Porsche Taycan Review & Prices

If the Porsche 911 is like a massive Marshall guitar amplifier, the new Taycan is more like a modern Bluetooth speaker. It does a similar job, but in a much more high-tech way that’s easier to live with.

Sure, all its electrical gubbins might have more in common with what you find lurking under the skin of a Tesla Model S than a petrol-powered 911, but the Porsche Taycan’s slinky body leaves you in no doubt this is an electric car designed to turn volts into outright velocity. And an updated model is coming later in 2024 with even more performance, massive range and mildly tweaked styling.

The current model has a curvy bonnet, subtle air intakes and a sleek sloping roofline that looks like a cross between the 911 and the Panamera, while the laser-like full-width brake light and optional uber-aerodynamic alloy wheels give the Taycan its own futuristic flavour.

This theme continues inside, where the Porsche Taycan combines the 911’s driver-focused cabin layout with more tech than you can shake a memory stick at. In addition to the widescreen digital driver’s display – which sits in place of Porsche’s trademark analogue rev-counter – there’s a central infotainment screen and a separate touchscreen for the car’s heating and ventilation controls. There’s even an optional screen above the glovebox for the front-seat passenger if you’re fine with handing over control of the driving music.

All the batteries needed to keep these screens running – as well those that power the Taycan’s electric motors – are tucked beneath the car’s floor but, despite this, you still sit nice and low in the driver’s seat.

The two back seats aren’t quite as roomy as those in the front – those over six-feet tall will struggle slightly for head room – but at least there’s plenty of knee room and a fair few cubby spaces to help you keep the Porsche Taycan’s cabin neat and tidy. You can have a third seatbelt optionally for a ‘2+1’ layout, but sitting in the middle is nothing short of miserable.

Sadly, boot space doesn’t live up to the level of the likes of the Audi RS7, and the Taycan’s front-boot isn’t as large as in the smaller 911. It’s the perfect place for storing the charging cables, though.

Speaking of charging, brimming the Porsche Taycan’s batteries from empty using a wallbox at home will take around nine hours, while a 50kW public charger can boost its batteries from 0% to 80% charged in around 75 minutes. If you can find a 270kW charger, however, this time drops to just 23 minutes.

With its batteries fully charged, the entry-level Porsche Taycan is capable of covering 268 miles before you’ll need to plug it back in. Upgrade the rear-driven car’s battery and that rises to 311 miles.

Range drops as you go up the range and get more performance, but never below 257 miles. That’s not bad – it’s more than enough for a few days’ commuting – but the Tesla Model S Long Range still leads the field with a whopping 405-mile range.

Porsche updated its battery management system for the Taycan in 2021, so you expect to get closer to these figures with higher efficiency - especially if you use the 'Range' driving mode - and improved charging performance.

The Tesla Model S also eclipses the Porsche Taycan in the straight-line performance stakes. A top-spec Turbo S model can blast from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds, while the Tesla Model S Plaid manages the same sprint in 1.99 seconds (though we got a best of 2.4 seconds in real-world conditions).

Drag race: Tesla Model S Raven Performance vs Porsche Taycan Turbo S

The Taycan’s 162mph top-speed is partly thanks to its two-speed gearbox. Most electric cars do without a box of cogs, but the Taycan comes with low- and high-speed gears to boost its off-the-line acceleration, increase its top speed and reduce its energy consumption while cruising.

There are also a bunch of high-tech electrical systems designed to make the Porsche Taycan one of the most fun-to-drive electric cars around. These control the four-wheel-drive system, the torque-vectoring system, the air suspension (standard on all but entry-level cars) and the steering to make the Taycan feel much nimbler than most cars weighed-down by a stack of heavy batteries.

Sure, its sheer size means it can’t tackle a series of hairpins with quite as much vigour as the 911, but the Porsche Taycan’s composure through tight turns will leave a Tesla Model S feeling more than a bit envious.

Like its petrol-powered Panamera cousin, the Porsche Taycan makes an excellent motorway cruiser. Air suspension is standard on all but the entry-level car (where it’s a must-have option) and there’s plenty of sound insulation to make it even quieter and more relaxing to drive than the Tesla Model S; despite not having quite so many driver-assistance features.

All this means the Porsche Taycan isn’t just a good electric car, it’s also a true Porsche, and well worth a place on your new-car shopping list. Check out the latest Porsche Taycan lease deals, and if you want to see the best deals on used Porsches, carwow has you covered there too. To change your car altogether, you can sell your car through us, where our trusted dealers will bid on your car to get you the best price.

