5 Reasons to Avoid a Porsche Taycan at All Costs

Key Points

• The Porsche Taycan has a limited range of 222 to 246 miles, while the Tesla Model S’s range is almost double at 405 miles. 
• The car’s limited range leads to longer charging times. This EV may take more than 90 minutes with a 50kW DC fast charger and about 24 hours to be fully charged at a Level 1 station.
• The maintenance costs keep increasing. Porsche Taycan’s maintenance and repair costs can be around $4,000 a year.
• It has limited interior space. This electric sedan has a total cargo space of 29 cubic feet, with limited legroom and headroom for rear-seat passengers.
• The car has some environmental concerns. These include extracting rare metals for the battery and releasing harmful chemicals in its manufacturing and disposal.

The Taycan is Porsche’s first-ever all-electric car that became an instant commercial success for the company. In fact, this 4-door sedan won the World Luxury Car and World Performance Car awards at the World Car of the Year Awards 2020 (WCOTY) in its debut year. While everything seemed to work for Porsche, many consumers reported a few issues with the Taycan. After all, this EV is a bit new in the market, so it’s understandable to avoid a Porsche Taycan and wait for the company to address the complaints. 

The Porsche Taycan is undoubtedly a high-performing, luxurious, and drool-worthy sports car, but that shouldn’t be your only concern when buying an EV. Instead, you must evaluate your budget, the vehicle’s energy consumption, charging times, the interior space, and more. 

Porsche has released many models in its Taycan series, including the 4S, GTS, Turbo, Turbo S, Cross Turismo, and Sport Turismo. All these electric cars are one of a kind, but there have been a few complaints about each anyway. Let’s dig into them.

#1: This Electric Sedan Offers a Limited Range

Porsche’s electric cars are known for their amazing range. However, when you compare it to similar models in the market, you’ll learn that it’s way shorter than what you can get with other options. According to Porsche, its Taycan category has an estimated 222 to 246 miles of range. 

Comparatively, other electric sports cars, such as the Tesla Model S, offer up to 405 miles. Meanwhile, the Mercedes EQS can provide up to 453 miles of range, almost double what the Taycan offers. From the company’s perspective, it could be the car’s battery size, weight, and the weather affecting its range.

For instance, the Taycan’s battery pack is smaller than other electric cars. Its Performance Battery has only 79.2kWh of energy, while the Tesla Model S has a nominal battery capacity of 103.0kWh. Another reason for Taycan’s limited range is its weight. It is pretty heavy, weighing around 5,000lbs, which increases the battery’s load and reduces the vehicle’s range. 

An EV’s range is also believed to be reduced in colder environments because the battery works more to keep the engine warm. So, if you plan to use your electric sedan for long-distance traveling, this could be a valid reason to avoid a Porsche Taycan.

#2: Longer Charging Times

An electric car that takes longer to charge kills the purpose of owning an EV. Car enthusiasts prefer buying expensive electric vehicles because they won’t have to stand in gas station lines multiple times daily. 

EVs usually charge fully in less than an hour! That applies to the Taycan too, but this electric sedan may take more than 90 minutes with a 50kW DC fast charger. However, it takes about 24 hours to charge at a Level 1 station fully. Comparatively, the Tesla cars may take 20 hours or even less at this charging level. 

That could be a bummer if you don’t have access to a fast charger or you’re traveling to an area with only a few EV charging stations. Here is a quick breakdown of how long charging a Porsche Taycan takes at different charging stations:

So what adds to the Porsche Taycan’s longer charging time other than the range? The first is its limited battery size (79.2kWh), and the second is its temperature. An EV has to maintain a certain temperature for the battery to work the best. If the vehicle is too hot or cold, its charging speed will also be affected. 

However, its charging time isn’t too bad. So, it shouldn’t be a solid reason to avoid a Porsche Taycan if you don’t travel a lot.

#3: The Maintenance Costs Keep Increasing

Like other EVs, the maintenance and repair costs of Porsche vehicles significantly increase in the long run. They’re manufactured with the best components, advanced technologies, and modern features — all requiring frequent service. The Porsche Taycan’s maintenance costs for different elements are estimated to be around:

• Tire Rotations. Porsche suggests customers get tire rotations after 6,000 miles, costing around $50 to $100 for the Taycan. 
• Oil Changes. You should get an oil change for your Porsche Taycan every 10,000 miles. The expected cost will range between $100 and $200.
• Brake Service. The brake pad requires maintenance every 30,000 to 40,000 miles, costing around $1,000 to $2,000.
• Battery Maintenance. The Porsche Taycan’s battery has an 8-year or 100,000 miles of warranty. However, if you feel your vehicle’s performance is deteriorating, you will need a battery replacement outside the warranty period. 
• Other Costs. Taycan’s maintenance costs include brake fluid flush, air filter replacement, and cabin air filter replacement services. These can add $200 to the total maintenance cost.

