2022 Porsche Taycan review

Critic reviews

How does the Porsche Taycan compare with other electric vehicles?

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Name	Product	Finder Score	Number of seats	Single Charge Range (km)	ANCAP rating	Price (from)	Review
Tesla Model S		88.5%	5 seats	713	5 stars	$111,400	Read Review		loading Fetching your data...
Porsche Taycan		87.75%	5 seats	485	5 stars	$280,300	Read Review		loading Fetching your data...
Tesla Model 3		83.5%	5 seats	620	5 stars	$83,400	Read Review		loading Fetching your data...
Polestar 2		83.25%	5 seats	540	5 stars	$59,900	Read Review		loading Fetching your data...
Hyundai IONIQ Green Company		82.25%	5 seats	311	5 stars	$48,970	Read Review		loading Fetching your data...
Hyundai Kona Electric Green Company		82%	5 seats	557	5 stars	$58,500	Read Review		loading Fetching your data...
MG ZS EV		82%	5 seats	263	5 stars	$43,990	Read Review		loading Fetching your data...
Nissan Leaf		76%	5 seats	385	5 stars	$49,990	Read Review		loading Fetching your data...

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Porsche Taycan range pricing and specs

Porsche Australia sells the Taycan across 5 different trim grades and 2 body styles.

Prices start from $178,272.

Porsche Taycan

The self-named Taycan trim serves as the starting point of Porsche's range. It starts from $178,272.

Main features include the following:

• Up to 240kW (or 300kW on overboost), peak torque up to 345Nm (with launch control)
• Gross 79.2kWh battery, with an estimated 369km of range
• 14-way electric comfort seats (with memory)
• 19-inch wheels
• 16.8-inch curved driver's display
• 10.9-inch HD touchscreen
• Partial leather interior
• Power-folding, adjustable and heated exterior mirrors
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated steering wheel
• 10-speaker, 150W sound system
• Automatic tailgate
• Black accent pack
• LED Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus)
• 4-point LED daytime running lamps (DRLs)
• "Welcome home" automatic headlight activation
• Privacy glass
• Head-up display (HUD)
• ParkAssist (front and rear)

It's pretty much the spec you'd expect from a luxury electric sports car.

Porsche Taycan 4S

The Taycan 4S takes things up a notch, for a $219,327 drive-away price.

On top of the Taycan, you get the following:

• 320kW of power (up to 390kW "overboost"), with Launch Control max torque of 640Nm
• Estimated 365km range
• Programmably-adjustable and automatic highway suspension height adjustment
• 710W Bose surround sound audio system with 14 speakers
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Brushed aluminium silver sill guards
• 20-inch Sport Aero wheels
• High-gloss silver side window trims

In summary, you get a fair amount of extra tech and performance for the initial outlay.

Porsche Taycan GTS

The GTS is a new trim grade for the Taycan range. Its drive-away cost is from $264,582.

For the extra cash, buyers can enjoy the following:

• 380kW (with up to 440kW overboost) and a maximum torque of 850Nm
• The Green Vehicle Guide says this model can travel up to 485km
• 20-inch Turbo S satin black Aero wheels
• 18-way power-adjustable sports seats
• LED matrix headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus)
• Sport Chrono package
• Race-Tex roof lining
• Larger brake discs
• Black brushed aluminium guards
• GTS logomark in the front and rear headrests
• Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus)
• Porsche Electric Sport Sound
• Stainless steel pedal surrounds
• Gloss black side window trims
• SportDesign front apron
• Rear diffuser painted in high gloss black
• Matte black model designation
• Porsche logo in black light strip

These are some nice touches for quite a lot of extra outlay.

Porsche Taycan Turbo

The Taycan Turbo adds even more power and sporty touches. The price starts from $306,582.

What does the Porsche Taycan Turbo have?

• 460kW power (overboosted to 500kW) and a peak torque of 850Nm
• Estimated 420km range
• 20-inch Turbo Aero wheels
• 4-zone climate control (with a 5.9-inch rear display)
• Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport)
• Porsche coated larger brake discs, white brake callipers
• Porsche Turbo logo in front and rear headrests
• Smooth-finish leather interior
• 14-way adjustable seats with memory
• Brushed aluminium silver sill guards
• High gloss silver side window trims
• Rear diffuser with exterior body colour inlays

This is quite a significant jump in power, with select luxury touches.

