2023 Porsche Taycan Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Taycan is Porsche's first all-electric vehicle and from the outside, it retains a lot of the styling cues that keep it in the family lineage. In many ways, it can be thought of as the EV version of the four-door Panamera sedan that measures just 7.5 centimetres shorter in length. The Taycan sports narrower headlights for a more modern look, but it keeps the recognizable window shapes from the iconic 911 along with bulging fenders and a tapering tail.

The Taycan Cross Turismo models add a rear hatch for a very distinctive wagon-like profile. Typically, wagon adaptations tend to make vehicles look heavier and tame down the sporty looks, but that's not the case here. The hatch gives the Taycan an even sportier appearance in the same way some hatchbacks look compared to their sedan counterparts. There's also the Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo trim, which has a lower ride height. Currently, the Taycan is Porsche’s only EV. The brand does not yet offer an electric SUV to go with the Porsche Macan and Cayenne crossovers.

The Taycan's interior also boasts plenty of Porsche heritage cues blended with more modern touches. A striking curved glass instrument panel adds a definite high-tech feel, as does the secondary infotainment screen that bridges the dashboard and centre console.

The Taycan's interior design conveys an austere seriousness that is synonymous with the Porsche brand. Most interior colour choices are limited to a palette of blacks, grays, and browns, but there is a red leather alternative that livens up the cabin. We like the styling inside and out for a lot of the same reasons we like other Porsches. The Taycan avoids novelties and extraneous trinkets. Instead, it concentrates on the fundamentals of good, clean design. Helping matters is Porsche's solid construction, which makes it feel as though it was cast from a single piece of metal, and materials quality that can compete with premium luxury brands.

Other markets offer a base Taycan sedan, which comes with a 79-kWh battery pack that powers a single rear electric motor. In Canada, our line-up starts with the Taycan 4S, which adds a second motor for the front to provide all-wheel drive (AWD), which is standard here. A 93-kWh Performance Battery Plus option is available for the Taycan 4S models and is standard for all others.

The dual-motor Taycan 4S makes 429 hp and 522 hp. The 4S Cross Turismo increases that to 482 hp and 562 hp. The Taycan GTS pushes to 509 hp and 590 hp in overboost while the Turbo is good for 616 hp and 670 hp, respectively. Opting for the top Porsche Taycan Turbo S only increases overboost to an absurd 750 horsepower.

The Taycan's driving range on a single charge varies depending on the model, drivetrain and body style configurations, with the base 4S sedan estimated to return 345 kilometres. The Performance Battery Plus increases range to 370 kilometres, falling just short of the GTS sedan's 390-kilometre estimate, which is the longest range in the Taycan lineup.

We evaluated the midrange Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, estimated to return 370 kilometres. Based on our time with it, we could have easily surpassed the estimate by another 50 kilometres. Porsche claims it will accelerate to 100 km/h in only 4.1 seconds, and we're inclined to agree with them. Power delivery is instantaneous once you step on the pedal. You'll feel your body firmly pressed into the seatback as the Taycan gathers speed unrelentingly.

Just as important as how quickly this Taycan accelerates is how effortlessly and drama-free it does so. There's no squirm or loss of traction from any of the four wheels. Instead of traditional engine noises, the Taycan emits a mechanical hum from speakers that adds to the otherwise silent experience.

Handling is also a vital component of being a Porsche, and the Taycan doesn't disappoint. Our 4S Cross Turismo came with the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport option, as well as Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, rear-axle steering, and ceramic-coated brake rotors. These add-ons elevate the Taycan's already impressive cornering abilities with a level of technical prowess far beyond the typical air suspension, but their combined cost of over $10,000 would likely appeal only to drivers who prioritize performance. Our Taycan 4S attacked sharp turns with the kind of aggression expected of a 911, not an electric wagon with a curb weight of 2,283 kilograms (5,033 pounds).

Braking is similarly confidence-inspiring, but unlike many other EVs, the Taycan does not permit one-pedal driving. That's a feature popular with drivers because it reduces the need to regularly use the brake pedal, but Porsche decided to make the Taycan drive more like a traditional Porsche. In some ways, we can see their point, but we still want one-pedal driving as an option.

The Taycan's front seats have enough room for taller adults, albeit with the kind of snug fit comparable to the much smaller 911 coupe. It feels appropriate for a sporty Porsche, and the seats themselves are well-shaped for comfortable long-distance drives (even if the padding is on the firm side). The rear seats can hold two passengers, but a centre seat can be added as an option. The space back there is understandably more confined than the front, but adults will still fit.

The Cross Turismo is more accommodating than the sedan for both rear passengers and cargo. Rear-seat occupants gain nearly 5 centimetres in headroom and the space feels more open, especially with the large panoramic sunroof. The flatter roofline also provides for a larger rear door opening, requiring less of a stoop and crouch to gain entry.