Overall, a Porsche’s repair and maintenance costs fall between $2,000 and $4,000 a year, which can be a good reason to avoid a Porsche Taycan. Your model’s exact cost will depend on its mileage, your driving habits, and how well you care for it. 

#4: It Has a Limited Interior Space

The Taycan’s sporty, luxurious, and sleek exterior is the first thing that meets a viewer’s eye. However, when you focus on its interior, you will find many limitations, especially related to its space. The vehicle has a coupe-like profile and insufficient headroom and legroom in the rear seats. 

If you’re looking for a spacious sports car, the Porsche Taycan may not meet most of your expectations. Here is a quick overview of some interior space limitations:

• The Coupe-Like Design Decreases the Headroom. The coupe-like profile of the Porsche Taycan is the very reason many car enthusiasts fall for this vehicle. Unfortunately, while it gives the vehicle a sporty appearance, it results in limited headroom in the rear seat. This can be problematic for tall people. The sloping roofline can also limit the visibility for the rear-seat passengers, making entering and exiting the vehicle a hassle. 
• Insufficient Legroom. Besides headroom, the Porsche Taycan also offers limited legroom for rear-seat passengers. If you have longer legs, this could be a bummer for the passengers sitting in the back of your gorgeous EV.
• Not-So-Impressive Cargo Space. The Porsche Taycan has a rear cargo space of 14.3 cubic feet and a front trunk (frunk) of 2.9 cubic feet. The area in the rear compartment can become 29 cubic feet when you fold the seats. While that compensates for the space shortage, it’s still average for an electric sedan. Comparatively, the Tesla Model X has a space of 43.5 cubic feet, the BMW iX includes 35.5 cubic feet, and the Tesla Model Y offers 34.3 cubic feet.

The Porsche Taycan’s interior is great, but it lacks the above things if you look at it with a keen eye.

#5: The Car Raises Some Environmental Concerns

Electric vehicles are considered more sustainable and environmentally friendly than gasoline cars. They have zero to no emissions and a small carbon footprint. Yet, many people are concerned about the Porsche Taycan’s environmental effects, mostly related to its production process.  

Some common environmental concerns associated with the Porsche Taycan include the following:

• Extraction of Rare Metals. The Taycan’s battery pack comprises lithium, cobalt, and several rare, naturally occurring metals. Thus, to extract them, the miners must dig through the earth, destroying the natural habitat and causing carbon emissions and water pollution. 
• Manufacturing and Disposal Processes of Electric Batteries. The production of EV batteries is an energy-intensive process that involves harmful chemicals. The processing of raw materials and disposing of the batteries once they’ve reached their lifespan pose serious environmental threats if not done properly.
• The Emissions From the Energy Sources. Electric vehicles don’t produce tailpipe emissions, but that doesn’t guarantee zero environmental impact. In this case, the concern is associated with the electricity source used for charging. If it is a fossil fuel power plant, it means the emissions will still be produced from the plant. Either way, the environment is getting compromised. 

However, these concerns are related to almost every EV. Therefore, if this deeply concerns you, you may want to look into alternative transport options.

Wrap Up

The Porsche Taycan is a modern, high-performing, and award-winning electric sedan. Despite all its attractive features, consumers reported a few complaints about this EV, especially its range and charging time. The Taycan’s range is only 246 miles at maximum, fully charging in 93 minutes at a 50kWh charger. Comparatively, Teslas can fully charge in half an hour. 

The Porsche Taycan also has high maintenance costs and limited interior space at the rear end. It also has many environmental concerns, making consumers avoid a Porsche Tayacn at all costs.

5 Reasons to Avoid a Porsche Taycan

Avoid a Porsche Taycan and Check Out These Electric Sedans Instead

You can explore many other options in the market for electric sedans, such as:

• Tesla Model S has almost double the range of the Taycan.
• Audi e-tron GT is a close competitor to the Porsche Taycan, with many similar features but a slightly longer range.
• Mercedes-Benz EQS is a fancy option with an impressive range of up to 410 miles. 
• Lucid Air offers a maximum range of 520 miles, a great alternative to the Porsche Taycan.

No matter which option you choose from the above, don’t forget to evaluate your needs and budget in the process. All of them are worth buying, with varying unique selling points. So, consider thoroughly and invest in your dream electric sedan!

The image featured at the top of this post is ©skirgaila photography/Shutterstock.com.