Highlights
- High-quality materials used
- Smooth driving experience
- Surprisingly spacious
- Lots of character
Introduction
For many pure petrol-heads, Porsche is the pinnacle of performance and a brand which has dominated endurance racing for decades.
So the challenge of defending that reputation while moving into the new era of electrification means they have to come up with something special - and they have.
The Porsche Taycan 4S is a thoroughly modern and environmental expression of the company’s awesome mechanical engineering abilities.
It has been out for a couple of years, yet the range is compact, beginning with the Taycan 4S but then stretching minds and money to slightly more powerful and expensive derivatives, but the standard 4S makes a lot of sense if not noise.
Design and Practicality
Looking like a low-slung sleek coupé, it has four doors and a big boot with a front boot as well, and the passenger doors open wide to ease entry to a very roomy cabin with plenty of room to stretch out.
Modern electric packaging is compact, and the designers can easily fit a platform shape around the powertrain, keeping it close to the ground as well, for an added bonus to biting into the tarmac.
I appreciated the very clean lines of the facia, but it is also un-Porsche like with its minimalism, but that is the modern way now. However, there was no denying the look, fit and feel of everything inside was exemplary.
Secondary controls are simple and stalks and buttons all operated with a quality feeling often devoid in lesser cars.
The room inside would be excellent for four six-footers with plenty of headroom and legroom, and the rear boot and front compartment would swallow a few cases and bags for a long weekend.
I would, however, struggle a bit to fit many items into the oddments’ compartments in this slimmed down cabin, but it was a very comfortable experience.
That was a surprise because the seats looked on the thin side, and despite this they proved very comfortable and supportive.
Engines and Performance
Porsche’s system packs a huge punch anytime, but when you need a bit more boost it is there as well. Your first experience of opening the throttle of the Taycan 4S can be numbing and impressive at the same time.
With a time of 4.0 seconds to 62mph from rest it is really quick and with an 8.5 second time to 100mph, this is impressive for a sports car in the exciting era of pure petrol performers. It is really a touch and go supercar for the new century.
The power comes instantly, near silently and without any gear changes to contend with, it is silky as well as swift.
Robin Roberts
The charging system is comprehensive and ensures minimal downtime if you can find the boost you need.
Our run in the Taycan 4S suggested a range of a little over 260 miles and Porsche say it is just over 280 miles, which is good for a high performance sports EV.
Driving Experience
Full marks to Porsche for keeping a lot of feel in the steering, though and not opting for the easier, effortless feedback so beloved of most premium carmakers today.
This actually feels like a Porsche of old, with a fine balance to the action, just the right amount of pressure to turn the wheel and let the tyres bite. Grip is very good on any surface and at anything up to legal speed.
Roadholding is very good thanks to the low centre of gravity and aligned with the sharp handling, the Taycan 4S really is a great sporting experience. It does not tend to plough around bends or slide wide, but just stays planted and pointed towards where a driver wants it to go.
Slowing and stopping is an equally effortless experience, with rapid reduction possible from only light pedal pressure, and you have to get used to this feedback to prevent a jerky stop with the car standing on its nose.
Vision was excellent all round with low waistline, slim pillars and deep windows, bright lights and excellent wash wipe arrangement.
Noises were really confined to the road rumbles and some suspension movements with a whine from the motor when extended but driven gently it was muted.
Summary
Porsche models have never been cheap, but they are full of character, and the Taycan 4S follows its ancestors and delivers performance with minimal pollution. It really is a sports car for the modern age of the automobile.
Tesla really focused minds on what could be achieved with a decent battery pack, and Porsche took that as a starting point and has delivered their interpretation of what a modern sports car should be like.
The result is a very Porsche pleasure-pack for performance lovers.
