2022 Porsche Taycan Turbo

Not too long ago, there was a time when the thought of electrified sports sedans like the Porsche Taycan Turbo seemed like a distant prospect, something we would see only in a time of AI-managed societies. Yet here we are in 2021, with Porsche continuing to deliver spectacular results with its Taycan and especially with the powerful Taycan Turbo that is the subject of this review. As is common for electric vehicles, all-wheel-drive is a standard feature. The Taycan Turbo S features an overboost function too, which boosts power from an already astonishing 616 horsepower to 750, while twist measures 774 lb-ft of torque. The "regular" Taycan Turbo only produces up to 670 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque, but it's still blisteringly fast. While competitors like the Tesla Model S offer a greater claimed range, the Taycan is still a Porsche product at heart with performance as its main focus, and the Turbo models are the ultimate personification of Porsche's commitment to making everything fast.

The Taycan's design boasts LED headlights that lead into vents in the front bumper, unlike anything we've seen on a Porsche before. Yet, the overall shape and even some of the individual design elements are unmistakably Porsche. That 911-like roofline and muscular rear haunches are the most obvious signature flourishes. That roof is double-bubbled in a subtle manner, while the front fenders feature large vents. At the rear, a LED light strip seems to span the width of the Taycan, below which the model designation is displayed. Turbo models feature gloss silver badging while Turbo S variants get gloss black. 20-inch wheels are standard on the Turbo while the S gets unique 21s, as well as numerous carbon fiber accents on the body.

The Taycan sport sedan is shorter and lower than the other large four-door in the Porsche lineup, the Panamera. This helps it look considerably sleeker, and the dimensions on the spec sheet prove your eyes don't deceive you. The roof is just 54.4 inches from the floor, while overall length measures 195.4 inches with a wheelbase of 114.2 inches. Width with the mirrors folded is 77.5 inches across both models, with curb weight being the only factor that differs. The regular Turbo model weighs in at a base figure of 5,119 pounds while the Turbo S is marginally lighter at 5,101 lbs - because it has standard carbon-ceramic composite brake rotors.

White and Black are, as usual, your standard color options, but we can't complain - the Taycan looks absolutely gorgeous in white. Interestingly, if you disagree with our choice of paint, there is a host of metallic options available that will cost you $800 extra on the Taycan, with Carrara White, Jet Black, Volcano Grey, Dolomite Silver, Gentian Blue, Mamba Green, and a stunning shade called Frozen Blue among the choices. Four special colors cost $3,150 each and are Carmine Red, Neptune Blue, Chalk, and Ice Grey metallic. You can also opt for a custom color but it will cost you $11,430. The Turbo S gets the same color options at the same pricing.

For all the nay-sayers that think electric propulsion is boring, Porsche is here to prove that the opposite is true with its all-wheel-drive electric sedan. The Turbo S provides neck-snapping acceleration thanks to its two magnet-synchronous motors, dispatching the 0-60 mph sprint in a face-melting 2.6 seconds with top speed arriving at 161 mph. Lamborghini, Ferrari, and McLaren owners beware - this thing will disappear over the horizon before you've even thought about selecting third gear. Speaking of gears, part of the reason that the Taycan Turbo is so damn quick is that it uses a two-speed automatic at the rear with a single-speed at the front, something that is not the norm for electric vehicles of any type. Total system output with overboost engaged is a whopping 750 hp with 774 lb-ft of torque. Even without max power, the Turbo S can produce up to 616 hp, a figure that the regular Taycan Turbo also boasts, although that model's maximum output is capped at "only" 670 horses. The Taycan is about more than just raw acceleration, however, with each variant coming standard with adaptive air suspension, 4D chassis control, and active aerodynamic aids. Despite its spectacular performance, Tesla claims an even more outrageous 0-60 time of under two seconds for the Model S Plaid.

Two motors are used to power the Taycan Turbo, with a single motor operating the front wheels and a stronger magnet-synchronous motor on the rear wheels, making this an AWD vehicle. As you can guess, this helps with handling, but in case the naming convention that Porsche uses is as confusing to you as it was to us, we should clarify that there is no turbo anywhere in the vehicle. For Porsche, the Turbo name is something of a sub-brand that indicates you've bought one of their higher-output models that places a greater emphasis on performance. In the base Turbo model, you get 616 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque, but an overboost function that comes into play when you activate launch control increases power to 670 hp. In the Turbo S, the base power output is the same as in the base variant, but can increase to a hypercar-rivaling 750 horses. Torque is higher on this model too, at 774 lb-ft of torque.

