Porsche Taycan review

Plug-in cars often look a little different from other road cars. Not hugely, but there’s usually a slight distinction. A more futuristic feel. It makes sense, given electricity really is the future of motoring.

The Porsche Taycan (pronounced ‘tie-karn’) looks extremely modern and cutting edge. Crucially, it retains Porsche’s very identifiable sports car looks. That’s important. After all, who wants to own and drive a Porsche sports car and not have it look like a Porsche sports car?

Shades of the Stuttgart-based firm’s iconic 911 reverberate from every surface, curve and angle of this stunning-looking sports sedan. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We’d challenge anyone to behold a Taycan and not consider it beautiful.

The Taycan (which translates roughly from the Turkish for ‘lively young horse’) is a completely electric car. It’s also an incredibly high-performance sports car that boasts balance, handling, speed and incredible smoothness. Few people equate plug-ins with such a grippy, tactile and responsive drive. Those folk have never driven a Taycan.

The heavy batteries are kept centrally and low, giving a noticeably low centre of gravity. This only makes the drive sportier and even more agile. With quick acceleration and the kind of top speed you’d expect from Porsche, this is a car built for the open road. Or, better yet, the racetrack.

Prestige, luxury, splendour… There are a few words that occur to you when taking in your surroundings inside one of these cars. There’s an overriding feeling of quality to each and every feature and surface, and the lack of buttons lends even more of an upmarket and grown-up feel. Cynics could argue the clean lines and desire to minimise features lends something of a starkness to the interior here. Ask us? It looks unfussy and just seriously, seriously cool.

The Taycan comes with screens aplenty. There’s one behind the steering wheel, as you’d expect, and a couple in the middle of the dash. Higher specs give you the option of providing a screen for your passenger. The main infotainment system’s screen is crystal clear, although it’s a little low, meaning you do have to take your eye off the road slightly more than you may initially feel comfortable with.

For a car which is – for all intents and purposes – a sporty number in the mould of the classic Porsche 911, you find a rather generous amount of boot space on offer. It’s more than a useable space for day-to-day shopping, boxes and luggage and its shape is such that you’ll find yourself cramming in only the most unwieldy items.

Altogether you’re gifted a similar amount of space as you’d find in most standard hatchbacks. Which is a surprising little bonus.

The lack of an engine allows for a neat little compartment at the front, an area towards the car’s nose which can easily accommodate a carry-on-sized suitcase or equivalent.

Still not enough room for lugging things about? No problem. Each rear seat folds down individually, so you can boost the luggage space quickly and easily should you need to.

Listen to Porsche and you’ll drive a Taycan around believing that a full charge gives you some 300 miles of driving. Try driving one and you’ll soon learn that’s a generous figure. The reality is that any level of enthusiasm behind the wheel will take that figure closer to 200. Still, charge a Taycan at home and the cheapness of a full-charge can be hard to believe - some rates see 0-100% cost less than £10. Charge at public charge points and you’ll feel the sting a little more.

In terms of reliability, Porsche rarely lets owners down. Drive this 2.3-ton beast around at speeds it’s capable of though and you’ll find you wear through tyres.

 You may want to consider cinchCare for that added peace of mind.