Taycan Turbo, Test Drive

The other day, albeit a bit late, I finally got to take a test drive in the Porsche Taycan, the brand’s EV sports car. Since the preview event I attended in the winter two years ago, it’s been a full year and a half since I first saw the Taycan with my own eyes before actually driving it.

A detailed report will be written by my husband later, so I’d like to share my impressions from a wife’s, a woman’s perspective.

This time, I was fortunate to have a slightly longer test drive than usual, so I was able to drive not only on regular roads but also on highways, uphill, and downhill.

By the way, the model I drove was the Taycan Turbo. The body color was Frozen Berry Metallic, the same test car my husband had briefly driven around town before.

First Impressions of the Porsche Taycan

My first impression after driving the Taycan was, “It’s similar to the 992 (Porsche 911)!” The ride was firmer than I expected, the suspension felt solid, the steering had just the right weight, and the sense of unity between car and driver was pure Porsche.

Although the Taycan looks closer to the Panamera, it feels more like a 911 when you drive it.

I had often heard this from others, but actually driving it myself made me think, “That’s really true.” At one point, I even forgot I was driving a Taycan and felt like I was behind the wheel of a genuine sports car.

That said, the ride isn’t harsh or uncomfortable; it’s not too stiff at low speeds. It’s just that there’s a gap between the visual image and the actual ride comfort. Like the 911, it’s perfectly comfortable for everyday city driving.

Still, I imagine most wives out there would prefer a smoother, more supple ride (like the Panamera or Cayenne).

As for the rear seats, adults can sit comfortably, but it’s not exactly “roomy and relaxing.” When my husband, who is 178 cm tall, sits back there, there’s about a fist-sized space left.

Regarding ease of driving, I felt the Taycan was easier to handle than the Panamera. The Panamera’s body is slightly larger than the Taycan’s, giving it a bulky feel, but the Taycan’s width and size didn’t require as much caution while driving.

This might be partly because I’m used to driving larger cars, having previously driven the Panamera and currently the Cayenne…

Still, as expected from Porsche, the handling is superb and you can drive exactly as you want, so the size doesn’t feel intimidating.

Even though it’s an EV, the driving essence is unmistakably Porsche.

Taycan’s Performance on the Highway

What surprised me most during the Taycan test drive was its performance on the highway. Compared to all the cars I’ve driven so far, it was by far incredibly flat and incredibly comfortable.

From the moment I passed through the ETC gate and began accelerating, it felt like the N and S poles of magnets attracting each other, sticking firmly to the road. I was impressed by the flatness when driving the GT3 on the highway, but the Taycan was even flatter.

The joints on the highway only made a rattling sound, but the vibrations were quickly absorbed. When changing lanes, no matter the angle, it glided smoothly like a linear motor car (though I’ve never ridden one), moving forward without friction.

I couldn’t help but say out loud several times, “This is amazing! This feels incredible!”

My husband said, “The reason it’s this flat is probably because it has the PDCC (Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control) system as an option.” He’ll probably explain more about this in his test drive article.

Also, I tried using the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) on the highway, and it seemed smarter than the cruise control in the 971 Panamera.

The previous cruise control would suddenly accelerate when the car ahead disappeared or brake a bit late, which felt a little scary, but the Taycan’s acceleration and deceleration were very smooth and gentle.

I think even women who aren’t used to highway driving can feel safe and comfortable on long trips.

This Taycan was equipped with the Porsche Electric Sport Sound option, and the sound was very pleasant.

It’s hard to describe, but it was like a “quorn” or “pooon” sound… like a spaceship from Star Wars… a futuristic sound that matched perfectly with the feeling of pressing the accelerator. It was truly enjoyable.

I think I might get addicted to it (laughs).

The driving was flawless, but if I had to mention a downside, it would be that the center console and navigation controls were a bit difficult to operate, and the navigation itself was somewhat confusing.

The iPad-like touchscreen on the center console requires pressing until you hear a click, not just a touch, so I thought, “I’d prefer buttons with tactile bumps that are easier to press.”

Well, I guess you get used to it eventually.

Also, regarding displays, if you choose the optional “Passenger Display,” a 10.9-inch touchscreen is installed on the passenger side, allowing changes to vehicle settings and route operations.

However, my husband said,

If the wife is riding shotgun, I don’t think she’d use this feature much. She’d probably be happier if it showed TV instead (laughs).

Ladies, You Should Definitely Drive the Taycan Too

After this test drive, I thought, “If you go for a test drive with your family or spouse, I really want the wife to drive it too.”

Just sitting in the passenger seat won’t let you fully appreciate the Taycan’s charm. There are so many things you only realize once you sit in the driver’s seat and drive it yourself, and I’m sure you’ll be impressed once you do.

Porsche often says that even people who aren’t interested in cars can tell the difference once they drive one (and I was exactly like that), and the Taycan was exactly that.

When asked, “So, are you going to buy a Taycan!?” it seems unlikely for us to buy one immediately, but if the charging infrastructure in Japan improves in the future, I’d definitely like to drive one.

Thank you very much for the test drive!