Porsche Taycan Turbo S

The Turbo S turns the dial up to 11. Its drive-away cost starts from $380,817.

What does the Turbo S have over the Turbo Taycan?

• 460kW power (overboosted to 560kW) and a peak torque of 1,050Nm
• Predicted 405km of range
• 21-inch Mission E wheels
• Rear-axle steering (with Power Steering Plus)
• 18-way power-adjustable sports seats
• 2-tone leather-free cabin
• Heated and vented front seats, heated rear seats
• Larger ceramic brake discs
• Carbon-inlay lower valance
• SportDesign side skirts with carbon inlays
• Rear diffuser with carbon inlays
• Yellow brake callipers
• 10-piston front brake callipers
• Sport Chrono pack
• Dark silver accent pack
• Turbo S logomark in headrests
• Matt carbon door sill guards

These are some nice touches for an additional $74,235.

Click on a price to compare car loans for the Porsche Taycan.

The Porsche Taycan comes in 2 no-cost paint options: white or black.

Metallic colours cost $2,300:

• Carrara White Metallic
• Jet Black Metallic
• Volcano Grey Metallic
• Cherry Metallic
• Dolomite Silver Metallic
• Frozenberry Metallic
• Coffee Beige Metallic
• Gentian Blue Metallic
• Frozen Blue Metallic
• Mamba Green Metallic
• Mahogany Metallic

Special colours cost $5,000:

• Neptune Blue
• Carmine Red
• Crayon
• Ice Grey Metallic

Overview

Arguably, the Taycan is probably one of the most attractive electric vehicles (EVs) on sale. It's also one of the fastest (as a Taycan Turbo S). It handles like a Porsche. And it's highly customisable. It's also unique in that you have 2 body-style options, which isn't common in the EV world. The Taycan should be on your shortlist if you're after a well-made luxury sports sedan.

Motor, battery and performance

The Porsche Taycan is motor/battery powered.

Porsche Taycan electric motor

Porsche fits an AC permanent magnet synchronous motor to the Taycan. Depending on the model, it may be installed on the rear axle only or the vehicle may have 2 motors (for the higher power Taycans).

These Porsche E-Performance motors vary in power output, with the base model having 240kW (with a Performance Battery) or 280kW when fitted with a Porsche Performance Battery Plus. On Overboost (with Launch Control), the power jumps to 300kW or 350kW, depending on the battery you have. Torque measures 345Nm or 357Nm, again, depending on the battery in your Taycan.

Next in the Porsche line-up, the Taycan 4S kicks things up a notch. With the Performance Battery, peak power measures 320kW and torque 640Nm, but thanks to what Porsche calls Overboost, the power jumps to 390kW. If you go for the Performance Battery Plus, the power is higher, at 360kW and 420kW overboosted. Torque rises to 650Nm.

Following on is the GTS Taycan. This model has 380kW (overboosted to 440kW) and 850Nm. There doesn't appear to be the option of a Performance Battery Plus for the GTS.

For buyers who want a little more spice, then the Turbo model boasts 460kW (overboosting to 500kW) and peak torque measures 850Nm. Again, there's no Performance Battery Plus listed for this model.

Rounding out the range, the Taycan Turbo S has the same standard max power output of 460kW, but the overboosted/launch control figure is an impressive 560kW. Torque is a tyre-rippling 1,050Nm – more than many 90's supercars.

Unlike many of its rivals, Porsche opted to use a twin-speed transmission for the Taycan.

Porsche Taycan battery

The Taycan comes with a choice of 2 different batteries.

The Taycan has a 79.2kWh battery (though only 71kWh are usable). The 4S shares the same battery. If you go for the Performance Battery Plus option, you'll have a 93.4kWh battery, with 83.7kWh usable.

The GTS Taycan, Turbo Taycan and Turbo S Taycan appear to have the Performance Battery Plus as standard. Its capacity measures 93.4kWh (with 83.7kWh usable).

The Performance Battery Plus has 2 layers and 5 extra cell modules. This comes with a weight penalty of around 76kg extra mass though.

