Used Porsche Taycan 2020-present review

What's the used Porsche Taycan like?

The Porsche Taycan arrived a few years ago as somewhat of a game changer. We'd all seen electric cars with ludicrous acceleration before, but there was little to truly entertain and reward us in the bends. The conventionally powered performance car had that on lockdown, until the Taycan.

A prominent issue electric cars deal with is weight. Batteries are heavy and can help induce everything from sloppy handling to poor comfort. To mitigate the problem, Porsche placed as much of that weight as possible low down in the car, giving it an incredibly low centre of gravity.

Overview

One of the very best electric cars money can buy, you'll just need quite a lot of it. The Porsche Taycan is a truly formidable performance car and one that can easily compete with non-electric rivals. A troublesome reliability record is all that stands between it and five stars.

Pros

• Astonishing to drive, with great performance and class-leading handling
• Luxurious interior
• Reasonably practical

Cons

• Very poor reliability
• Some alternatives will go further on a single charge

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Performance & Range: The 4S version is worth paying attention to. It sits among the most affordable used Taycans, because this mid-range variant was the first one to market. It has four-wheel drive and we saw 0-60mph in 3.6sec. That time was achieved in a 93kWh Performance Battery Plus car, we should add. This version of the 4S has more power and range than the standard 79kWh 4S, yet it remains relatively affordable on the used market.

The range for the 93kWh 4S is officially 282 miles, although expect around 234 miles in the real world. The GTS, Turbo and Turbo S also have this battery, so a similar distance is achievable. The 79kWh 4S (this battery is also available in the entry-level, rear-wheel-drive Taycan, although so is the 93kWh one) has an official range of 230 miles. Charging speeds can be found on the next page.

Ride & Handling: That aforementioned low centre of gravity naturally reduces body roll – the Taycan keeps itself very flat when cornering – and lessens the need for stiff suspension. That said, every Taycan variant comes with adjustable suspension, so you can sharpen or relax the driving experience at will. In the latter setting, the ride is impressively supple.

In any setting, although more so in its sharper ones, the Taycan is remarkably composed and precise in the bends. You feel a great amount of confidence in it, thanks in part to its well-weighted steering. As of writing, used rivals – the Audi E-tron GT and Mercedes EQS to name two – can't match it.

Some can match or exceed the Taycan's talent in a straight line, although the bar is high and you shouldn't be disappointed with the performance on offer here: in our hands, the entry-level Taycan did 0-60mph in 5.1sec and, according to Porsche, the range-topping Turbo S can hit 62mph in as little as 2.8sec. The Tesla Model S is similarly quick as the Taycan and its Plaid variant can outrun the Turbo S.

Interior & Practicality: Not only do few come close to the Taycan on the road, but it's a similar story in regards to interior quality. Every surface you touch feels suitably upmarket and it all feels beautifully screwed together. You can’t say either of those things about the Mercedes EQS. If you’re a fan of the grippy, suede-like material Race-Tex, you'll particularly enjoy the GTS, which has plenty of it on the seats, lower dash, roof lining and steering wheel.

The driving position is superb. You sit closer to the ground than in most electric cars, so you immediately feel as though you’re in something properly sporty. The seats are wonderfully supportive on a long journey and have good side support for cornering. Eight-way electrically adjustable seats are standard from new, but you'll find used examples with more adjustment (if the original owner paid extra for it or got the GTS).

You should be able to justify buying a Taycan to your partner, although don't take our word for it. There's a good amount of space for four adults inside (or five at a squeeze) and the boot is plenty big enough for a buggy or a set of golf clubs.

In terms of outright load space, we managed to fit in six carry-on suitcases with room left over for a soft bag, which is more than the VW Golf boot can swallow. If you need more boot space, have a look at the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.

Trims & Equipment: All Taycans have (at least) 19in alloy wheels, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a powered tailgate and a heat pump. Original owners had to pay extra for keyless entry, privacy glass, a heated steering wheel, full leather seats and adaptive cruise control. The GTS, Turbo and Turbo S come with extra standard kit from the factory, but they cost the most to buy.

Interested in buying a used Porsche Taycan? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Ownership cost

What used Porsche Taycan will I get for my budget?

As of writing, a new 4S is £95,500 (before optional extras), so to pick one – a 2020 model – up for as little as £30,000 is an astonishing deal. Many you'll see are fitted with thousands of pounds of extras, too, as well as the 93kWh battery.

The entry-level, rear-wheel-drive model (often referred to as RWD) rises to around £35,000, while Turbo and Turbo S cars go for around £40,000 and £42,000 respectively. Due to its inclusion in the Porsche Taycan line-up in 2022, the GTS proves to be the most expensive. You'll need at least £49,000 to buy one.

For a 2023 or 2024 Taycan (of any kind), have upwards of £50,000, a little more for a 2025 car.

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Our recommendations

Which used Porsche Taycan should I buy?

The 4S with the 93kWh battery makes perfect sense as the one to go for. This Porsche Taycan is amongst the most affordable you'll find used, yet it isn't even the entry-level car. Good range meets great performance here.

Our favourite Porsche Taycan: 4S Performance Plus 93kWh

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Porsche Taycan?

The Audi E-tron GT shares a mechanical basis, the 93kWh battery and more with the Porsche Taycan. It's not quite as amazing to drive, yet it's similarly priced on the used market, so we'd say the Taycan is the way to go here. However, it's a close call – to the point where we would easily forgive someone for choosing the GT solely because they prefer the way it looks.

The Mercedes EQS is around £10,000 more expensive than the Taycan on the used market. To drive, it lacks the polish of the Taycan. Its interior doesn't feel as well screwed together either. It'll go very far on a single charge, though, with the 450+ version's official figure being more than 450 miles.

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Interested in buying a used Porsche Taycan? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.