The Porsche Taycan 4S is the best EV you can buy in 2020 – here’s why

By B. O’Hare

Its been almost a year since Porsche unveiled their first all-electric vehicle, the Taycan. The result of years of development, the final production variant delivered on much of the promises of 2015’s Mission E Concept that previewed it.

However, most people were still annoyed with a few things – namely price and range. Yes, the Taycan looked stunning – but Porsche initially only revealed the high performance Turbo and Turbo S models. Both were rapidly quick and incredibly desirable, but with starting prices of $150,900 and $185,900 they failed to truly captivate the premium market. Plus, both managed less than 230 miles per charge in real-world conditions, not ideal for a luxury sports sedan many would road-trip in.

However, a few months later came the true gem of the Taycan lineup – the 4S. With a starting price of $96,300 after the FTC, the 4S is cheaper than a Tesla Model S Performance yet still comes with all the tech and features of the higher-end Turbo and Turbo S models. And despite the EPA’s harsh 203 mile certification, multiple 4S owners have since proven you can get up to 280 miles per charge in real-world conditions, provided you don’t drive like a complete lunatic of course. Perhaps those EPA testers are a bit wilder than we thought…

From my own recent experience of the 4S, I can confidently say it looks and drives just like the more expensive variants, despite the fact that it costs over around $50k less than the Turbo and $80k less than the Turbo S. In terms of straight line performance, it manages 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds – incredibly fast for a sedan, and surely fast enough for most. The build quality is sublime, much better than the likes of Tesla. However Elon Musk’s firm are still better on the tech and autonomy front, but it would be an understatement to say the Taycan is still adequate in those sectors. There’s enough space for a family of four, although rear-leg room is still somewhat limited, especially on longer journeys if you’re over 6 foot.

That said, overall it’s still hard to fault the entry-level version of Porsche’s EV super sedan. It’s amazing to drive, great to look at and (reasonably) attainable for the higher-end buyer. It’s hard to find a more complete EV on sale, especially when you consider factors such as brand heritage. That’s why I personally would take one over a Tesla Model S, which is still a fantastic option and was by far the best electric car on the market until the 4S arrived. It’s also important to note a RWD Taycan has gone on sale in China and will likely come to Europe and the US next year. It will manage up to 303 miles per charge, go from 0-60 mph in approximately 5 seconds and should start at $70-75k. Are you a fan of the Taycan? Would you consider one over a Model S? Let us know your thoughts in the replies section below!