Recently, I got a chance to test drive the upcoming Porsche Taycan GTS. It’s not every day you get offered to do something like this, so I couldn’t say no. I flew up to Brisbane to see what the new Taycan GTS was like to drive and where it sat in the Porsche EV lineup.
The day involved a mixture of driving around the curvy roads of the Gold Coast hinterland, a track run and then I took the Taycan for a cruisy drive around the cane fields to Cabbage Tree Point.
This mixture gave me an idea of what this car would be like to drive on daily commutes as well as some weekend touring.
The traffic we encountered on the curvy roads was definitely more than what we’d see on daily commutes. Lots of trucks coming off construction sites and local quarries made getting stuck behind them part of the experience.
It’s not the ideal position for an electric Porsche, and not exactly what it was designed for, but I have to say, the Taycan GTS does very well in stop-and-go traffic!
So let’s explore what this car is all about and what it says about Porsche’s path to electrification.
What does it cost?
The Porsche GTS starts at $241,900 before on-roads. The options on the car I test drove made up of another $47,000, bringing the car with Carmine Red paint to $289,170 before on-road charges. Some of the notable options fitted to this car included:
- GTS interior package in Carmine Red
- Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) Sport
- 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels
- Rear-axle steering
- Passenger display
The pricing for comparison is more than the Tesla Model S Plaid. One of the real differences is that Tesla is no longer offering the Tesla Model S for purchase in Australia. On the other hand, you can purchase a Porsche Taycan today but be willing to wait for many months before taking delivery of one.
With on-roads included, the very capable Taycan GTS I drove was more than the $300,000 driveaway mark.
Where does this model sit in the Taycan lineup?
This model sits in the middle of the Porsche Taycan lineup. It’s above the base 4S model which Bridie had a chance to test drive last year. It also sits below the Turbo Taycan Cross Turismo that Bridie also drove earlier this year.
The Taycan GTS felt like the top-of-the-range Taycan 4S when it came to the interior. Part of it was the premium interior package which was an $8,370 option included in the car I tested. It was a really nice place to be in with the red GTS stitching on the headrests and seats.
On the inside this mid-range model of the Taycan looks great but what about the outside?
How does it look?
On the outside, I found the car in that Carmine red to look gorgeous! The car really stood out under the bright Queensland sun on that day. Maybe that’s just me as I am a bit of a sucker for red EVs.
The headlights are quite different to what you’d find on most other EVs so are quite a signature for Porsche. From the side, the car looks quite aerodynamic just like all of Porsche’s sportscar lineup.
It does look bigger than their conventional 911 which is what most people considering a daily driver are looking for. With the EV, you’ll naturally get the quicker acceleration and the constant torque thrill that you may not find in other cars.
The black wheels also makes this car stand out, although they are another options added to the car I test drove.
How comfortable is it on the roads?
After driving it on the curvy Hinterland roads and through the fairly flat roads to Cabbage Tree Point, I found the Taycan GTS a very comfortable ride.
It didn’t feel bouncy on any of the roads which is what you’d expect from a sports EV with a firmer suspension. I really liked that aspect of this Taycan. I imagine the Turbo models to offer a more “sportier” feel which could compromise the comfort levels while driving the car.
The seats were fairly comfortable although sitting in the back seat to see what that was like did make it a bit harder to get in and out of when comparing it to another sports EV like the Tesla Model 3 Performance. The Taycan did offer more room on the inside being a larger car.
How much range does it have?
On paper, the Porsche Taycan GTS model offers the best range across the Taycan range. The 93kWh battery pack offers a 485kms of range. When I got in the car though, it was in the Sports Plus mode and one of the many screens in the car showed a range of 363kms at 99% State of Charge (SoC).
Now I didn’t get a chance to find out why there was this difference in range between modes but I did like the accuracy of the range. That’s because it’s a performance-orientated EV and on the track, it’s quite important to have accurate range estimates. On the daily drives though, the standard drive mode would offer what most owners are looking for.
By the end of the day, the car I test drove was down to 21% of the range which included quite a bit of track driving too.
Next, I looked at the storage in the boot which becomes important on longer drives and day trips.
What about the boot space?
The boot space in the Taycan GTS is what you’d expect from a large sedan. It had a couple of compartments but overall was fairly minimalistic. Overall, there was plenty of space but for those looking for more, the Taycan Turbo Cross Tourismo would offer much more practical space.
The opening of the boot was easy to operate with a power tailgate close on offer. Just what you expect from a premium EV sedan.
Now to look at what it’s like where the Porsches were designed for – Porsche Taycan GTS on the race track.
Is it fast around a track?
Now I am not a race car driver by any means, but on the track the Taycan GTS looked and felt right at home. It definitely has the acceleration to get from 0-100km/hr in under 4 seconds. That’s a Tesla Model 3 Performance territory sprint.
Comparing it to the other ICE 911s that were there also there on the day, it felt quicker and being an EV, of course, quieter.
Around corners, the Taycan feels smaller than it physically is. The EV was nimble and the steering was very responsive. For an amateur track driver like myself it provided a pretty awesome experience. For those more experienced, it would be even better!
What did I love about the Taycan GTS?
Porsches are known for the driving experience they offer. The Taycan GTS is no different. For its size, it gives the best of both worlds: space and comfort for daily driving and occasional track day fun.
This EV felt very premium and I could see why the Taycan has been selling so well in absence of the Tesla Model S. The steering felt very precise and the shift between driving on the Gold Coast hinterland roads, the M1 motorway and track felt quite seamless.
The drive modes also were easy to switch between straight from the steering wheel too. The key was also a nice touch and matched the carmine red paint of the Taycan GTS.
Are there any improvements needed?
Coming from a Tesla, one thing that stood out to me was the number of interfaces with each of the 3 main screens having its own interface. This made it a bit overwhelming at times especially when you first get in the car.
Using the main navigation screen also took a bit of getting used to. I understand that this might be just my personal preference and over time, if I got to live with the car for a couple of days, I could easily get used to it.
During the first drive, the GPS pointer went missing even though the route was all set in the navigation interface. This made it a bit harder to track where you were on unfamiliar roads.
I am sure that was just a glitch that could be fixed over a software update. I didn’t see it reappear on any of the other cars on the day.
Final Thoughts: How serious is Porsche about EVs?
Talking to Porsche representatives on the day, it was pretty clear that they are serious about electrification. EVs are already becoming a big part of their offering and with the global push in important markets like Europe and China, Australia is sure to reap the benefits of this move.
The Taycan GTS offers a lot for existing Porsche owners with a familiar driver-focused cockpit but also the comforts you’d expect from a large premium EV sedan.
Of course, all this comes at a price in the Taycan GTS, which at over $250,000, will only be suited to the few who can afford this cross between a luxury daily driver and weekend track beast.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.