BUYER’S FILE
Granted, in the default Normal driving mode, you get a little more vertical movement over severe crests than in the Panamera, but switch to Sport or Sport Plus and the suspension tightens up, imbuing the car with unflappable body control. And while the Taycan is capable of finding massive traction, you can use all that power and chassis technology to play with the car’s cornering stance in complete confidence – a dimension missing from the Model S.
This sense of approachability is aided by steering that builds weight very naturally as you turn the wheel and is exceptionally accurate, giving you a much better sense of connection with the front wheels than the Model S’s. And unlike the Model S, the Taycan’s regenerative brakes are smooth and predictable, giving you more confidence when slowing for a corner.
Yet despite the precision with which it handles, the Taycan’s ride is remarkably plush over rough British roads, even on optional 21in wheels.
Road and wind noise are quite pronounced at motorway speeds, though.
Inside, there’s plenty of space front and rear for six-footers. And while the Taycan can’t match the luggage capacity of the Panamera and Model S, its boot is still big enough for a few suitcases or a bag of golf clubs. Although its interior lacks the wow factor of the Model S’s enormous infotainment touchscreen, the Taycan is in a different league when it comes to the quality of the materials and solidity.
As for how far it can go between recharges, the Taycan Turbo officially promises up to 279 miles – well short of the Model S Performance’s whopping 367 miles. And while rapid charging of up to 270kw means you can top up the Taycan from 0-80% in less than 25 minutes, you’ll have to find a rare Ionity charging point to do so.
While you get some niceties such as heated seats, sat-nav and Apple Carplay smartphone mirroring on the Taycan, you’ll need to add a lot more if you want
Porsche Taycan Turbo Price Engine Power
Torque Gearbox 0-62mph Top speed Of cial range CO2, tax band an ideally specified car. For example, the brilliant active anti-roll bars cost £2315. Even a Type 2 cable (necessary for recharging via a typical home wallbox and many public charging points) costs extra.
Before you slap down a deposit on a Taycan Turbo, we’d advise you to take a look at the entry-level 4S. It handles just as well, feels almost as punchy in real-world driving and has the longest range of any Taycan (287 miles) if you specify the optional larger battery (£4613) – all for around £25,000 less than the Turbo.
But whichever one you choose, if you’re one of the lucky few who can afford one, the Taycan is a seriously convincing proposition. It has reset the bar for electric luxury cars, demonstrating that battery power doesn’t have to mean a one-dimensional driving experience.
‘Although it’s a very heavy car, the Taycan hides that fact well in corners’