2021 Porsche Taycan Review

　　

2021 Porsche Taycan Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　An electric Porsche? The idea would have seemed outlandish even just a few years ago. But here we are with the 2021 Porsche Taycan, and it's every bit a Porsche. There's thrilling performance, sleek styling and lots of customization possibility. It's even a traditional Porsche in terms of price. That may not be quite as much to your liking, but at least you know the brand is being consistent.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

2021 Porsche Taycan EV Insights

Trim:Taycan Base

　　4dr Sedan (electric 2A) - $79,900 MSRP4S 4dr Sedan AWD (electric 2A) (Most Popular) - $103,800 MSRPTurbo 4dr Sedan AWD (electric 2A) - $150,900 MSRPTurbo S 4dr Sedan AWD (electric 2A) - $185,000 MSRP

　　

Estimated Range Based on Age

 zzdcar TESTED

　　305 milesThe range for a used 2021 Porsche Taycan is estimated to be 305 miles because electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year, with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 305 miles.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　Estimated battery warranty remaining is 5 years or 58,000 miles for this car.Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.

　　

Charging at Home

　　9.5 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$4,400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$4,000

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer.

　　For the vehicle to qualify: Price cannot exceed $25,000. Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased. Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted. Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.

　　For individuals to qualify: Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status. Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle. Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle. Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$90/mo

　　Taycan

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Car Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　The Taycan debuted last year and quickly claimed the top spot in zzdcar' rankings of luxury EVs. For 2021, the Taycan gains a new base trim. It costs less than the existing 4S and Turbo trims but isn't as powerful. Also on the horizon is a new Cross Turismo body style with a larger rear hatch like a wagon.

　　We're sure you'll agree that it deserves the Porsche badge no matter which Taycan you have your eye on. But it's not the only choice out there. The updated 2021 Tesla Model S can still be considered a benchmark of the class, while corporate sibling Audi has come out with the e-tron GT that uses some of the same hardware as the Taycan. So how does this Porsche EV stack up? Check out our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth evaluation.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the Taycan drive? We expected a lot from the Taycan, and in common Porsche fashion, it overdelivers. We thought it'd be quick and it is. At zzdcar' test track, our 4S test car ripped from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. Did we mention this car weighs over 5,100 pounds? That's as much as a Ford F-150.

　　You wouldn't know it from the way it goes around corners either. There's the effortless balance and ease of a rear-wheel-drive sports car, but with ridiculous amounts of traction and thrust exiting corners. It kind of feels like cheating. The brakes feel and perform amazingly, offering ample stopping power and none of the artificialness that's common among today's EVs and hybrids. The Taycan does casual cruising well too, with the exception of its lack of automatic regenerative braking. Some EVs provide enough regen when you lift off the accelerator that you often don't need to touch the brake pedal. Not so in the Taycan.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Taycan? The seating is cushy but not enveloping, but only the sport seats provide the lateral support needed for any dynamic driving. Still, we managed 9.5 hours behind the wheel in a day without feeling completely beat-up, so that says a lot. The rear seats aren't nearly as good, with their overly prominent lumbar support, tight toe room and a slightly elevated floor height.

　　Ride comfort, on the other hand, is impressive. Given how much the Taycan weighs and how well it handles, the ride is incredibly well composed. It's complemented by a very quiet cabin. And it's not just the absence of engine noise that's impressive, but also the car's insulation from outside noise in general.

　　The single biggest miss here is an overcomplicated climate control system, particularly the virtual vent controls. There's a bit of a lag time when you adjust the vent position, and it's quite distracting if you're on the go. If the AC system wasn't so effective in its auto mode, this would be a bigger issue.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Taycan's touchscreen interface is pretty good but not perfect. The lower touchscreen controls the climate settings but can also be used to navigate the upper touchscreen through its virtual touchpad and shortcut buttons. Like other touchscreens, the Taycan's is prone to smudges, though thankfully they only are noticeable when the system is off. If you're not open to taking some time to learn new things, you'll probably hate this interface.

