The Porsche Taycan refresh proves that Porsche’s electric soul still shines bright amongst its rivals.
The Porsche Taycan sits in a space that’s neither purely a sports car nor entirely a saloon. It straddles both worlds, doing so with a finesse few cars can match.
And that is why, even after four years on the market, the Taycan is still one of the few electric options that can give you that Porsche driving experience. Assuming, of course, you’ve got the not-so-small fortune needed to bring one home.
To maintain its advantage over the rest of the field, the Taycan has now had its “refresh”.
this isn’t a facelift, mind you.
They’ve left the design largely untouched except for some tweaks to the front air intakes and lights.
Rather, the boffins at Porsche have spent their time in the places that matter; better range, faster charging, and standard air suspension to make your ride smoother.
so, is the cheapest Taycan worth it?
Oh, absolutely. In fact, the entry-level Taycan, despite being the “cheapest,” is a true gem.
The steering is pure Porsche; direct, with that hefty, confident feel that lets you know you’re in control. It’s still quick enough to make overtaking a breeze, and now, with air suspension standard, the Taycan will lower itself at higher speeds to cut drag.
The regenerative braking is impressive too. Most of the stopping power comes from the regen system, which works because the battery can handle massive changes in electrical currents.
Even in the event you need to slam on the brakes, the car responds with serious stopping power.
and the handling?
It’s still a Porsche. The switch from coil-spring suspension to air suspension doesn’t change that. You’ve got double wishbones in the front and a multi-link setup in the back, and the whole system works beautifully together.
The Taycan hugs corners like it was born to do it, with steering that feels precise and predictable. It’s almost uncanny how little body roll there is, which gives you the confidence to push harder out of corners.
This being a rear-wheel-drive model makes it even more engaging. The traction control is so subtle you barely feel it working.
i’m concerned about comfort.
The air suspension makes a huge difference here. It’s firm, but not uncomfortable, and the low seating position keeps you insulated from the worst of the bumps.
On bigger road imperfections, the ride smooths them out with ease, leaving just a touch of harshness. Get on the highway and the Taycan feels like it’s gliding.
improved range and charging? yes, please.
Now we’re talking. The updated battery chemistry, which uses less cobalt, is more energy-dense and can charge faster.
The 89kWh battery can accept up to 270kW of power, so if you’re lucky enough to find a quick enough charger, you can plug in and out in the same amount of time you can grab a coffee.
Another big improvement is the battery’s ability to accept high charge current even at lower temperatures. So, you won’t need to spend as much energy preconditioning the battery before a charging stop.
Porsche claims the new base Taycan can do up to 566km. We did not have enough time to drain its entire battery, but quick readings provided an average of 4.2km/kWh. Either way, it’s a solid step up from where the Taycan started.
cabin comforts.
Drop into the Taycan and you’ll immediately feel the Porsche DNA, solid and reassuring, wrapped in a layer of next-gen tech.
And speaking of tech, you’ve got more screens than a multiplex. The curved instrument display in front of the driver is packed with useful information about battery status, temperature, and potential charge speed, depending on how hot (or cool) things are running.
The tips of this curved display are even tiny touchscreens, giving you quick access to controls like lights, suspension settings, and ESP. Fingerprints magnets though.
The central houses two displays, one for your infotainment and one that handles climate controls. This screen also doubles as a touchpad for the one above it. Yes, a touchscreen to control another touchscreen.
Open your wallet further and you can spec a passenger display up front, a head-up display, and even screens on the back of the front headrests for rear-seat entertainment. It’s a veritable display bonanza in here.
Seating in the back follows suit with the front. You’ve got two contoured seats that are snug, leaving an awkward mini-perch for an unfortunate third passenger.
Porsche provided cutouts in the battery for rear passengers’ feet to slip under the front seats, and headroom is just enough for most adults.
407 litres of cargo room is decent for a weekend golf game, and the frunk gives you an extra 84 litres.
base is best.
The Porsche Taycan’s first major refresh is all about refining efficiency, and rightly so, because pretty much everything else was already top-notch.
It’s a package that’s hard to resist, and if you were ever considering the Taycan, there’s never been a better time to take the plunge.
technical specifications.
Porsche Taycan Electric
Engine: Single Electric Motor
Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Power: 300 kW (402 bhp)
Torque: 410 Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 4.8 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 230 km/h
Battery Capacity: 89 kWh
Drive Range: 566 km
Energy Consumption: 4 km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$392,007 without COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Porsche Singapore
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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