2022 Porsche Taycan Review: The Performance EV

The Porsche Taycan has been around two years now, and it's taken the world by storm. Almost universally beloved by owners and motoring journalists, the Taycan set the bar extremely high in the EV motoring segment. It's not an easy segment to compete in, with the most obvious comparison being the Tesla Model S and Audi's e-tron GT. So can a Porsche stand up in a fight against the chosen weapon of the Teslarati? And is the Porsche outdated and irrelevant already against the vehicle that pioneered the segment? Not even slightly.

That's because first and foremost, the Taycan is a sports car, albeit one with an electrified heart generating up to 522 horsepower in non-Turbo-badged models. It's certainly not shy on performance, capable of sub-four-second 0 to 60 sprints and ludicrous lap times on any given circuit. Porsche's mission was to build the world's first EV aimed at gearheads; an EV that would evoke the same kind of emotional response an enthusiast would feel when they hear one of Porsche's more traditional flat sixes. In short, this is an EV built for drivers.

2022 Taycan Exterior

Dimensions

2022 Taycan Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Porsche can't match the Tesla Model S' impressive range, but we have a theory about that fact. You see, while the Taycan is an EV, it's a Porsche first and foremost. Porsche's reputation for building spectacular driver's cars is cemented in stone. There was no chance that it was going to let any vehicle, even one as important as the Taycan, do damage to that reputation. So, some sacrifices had to be made, but the payoff is rather spectacular.

The battery pack is located between the two axles, low down in the body. The result is a center of gravity even supercars can only dream of. And the lower the center of gravity, the harder you can corner. But Porsche doesn't merely rely on mechanical grip, as all Taycans have Porsche's Active Suspension Management, always working in the background and adapting the damping. It works great in conjunction with the standard independent suspension setup, but it shines when it has access to the adaptive air suspension system's superior abilities.

The 4S undoubtedly offers a Porsche-like experience on the road; it's firm, but not overly so. The steering is precise, and the low center of gravity coupled with the electronic all-wheel-drive system means the Taycan 4S feels like it corners on rails. The way it powers out of corners beggars belief. You'd expect a car with so much power to feel like a handful, but the 4S somehow manages to transfer it all to the road efficiently.

Some trick driver aids help it feel even nimbler, like available rear-axle steering and torque vectoring, but Porsche's DNA is present from the base model. The Tesla Model S may be faster in a straight line, but the Taycan is a car that decimates it when you throw some corners into the mix. In all the years that we've reviewed EVs, not many of them drive as well as this Porsche.

2022 Taycan Interior

2022 Taycan Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the New Porsche Taycan EV A Good Car?

Yes. The electric Porsche Taycan is an absolute masterpiece of a car, and it's proof that gearheads need not fear the future. Tesla fanboys will point out that the Model S is faster in a straight line, has a longer range, and is bigger in every direction, but that's not the point.

This car was built to prove a point. It demonstrates that EVs can be fun and that you can inject the DNA of a famous existing brand into an all-new product. Sure, Porsche can't match Tesla's range, but Tesla can't match Porsche's quality and handling. Tesla may have the upper hand thanks to its ten-year head start, but Porsche has a nearly 60-year head start when it comes to everything else, and it shows. The Tesla may be faster in a straight line, but we couldn't care less. Perhaps if part of your commute takes place on a drag strip, which is highly unlikely.

The Tesla remains a formidable opponent, and it's around $20,000 cheaper if you compare the dual-motor Long Range against the 4S. Both cars have their weak points, but we can see where they stem from. Tesla is an EV company, still battling with the basics of nailing a car together properly. Porsche is an OG car-builder that is getting to grips with building a high-performance EV. It's going to be interesting to see who gets to the finish line first.

Between the two, we'd go for the Taycan. The driving experience more than makes up for what it lacks compared to the Tesla.

2022 Porsche Taycan Comparisons

2022 Porsche Taycan vs Porsche Cayenne

Without the Cayenne, the Taycan would not exist. The world's motoring journalists had a collective existential crisis when it was first launched in 2002, but it became a huge success and helped save the brand from extinction. While these two might not be direct competition in terms of body style, there is some overlap in pricing. The Cayenne S is $17,000 cheaper than the Taycan 4S, while the Cayenne Turbo is around $26,000 more expensive. The Cayenne is slower due to its fossil-fueled nature, but it is by no means a slow car. It also handles magnificently. Every time you get out of one, you wonder how Porsche managed to get such a big thing to handle like a hot hatch. It's also more accommodating and has more trunk space.

If you're looking at this purchase from a practical point of view, the Cayenne makes more sense. If, however, you're buying a Taycan because of its EV powertrain, the Cayenne is no match. You can get a hybrid version, but it's not nearly as advanced as the all-electric Taycan.

2022 Porsche Taycan vs Tesla Model S

Tesla remains way ahead of the curve when it comes to electric vehicles. Every other manufacturer is currently playing catch-up. There's no denying the Model S' contribution to electric motoring, and the new Plaid model has 1,020 hp, a top speed of 200 mph, and a range of 396 miles. It will also do 0-60 mph in 1.99 seconds. Not only is it faster in a straight line, but it's more practical as well.

The problem with the Tesla is repeatable performance. Thanks to Porsche's innovative cooling system, it will let you launch like a madman down to five percent of its remaining battery charge. Tesla can't do that. Let's not forget that while it's most undoubtedly quick, the Model S isn't exactly sporty. Sure, it can corner with certainty, but it's no Porsche. That's probably Porsche's biggest trump card. The fact is that it still feels like a Porsche, almost as if the EV powertrain was a secondary concern. The German car is also miles ahead in terms of build quality, while Tesla is still struggling to get to grips with this part of mass car production. The Tesla Model S will likely remain the default choice for many, but if you want real sports car excitement, there's nothing else quite like the Taycan out there.