Behind the rear seats, the sedan's trunk can hold up to 405 litres of cargo, along with a small front trunk. On paper, the Cross Turismo's capacity grows to 447 litres, but that figure is misleading as it only measures to the top of the cargo cover. If you remove that cover, the space grows significantly and can more easily accept larger and bulkier items.

Storage spots for personal items are more limiting, with two large cupholders up front and a moderately sized centre armrest bin and door pockets. Inside the centre bin is a spring-loaded clip that holds your phone against a wireless charging pad, and it can hold a Max-sized iPhone with a bumper case. Keyless entry is standard.

The Taycan, indeed like all Porsches, is marketed as a driver's car, which means technology is secondary to the overall drive experience. That said, you still get plenty of standard and available features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard, as is a native navigation system, wireless charging pad, and the curved digital instrument panel.

The 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen seems a bit small and requires a slight reach for the driver. It's positioned below the top of the dashboard, just outside of the driver's sightlines and can be distracting to use when driving. Just below the main screen is a second display for secondary functions and climate control. It also features a touchpad that allows you to control the main screen by swiping in different directions to select an on-screen button. It's not as distracting to use as the touchscreen, but it does take some time to get used to.

The Taycan also benefits from EV-related tech in regard to charging. DC fast charging is standard and can charge at a rate as high as 270 kW. That means you could get the larger battery pack from five percent to 80 percent in a charging time as little as 23 minutes. Charging on the more common 220 volt stations will take 10.5 hours to get from completely empty to 100 percent. To make charging more efficient, you can select your charger destination in the Taycan's navigation system and the battery will precondition itself (either heating or cooling to the optimal charge temperature) so you can get the maximum charge rate without waiting. Battery preconditioning can also be activated separately from the navigation.

The standard 10-speaker audio system that comes with the base Taycan has pleasantly powerful bass with clear high notes, but audiophiles would do well to upgrade to either the 14-speaker Bose system or top 21-speaker Burmester surround sound option.

Crash-test results for the Taycan have not been published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This is common for premium luxury and sports cars, but for reassurance, it received five-out-of-five stars in European NCAP safety tests.

Standard advanced safety and driver assistance features on all Taycans include frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and front and rear parking sensors. The optional Technology package comes with adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, a head-up display (HUD), and a remote park assist function that allows you to be outside the vehicle as it pulls into a spot. Other standalone options include night vision and Porsche InnoDrive which combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist for hands-on semi-automated driving.

While we evaluated the Taycan, we never experienced any false alarms or unexpected reactions. The adaptive cruise control does an excellent job of maintaining the space in front with accelerator and brake inputs that are as smooth as any human driver.

Typically, this is where we get rather depressed when talking about Porsches, since they often cost quite a bit more than competing vehicles. In Canada, pricing for the Taycan in the 2023 model year runs from $131,700 to $229,500, not including a $2,850 destination charge and other fees.

Other luxury electric cars aren’t too far off in terms of pricing, especially if you’re flexible about specs. By comparison, the Tesla Model S starts around $135,000 and climbs to $176,600 for the high-performance Plaid model. Both Model S variants beat the Taycan models when it comes to real-world range, even though Teslas are notorious for falling short on their estimates. The Taycan is a better-built car though, with much nicer interior materials, a more comfortable ride quality, and a less distracting infotainment system.

The related Audi e-tron GT shares its powertrain and a lot of its underpinnings with the Taycan and starts at $135,450. There's also the more powerful RS e-tron GT for $184,900. Not surprisingly, the e-tron GT performs similarly to the Taycan and since it's only offered with the larger battery, estimated maximum range is also comparable at 373 kilometres.

For a more luxurious electric experience, there's the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan that starts at $136,000. It can easily exceed its 547-kilometre estimated maximum range, and there's also a higher performance AMG version for around $195,000. There's also the Lucid Air that starts just under $120,000 for the Pure rear-wheel drive base model and maxes out at $242,000. Its range is estimated between 618 and 830 kilometres.

Among all of the choices in the Taycan lineup, we think the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is the one to get. For its $137,700 starting price, you get more than enough power, all-wheel drive, and up to 370 kilometres of range. We're also fans of how the Cross Turismo's hatch adds some presence and convenience.

For context, that costs less than the base Porsche 911, is almost as fun to drive, and it has usable rear seats and a trunk. As Porsche's first foray into EVs, it's the equivalent of hitting a home run at your first at-bat. It lays a very solid foundation for further electrification and we're eagerly looking forward to seeing how Porsche translates this to more of its vehicles.

Note: Images show a US model.