The Taycan range spans quite a wide price range, with the base Taycan costing literally half as much as the range topping Taycan Turbo S. This puts quite a broad range of alternatives into view, including all-electric sports saloons like the Audi e-tron GT in standard and RS versions, as well as the new Mercedes-AMG EQE 53. 

The model most people compare it to is the Tesla Model S, and the Taycan offers more customisability, better build quality and sharper handling for broadly similar pricing, The Model S counters with better acceleration, longer range and a cutting-edge infotainment system, as well as the Tesla public charging network.

The Taycan offers impressive performance, superlative handling and a comfortable ride, but you may miss the extra engagement offered by a petrol-powered alternative

In town

The Taycan seems to shrink around you when driving around narrow city streets, that’s a good thing as it’s quite wide. 

The incisive steering and immediate responsiveness of the electric motors make it feel lighter than it is, the standard steel suspension is great at smoothing out a rough patch of road, while the adaptive air suspension (standard on all but the base Taycan) is even more adept at keeping the ride comfortable – even if you opt for the 21-inch wheels.

Parking sensors front and rear as well as a rearview camera are standard, as is collision and brake assist. The regenerative braking system has been well calibrated, and can be relied upon to slow you down, and in most city driving situations, you’ll rarely have to call on the brake pedal to bring you to a stop.

On the motorway

This is a consummate cruiser; the cabin is whisper-quiet with road and wind noise kept to a bare minimum. Regardless of the model you are in, the acceleration is relentless, and the two-speed transmission keeps up the pace well after most other EVs have thrown in the towel. There’s prodigious overtaking acceleration on tap at any speed. 

Passenger comfort is good, there’s plenty of space for four adults and the seats are supportive over long distances; you’ll need to recharge before your occupants complain of discomfort.

On a twisty road

This is where the Taycan really earns its stripes. The sports car-like responses, powerful brakes and high grip levels let you vault out of corners with such ferocity that you’ll back off before the car has had a chance to get into its stride. 

The base Taycan feels pleasingly rapid, its 326hp boosted for short periods to 408hp. The top Turbo S, meanwhile, will send up to 761hp to all four wheels, delivering the kind of accelerative kick that can leave you literally breathless from the force. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, Torque Vectoring, Rear-axle Steering and Carbon Ceramic brakes are optional on certain models, with the technology further enhancing the Taycan’s dynamic abilities.

The optional ‘Porsche Electric Sport Sound’ attempts to add some aural stimulation into the mix, but your passengers’ feral screams will likely drown out any artificial noises emanating from the speakers.

There’s plenty of practical touches in the cabin, but the rear seats can be a tight fit for taller adults, and the boot is smaller than what some alternatives offer

Comfort front seats with eight-way electric adjustment are offered in base trim, with 18-way adjustable adaptive sports seats optional on higher trims and standard on the GTS and Turbo S. The steering wheel can also be adjusted for rake and reach, so getting comfortable up front won’t be a problem.

A pair of cupholders are provided in-between the front seats, as well as a cubby. The glovebox can hold some smaller items, and two decently-sized door pockets will take larger water bottles and handbags. The centre console also houses two USB-C ports for charging and connectivity.

Space in the back seats

The outer two rear seats are comfortable with plenty of leg and knee room, though taller adults may find their hair rubbing along the roofline. There is a 4+1 rear seating option that adds a central seatbelt for the narrow middle seat. It’s really only suitable for children, and we’d just fold down the rear seat back to make use of the armrest and cupholders instead. Two central vents and some door pockets are provided for the back seat passengers. You also get a pair of USB-C charging ports for your devices.

Boot space

The Taycan has a small front boot of 84 litres, which is almost full by the time you’ve packed the charging cables in there, so you’ll have to rely on the 407-litre boot to pack your luggage. Aside from a slightly intrusive loading lip, the boot is wide, and the rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split (or 40/20/40 split with the 4+1 seating option) to provide a flat loading area.

The Audi e-tron GT offers a similar 405-litre boot space, although the Tesla Model S has a far more generous 744 litres in the rear as well as 150 in the front. With its rear seats folded, the Tesla offers an SUV-rivalling 1,645 litres of space.

As more traditional alternative, the petrol-powered Audi A7 offers 525 litres of luggage space which expands to 1,280 litres with the rear seats down.

The Taycan offers rock-solid build quality and plenty of customisation options – although they can greatly inflate the base price

The hi-tech interior of the Taycan is ultra-modern and minimalist, just like in Porsche’s other top-tier models like the Panamera and Cayenne. In this case it does without a gear lever in the centre console and the driver’s display is a full 16.8-inch digital unit – no analogue rev-counter here.  All pertinent driver info is displayed here, configurable to your needs, and the sharp graphics do a great job of mimicking analogue dials, too.

