Porsche Taycan review: the performance EV pinnacle

Porsche Taycan verdict

We don’t believe in magic here at DrivingElectric, however, the boffins at Stuttgart have certainly conjured up something pretty special when it comes to the Porsche Taycan. Despite weighing two tonnes and being powered by electricity, the zero-emissions Taycan is almost as good to drive as the iconic Porsche 911 sports car and offers even more savage and instant acceleration. 

Tick a sufficient number of option boxes and the Taycan’s interior is something to behold, too, with several screens, a hunkered driving position plus exceptional material and build quality. It doesn’t come cheap but if performance is your priority, very few EVs come close to the Porsche. It’ll cover quite a few miles in the process, too.

Range details, specs and alternatives

If anyone was going to make a true electric driver’s car it was Porsche, and that’s exactly what the brand from Stuttgart did in 2019 when it launched its first-ever EV: the Taycan, a four-door sports saloon to rival the Tesla Model S. Now Porsche’s EV portfolio is steadily expanding, with zero-emissions replacements for its Boxster and Cayman sports cars, as well as the electric Macan SUV.

For context, the Taycan is roughly the same size as the Porsche Panamera, but it’s not quite as practical as its more conventional saloon sibling due in part to the coupe-esque looks and the lack of a hatchback tailgate. However, if you need a bit more practicality, the Taycan line-up also includes two estates: the Taycan Sport Turismo and the slightly more rugged Cross Turismo, which we’ve reviewed separately.

The Taycan uses the same dedicated underpinnings as the Audi e-tron GT, with several variants to choose from. A major facelift in 2024 saw the entire line-up receive a boost to both the power outputs and battery ranges. The entry-level, rear-wheel drive Taycan and mid-range, four-wheel-drive Taycan 4S offer a choice of 82.3kWh or 97kWh (usable) batteries. The larger ‘Performance Battery Plus’ pack claims up to 421 miles of range, depending on the exact specification, but the smaller unit isn’t too far behind offering up to 383 miles.

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The 97kWh battery and four-wheel drive are fitted as standard in the more expensive Turbo, Turbo S and Turbo GT models. All of these variants can return over 300 miles with little fuss. Every single facelifted car is also fitted with an upgraded 800V charging system, which allows a peak rapid-charging rate of up to 320kW.

The base Taycan starts from £85,000, although very few examples will leave the factory at this price given Porsche’s long list of optional extras. Standard kit includes 19-inch alloy wheels, 8-way power-adjustable comfort seats, Matrix LED headlights, two-zone climate control and sat-nav. A heat pump is also thrown in to help boost efficiency. You’ll need to pick up a facelifted Taycan if you want heated front seats and power-folding mirrors, though, as the older cars didn’t come with these features as standard (even though you could find them on a £31,000 BYD Dolphin).

Our pick of the line-up is the entry-level Taycan with the larger 97kWh ‘Performance Battery Plus’, as it still offers the full Porsche sports car experience – 402bhp is more than sufficient for use on the road – and costs significantly less than range-topping models. If you’re really desperate for more power or four-wheel-drive grip for the winter months, the mid-spec Taycan 4S is a solid choice, too.