SKODA_SUPERB_ iV_ESTATE_ PORSCHE_TAYCAN_
Call us old-fashioned, but when it comes to big family cars it’s being family friendly and big that matters. Nobody does no frills family motoring quite like Skoda – the master of unassuming design and well-built interiors that work and won’t fall apart… but aren’t so fancy you’ll get precious about jammy fingerprints. And then there’s size: both the boot and rear legroom in the Superb – whether you go for the semi-skimmed hatch or gold-top estate – are wonderfully excessive. If a Rolls-Royce has sufficient horsepower, the Superb has sufficient space – it’s a different kind of luxury.
We’re well aware that a plug-in hybrid won’t work for everyone. Travelling salesmen with Costa platinum cards don’t want to be dragging a redundant battery stack and electric motor up and down the M40 if they don’t have to, but, if your life involves regular short hops, then one of these could mean big savings. And who doesn’t need that right now? Bottom line, plug-in hybrid suits the Superb. When a car is this fiercely un-sporty, some extra timber isn’t the end of the world. And when a car is this dedicated to comfort then silent, unhurried running around town is the ideal fit.
It’s a family car that plainly says I’m not swayed by fashion or seduced by premium badges, and technology doesn’t frighten me. I’ve got a growing family and a family needs room, reliability and low running costs. Yes, it’s a sensible choice, but sensible can feel good too.
It drives like a Porsche. That’s all you need to know really. Probably better than Porsche’s other supersaloon. Sitting low in the Taycan’s seat, every point that meets your hands and feet is gorgeously exact, perfectly weighted, and connects you intimately with the machine’s efforts. Efforts which are grippy, controlled, unflappable… and almost hair-raisingly fast. The depth of engineering, both mechanical and digital, could have ended up as a confused and off-putting bag of contradictions. Instead it came out both consistent and soulful.
Look, we’re not blind to the Taycan’s issues. It’s a saloon with a rather snug back seat. But then, how many times do you see an M5 with four adults inside?
The bigger drawback is the electrical bit. Porsche reinvented electric drive, with elevated voltage and a cleverly cooled motor that’s downsized by virtue of the two-speed transmission. It can recharge like blazes and operate at peak performance without wilting. But for quick charging, you need posts that are up to the job. At the moment, there are four places in the entire UK where you can find those. Tesla has more than 50, with more soon to come. Mostly in Britain, your Porsche will be stuck on 50kW so-called ‘rapid’ chargers that take an hour and a half for 80 per cent.
So, right now, the Model S is a better means of transport, blessed with a charging network that works fabulously well. The Taycan will get one of those, but right now it’s simply an adorable car.