Living with the Porsche Taycan
Review by Jacob Lerklint
The Porsche Taycan drives with substance, precision, and purpose. It is the next chapter of the automobile.
Pricing for the Taycan 4S starts at 1,352,000 SEK in Sweden.
The Taycan is far more than an incredible electric car.
All automakers have standards to live up to. Be it Nissan, Lexus, or Rolls Royce, all have established reputations, which in turn become expectations for customers. It could easily be argued that Porsche has one of the most difficult reputations to live up to, with over 30,000 racing podiums and the creation of some of the most desirable legacy sports cars ever. It was with this in mind that Porsche designed and built the Taycan.
Porsche were humble and excited when they introduced the Mission E concept. I was at the unveiling at the Porsche Museum, and while chatting with representatives, I noted they seemed genuinely concerned about potentially missing the mark – as in alienating their customer and fanbase. Perhaps this was done intentionally to get media and fans to lower their expectations.
Despite Porsche’s efforts, my hopes for the Taycan were unreasonable, and as nearly always, they were exceeded. The sense of superior engineering, know-how, and familiarity are somehow all rolled into the Taycan, making it feel like a typical Porsche – if there is such a thing.
Unlike nearly all Taycan reviews, I didn’t drive a Turbo or Turbo S. In my opinion, I was given the opportunity to test the "people’s" Taycan, the 4S. I say "people’s" because at 1,352,000 SEK (after a price increase to 1,366,000 SEK), this EV competes with large luxury sedans such as the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Tesla Model S. All things considered, these four cars are relatively common.
Sophisticatedly Simple
As a competitor, the Taycan essentially has no competition, even from the Tesla Model S. Physically speaking, the car is deceptively simple but incredibly complex. My Sapphire Blue tester almost looked subdued, plain even, with the standard 48 cm (19-inch) Taycan S Aero wheels. But despite this setup, the car remains extremely special.
The same goes for the cabin, with a few exceptions. The driver’s perspective from behind the wheel is incredible – it feels as though I am sitting in any other Porsche car. Seeing the front haunches from the driving position, which is low and commanding, furthers the car’s sense of superior control. It also helps that the seats are fantastically supportive and comfortable on a long road trip.
Although the Porsche Advanced Cockpit’s curved display is spectacular and easy to consult, I find most of the car’s dashboard somewhat plain. The 27.7 cm (10.9-inch) horizontal display serves its purpose, but the excessive use of glossy and piano-black surfaces feels overdone. Also, the lower 21.3 cm (8.4-inch) screen, functional though it is, seems like an afterthought in the way it sits and is framed in the console.
Charging and Range
My gripes with the 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S essentially end here. When I say road trip, I mean that I completed a 650-kilometer round-trip in one day and obviously lived to tell about it. I wanted the full Porsche experience, complete with their deal that includes unlimited free 30-minute fast charges. The elements and the network had slightly different plans for me.
With a 98% charge and an indicated 334 kilometers range, I set off. My plan involved a first stop about 225 kilometers into the trip to top up at a 350-kW charger before arriving at my destination. As a blizzard set in, the trip didn’t go as planned. Unfortunately, the 350-kW station and the Taycan couldn’t connect for more than a few minutes, so we settled on a 150-kW charger. With limited time, I unplugged with a 60% charge and headed to my final destination.
On the return trip, the Taycan and the network once more didn’t agree on a 350-kW charger. We thus stopped twice for quick 150-kW boosts, which the Taycan took in stride. At one point, peak charging reached 148 kW. The Taycan can handle up to 270 kW, which delivers an 80% charge in only 22.5 minutes. On a 50-kW charger, the car will go from 5%-80% in just over 90 minutes. I put in one 20-minute 150-kW charge plus a second 40-minute 150-kW charge after a 120-kilometer drive, and I made it home. I can’t confirm the Taycan’s real-world range.
Its WLTP-estimated range is 327 kilometers with the 93.4 kWh battery. Within reason, I’m convinced that the Taycan 4S with the Performance Battery Plus can cover 350 kilometers on a single charge.
4S Power
The 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S is powered by a pair of permanent magnet synchronous motors that combined generate 360 kW (482 hp) and 649 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque (with the Performance Battery Plus). The overboost function with launch control enables 419 kW (562 hp) and is responsible for the 0-100 km/h sprint time of 4 seconds. Though impressive, I found the drivetrain’s response in passing maneuvers to be especially captivating. The time to go from 80 km/h to 120 km/h is barely longer than it took to read this sentence.
While the power is addictive, it’s the sense of unwavering control that truly defines the driving experience. So surefooted is the chassis that, even as snow piled up on the highway, I barely felt the need to slow down. The communication between the front wheels and the driver, albeit partially simulated, is so clear that confidence builds with every kilometer.
On dry pavement, the Taycan’s included adaptive air suspension both isolates the occupants and connects them to the road. Steering response to inputs is almost psychic, and even when I thought I was oversteering, the Taycan made it all work. The Taycan has become one of the best driving experiences I’ve ever had.
Porsche engineers, designers, decision-makers, and the team knew exactly what they were building when they revealed the Mission E and subsequently the Taycan (in Niagara and other places around the world). The only real competitor to the Taycan may not be the Tesla Model S Performance Cheetah stance, but rather the Cross Turismo.
Yes, there are EVs with longer ranges, but like all internal combustion engine cars, some drive better, some are more efficient, and others can handle extreme conditions without ever needing to cool down…
This is the Porsche of EVs.