Regardless of the model you opt for, the acceleration is instantaneous and you'll likely never fully acclimatize to how fast the Taycan gets going from a dig. No wheelspin, no shuffling of power, no hesitation - just raw acceleration. A whirring noise is all that informs you of what's going on in the powertrain, but everything is very smooth, allowing you to cruise comfortably just as well as accelerate brutally.

Porsche's goal with this car wasn't just to create something fast in a straight line or an EV with a great range. No, it must still reflect that it's a Porsche by the way it handles, the way it feels. After all, the company that created the 911 - arguably the greatest sports car ever and one of the most enjoyable vehicles to drive - could not be forgiven if they produced a car that simply met expectations on paper only to fall down as an experience. Thus, every Taycan comes with adaptive air suspension, 4D chassis control, and active aerodynamics for high-speed stability. As a side-note, the weight of the car is low-down as with most EVs, and when the heaviest components (the batteries) lie in the floor, the center of gravity is very low. In conjunction with the advanced chassis and suspension, the Taycan handles like it's on rails. Body roll is all but nonexistent and the steering, a hallmark of a great Porsche, is delightfully accurate and sharp. Of course, there isn't as much feel or engagement as in something like a 911, but Teslas feel like boats in comparison. If you want an even better drive, you can spec options like rear-wheel steering for even better turn-in and high-speed stability. Braking is excellent too, and the Turbo S gets carbon ceramic discs as standard, while the regular Turbo boasts an almost dust-free yet sharp coated-disc braking setup.

We've talked a lot about how this car behaves when the driver doesn't want to, but how does it fare in terms of living up to its luxury billing? Well, comfort is equally good, and it takes moronic driving over the largest bumps for occupants to register that you're not driving over glass. All in all, then, the Taycan Turbo is a hit straight out the gate, offering phenomenal handling ability along with excellent road manners. Sorry Elon, Porsche is just the best when it comes to driving emotion and enjoyment.

The Taycan Turbo electric sedan is the marginally more efficient model of the two models. The latest available figures are 71/75/73 MPGe on the EPA's city/highway/combined cycles. Maximum EPA range is estimated to be around 212 miles according to Porsche's website. The Turbo S lags slightly behind, with 201 miles of range and figures of 69/71/70 MPGe on the city/highway/combined cycles. These figures are less impressive than those of the Tesla Model S, which claims up to 348 miles of range if you go for the Plaid model and 387 miles for the Performance on 19-inch wheels.

In terms of charging, the 93.4 kWh battery can be refilled from empty to full in 10.5 hours on 9.6-kW alternating current. Using a 50-kW direct current outlet will get the battery from five to 80 percent charge in 93 minutes, while DC charging at the 270-kW maximum will do the same in only 22.5 minutes.

So what's the point of driving a futuristic car if it doesn't look and feel like one in the cabin too? Although not as extreme as in a Tesla, the Taycan Turbo is impressively clean in its interior design, with a massive 16.8-inch curved and touch-responsive digital driver info display. More screens dominate the dash and center console, while the supportive and comfortable seats we've come to know are a welcome throwback to Porsche quality. As always, the fit and finish are exemplary, and space is good, although the rear is not as accommodating as in a Panamera. Heated seats are standard front and rear, and other comfort features are available as part of the extensive options list, another reminder that you're in a Porsche.

The Taycan Turbo is a four-seater, or more specifically, a 2+2. The front seats feature 14-way power-adjustment as standard, with the Turbo S gaining the optional 18-way adaptive sport seats as standard. Comfort and support are on offer in equal measure, and customizing the driving position to your preference is a simple task. Visibility all around is great, but shorter individuals may need to adjust the seat to a lofty setting to spot the front wings from behind the wheel. Headroom and legroom in front are generous, but six-footers may become grouchy after extended periods of time spent in the back. Fortunately, ingress and egress are decent, with large doors, although taller individuals may have to contort to get in under the low roof. If you want maximum space, a bench seat can be optioned for the rear, increasing seating capacity to five.

