Porsche Taycan Saloon Review: The Benchmark Electric Sports Car

Porsche Taycan Saloon Review: Electric With a Porsche Soul

When Porsche launched the Taycan in 2020, it redefined what an electric performance car could be. While many EVs offered blistering straight-line speed, the Taycan added something essential – handling that truly lived up to the Porsche badge. Four years and over 150,000 sales later, Porsche has given the Taycan a significant update, and it’s now faster, longer-ranging, and quicker-charging than ever.

I’ll be honest, I ordered a Taycan last year but ended up with an Audi e-Tron GT (we got a really, really good offer). Not a day went by that I didn’t wish I’d stuck with the Porsche. For me, the Taycan is one of the best, if not the best, looking EVs on the road.

Performance and Power

The updated Taycan range covers everything from impressive to outright outrageous. Even the base rear-wheel drive Taycan is properly quick, producing 408PS (or 435PS with the larger battery) and hitting 62mph in 4.5 seconds. That’s sports car pace from the entry-level model.

Move up and things get even more serious:

• Taycan 4S – 544PS or 598PS depending on battery size.

• Taycan GTS – 700PS, with sharper dynamics.

• Taycan Turbo – 884PS (an increase of over 200PS from the original).

• Taycan Turbo S – 952PS and a 0–62mph sprint in 2.4 seconds.

• Taycan Turbo GT – a staggering 1034PS with launch control, 0–62mph in 2.2 seconds, and a 180mph top speed.

For day-to-day driving, Porsche has also introduced a “push-to-pass” function, delivering short bursts of extra power when you need it.

Range and Charging

The Taycan now comes with larger batteries: an 89kWh pack as standard or a 105kWh Performance Battery Plus option. That translates to a range of up to 421 miles in the base rear-drive Taycan – an increase of 109 miles over the original model. Even the powerful Turbo S now manages up to 391 miles.

Charging has also been boosted. The Taycan supports up to 320kW ultra-rapid charging, taking the battery from 10–80% in just 18 minutes. On a more common 150kW charger, the same charge takes just 33 minutes. Home charging is improved too, thanks to a smarter onboard controller.

Handling and Driving Experience

The Taycan has always been the handling benchmark for luxury EVs, and this updated version raises the bar again. Air suspension is now standard across the range, with new twin-chamber air springs and dual-valve dampers, giving a broader spread between comfort and sport modes.

An optional Porsche Active Ride system replaces traditional anti-roll bars, controlling each damper individually to reduce body roll and pitch. Add in rear-wheel steering and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, and you have a 2.3-tonne car that still feels agile and engaging – very much a Porsche at heart.

Design and Practicality

At first glance, styling changes are subtle – redesigned bumpers, new 19-21 inch wheel options, and sharper Matrix LED headlights. Inside, you’ll find updated screens and trim choices, while the cabin keeps its clean, driver-focused Porsche layout.

Practicality remains decent for a performance saloon: a 366-litre boot at the back and an 81-litre “frunk” up front. Porsche’s clever “foot garages” in the battery pack give rear passengers more legroom, making the Taycan surprisingly usable every day.

That said, the Taycan is big and wide. A few inches of extra width might not sound like much, but you’ll notice it on tighter roads and in car parks.

Model Line-Up and Pricing

The Taycan Saloon range currently includes:

• Taycan (RWD) – from £86,500

• Taycan 4S – from around £96,000

• Taycan GTS – from £117,500

• Taycan Turbo – from £134,000

• Taycan Turbo S – from £161,000

• Taycan Turbo GT – from £186,000+

The Taycan is also available as a Sport Turismo (estate) and Cross Turismo (crossover), although the base rear-wheel-drive version is saloon-only.

As always with Porsche, the options list is extensive – and expensive. It’s easy to add £20,000+ in extras.

My Take – The Smart Way to Own a Taycan

The Taycan is a phenomenal car – beautiful, fast, and genuinely engaging to drive. It’s also a tax haven for business owners thanks to ultra-low BiK rates on electric cars. But here’s my word of caution: don’t buy one brand new outright. Like most EVs, Taycans depreciate heavily in the first few years, and with Porsche’s higher starting price, the hit is bigger.

That’s why leasing makes so much sense. You’ll enjoy the thrill of driving one of the world’s most advanced electric sports cars without worrying about depreciation, plus your road tax, manufacturer warranty, and breakdown cover are included【7†source】.

👉 Explore Porsche Taycan lease deals here

Final Word

The Porsche Taycan Saloon represents the sweet spot between performance, luxury, and EV innovation. With its improved range, faster charging, and expanded model line-up, it’s not just one of the best EVs on the market – it’s one of the best cars full stop.

It might be electric, but at its core, the Taycan is still every inch a Porsche. And that’s what makes it special.

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