　　When it comes to getting in and out, the Taycan is more like a sports car than a sedan, especially if the air suspension isn't raised to its friendliest setting. Once inside, there's lots of space up front, but the rear seat is small for a car this long, and the lack of toe space under the front seats makes it feel more cramped. Rear passengers should watch their heads as the swoopy roofline runs pretty low.

　　Even though the rear window is pretty narrow, rearward visibility is perfectly fine. And it's even better out front thanks to the thin windshield pillars. The door-mounted mirrors ensure objects don't get obscured when you're turning. Arguably the worst part of visibility is the reverse camera and its wide, distorted fish-eye lens perspective.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The optional Bose surround-sound system delivers punchy sound with impressive clarity, even when cranked up to irresponsible volumes. The nav system is easy to learn on the fly and has the ability to display various map views within the gauge cluster, even when Apple CarPlay is active. CarPlay comes standard, but Android Auto is not available. A wireless charger and four USB-C charging ports are also included.

　　Our pricey test vehicle was missing a lot of common driving aids including adaptive cruise control, and the ones it had were a little overbearing at times. The optional surround-view camera didn't operate for an entire week, but when it did finally right itself, it worked seamlessly with the parking assist sensors. The reverse camera picture looks like a fish-eye lens, and while you can see a lot of what's behind you, the skewed image makes it difficult to gauge proximity to things.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The rear trunk space, at 14.3 cubic feet, is a bit small for how large the Taycan is, and boxes will need to be pushed in farther than you think to clear the slope of the trunklid. There's underfloor storage that helps, and the rear seats split 60/40 and fold down flat, lending some needed cargo flexibility. The front trunk offers an additional 2.8 cubic feet of storage and can fit a small roller bag.

　　There's slightly better interior storage than what most luxury sedans provide. The armrest bin is pretty modest, but a cubby beneath the lower touchscreen can store things such as sunglasses, face masks or even a small purse. The door pockets will hold a couple of water bottles, but the glovebox won't hold much beyond the owner's manual.

　　Car seat anchors are easy to locate, though the tilt of the rear seat bottom is steep, so proper adjustment of your child safety seat's base might be tricky. A rear-facing seat will be a bit of a squeeze behind most front occupants.

　　

Range and Efficiency

8.0/10

　　How are the range and efficiency? The EPA estimates that a Taycan 4S with the standard battery has a range of 199 miles with a consumption of 42 kWh/100 miles, which is the EV equivalent of a gas guzzler. By comparison the other "thirstiest" EVs include the Audi e-tron (46 kWh/100 miles), Tesla Model X Performance on 22-inch wheels (43 kWh/100 miles) and Jaguar I-Pace (44 kWh/100 miles).

　　But in zzdcar' testing, we experienced significantly better range and consumption while driving the Taycan using settings that a typical owner would. (The EPA mandates the use of default settings for its testing.) We observed 323.3 miles of range with a consumption of 32.3 kWh/100 miles. Note that, unlike a regular car's mpg number, improved efficiency comes from a lower kWh/mile consumption figure, not a higher one.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Taycan a good value? Most EVs these days don't come cheap, but the Taycan is like shopping in the boutique vitamin aisle at Whole Foods instead of CVS. Even the base-model 4S starts thousands above Tesla's Performance models. That said, no Taycan owner will have to worry about questionable build quality or glitchy firmware updates. And beyond the software and electronics, Porsche has a way with interiors and the tactile feel of switches and buttons, or at least the few of them that haven't migrated to the touchscreen menus.

　　Warranty coverage and roadside assistance for Taycan are pretty standard for the luxury class. But an onboard charger and 240-volt charge cord, assuming you have a simple matching socket installed, can save you from purchasing an entire home charging station. You'll also benefit from three years of charging at Electrify America stations, where your first 30 minutes of each visit are free (sufficient for charging to 80% battery capacity in the right conditions).

