Performance-oriented electric cars are a dime a dozen in 2025, but few come close to the kind of absolute driving machine that the new Porsche Taycan is. That said, as a four-door family car, the new Taycan has so much more to offer than just the thrill behind the steering wheel. Recently in Bangkok, I closely examined Porsche’s flagship EV in its base variant, and here are some interesting observations I made:
Design
The particularly flat and wide headlights with four-point daytime running lights and the low-set, flat hood make the Taycan immediately recognizable. It’s not the most attractive front-end of all Porsches on sale today, but I think the updated model’s de-linked and shorter vertical air inlets do help it look a little cleaner and make it more likable. The lower front fascia looks too basic, and the optional gloss black or carbon-fiber versions would certainly help.
The dynamic side profile with the low and steeply sloping roofline and the striking rear-end with an end-to-end narrow light bar are far more appealing in my opinion. On the new Taycan, customers can now specify the tail light with an illuminated brand logo featuring welcome/leaving animations.
Interior
Stepping inside, I found that Porsche has started offering brushed aluminum door sill protectors even in the base variant of the Taycan following the facelift. This small change elevates the sense of luxury. Apart from that, I noticed that the interior of the new Taycan is overall hard to tell from the previous model.
Even though I am 5’7”, the low height of the new Taycan meant I had to mind my head entering it. Yet, my hair did brush against the cantrail, which means ingress and egress won’t be easy here for six-foot or taller people. Locked in the driver’s seat, I looked around and noticed the rear visibility was poor, but that’s the compromise Porsche had to make to achieve the impressive 0.22 Cd drag coefficient and maximize the range. The steering wheel had an electrically adjustable column and felt adequately grippy.
I had approximately six inches of headroom even in the highest position. The lumbar support was great and the under-thigh support was superb, courtesy of an extendable cushion. The material quality was impressive and noticeably better than typical German luxury cars. I particularly liked the grille-less design of AC vents, the abundant use of soft-touch materials, and the seat comfort.
While I had no complaints with comfort or quality, I felt the infotainment system needed improvement. The dual-screen layout feels unnecessary and eats into the storage space. The lack of physical controls for adjusting speaker volume and cabin temperature is another letdown.
When I sat right behind the driver’s seat, which was still in my preferred position, I had good legroom and knee room. On the downside, the backrest wasn’t reclinable, and the under-thigh support was average. I had a little over two inches of headroom, meaning tall passengers will not find it comfortable here. A center armrest with two cupholders, two AC vents, a touchscreen to control comfort functions, and two USB Type-C ports are among the amenities Porsche provides for rear-seat passengers.
Specifications
The new Porsche Taycan is available with 82.3 kWh (net) and 97.0 kWh (net) battery packs in the base variant, and this particular unit had the former. Both charge up from 10 to 80% as quickly as 18 minutes, but while the smaller unit gives an EPA-estimated range of 274 miles, the bigger unit delivers an EPA-estimated range of 318 miles.
The standard-range configuration comes with a lower-output rear motor that produces 402 hp and 302 lb.-ft. of torque (with Launch Control), while the long-range configuration uses a higher-output rear motor that develops 429 hp and 309 lb.-ft. of torque to compensate for its heavier battery pack. Both do 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 143 mph (with summer tires).
Price
In the U.S., the new Porsche Taycan retails for USD 100,300 (excl. USD 2,250 DPH fee) in the standard-range configuration and USD 106,080 (excl. USD 2,250 DPH fee) in the long-range configuration.
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
