Porsche Taycan 4S 2021 Review
Porsche’s first all-electric model arrives to mount the first serious challenge to the Tesla Model SThe Tesla Model S has had the prestige electric sedan market sewn up for years, but a major threat to the American model’s dominance has now arrived in Australia in the form of the Porsche Taycan. While the Taycan lacks the range and the performance of the Tesla flagship variants across the board, it has two trump cards to play: dynamics and cachet. And, as a Porsche, it’s also one of the more affordable cars in the German sports car marque’s stable.
Taycan only for tycoons?
The newly-arrived 2021 Porsche Taycan starts out at entry level with the Taycan 4S at $190,400 plus on-road costs. That’s less than the price of a Panamera or a 911.
The Taycan 4S rides on 20-inch alloy wheels and features a powered tailgate as standard. Other equipment includes auto-deploying door handles, privacy glass, electric fold-in mirrors (heated), and LED headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus.
Inside, dual-zone climate control, 14-way electrically-adjustable front seats with position memory and internal heating, partial leather upholstery and a multi-function sports steering wheel are all part of the package.
The infotainment system comprises satellite navigation and a 14-speaker BOSE audio system, digital radio and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Of course, there are plenty of options available, and our vehicle on test came in at $232,760 – $42,360 above the standard price for the Taycan 4S, not including on-road costs.
One step up, the Taycan Turbo (priced from $268,500) features Matrix LED headlights, rear seat heating, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport, four-zone climate control and full leather upholstery.
Its battery pack is rated at 93.4kWh in lieu of the 79.2kWh battery in the Taycan 4S. Torque vectoring is standard too.
At the summit of the range, the Taycan Turbo S (from $338,500) gains even more power and torque, and Porsche Electric Sport Sound (optional for 4S and Turbo) to go with it.
The Taycan Turbo S also features rear-wheel steering, 21-inch alloy wheels, 18-way electrically-adjustable front sports seats with position memory including steering column adjustment, two-tone ‘leather-free’ upholstery, and heated GT multifunction steering wheel.
The Taycan is covered by a three-year warranty (with the battery covered for eight years or 160,000km), and in a first for Porsche Cars Australia, the service intervals are a lengthy 24 months/30,000km.
Five stars from Euro NCAP
All 2021 Porsche Taycan variants are equipped with the following safety and driver assist features as standard: an active bonnet system for pedestrian protection, 10 airbags (including two knee bags for the driver and front passenger), lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring and collision and brake assist.
We had an opportunity present itself to try the Matrix LED headlights, fitted as a $4610 option in the Taycan 4S. This system works very effectively in conjunction with the car’s auto high-beam assist.
The 360-degree camera system is one of the best I’ve experienced. It lets you park the car very close to any obstacle immediately behind because you can actually see precisely just how close that object is.
The Taycan has not been assessed by ANCAP, but Euro NCAP has rated the electric Porsche a five-star car for 2019.
To achieve that rating, the Taycan scored 85 per cent for adult protection, 83 per cent for child protection, 70 per cent for pedestrians and other ‘vulnerable road users’, and 73 per cent for safety assist technology.
Fast, but not the fastest
The 2021 Porsche Taycan is no match in a straight line for faster Tesla Model S variants. Nor can the Porsche compare for range.
But the Taycan is not slow, even in its basic 4S form.
Porsche claims a 4.0-second 0-100km/h time for the 4S, 3.2sec for the Taycan Turbo and 2.8sec for the Turbo S.
The Taycan is aided in that by its all-wheel drive system, courtesy of an AC synchronous motor for each axle, and launch control, which is simple to use. Select ‘Sport’ (not ‘Sport +’), hold the brake pedal down, tramp the accelerator, wait for the ‘Launch control activated’ message in the instrument cluster and release the brake.
Being electric, it provides immediate response as it throws you back in the seat.
The Taycan 4S we tested on launch came with the optional Performance Battery Plus ($13,690), delivering stronger performance and longer range.