Car reviewers' impressions of the Porsche Taycan engine and transmission line-up

How did motoring experts rate the Taycan's motor, battery and transmission combo?

One of the journos said that on public roads, you're barely dipping into the Taycan's full performance potential. They said that the acceleration of a Turbo S was so rapid that it gives you that feeling of velocity in your stomach. The 4S is apparently a little less visceral, but it was reportedly still unrelenting. Another related how the Taycan was exceptionally quick. A second reviewer, who drove a Turbo and a Turbo S model said that the Taycan was fierce. They even struggled to convey just quite how it feels when you bury the accelerator. The "overboost" function, which unlocks higher power levels, is only available when you put your Taycan into launch mode, stated one tester. Torque evidently arrives in an instant. Supposedly, it's a heap of fun to drive the Taycan hard.

It was noted that because of the regen-braking system, only those who take their Porsche Taycan to the track will ever truly need the Brembo brakes that come in the Performance Pack.

By all accounts, the transmission is buttery smooth. One reviewer said the first gear handles acceleration from a standstill before the Taycan switches to the second speed as it gathers momentum. This cog-swap is ostensibly almost unnoticeable. Interestingly, the Taycan has a twin-speed transmission, as most of its rivals have just a single-speed box.

It sounds like even the base model Taycan is still a hoot to drive, then.

Porsche Taycan engine and transmission figures

Porsche Taycan energy efficiency and ranges

How energy efficient is the Porsche Taycan? Let's find out by checking the Green Vehicle Guide, a government initiative that lists the official fuel (or in this case electric) economy for new vehicles.

Rear-axle motor Taycan

With just 1 e-motor fitted to the rear axle of these Taycan models, the range is listed as 369km with the "standard" battery, which Porsche confusingly calls Performance. If you go for the optional Performance Battery Plus, the range increases to 434km.

If you were to drive 14,000km annually, with about 2/3rds of your time in urban areas (according to the Green Vehicle Guide, this is the national average), then you'd spend around $1,176 each year recharging your Taycan. However, as each new Taycan comes with a 3-year subscription to Chargefox, you won't pay anything using its public charging network.

Twin e-Motor Taycan

With 2 motors fitted, the Taycan 4S has a range of 365km, with a Performance Battery. With the Performance Battery Plus, the range jumps to 414km. With those figures, annual spending on energy would be $1,100 and $1,134 respectively.

The latest addition to the stable, the GTS model has the best-claimed range of 485km. Annually, the Green Vehicle Guide estimates you'd spend $1,087 on electricity.

The penultimate model in the Taycan line-up, the Turbo, has a range of 420km. Yearly electric charging costs are predicted at $1,176.

Finally, the range-topping Taycan Turbo S has the fourth-highest range, 405km and annual battery replenishing costs of $1,197.

What ranges did the car reviewers manage to record then?

Only a few of the reviewers talked about the range they thought was achievable. One of the testers driving a Taycan 4S reckoned that 400 kilometres was doable versus the official range of 414km. Another journo driving a 4S related how they managed to surpass the official numbers, but was quick to point out they were driving on fast country roads.

The Taycan isn't quite troubling the Tesla Model S's 652km range yet, but Porsche is working on improving the energy density of the batteries it uses.

Handling

With this being a Porsche, handling expectations are high. The German sportscar builder is known for its agile and responsive driving dynamics.

However, the Taycan is a 2,050kg monster. And then if you opt for the Performance Battery Plus, the total jumps by over 70kg. The Turbo S model weighs up to 2,295kg. For reference, an entry-model 4x4 Toyota HiLux double-cab ute weighs less.

So, can you feel all that weight?

One of the testers said the way this car handles is uncanny. It reportedly does not feel like a 2.3-tonne vehicle. Outwardly, the body is kept tightly under control and always remains parallel to the road.

A tester said it was puzzling how Porsche engineers had managed to make the Taycan so comfortable and sporting. It seems the adaptive suspension is highly effective. According to one source, it's not quite as dynamic as the 911 is to drive, but then the 911 only weighs around 1,565kg and it's a 911, arguably one of the handling benchmark cars.

The steering is set up perfectly, according to one of the testers. It's got a rapid fast steering response.