Leather upholstery is standard on the Taycan Turbo, with Black, Slate Grey, and Blackberry as the no-cost options. Black/Limestone Beige, Black/Bordeaux Red, Blackberry/Slate Grey, and Black/Chalk are also available for $570 each, while Olea Club leather comes in Basalt Black for $2,450, or Truffle Brown for the same price. Basalt Black contrasted by Atacama Beige costs $3,010, as does Basalt Black/Meranti brown. You can opt for Race-Tex, a leather-free upholstery option that comes in Black, Slate Grey, or Graphite Blue at no charge, with a Black and Slate Grey two-tone finish at $570 or Graphite Blue/Slate Grey for the same price. As usual, various wood, carbon fiber, and aluminum finishes are available for the trims, but these can be pretty pricey. Carbon interior trim adds $2,460 to your cost, while Paldao wood is two grand. On the Turbo S, many options are cheaper though or don't carry an extra cost; for example, Paldao wood costs nothing more on the Turbo S.

The Taycan Turbo doesn't have a traditional motor, and therefore has extra space for cargo, with a frunk at the front of the car offering 2.9 cubic feet of volume. At the rear, the conventional trunk offers 12.9 cubes, although this is only really enough for some carry-on luggage for three to four individuals.

In the cabin, the center armrest offers a pair of cupholders at the front and another two at the rear. You also get an average center console bin in the front and a tray at the rear, along with small door pockets and a glovebox that offers a little extra space.

As standard, the Taycan Turbo offers numerous features, including adaptive air suspension (with a Smartlift function), a deployable rear spoiler, heated mirrors and heated seats, rain-sensing wipers, automatic adaptive LED Matrix headlights, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, thermally insulated glass, and wireless charging. You also get forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, cruise control, parking sensors, a rearview camera, keyless entry, remote access, and a 16.8-inch curved digital driver display. 18-way adaptive seats, a panoramic glass roof, a surround view camera, lane change assist, and ventilated front seats are also available. Other options include adaptive cruise control, a night vision camera, massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, quad-zone climate control, a head-up display, and rear-axle steering.

Screens galore fill the cabin of a fully-specced Taycan Turbo. As standard, you get a 10.9-inch touchscreen for infotainment with an 8.4-inch screen in the center console for accessing climate control and the onboard navigation system, among other functions. Furthermore, you can have another 10.9-inch touchscreen ahead of the passenger, allowing that individual to access the nav and infotainment systems. A 5.9-inch rear-seat touch display is also available for climate control and other functions. The screens all work well, respond quickly, and are easy to understand, but a volume knob or something else a little more analog would be welcome.

Standard features of the infotainment system include wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, Bluetooth, four USB-C ports, real-time traffic updates, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and a Bose 14-speaker sound system which can be upgraded to a Burmester 21-speaker audio setup.

The 2021 Porsche Taycan suffered five recalls for improperly tightened suspension components that could result in a loss of control of the car, improperly forged suspension components, malfunctioning seat-belt locking retractors, a loose pressure-input rod on the brake booster, and a software error that may cause a loss of power while driving - the last two mentioned also applied to the 2020 models. There have been no recalls of the 2022 models yet.

Should anything be faulty, the Taycan Turbo is covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty that also covers the battery, along with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty.

Both the IIHS and the NHTSA have yet to conduct a Porsche Taycan crashworthiness review, although that is not uncommon at this price level. However, other Porsche models are usually excellent, and numerous safety features are fitted to the Taycan Turbo as standard.

Numerous safety features are included with the Porsche Taycan Turbo sedan as standard, including automatic adaptive LED Matrix headlights, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist with traffic sign recognition, a rearview camera, and front and rear parking sensors. Ten airbags are standard too, including frontal, side-impact, curtain, and front knee airbags. A surround view camera, adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, active parking support, a head-up display, and a night vision camera are available as part of the options list.

The purpose of this section is generally to advise you as to whether a vehicle is worth considering for purchase or not. Generally, when an automaker debuts completely new tech, and especially when that tech is a departure from the brand's bread and butter offerings, it's a good idea to avoid being the guinea pig. In this case, however, we feel differently. Porsche has an impeccable track record of over-engineering and perfecting everything they do, and the Taycan Turbo looks to be no different. Is it worth considering over a Tesla? Well, it doesn't offer as much range, nor is it likely to be as practical for most, considering its proportions. However, in every other respect, the Taycan Turbo is far more tempting. It's luxurious, handles like a dream, provides astonishing acceleration, rides well, and is packed with forward-thinking tech. For us, the brand bias is already enough to choose the Porsche, but the components that go into the Taycan make it a compelling offer too. If you can afford one, go for it.

The price for the new Porsche Taycan Turbo ensures that only the well-heeled need apply. The Taycan Turbo is the cheaper of the two models, starting at a base price of $150,900 in the US before a destination charge of $1,350. The Taycan Turbo S is considerably pricier, starting at $185,000. Fully loaded, that price jumps to over $240,000.

