Porsche Taycan Review

Pricing

With the launch of a new entry-level model, Porsche finally has a Taycan that undercuts the Tesla Model S - it's nearest rival in terms of size and performance. At £70,690, we'd hardly call it affordable, but when you consider that the next model up, the 4S, is nearly £13,000 more, it's certainly great value in Taycan terms. 

If money is no object, then the two Turbo models deliver the full electric supercar experience. The Turbo starts at £115,860, which is whopping £32,280 premium on the 4S, while the range-topping Turbo S adds another £22,970 to the price tag. That's almost double the cost of the entry-level model which will be as fast as most drivers will want. But, this is a Porsche and we love the fact that you can put your money down and drive off with a 750bhp family saloon that has the performance to rival anything on the road.

Of course, few buyers ever get through the ordering process without getting distracted by Porsche's famed options list. If you want the seat belts to be red and the wheels blue, Porsche has a price for it. And while we generally love the options list, there are a few items that really should be standard fit in 2021. The fact that Porsche charges £300 extra to allow 150kW charging is appalling when this is standard on cars costing a third as much.  

Running Costs

Anyone who is lucky enough to have been running a luxury or high-performance car will know that they are not cheap to own. Fuel and servicing costs can be eye-watering and these type of cars tend to lose their value quickly too.

The Taycan’s running costs will be a welcome surprise, as the ‘fuel’ will cost about a third of the amount if you charge at home and still be a fair chunk less if you use public charging. Servicing will be cheaper too, as there are less moving parts and the brake don’t wear nearly as quickly. It’s predicted that a Taycan will hold its value when you come to sell it too. 

The biggest saving will come if you run a Taycan as a company car. Rules on benefit-in-kind tax for business users mean that you’ll save five-figure sums by driving a Taycan rather than a petrol or diesel car.
It’s all good news, but compare the Taycan to other electric cars and it doesn’t stack up so well, as it’s not the most efficient. You’ll need to charge more to go a shorter distance than in a Tesla.