Overview

The Porsche Taycan is one of the very best electric cars you can buy. From the way it looks to the driving experience it offers, the Taycan is right at the top of the pile. And, although it’s certainly expensive, it rarely feels poor value for money. It was originally launched in 2019 and a facelift in 2024 has made the car even better, improving performance and driving range, also introducing a new halo model – the astonishingly fast Taycan Turbo GT.

We have tested innumerable examples of the Taycan over the years. Most recently, we drove the Turbo GT at its international launch – plus the SUV-styled Taycan Cross Turismo that we’ve reviewed separately – and the base model Taycan in the UK. We’ll update this review when we test further models. If you want to know how we reach our conclusions, you can read about how we test cars at Parkers.

With four doors, four seats and a decent boot, the Taycan is a surprisingly practical car. Upgrades for the facelift include slimmer headlights, new wheel designs and the option of an illuminated Porsche badge on the back.

There have been further changes under the skin that mean Taycan can now go up to 35% further on a charge, according to the WLTP figures. As a result, the entry-level rear-wheel-drive model specced with the optional 97kWh Performance Battery Plus now claims as much as 422 miles of range. All models now have 800-volt charging capability to allow super-fast charging – if you can find a suitable charger.

There are five models to choose from: Taycan, Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo, Taycan Turbo S, and Taycan Turbo GT. The basic Taycan only has a single electric motor and rear-wheel-drive, the rest all have dual motors and all-wheel-drive. They all come with broadly the same set of standard features including satnav, Apple CarPlay connectivity, leather upholstery, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, multi-zone climate control and matrix LED headlights.

Though it bears a family resemblance to other Porsches – 911, Cayman, Panamera and so on – the Taycan’s closest sibling is actually the Audi E-Tron GT, the two cars sharing the same underlying technology. However, the Audi is only available as a saloon, while the Porsche is also available in Sport Turismo form, as well as the aforementioned Cross Turismo, which is based on the ST with added SUV style and raised suspension.

Beyond its stablemate, the Tesla Model S is the Taycan’s most obvious rival. It matches the Porsche on range and performance, if not quality or driver satisfaction – and it’s now only available with left-hand-drive. You can also lump it together with the Mercedes-Benz EQS, BMW i5 and Lotus Emeya. Less obvious rivals include Kia EV6 GT.

All these cars have their merits, but the Taycan still stands out because it offers an incredibly well-rounded blend of talents. Yes, it’s sharp to drive and very fast – it’s a Porsche, after all. But it’s also comfortable, modern and luxurious. Post-facelift, every model is fitted with air suspension as standard, while the optional Porsche Active Ride suspension system refines the driving experience yet further.