I've written in the past about how the Porsche 911 Carrera S creates opportunities every day, which is true, but perhaps not everyone needs every day to be an opportunity. Some people may enjoy the finer things in life (in this case, Porsche), but do not need a flat six motor howling file behind them. Fortunately, for all of us, Porsche devised such a car, and it is called the Taikan 4. True, it's damn expensive, even for a car that is a single notch above the base. But the combination of sufficient power, comfort, good looks, practicality, ease of use, sporty driving pretensions, low learning curve technology and relatively low running costs make it a mighty attractive offer.
Look at your head because you're going to hit it while you're in. Like all Porsche "4" models, the Taikan 4 is certainly all-wheel drive with one electric motor on the front and one on the back. Together, they make enough 429 horsepower and 449 pound-feet of torque. 30 years ago it would have been top-end power, but now Porsche is making more than 1,000 horsepower sedans and Suvs at the driver's disposal. Still, Taikang 4 is no slouch, especially for the average businessman on his way to his business meetings. With launch control engaged, Porsche says the Taikan 4 can sprint to 4.4 mph in just 60 seconds, dispatching a quarter mile in an equally impressive 12.9 seconds when equipped with an optional performance battery and the equipment my Neptune Blue Tester had bestowed on it.
If the said businessman is really in a hurry, he'll be able to take advantage of the Taikang 4's top speed of 143-mph. Of course, you need to remember that these are Porsche figures.That is, you can probably knock 0 to 60 minutes of time and 4 minutes of 1 mile of time number of 10 minutes of 1. It feels, as those numbers suggest, that every bit is active, and some things. Even when I was already at speed with the Taikan 4, the simple mat of the accelerator pushed me back to my seat in a way that only EVs could, and then, thanks to the Taikan's semi-unusual two-speed transmission, I could actually feel the gear shift as the car shuts forward.
The two gears may seem like a ton of difference, but if the car is already in motion, it does make for better acceleration. The aforementioned 105kWh Performance Battery Plus (the standard battery is 89kWh) is also suitable for an EPA estimated range of 294 miles, and based on time with the car, as well as charging specifications, according to Porsche, which says it's almost accurate, the larger battery can dc fast charge at 320kW - although it's not class leading. Similarly, up to the task of dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday life is the ride and handling of the Taikan 4. It will come as a shock that, like all Porsche, it is great in both respects.
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I've been driving all the big electric sedans on the market and I'm struggling to think of a single sedan with as much fun as this car for the simple reason of driving like a Porsche. The propulsion system feels almost secondary in the equation. The Taikan 4 is very Porsche first and EV second, and this is evident by the fact that, to my chagrin there is not much, any level of regenerative one-pedal drive, if you want an active ride, it is locked behind the more expensive and powerful 4S, but I'm sure it does not miss at all 4. i promise. Body movements are checked like rogue kids at a boarding school in the 1960s, but that ride sends your lower teeth through your upper gums I don't know how Porsche is doing this, but I'm not too smart either.
Despite the fact that I drove the car during a completely warm weather time of the year, it was supplied to me with a set of Pirelli P Zero winter tires- Even though I was in a less ideal rubber, the Taikan 4 still had enough mechanical grip to cope with the demands of everyday driving and even some spirited push-ups at Harriman State Park. As with all Porsche, the feel and weight of the steering is second to none, and I literally mean it. I don't know another EV with a better steering feel, both in center and turn, and it gets progressively better when the car switches from normal mode to sport and Sport+ mode. Further helping with the problem was the optional Porsche Torque Vectoring plus system, which helped push the nose when turning around the bend.
But no matter what mode I was in, it was always easy to put the car on the road, thanks to the prominent front fender, which is clearly visible through the windshield. This is a view that was actually replicated only on mid-engine sports cars. Of course, in addition to its beauty, there was a sports Chrono Pack on top of the dashboard. The Taikan 4 not only drives like a Porsche, but also feels like an inner Porsche. Today, most EVs on the road found best to remind drivers how futuristic and special they are through a lot of technology, large screens and bright colors inside, obviously it still has a screen. To be precise, a 12.6-inch curved digital gauge cluster, a 10.9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and an 8.4-inch all three just beneath it are very easy to use and almost Luddite friendly.
Sure, those people will complain about the lack of volume knobs and the need to control the vents through the screen below, but other than that, everything is as simple as modern cars can be — especially this advanced one. To simplify things further is the ability to hook up Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It is an interior that feels like you can pull out from 911, Cayenne, Panamera. Nothing specifically shouts about it, "This is an EV!" This is strange!"And for many buyers, it's fun and refreshing. It could be a pleasant reprieve for those who have seen the new Cayenne EV and been a bit overwhelmed by everything that's going on there.
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But what is overwhelming is the space behind. The steep roof of the Taikan 4 may look fantastic from the outside, but practicality is lost in the deal. 2 rear seat passengers have to do with just 36.2 inches of headroom, but this isn't exactly astounding, nor is it trunk space that sits at just 14.3 cubic feet. At least, frunk has another 2.9 cubic feet of room. I say I was able to fit a large cedar chest (40 inches long x 20 inches wide x 29 inches high) in the rear seat area of the Taikan. It took some finagling, but I did it. In any case, the occupants of the two front seats will have a magnificent old time. Heated and cooled by my tester, the 14-way power adjustable seat was a fun and comfortable mixture of both vegan leather and Porsche Pepita fabric in the middle.
That means they had the bonus of looking very cool. Losers may find them a bit difficult, but the words they are actually looking for are supportive. The Taikan 4 is not a cheap proposal, so your bank account is also a step above the base of the line-up, even though the car I drove was a 2025 model, but the 2027 pricing is already out, so you can price an equivalent car and things are not clean. Off the bat, the starting price rose to risen9,355, but some of it is baked from the jump, in addition to the jump5,980 performance battery. The thing is, Porsche is not the bone standard ever. The options are mandatory and we need to start adding them.
The outside only, so my tester's Neptune Blue paint($1,500),Aero wheel ($4,940, Black Badge($340),event logo($1,540),puddle light($420)accounted for more than$8,700 yen.Then when you go inside and add a Trick Leather-free Pepita interior ($2,330), heated rear seats ( $380), Sport Chrono package ($1,380), Lane Keeping Assist ($1,400), premium package ($ 8,160), you get a 14-way seat. Additional features include a fully-equipped, fully-equipped cabin, adaptive cruise control, ventilated front seats, a 360 degree camera, a head-up display, and soft closed doors. You added another $13,270 in options. Keep in mind, we are not even a performance option yet. Fortunately for my theoretical wallet, this Taycan4 wasn't too wildly spec'd.
The only thing checked under that drop-down was the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus ($1,580). Still, including the destination, this simple, one-notch-on-base electric sedan had a tested price of $142,850. That's a lot of money for what is a daily driver, at the end of the day. But here's the thing: Taycan4 is good. It's a damn good thing. If money is not a thing, it's hard to think of so many daily drivers who work more than this car, so we're probably driving them all and when you're the very best at something, you can order a certain price. Maybe I hit my head too many times while climbing the Taikang 4, because its price is almost starting to make sense to me.
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