　　

Wildcard

9.5/10

　　There was never any doubt the Taycan would be a performer, and even the base-model 4S offers plenty of thrills. Speed can be accessed anywhere, but that's expected of any luxury EV. Instead, the Taycan impresses with its composure and the sensation it delivers behind the wheel. It supplies what you'd want of any high-performance sedan when you press it, but the rest of the time it's simply an exceptionally comfortable car.

　　And EV or not, the Taycan is a great-looking vehicle. The shape is instantly familiar as a Porsche yet special at the same time. Porsche's first production EV aims to wow, and wow it does.

　　

Which Taycan does zzdcar recommend?

The midrange Taycan 4S should have more than enough power to satisfy if you're performance-minded. We'd consider adding the adaptive cruise control option and, for audiophiles, the Burmester premium audio system.

　　

2021 Porsche Taycan models

The Porsche Taycan sedan is available in four trim levels: Base, 4S, Turbo and Turbo S. The Base and 4S come with a 79-kWh capacity battery pack. They're also eligible for the 93-kWh Performance Battery Plus upgrade that is otherwise included as standard on the Turbo models. The base Taycan trim has a single motor with a two-speed transmission that drives the rear wheels. The other trims gain a second motor for all-wheel drive. 

　　A Taycan Cross Turismo variant is on the way and adds a longer, wagon-like hatch. Check back for updates on that model.

　　Base

　　The standard Taycan has a power output of 321 horsepower. With launch control, output climbs to 402 hp for short periods in overboost mode. The Performance Battery Plus option increases output to 375 hp (469 hp in overboost). Estimated EPA range was not available at our review's publication time, but we suspect it will be more than 200 miles with both battery options.

　　Feature highlights include:

　　Summer performance tires Adaptive rear spoiler DC fast-charging capability Auto-dimming, heated mirrors Dual-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable front seats Heated front seats Interior ambient lighting Wireless charging pad Navigation system Wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration Remote monitoring and control through a smartphone app 10-speaker audio system Satellite radio 16.8-inch curved instrument panel  Standard advanced safety features such as: Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane keeping assist (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) 4S

　　The midgrade 4S adds all-wheel drive and has an output of 429 hp (522 hp in overboost mode) with an estimated range of 199 miles. The Performance Battery Plus option increases output to 482 hp (562 hp in overboost mode) with an estimated range of 227 miles. It includes all of the above plus:

　　Adaptive headlights Adaptive air suspension (can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)Turbo

　　The Taycan Turbo cranks up the performance potential with 616 hp (670 hp in overboost mode) with an estimated range of 212 miles. Added features include:

　　Upgraded brakes Torque vectoring to improve acceleration and handling More front seat adjustments Driver-seat memory settings Heated rear seats 14-speaker Bose surround-sound systemTurbo S

　　The top-dog Turbo S kicks power output up to 616 hp (750 hp in overboost mode) with an estimated range of 201 miles. It also adds:

　　Larger ceramic-composite brake rotors Four-wheel steering Front sport seats with even more adjustments Sport Chrono package (listed below)Some features are available on supporting trims as options. Notable bundled option packages include:

　　Premium package Panoramic sunroof Ventilated front seats Blind-spot monitoring Surround-view camera system Sport Chrono package Sport steering wheel with customizable drive modes Dash-mounted chronograph Sport Plus drive modes Stand-alone option highlights include:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Night vision Four-zone automatic climate control Center rear seat (increases passenger capacity to five) Massaging front seats Heated steering wheel Passenger touchscreen 21-speaker Burmester premium audio Increased charging capacities for quicker at-home and DC fast charging

　　

2021 Taycan Highlights

Type: SedanWagonCross TurismoSedan

　　Trim: Base4STurboTurbo SBase

　　

Base MSRP	$79,900
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,400
Engine Type	Electric
EPA Electric Range	200 miles
Cost to Drive	$90/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	9.5 hours
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles
EV Battery Warranty	8 years / 100,000 miles