The Turbo-badged 2022 Porsche Taycan lineup comprises two trims: Turbo and Turbo S.

The Turbo has up to 670 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque and a range of 201 miles. It runs on 20-inch alloy wheels and has automatic adaptive LED Matrix headlights and adaptive air suspension. Interior features include leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, 14-way electrically adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, thermally insulated glass, cruise control, keyless entry, a 16.8-inch driver-information display, and ambient lighting. The infotainment system has a 10.9-inch centrally mounted touchscreen and incorporates wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, four USB-C ports, navigation with real-time traffic updates, voice control, wireless charging, SiriusXM, and a 14-speaker Bose audio system. Standard safety and driver-assistance features include ten airbags, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, parking sensors front and rear, a backup camera, and lane-keep assist.

The Turbo S trim adds to these features higher outputs of 750 hp / 774 lb-ft and a 212-mile range. It runs on 21-inch alloy wheels and has carbon-fiber exterior accents and carbon-ceramic composite brakes. Inside, it gets upgraded 18-way electrically adjustable front sports seats, and the Performance Package that includes Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, rear-axle steering, a sport sound emulator, and the Sport Chrono package with its additional driving modes and special steering wheel.

Numerous additions can be made to the Taycan Turbo sport sedan model and its more powerful Turbo S sibling.One of our favorite packages is the Premium package. This costs $7,310 in the USA on the base model Turbo and adds a fixed panoramic glass roof, a surround-view camera, a cabin ionizer, noise-insulated glass, lane change assist, ventilated front seats, a Bose surround-sound audio system, the Porsche Dynamic Light System, ambient lighting, a storage package, and power-folding mirrors. It's $4,570 on the Turbo S, which already has some of those features. A recent addition to most options lists in the Porsche lineup is the SportDesign package. This adds a unique body kit that enhances the aggression factor of the car that it's added to, and features unique design elements depending on the vehicle it is fitted to. On both the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S, this costs $5,660.

If you want to enhance the futuristic look of the vehicle, you can upgrade your PDLS+ adaptive headlights to feature Glacier Blue elements, with this option adding $580 to your base build price. A system that we'd certainly recommend considering is the Porsche InnoDrive equipment group, which adds adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous driving for $3,610. There are various standalone options too, such as a head-up display at $1,850.

While up to 750 hp is certainly tempting, we doubt that anyone who experiences the acceleration of a regular Taycan Turbo with its maximum output of 670 horses would ever consider the vehicle slow. Thus, we'd opt for the lesser model and spend extra on advanced features like adaptive cruise control and perhaps a night vision camera. We'd also consider adding ventilated and massaging front seats, as well as the Premium package with its panoramic roof and lane change assist. With these features, you have a comfortable and efficient Taycan with plenty of power and a price below the Turbo S model's asking price of $185,000.

There's one thing that the Porsche can't rival Tesla for, and that's a sense of self-righteous superiority. That is the reason that many people opt for Teslas in much the same way that celebs once flocked to the Toyota Prius. It makes people feel morally superior, but with the Tesla, they can also subtly flex on how well off they are, something the Prius couldn't offer. The Taycan Turbo, on the other hand, is a first for Porsche and will take some time to be recognized as an Earth-friendly performance car. In terms of performance specs, the Tesla also boasts ultimate bragging rights. In its latest Plaid trim, the Model S can get from 0-60 mph in under two seconds - over half a second quicker than the Turbo S. That said, Porsche has been known to be conservative with their performance claims. How about range? Again, the Model S boasts better figures, with a substantially longer claimed range of 396 miles for the Model S Plaid. The Tesla is also less luxurious and less involving to drive, but offers more cargo space and a lower base price. For us, our admiration of Elon Musk's achievements is comprehensively beaten by the excellence of the Taycan Turbo. We'll take the Porsche this time.

If you're in the market for a car that can comfortably carry at least four people while wearing a Porsche badge, but you don't care for performance as much as you do for comfort and cargo space, the Cayenne is a worthy alternative. In standard form, its 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine produces 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, but it also boasts reasonable off-road ability and a towing capacity of 7,700 lbs. Its interior is just as gorgeous as that of the Taycan Turbo, but in a different manner. For those concerned with cost, the base price of $69,000 means you could buy two Cayennes for the price of a single Taycan Turbo. Nevertheless, we like how different and special the Taycan Turbo is, but the choice for buyers will likely come down to what the vehicle is most likely to be used for.