Test Driving the Porsche Taycan

My husband recently visited the Porsche Center and got to take a brief test drive in the Taycan, Porsche’s first all-electric sports car.

He had previously driven the Taycan on a circuit, but this was his first time driving it on public roads, so I asked him for a quick impression.

By the way, the Taycan he drove was the Taycan Turbo grade, finished in Frozen Berry Metallic. That color really stands out in the city!

Here’s what he had to say about the test drive:

The Taycan is seriously fast. Just a little press on the accelerator and it rockets forward. The instant torque from the electric motor is incredible. Even as the speed climbs, the acceleration doesn’t drop off. When I drove it on the circuit and hit the straight, I felt an intense G-force pressing me into the seat, and even on city streets, I could get a taste of that kind of acceleration.

The Taycan Turbo S, for example, boasts an astonishing 0-100 km/h time of 2.8 seconds. It can repeat 0-200 km/h sprints over 20 times in a row with almost no drop in performance. Its peak output is 761 PS with a maximum torque of 1050 Nm.

Amazing…!

Another thing that impressed him was the sound.

The optional Porsche Electric Sport Sound is just awesome! I almost want that option by itself. I’d even use it as my phone ringtone (laughs). It sounds cool inside the cabin, but especially outside, it’s really impressive. It’s a sound I’ve never heard before, and in some ways, it feels even more powerful than the GT3. It’s really great.

However, there was one aspect that differed from his expectations: the ride quality.

It didn’t have the smooth, buttery ride I was expecting. I imagined something like the Cayenne E-Hybrid’s silky feel, but because of the low-profile tires, you can definitely feel some roughness from the road surface. Especially since the drivetrain is so smooth with the electric motor, the tire noise and road texture stand out more. If I were to buy one, I’d prefer smaller wheels for a better ride.
That said, the ride quality is still excellent. It’s super flat—like riding on a solid board with no wobble at all. This test car seemed to have PDCC, which probably contributes to that incredibly flat feel. It reminds me of the GT3’s stability at high speeds on the highway, where it sticks to the road like glue. You get to experience that flatness even in city driving.

Will He Buy a Taycan?

When I asked him, “So, will you buy a Taycan?” he said, “Not right now.”

When I asked why, he explained:

There’s really no use for a Taycan in our current lifestyle. It can seat five, but if that’s the case, the Cayenne offers more comfort and space.
As for driving, the Taycan is closer to a 911 than a Panamera, but if you ask me, “Would you take the Taycan on a touring trip?” I’d say no. I’d have to worry about range, and for spontaneous long trips like I like to take, it’s just not practical.
And if it’s just for solo driving, then a 911 or Boxster would be better. I just don’t see a clear use for it right now.

Charging infrastructure in Japan still lags behind Europe, so owning a Taycan here might come with some challenges. Since some readers have already purchased a Taycan, I hope to share their real-world experiences in a future blog post.