2023 Porsche Taycan Turbo

Looking at the bald figures of the average Porsche Taycan Turbo review, you might not understand what the fuss is all about; after all, a Tesla Model S Plaid has a bigger trunk, can go a lot farther on a charge, is cheaper, has more power, and goes more quickly in a straight line. But that's not the whole story because the Taycan is about the driving experience and not just raw performance data. The Taycan has been engineered to feel and drive like a Porsche, and the Model S has no answer to this and feels heavy and cumbersome by comparison. With the overboost function activated, it's still a very quick car, with up to 670 horsepower available from the Turbo and up to 750 hp from the Turbo S, the latter getting you to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. It's way more fun to drive than a Tesla, and the brakes actually work. And compared to the slower Audi RS e-tron GT with which it shares many under-the-skin bits and the more expensive Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance, the base $153k base price of the 2023 Porsche Taycan Turbo actually looks like fair value, if not against the aging but blisteringly quick - and far cheaper - Model S Plaid.

The MSRP of the Porsche Taycan Turbo is $153,300, while the Turbo S will cost you $187,400. These prices don't include the $1,450 destination fee.

A Model S Plaid's hypercar-beating straight-line figures are impressive, but it's a one-trick pony compared to the Taycan Turbo. The Porsche has been engineered with handling and driving fun in mind, and it will leave the Plaid for dead on a mountain road. Typically EV, the battery weight sits in the floor, lowering the center of gravity. Combined with Porsche's standard 4D Chassis Control and adaptive air suspension, there is virtually no body roll to speak of, and the Taycan Turbo exhibits staggering cornering grip and poise. It helps greatly that the controls have been calibrated to suit, and the electric power steering is tuned like just Porsche seems able to - it's sharp and accurate and doesn't feel like it's connected to the wheels via radio linkage, as is often the case in big sedans. The Taycan doesn't offer one-pedal driving, and some have criticized the iffy brake feel, but there's no doubting the superiority of the braking system compared to anything else in this class. For once, this is an EV with brakes engineered to rein in the weight. Yet, despite all these abilities, ride comfort is superb when you slow down and enjoy the scenery, so the Taycan Turbo can effectively double as a properly comfortable touring sedan.

To get back to where we started, if you're going to look at the numbers only and you just want a large electric sedan with devastating straight-line speed and a big trunk, the Taycan is unlikely to float your boat. Its cargo space is limited compared to rivals, and a Model S or Air can go way farther on a charge. But if you enjoy driving, love the feel of Porsche's sports cars, and want an electric sedan that can emulate that DNA and corner like a true sporting thoroughbred, nothing in the class can come close to the Taycan Turbo. It's expensive, but it still gives you that quintessential Porsche driving experience, and there's no substitute for that.

The Turbo S is very expensive at close to $190k, so we think the best value lies with the Turbo at $34k-odd less and with 16 miles more range. Its 0-60 sprint of 3 seconds is already more than quick enough to enjoy the superb handling with, and we'd rather spend the extra money on some missing features, such as the Technology package with its adaptive cruise control, head-up display, passenger multimedia screen, lane-change assist, and remote park assist. In terms of luxuries, the Premium package adds the rest of what we would like, including a surround-view camera, a panoramic sunroof, and ventilated front seats.