2023 Porsche Taycan

Sports car driving characteristics are typically a low priority for electric cars, but the Porsche Taycan makes driving fun paramount. Porsche used battery power as an opportunity rather than an excuse, building a four-door vessel designed for human engagement instead of autonomous, soulless transport. While its maximum EPA estimated range of 246 miles is easily bested by competitors such as the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air, the Taycan drives as a Porsche should: with imperious confidence and control. From the 402-hp single-rear-motor base model to the absurdly quick 750-hp Turbo S, every Taycan uses a two-speed transmission that balances epic acceleration with highway cruising range that exceeds expectations. There's also a wagon version of this sedan, dubbed the Taycan Cross and Sport Turismo, reviewed separately. Thanks to an 800-volt architecture, the Taycan can charge at a rate of up to 270 kWh on a powerful-enough DC fast charger. A low-slung driving position and 16.8-inch curved display help complete the typical Stuttgart driving experience.

EV Performance

Most Taycan models feature dual electric motors, with one powering the front wheels and the other powering the rears. They produce separate outputs that vary by trim level. The 4S generates 522 horsepower with the smaller battery and 562 horses with the bigger one. The big juicer comes standard on the top models, the 670-hp Turbo and the 750-hp Turbo S. The base model makes between 402 and 469 hp, depending on the battery size, but it's rear-wheel-drive only. The sweet spot is the 590-hp Taycan GTS with 626 pound-feet of torque. All Taycan models also have an innovative two-speed transmission that provides a thrilling shift during hard acceleration. We've driven the Taycan 4S and were impressed by its prompt acceleration (hitting 60 mph in 3.4 seconds) as well as its point-and-shoot handling. However, we wish it had a more responsive brake pedal, especially since Porsche chose to forgo one-pedal driving. Those with a serious need for speed will be blown away by the Turbo S's rocket-ship takeoffs. The version we tested hit 60 mph in just 2.4 ticks and cleared the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds at 130 mph. A Model S Performance with Cheetah mode matched that blast to 60 mph; a Model S Plaid destroyed the Porsche in acceleration.

Battery Life

The Taycan's driving range is unremarkable compared with that of the Tesla Model S, which can crest 400 miles on a charge. The Porsche's ratings range between 206 and 246 miles, depending on the battery size and electric motors. Every model features an 800-volt architecture that allows a peak charging rate of 270 kilowatts. Models with the larger battery Porsche labels this pack 93.4 kWh, but only 83.7 kWh are useable can be charged from 5 to 80 percent in a claimed 23 minutes. However, 800-volt DC fast chargers are rare, and peak charging rates aren't very informative, as we examined in a comparison test. Charging at a 50-kW DC fast charger takes 93 minutes, according to Porsche. While 270-kW and 50-kW fast-charging capability is standard, 150-kW charging is an option. We experienced the real-world variables in charging during our 11-car, thousand-mile EV1000 rally.