheel rather than long-term ownership.

The electric executive car segment is becoming more competitive than ever, and the Audi A6 e-tron is one of the latest contenders. Having previously owned an electric car myself, I was curious to see if Audi had created an EV that could genuinely impress me.

The model I drove was the Audi A6 e-tron quattro Proline Edition, equipped with the 94.9 kWh battery.

First Impressions

The A6 e-tron immediately feels like a premium car.

From the moment you step inside, it’s obvious that Audi has paid close attention to quality. The cabin feels modern, well-built and exactly what you’d expect from a car in this class. Everything is easy to use, and the layout is clean without feeling overly complicated.

One feature that stood out straight away was the passenger display. At first, I wasn’t sure how useful it would actually be, but after spending time with the car, I really appreciated it. It gives the passenger something to interact with while adding a modern touch to the overall interior.

Design

The A6 e-tron is a good-looking car overall, but I have mixed feelings about its design.

The front never really grew on me. It feels a little too plain and lacks the presence I expected from a premium Audi. It isn’t unattractive, but it also isn’t a front end that makes you stop and look back after parking.

The rear is clean and simple, although perhaps a little too simple. Audi has played it safe with the overall design, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I found myself wishing for a bit more character.

The A6 e-tron is a car I admired more for the way it drove than the way it looked.

Behind the Wheel

This is where the A6 e-tron impressed me the most.

The handling feels confident, balanced and predictable. Despite being a large executive car, it never feels heavy or awkward to place on the road. Instead, it feels composed and reassuring, making it easy to settle into from the very first kilometre.

More importantly, it simply feels good to drive.

Some electric cars can feel isolated from the road, but the A6 e-tron strikes a nice balance between comfort and driver engagement. It isn’t trying to be a sports car. Instead, it focuses on refinement, stability and making every journey effortless.

Interior

Audi has built a reputation for producing some of the best interiors in the industry, and the A6 e-tron continues that tradition.

The materials feel premium, the seats are comfortable, and the cabin has a clean, modern design. The technology is well integrated without making the dashboard feel cluttered.

The passenger display deserves another mention because it genuinely adds something to the experience. It isn’t there simply for the sake of having another screen. It gives the passenger useful functionality and helps make the cabin feel more interactive.

Things I Didn’t Like

The biggest drawback wasn’t the driving experience.

It was Audi’s options list.

Many of the features that make the A6 e-tron feel truly special come at a significant additional cost. It’s very easy to configure the car well beyond its starting price, so it’s worth paying close attention when choosing optional equipment.

While I came away genuinely impressed, I also felt there was room for improvement. The A6 e-tron delivers exactly what you’d expect from a premium executive EV, but I didn’t leave the test drive feeling that it had become the benchmark for the segment.

Final Thoughts

The Audi A6 e-tron left a very positive first impression.

It combines confident handling, a refined driving experience and a premium interior that makes every journey feel comfortable. The passenger display is a clever addition, and the overall quality of the cabin is exactly what I’d expect from Audi.

The expensive options list is something I’d carefully consider before buying one. By the time you’ve added the equipment that really brings the car to life, the price climbs quickly. That doesn’t take away from how good the A6 e-tron is to drive, but it does make you question whether it’s still the right value.

The Audi A6 e-tron convinced me with the way it drove. It just didn’t convince me with the price it takes to get the best version of it.

Nordic Throttle Verdict

Would I drive it again?

Maybe

Pros
✓ Excellent handling
✓ Premium cabin
✓ Comfortable ride

Cons
✕ Expensive options
✕ Front lacks presence
✕ Conservative rear styling

The Audi A6 e-tron is a refined and well-engineered electric car that delivers the premium experience you’d expect from Audi. I genuinely enjoyed my time behind the wheel and came away impressed by its handling, comfort and interior quality.

However, the options list changes the conversation. The car is excellent in many ways, but getting the specification that unlocks its full potential comes at a price that’s difficult to justify. For that reason, I’d happily drive it again, but I wouldn’t rush to put one in my garage.