Porsche claims that the Taycan 4S can travel 365km between charging, and that extends to 414km with the Performance Battery option. Over a set test route, the Taycan 4S used 25.0kWh/100km, which is in the right ballpark.
The motors were quieter than the Audi e-tron and on par with the Mercedes-Benz EQC for noise suppression. But in Sport + mode, the optional Porsche Electric Sport Sound produced a muscular sound that wouldn’t be out of place in Doc Brown’s DeLorean, like the flux capacitor kicking in (yes, I know, the flux capacitor is unrelated to the DeLorean’s powertrain).
Unfortunately, the Porsche option sets you back $1050. It’s money well spent though…
Excellent ride, typical Porsche dynamics
The 2021 Porsche Taycan rides with exceptional comfort and poise for a vehicle offering so much grip.
Even in its normal mode, the Taycan holds the road to an extent that places it in the same ballpark as the Panamera, and not far removed from Porsche’s own sports cars.
The handling is well behaved and stable, with no sign of lift-off oversteer. Steering is precise and communicative too. The brakes will haul you down from speed at a rate of over 1g, according to the g-force meter on board.
This is a car that builds a lot of confidence in the driver.
Fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres – 245/45 R20 (front) and 285/40 R20 (rear) on optional 20-inch ‘Turbo Aero’ alloys ($1150) – the Taycan 4S tested was an excellent all-rounder, with just some low-level road noise on coarse-chip bitumen detracting from the whole.
For a brand that has copped a pasting for ergonomic misdemeanours in the past, Porsche has got the driving position right in the Taycan, providing plenty of flexibility and adjustment.
The instruments are easy to read, the controls are simple to use and infotainment functions are readily learned after some trial and error.
The front seats feel firm, initially, but there’s what feels like a layer of softer cushioning that you sink into over time, and after about 10 minutes of driving the seats feel more comfortable than they did at the start.
There’s also some aggressive side bolstering to hold you in place. The optional ($7540) ‘leather-free’ upholstery in Graphite Blue looks like suede or Alcantara. It’s comfortable and feels durable.
There’s acceptably good rear seat legroom and adequate headroom for adults up to 180cm and taller.
Rear seat passengers get adjustable vents, but no separate controls for temperature or fan speed. There's also two USB-C ports in the back seat, adding to the two up front (inside the storage bin under the centre armrest).
An optional ($3370) fixed-glass panoramic sunroof (without a shade blind) is not a suitable option unless you wish to experience what it feels like to be an ant under a magnifying glass.
Yet another option fitted to the test Taycan is the 4+1 seating ($1000), which is of debatable value, given the centre seat position is next to useless for anyone over the age of seven.
The rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split for further luggage space, when required. Porsche claims 366 litres for the rear boot and a further 84L for the ‘frunk’.
Loud applause, if not standing ovation
For its impressively unfussy ability to cope with day-to-day driving demands, the 2021 Porsche Taycan is to be applauded.
There’s no jarring ride, it goes like the clappers, it looks great and is comfortable and functional inside.
If I have any qualms at all, it’s the battery capacity in standard form (79kWh), and the niggling thought that my appreciation of the car may have been skewed by the options fitted to the test vehicle. Maybe not the sunroof or the 4+1 seating though…
But in truth I can’t imagine that Porsche will be unable to sell its first year’s allocation of Taycan for Australia, however many cars that will be.
How much does the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S cost?
Price: $190,400 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Two permanent magnet synchronous motors
Output: 390kW/640Nm
Transmission: Two-speed planetary gear set (rear axle), single-speed reduction gear (front axle)
Battery: 79.2kWh lithium-ion
Range: 365km (ADR)
Energy consumption: 26.2kWh/100km (ADR)
Safety rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP 2019)
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- Strong, effortless performance that’s not out of place on a racetrack
- Unshakeable driving dynamics and ride comfort in one setting
- Great presentation, practical packaging and user-friendly ergonomics in the cabin
- Porsche Electric Sport Sound should be standard
- Some options are expensive, others aren’t worth any amount of money
- Can’t match 820kW Tesla Model S Plaid+ with claimed 2.1sec 0-100km/h sprint, 840km range
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