The Taycan Turbo has sporty performance, but far less range—is it a worthwhile trade-off?
The 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo has received its official EPA range rating, and there’s no way of putting it lightly: It pales in comparison to rivals from Tesla.
On the EPA’s test cycle, Taycan Turbo range is rated at 201 miles, with an MPGe rating of 69 MPGe combined. The EPA says it’ll cost $1.58 to drive 25 miles in the Taycan Turbo, with an estimated annual charging cost of $950 for 15,000 miles at a split of 45 percent highway and 55 percent city driving. While the EPA did not specify wheel size, we assume these figures are based on the vehicle’s stock 20-inch rollers.
Comparing the electric Porsche’s range to that of its Californian competitors is a bit of a shock. When shod with 21-inch wheels, 2020 Tesla Model S Performance range is EPA-rated at 326 miles, with a combined 97 MPGe rating. That results in a 25-mile driving cost of $1.17, and an estimated annual charging cost of $700.
Greater rolling efficiency is achieved with the Tesla Model S Performance’s 19-inch wheels, resulting in an EPA range rating of 348 miles, and 104 MPGe. Costs subsequently drop to $1.05 to drive 25 miles, and $650 annually.
The 2020 Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor Performance on 20-inch wheels gets a 299-mile range rating and 113 MPGe combined rating. Estimated charging costs are just $0.97 for 25 miles, and $600 annually.
Note that the EPA has rated only the Taycan Turbo, not the more powerful Taycan Turbo S or more affordable Taycan 4S.
Why the difference? After all, the Taycan Turbo’s 93-kilowatt-hour battery pack is about the same size as comparable Teslas. It’s not exactly clear, but Porsche is unperturbed. Reached for comment, a Porsche representative told MotorTrend, “We’re very happy with the performance of the car. Our customers will experience the performance and range necessary for everyday usability. The Taycan Turbo is a sports car. Range was never the primary objective. “
Asked if the company had done any third-party evaluation, the representative confirmed that Porsche hired AMCI Testing to conduct its city and highway commute cycle. Averaging the results of five test cycles on public roads in Southern California, Taycan Turbo range was rated at 275 miles—a significant discrepancy from the EPA’s results.
Concerns about range remain the primary barriers to electric vehicle adoption. In this regard, Tesla’s Model S and Model 3 still hold an advantage over Porsche’s first production EV. However, some Taycan Turbo buyers may be less concerned about maximum range and more about driving dynamics. We’ve driven the Taycan several times in different trims and found it to be a thrill—truly an EV deserving of the Porsche crest.
Nonetheless, we can only imagine Elon Musk smirking triumphantly as he learns the news of Porsche’s comparatively paltry range.