Ostensibly, from the comments of the motoring experts, it is an enjoyable and reactive car to drive. Perhaps the Taycan was best summed up by the words of one of the reviewers who said it was unlike any other electric vehicle to drive. It sounds like if you want an enjoyable and fun-to-drive EV, the Taycan is right up there.

Interior and equipment

What did car reviewers think of the Porsche Taycan passenger cabin?

The dashboard of the Taycan is attention-grabbing, with its pleasingly minimal design. However, as one of the reviewers noted, the days of mechanical dials and gauges are ending. The Taycan has more screens than the starship Enterprise, though that proved irritating to one of the testers who said they collected and then highlighted fingerprints in direct sunlight. An optional passenger display is available. This 10.9-inch screen costs $2,150. It allows the front passenger some control over infotainment functions and it was noted by one tester that it was well worth buying, as it's especially useful on long journeys. Supposedly, it can take a bit of getting used to the fact that the car's controls are laid out across different screens, but this wasn't a huge issue, thought one journo. The displays are apparently sharp with a sophisticated interface and user-friendly design.

The materials used are outwardly of excellent quality, which is pretty much as you'd expect from a Porsche. One of the reviewers called it faultless.

In the rear, it sounds as though there is sufficient space for 2 tall people. Want to seat 3? You have to pay an extra $1,000 for the middle seat, which according to the testers wasn't all that roomy. Also, the design means it's sort of squeezed in between the 2 outboard seats (hence the 4+1 moniker), so the seat base is higher than the pews that flank it. The middle seat's impracticality was confirmed by an additional journo. Seemingly, at least one writer thought the head and toe room was a bit squished, which they attributed to the Taycan's low roofline. Some of the journos said if you need more room in the second row, go for the Cross Tourismo body style.

The seats should be comfortable. They were appraised as properly contoured and shaped for the human form. If you buy a Taycan with the 18-way power-adjustable front seats, reviewers found those to be excellent. The testers said they were solid-feeling, yet comfortable, delivering excellent support for your body.

One little quibble a reviewer had was that the centre armrest on the Taycan 4S didn't stay open on a catch, meaning you had to hold it open with one hand and search with your other. Another source said that the gearbox wasn't as generously proportioned as it could be.

Unlike some other electric vehicle builders, there are heaps of customisation options for the Taycan too. Buyers will no doubt appreciate that. A journo put forward that you could spend hours configuring a Taycan, as even things like the interior stitches and seat belts are customisable.

The Taycan has an 84-litre front luggage compartment (just like an old 911, but more recently, like other EVs). The Model S has a larger front boot (froot, or frunk) at a capacity of 89 litres. The Taycan's boot space measures 407 litres. The Cross Tourismo models have 446 litres (but this can open up to 1,212 litres if you drop the back seats down). Some of the higher-end Taycan sedans have less luggage space in the rear, with only 366 litres. Reviewers said it wasn't the most generous luggage hauler, especially if you're into golf! One little bugbear some of the journos had was that the Taycan has a boot loading lip, which cars have always traditionally had. However, some models now have no load lip, meaning the boot floor is totally smooth – which makes putting heavy items in a bit easier.

It sounds like the Taycan has a very high-end interior, which is well made and specified. Testers had a few little minor irritations, but none were a deal-breaker by any means.

Porsche Taycan safety, security and driver assists

Porsche Taycan interior and comfort features

Porsche Taycan exterior highlights

Verdict

Should you buy a Porsche Taycan luxury electric sedan? Well, it depends on what your budget and needs are. It's not a cheap vehicle by any means, with some models costing significantly more than the Tesla Model S Plaid.

However, you're getting a very well-appraised electric vehicle that's also a Porsche. And that means it is high quality, extremely well-assembled, has a decent range and handles as a Porsche should. Plus, it's massively customisable, which will appeal to buyers who want a vehicle that's personalised to their tastes. With a very solid Finder score, a reasonable range and an excellent specification, the Porsche Taycan could be the electric sports car for you.

We've studied 4 expert motoring writers' reviews of the Porsche Taycan, so you don't have to read through them. We do this to help you save time. With this newly found free time, you could take a minute to compare car loans and car insurance. Doing so might save you serious money.