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Porsche Taycan 4S video review
Rory Reid reviews Porsche’s new electric sports car. Porsche may have dropped the price on the Taycan, but have they dropped the quality of the car?
Words by: Auto Trader
Published on 11 December 2019 | 0 min read
Electric cars are boring, right? Wrong! The new Porsche Taycan 4S is, according to Rory Reid, the most fun electric car on the market today. Check out why he makes this bold claim in his full review of Porsche's latest electric model, tested on snow and ice in Lapland!
Porsche Taycan 4S price
The Porsche Taycan Turbo and Turbo S cost £115,000 and £138,000 respectively.
There’s two version of the 4S to choose from too: Performance Battery and Performance Battery Plus. The cheaper of the two costs just £83,000 – the same price as an entry-level Porsche 911.
There’s two version of the 4S to choose from too: Performance Battery and Performance Battery Plus. The cheaper of the two costs just £83,000 – the same price as an entry-level Porsche 911.
Porsche Taycan 4S interior
You get a cabin that is noticeably nicer than its main rivals, with partial leather comfort seats and screens that run the full width of the dashboard
Overall the new Taycan is a practical, accommodating car. You should easily be able to fit four six-foot adults in at a time, though the sloping roofline rear headroom. Storage is good too, with a front trunk big enough for a small carry-on-sized suitcase and a boot about the same size as you’d get in a hatchback. Ultimately then, the Taycan isn’t an impractical toy you use for weekends. It’s genuinely something you could live with on a daily basis.
Overall the new Taycan is a practical, accommodating car. You should easily be able to fit four six-foot adults in at a time, though the sloping roofline rear headroom. Storage is good too, with a front trunk big enough for a small carry-on-sized suitcase and a boot about the same size as you’d get in a hatchback. Ultimately then, the Taycan isn’t an impractical toy you use for weekends. It’s genuinely something you could live with on a daily basis.
Porsche Taycan 4S performance and speed
The Porsche Taycan Performance Battery and Performance Battery Plus models have different power outputs, 435hp and 490hp. They both do 0-62 in 4 seconds dead, but the faster version gets to 125mph four tenths quicker.
For comparison, the Turbo will do 0-62 in 2.8 seconds and 0-124 in 3-3.5 seconds quicker. In any case, the 4S is still incredibly quick.
For comparison, the Turbo will do 0-62 in 2.8 seconds and 0-124 in 3-3.5 seconds quicker. In any case, the 4S is still incredibly quick.
Porsche Taycan 4S power
Admittedly, the 4S isn’t as powerful as the Turbo Taycans, with the Turbo offering 670hp and the Turbo S upping that to a ridiculous 751hp.
But the 4S Performance Battery brings 530hp, and the Performance Battery Plus a more than respectable 571hp – so there’s really little to complain about.
But the 4S Performance Battery brings 530hp, and the Performance Battery Plus a more than respectable 571hp – so there’s really little to complain about.
Porsche Taycan 4S range and charging
As the Taycan 4S is an electric car, one of the most important factors is the range.
The lower-priced Performance Battery should travel a very reasonable 407km on a charge, but the Performance Battery Plus will bag you the best range of all Taycans: 462km in one charge. With an 11kw home charger installed, you can top up your Taycan in about nine hours overnight. But the Taycan can accept 270kw maximum charging power, so if you can find an 800v charging station you’d be able to charge from 5% to 80% in 22.5 minutes.
The lower-priced Performance Battery should travel a very reasonable 407km on a charge, but the Performance Battery Plus will bag you the best range of all Taycans: 462km in one charge. With an 11kw home charger installed, you can top up your Taycan in about nine hours overnight. But the Taycan can accept 270kw maximum charging power, so if you can find an 800v charging station you’d be able to charge from 5% to 80% in 22.5 minutes.
Porsche Taycan 4S review
The Porsche Taycan 4S is a standout electric car with a lot to offer, see and hear Rory’s full thoughts in comprehensive video review.