Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

The Porsche Taycan falls completely short of the Model S when it comes to range

Ronan Glon
By
1 of 11
2020 Porsche Taycan 4S
Porsche Taycan 4S
Porsche Taycan 4S
Porsche Taycan 4S
Porsche Taycan 4S
Porsche Taycan 4S
Porsche Taycan 4S
Porsche Taycan 4S
Porsche Taycan 4S
2020 porsche taycan 4s specs performance pricing announced 11
Porsche Taycan 4S

The Taycan, Porsche’s long-anticipated answer to the Tesla Model S, made its debut earlier in 2019, and its full specifications are beginning to trickle out. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put the electric sedan through its paces and concluded it’s capable of driving for up to 201 miles on a single charge. That’s far lower than anything Tesla makes.

Motorists who take home a 2020 Taycan Turbo can expect to drive for up to 201 miles between charges. The size of the wheels affects range (and fuel economy on a gasoline- or diesel-powered cars), and the EPA didn’t reveal what it tested the car on, but it’s reasonable to assume that figure is valid when the Taycan rolls on the 20-inch alloys it comes standard with.

Recommended Videos

There are no two ways around it: 201 miles really isn’t great, especially considering this is an expensive luxury sedan. To add perspective, the more affordable Panamera offers 545 miles of range when equipped with a V6 rated at 23 miles per gallon. And, if it’s an electric car you’re set on, Tesla’s Model S achieves up to 348 miles of range when it’s fitted with 19-inch wheels, and 326 miles with the 21-inchers. The smaller, cheaper Model 3 Performance checks in at 299 miles.

Related

The EPA only tested the Taycan Turbo; it hasn’t published numbers for the range-topping Turbo S, or for the cheaper 4S yet. The latter will likely score better on the range board when it’s ordered with the optional Performance Battery Plus.

The 201-mile range likely won’t be a deal-breaking number for buyers.

Driving range is easy to quantify, it’s like horsepower or a zero-to-60-mph time, but does it actually matter? It depends on who you ask. For many motorists, 201 miles is enough because it far exceeds the average American commute, which hovers around 16 miles one-way. Buyers ready to plop down six figures on a Taycan likely have a parking spot for it, and they can afford to install a home charger. And, odds are they have another car (or two, or three) to use when they need to drive across their state — or beyond. So although 201 miles pales in comparison to what Tesla achieves, we doubt it’s going to be a dealbreaker for any of the hand-raisers looking to take a Taycan home.

We’ve reached out to Porsche for comment, and we’ll update this story if we learn more. Until then, Jalopnik pointed out Porsche hired an independent testing company to obtain a second range estimate, and the number obtained bodes well for the Taycan. AMCI testing gave it a 275-mile range in a mixed driving cycle, meaning a healthy blend of city and highway driving. As is often the case with electric cars, your mileage will literally vary depending on a number of factors, like which accessories you’re using (e.g., the air conditioning or the seat heaters), and the outside temperature.

Updated 12-12-2019: Added information about ACMI results.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Giant new battery pack could give Tesla’s Model S 400-plus miles of range
tesla model s

Tesla engineers are working on a new, bigger battery pack that will put an end to range anxiety once and for all. The company hasn't announced concrete plans to give its cars a generous bump in range, but an eagle-eyed hacker named Jason Hughes shed light on what's secretly in the works by exploring recently-released firmware.

https://twitter.com/wk057/status/1230154980964937728

Read more
Tesla Model S, Model X could get major interior and powertrain updates in 2020
tesla model s

One of the most prominent Tesla hackers has learned that the company is about to update the Model S and the Model X, the two oldest nameplates in its three-car lineup. The firm often makes changes to its vehicles via its over-the-air software updating system, but the next round of upgrades will include hardware modifications carried out at the factory.

A mysterious hacker who goes by the name Green wrote on Twitter that Tesla files he has been able to view reveal that the S and the X are about to receive a wireless device charger, two new batteries, new-look seats, a different charging port, and a redesigned suspension. The addition of a Qi charger might require a broader interior redesign, which rumors have pointed to for the past few months. The S and the X might also get the same touchscreen as the Model 3 and the Y. And while we're intrigued by the new batteries, details about their capacity remain under wraps for the time being.

Read more
BMW will launch an electric version of one of its most popular models in 2020
bmw ix3 electric car specifications prototype

BMW released the first details of an upcoming electric version of its X3 crossover. The automaker previously showed a concept version of the model, called iX3, but is only now discussing specifications. The iX3 starts production in 2020, and will be sold alongside the existing gasoline X3 in the United States.

The iX3 will have BMW's fifth-generation electric powertrain, which will also be used in the upcoming i4 sedan. A key improvement of the new powertrain is the way electric motors, the transmission, and related electronics are grouped together for more efficient packaging. The iX3's motor design also eliminates the need for rare earth metals, BMW claims.

Read more