Porsche Taycan review

The Porsche Taycan is a groundbreaking electric car that combines breathtaking performance, a stunning high-tech interior, and the iconic Porsche driving DNA into one incredible package.

Porsche Taycan front parked
Porsche Taycan summary
2.0 / 5 review score
Author Charlie Harvey

Author: Charlie Harvey

31st Dec 20258 mins read

Porsche is no stranger to electric power, having made hybrid cars since 2010. But the Taycan, launched in 2020, was the moment the legendary sports car brand went all-in on electric. Previewed by the stunning Mission-E concept car, the Taycan arrived looking like a four-door, futuristic version of the iconic 911, and it completely changed the game for performance electric cars. It’s a car built from the ground up to be electric, featuring cutting-edge 800-volt technology that allows for some of the fastest charging speeds of any EV on the market. But more than that, it’s a car that drives like a true Porsche. It’s astonishingly quick, incredibly agile, and brilliant fun on a twisty road. While it might be expensive and not the most practical car for a family, the Taycan is a masterpiece of engineering and arguably the best electric car to drive in the world.

Pros

  • Absolutely brilliant to drive, with incredible handling
  • A fantastic, futuristic, and high-quality interior
  • Shocking, supercar-like acceleration

Cons

  • It's a very expensive car to buy
  • Rear seat space is quite limited for adults
  • Some rivals from Tesla offer a longer electric range

Interior

Porsche Taycan interior

Dashboard & tech

Stepping into the Taycan is like stepping into the future. The interior is a stunning blend of classic Porsche design and cutting-edge technology. The traditional instrument dials have been replaced by a beautiful, curved 16.8-inch digital display that looks fantastic. There's also a large central touchscreen for the infotainment system and another screen below it for the climate controls.

The quality is simply superb. Everything you touch feels expensive and beautifully made, with a mix of high-grade materials that create a truly premium environment. You can even specify an optional fourth screen for the front passenger. It's a cabin that feels incredibly special and high-tech.

Comfort

For a car with such incredible performance, the Taycan is a remarkably comfortable and refined car. When you’re not exploring its lightning-fast acceleration, it settles down into a silent, smooth, and relaxing cruiser. It’s a superb car for covering long distances, feeling quiet and stable on the motorway.

The driving position is low and sporty, just as you’d expect from a Porsche, and the seats are wonderfully supportive. It’s a car that manages to be both a thrilling sports saloon and a comfortable grand tourer, which is an incredible achievement.

Quality

Porsche has a world-class reputation for build quality, and the Taycan lives up to it. The interior feels incredibly solid and well put together, with a level of fit and finish that is second to none. All the materials are of the highest quality, and it feels like a car that has been engineered with incredible attention to detail. As much of the technology in the Taycan is brand new, its long-term reliability is still being proven, but it certainly feels like a very high-quality product.

Practicality & boot space

Interior space

While the Taycan is a four-door saloon, don't expect it to be as practical as a Porsche Panamera or a Tesla Model S. This is one of the car's few weak points. Four adults can fit, but space in the back is quite tight. Headroom and legroom are limited, so taller passengers might feel a bit cramped on a long journey. It's best to think of it as a four-seater for occasional use, rather than a full-time family saloon.

Boot space

The Taycan has a 366-litre boot at the rear. That's smaller than the boot in a Ford Focus, so it's not huge. It's big enough for a couple of weekend bags or the weekly shop, but the saloon-style opening, rather than a hatchback, can make it tricky to load bulky items. On the plus side, because there's no engine at the front, the Taycan has an extra 81-litre storage space under the bonnet, often called a 'frunk', which is perfect for storing the charging cables or a small bag.

Driving

Driving experience

This is where the Taycan proves it is a true Porsche. It is, without a doubt, the best-driving electric car you can buy. Porsche has done a remarkable job of making a heavy electric car feel as light, agile, and engaging as a proper sports car. The steering is precise and full of feedback, and it handles corners with incredible poise and grip.

The acceleration is simply breathtaking. The instant torque from the electric motors delivers a punch that has to be experienced to be believed. Even in the 'slower' models, it's incredibly quick. The top-spec Turbo S is one of the fastest-accelerating road cars in the world. It’s a driving experience that will leave you speechless.

Performance

The Taycan is available in a few different versions, each offering mind-blowing performance. Even the entry-level Taycan 4S produces a massive 522bhp, which is enough to get it from 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds.

Moving up the range, the Taycan Turbo produces 670bhp and can hit 60mph in 3 seconds flat. At the top of the tree is the Taycan Turbo S. With a monstrous 750bhp on tap, it will launch from 0-60mph in an unbelievable 2.6 seconds. All versions are all-wheel drive, which helps them put their incredible power onto the road safely.

Running costs

Fuel economy & CO2 emissions

While the Taycan has a very high purchase price, its running costs are impressively low. Charging it up with electricity costs a fraction of what you’d pay to fill a petrol-powered Porsche with fuel, especially if you can charge it at home overnight.

The Taycan 4S with the optional 'Performance Battery Plus' has the longest official range, capable of up to 288 miles on a single charge. The Taycan's 800-volt technology also means it can be charged incredibly quickly at the fastest public charging points, adding around 60 miles of range in just five minutes. As a zero-emission electric car, it’s also exempt from road tax and congestion charges.

Value for money

Let’s be honest, a Porsche is never going to be a cheap car. The Taycan starts from over £83,000, and the top-spec Turbo S costs well over £138,000. On top of that, the standard equipment list could be more generous, with things like a reversing camera often being an optional extra.

However, the Taycan has been in such high demand that used examples have been holding their value exceptionally well, with some nearly-new cars selling for more than their original list price. This means that while it’s a lot of money to buy, you shouldn’t lose as much in depreciation as you might with other luxury cars.

Reliability & Warranty

Porsche has a strong reputation for engineering and build quality. The Taycan is a very new car with a lot of new technology, so it's hard to judge its long-term reliability. However, all models come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty from new, while the battery is covered by a separate eight-year warranty for extra peace of mind.

Safety

Safety features

The Porsche Taycan is a very safe car. It was awarded the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, with high scores across the board.

All models come with a good level of standard safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and front and rear parking sensors. This is all designed to keep you and your passengers as safe as possible.

Trims & Engines

Porsche Taycan rear

Trim levels

Porsche doesn't really do traditional trim levels. Instead, the model name defines the performance and battery size, and then you can add a huge range of optional extras to personalise your car. Even the standard Taycan comes with a good level of kit, including 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, two-zone climate control, heated electric front seats, and a part-leather interior. The twin-screen infotainment and navigation system is also standard.

Engines

The Taycan range is all about electric performance. All models have twin electric motors and all-wheel drive.

4S: The 'entry-level' model. It’s available with a standard 79kWh battery or an optional 93kWh ‘Performance Battery Plus’, which gives more power (up to 562bhp) and a longer range.

Turbo: Comes with the larger 93kWh battery as standard and produces a massive 670bhp. It has an official range of up to 281 miles.

Turbo S: The ultimate Taycan. It uses the same 93kWh battery but unleashes a staggering 750bhp for truly explosive acceleration. Its official range is up to 258 miles.

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