Thinking About Switching to a Taycan?

The other day, I got a message from our dealer’s representative: “How about switching from your Cayenne to a Taycan?”

We have a Cayenne E-hybrid at home, and since the rear seats are very spacious and we love how it drives, I said, “There’s really no need to switch…” but I still asked them to send over specs for new stock cars that might suit our family.

Our Cayenne E-hybrid

Right away, I looked over the specs the rep sent, and it was a very cool Taycan: “base grade, Crayon body color, fixed panoramic roof, equipped with the Sports Design Package, etc…”

Something like this

My husband was also excited:

“This Taycan looks amazing! If the trade-in value for the Cayenne is good and the conditions are right, maybe it’s worth considering.”

So we decided to seriously consider buying one and arranged for a test drive.

The Taycan vs. the Cayenne E-hybrid

In the end, we stopped just short of buying the Taycan. The reason? We love our current Cayenne E-hybrid so much, and considering our driving preferences and practical needs as a couple, the Taycan simply didn’t surpass the Cayenne.

The Taycan’s driving and ride comfort were excellent during the test drive, but more than that, the Cayenne E-hybrid felt incredibly versatile…

When comparing design, the Taycan was undeniably cooler. Even though I’ve gotten a bit used to seeing it recently, it still has a futuristic vibe and exudes the aura of a serious sports car.

Also, the ride comfort in the city is outstanding.

I haven’t driven many Porsches or cars in general, but among all the cars I’ve experienced, the Taycan’s ride comfort stood out remarkably.

The current Panamera and Cayenne also have good ride comfort, but the Taycan is in a league of its own. It’s not the soft, plush ride of a luxury sedan, but rather a sporty, planted feel that grips the road and glides incredibly flat and smooth, which feels fantastic.

I honestly can’t imagine anyone disliking this ride.

On the other hand, when it comes to interior space, the rear seats felt narrower and lower compared to the Cayenne E-hybrid (which is natural for an SUV)… I’m 160 cm tall, and when sitting in the back with the panoramic roof, I had to tilt my head slightly toward the window because it felt cramped.

If we were switching from a Panamera or Macan, the difference might not have felt as big, but since we’re used to the spaciousness of the Cayenne, it was hard not to notice.

Also, since our youngest child is only 1.5 years old and still needs a large child seat, the Cayenne felt like the better fit for our family.

Driving the Base Taycan

I also felt the acceleration on the highway was a bit lacking.

The Taycan I test drove before was a Taycan Turbo, and its acceleration was so incredible it felt like warping through time and space—I was amazed and thought, “Electric cars really are amazing!”

Compared to that, the base model we test drove this time left me thinking, “The Cayenne E-hybrid actually accelerates faster.”

…Well, the base Taycan’s acceleration is still very fast and impressive.

But the Cayenne E-hybrid accelerates instantly and smoothly without feeling heavy, and it’s really thrilling. If I hadn’t experienced the Cayenne’s acceleration, I probably would have been satisfied with the Taycan.

Regarding motor sound: the test car didn’t have the optional Porsche Electric Sport Sound (which simulates motor noise).

So overall it was quiet, and my husband and I agreed that it would be more fun to have a bit more excitement when accelerating or pressing the pedal. However, this Porsche Electric Sport Sound can be added later.

Also, considering the Cayenne’s trade-in value and our charging setup, we decided it’s better to keep the Cayenne for now. If we do replace it, switching to the facelifted Cayenne E-hybrid seems like a more realistic option.

By the way, my husband said,

If I were to buy a Taycan, it probably wouldn’t be as a switch from the Cayenne, but rather from the 911 Cabriolet (992 model). But if that’s the case, I’d want a bit more power from the Taycan, so maybe the Taycan 4S would be better. It’s all-wheel drive, so it should have more power on the highway too.

Since our family often travels long distances, if Japan’s charging infrastructure improves a bit more, buying a Taycan might become a more realistic option for us in the future.