The steering wheel and seats are also straight out of the Porsche parts catalogue, although the Taycan has a touchscreen for the climate controls below the main infotainment unit. The lack of physical buttons for the heating and ventilation can be frustrating though, and you’ll have to dig through the menus to change the direction of the air vents.  

The infotainment touchscreen looks slick and is intuitive to use. It also allows for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity if you prefer using your own navigation or music apps. A 10-speaker 150-watt sound system is standard, and you can upgrade to a 710-watt Bose unit or 1,455-watt Burmester 3D surround sound system on top-end trims.

The fit and finish and overall quality of the cabin is superb. It’s on another level compared to something like a Tesla Model S and even plusher than the impressive cabin of the Audi e-tron GT. Base trims are all a bit black-on-black with additional black trim thrown in for good measure, something the extensive options list and a fair chunk of cash is able to remedy. 

Aside from the leather, Race-Tex microfibre and Club Leather seat coverings, you can get door inserts finished in wood, carbon fibre or aluminium. If that isn’t enough you can delve into the individualised stitching and seat colour options, and don’t forget the Neodyme and Darksilver accent packages. There are even nine seatbelt colours to pick from…

The Taycan range comprises the base Taycan, 4S, GTS, Turbo and Turbo S versions. There are also Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo body styles available with the same power options, apart from the Cross Turismo which starts off in all-wheel-drive ‘4’ trim.

The base Taycan is rear-wheel-drive only and produces 326hp with the 79kWh Performance Battery that gives it an official combined range of up to 276 miles. The larger 93kWh Performance Battery Plus increases power output to 380hp and range to 313 miles. Both versions can do the 0-62mph sprint in 5.4 seconds and can boost power temporarily to 408hp and 476hp respectively.

The 4S produces 435hp (530hp with overboost) with the standard battery and 490hp (571hp with overboost) with the larger one. The 0-62mph time is cut to 4.0 seconds and top speed is 155mph, up 12mph from the entry car. A Tesla Model S offers a 0-62mph time of just over 3.1 seconds, has an identical top speed, but will go up to 405 miles on a charge whereas the 4S can manage a best of 318 miles with the larger battery.

GTS models and up are offered solely with the Performance Battery Plus and offer a slight performance advantage over the 4S thanks to a power output of up to 598hp which gets it to 62mph 0.3 seconds quicker, although the range drops slightly to 313 miles.

Turbo models deliver up to 680hp which cuts the 0-62mph time down to 3.2 seconds and will deliver up to 315 miles of range in combined driving. The Turbo S is even mightier, thanks to a maximum of 761hp available with overboost and a 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds. Its range in mixed driving drops to a maximum of 290 miles. 

The Tesla Model S Plaid delivers an astonishing 1,020hp, will rocket to 62mph in a little over two seconds and still manage to do 396 miles in combined driving conditions. While real-world figures may not be quite so stellar, it should still see off the fastest Taycan in a sprint. 

Charging times depend on the battery pack you select, the 79kWh battery pack can take up to 47 hours to fully charge using a wall plug, at the other end of the scale if you can source a 270kW charger then charging from 5% to 80% will take just 23 minutes. A more representative scenario with today’s charging infrastructure is the 75 minutes it takes to accomplish the same task with a 50kW public charger.

The Porsche Taycan was tested by Euro NCAP in 2019 and awarded the top five-star safety rating. Adult occupant safety was 85% and child occupant safety a still impressive 83%. 

Standard active and passive safety equipment includes parking sensors front and rear, a rearview camera, Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (PVTS Plus), adaptive cruise control, keyless start and lane keep assist. ISOFIX mounting points are also fitted to the outer rear seats, with the rear doors opening just wide enough to fit a bulkier child seat - although you will have to duck down a bit below the roofline.

Porsche vehicles tend to perform very well in customer opinion and reliability polls, and while the Taycan is a bit too new to know how it will shape up in the long run, its solid build quality and massive development budget all point towards a reliable offering.

For extra peace of mind, a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty is standard, with an extended warranty available on cars that are under 15 years old and have covered less than 125,000 miles. Adding three years to the Taycan’s standard warranty will currently cost £2,860.

The battery pack comes with its own eight-year/100,000-mile warranty. Servicing is also less frequent than with Porsche’s petrol-powered offerings, the Taycan needing its first visit to the dealer after two years or 20,000 miles, twice as long as a Panamera.