Porsche Taycan vs Tesla Model S: Bests of Electrified Performance Models Compared

While we have all loved the experience and charms of big V8 and V10 engines in supercars, the fact that the future is electric makes us realize the importance of two of the best electric performance cars – the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S. These two cars showcase how performance will be benchmarked in the future, and currently are offering an experience unheard before in the world of supercars.

Following is a comprehensive comparison of all the aspects of Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S, and find out what all things they offer in a better way when compared to each other:

Price

Porsche shocked everyone when it launched the Taycan in India with a starting price of Rs 1.58 crore, making it more affordable than the car it is based on, the Audi e-Tron GT. This is the price of the base variant, which goes up to Rs 1.72 crore for the 4S variant. The Turbo and Turbo S variants are priced at Rs 2.19 crore and Rs 2.41 crore, respectively. The Tesla Model S is not available in India as of now. However, if it arrives in India, expect it to be priced at Rs 1.5 crore for the Long Range variant and Rs 2 crore for the Plaid variant.

(All prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, pan India)

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Engine and Performance

Both are performance-oriented tech-packed four-door saloons, with one turning out to be a clear winner by miles. The Porsche Taycan gets 300 kW motor for the base variant, 390 kW motor for the 4S, 500 kW motor for the Turbo and 560 kW motor for the Turbo S. The performance outputs produced from these motors are 402 bhp power and 344 Nm torque in the base variant, 523 bhp power and 640 Nm torque in 4S, 671 bhp power and 850 Nm torque in Turbo and 751 bhp power and 1050 Nm torque in Turbo S.

When it comes to sheer performance, the Tesla Model S pips the Porsche Taycan left, right and centre. The Long Range variant comes with a 500 kW motor which makes 670 bhp of power and 980 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the Plaid variant gets a 760 kW motor which produces 1020 bhp of power and 1423 Nm of torque. In their range-topping variants, the 0-100 kph sprint is done in 2.8 seconds by the Taycan and 1.9 seconds by the Model S.

Dimensions

When it comes to exterior stance, both Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S look substantially large, having a poised appearance with their stretched and low slung profiles. However, it is the Model S, which has a clear advantage here as well. It is 17 mm longer and 59 mm taller while being almost equally wide. The wheelbase of the Model S is 60 mm more than the Taycan, giving it more room at the back and a substantially larger boot space, which is almost double that of the Taycan at both front and rear.

Exterior Design

The Porsche Taycan has shown us how the Porsches from the future will look. The traditional rounded design of the 911 and Panamera have been blended well with futuristic looking cues, thus making the Taycan look very appealing. The curved bonnet, sloping down the roofline, wide all-LED headlamps with quad daytime running LED arrangement and slimmer looking LED tail lamps joined by an LED light bar gives it a very premium and sporty look on the outside. The air passages in the front bumper and edges of the front door panels add to the aerodynamic appeal of the car.

On the other hand, the latest iteration of the Tesla Model S has come a long way from the original model launched in 2012. The latest iteration has a minimalist but elegant look and appears more aerodynamic than the Taycan with its more rounded front and rear profiles and roofline. The headlamps and tail lamps of the Model S look as fancy as those of the Taycan. Both the cars come with flush-type door handles and large alloy wheels in the range of 19 to 21 inches.

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Interior Design

The cabins of both the cars here are properly modern in overall feel. However, they both follow entirely different approaches. The interior of the Porsche Taycan is swarmed with high-definition TFT screens – 16.8-inch curved screen for the instrument console, 10.9-inch touchscreen on the co-passenger side of the dashboard for infotainment, 10.9-inch touchscreen on the upper centre console for the main infotainment, drive controls and vehicle settings and one on the lower centre console for climate controls and seat heating and ventilation. The side edges of the instrument console also come with touchscreen panels for chassis functions.

In comparison, the cabin of the Tesla Model S has a stark difference over that of the Taycan. The interior resorts to minimalism and looks much more futuristic than that of the Taycan. The main elements which catch one’s attention are the yoke-styled steering wheel, the massive 17-inch touchscreen display in the centre console for controlling every function of the vehicle and a full TFT instrument console behind the steering wheel.

Features

When it comes to equipment, both cars are capable of blowing up your minds with their own set of exclusive features. The Porsche Taycan offers a more comprehensive package with much longer driver assistance features like adaptive air suspension, active suspension management, dynamic chassis control sport and torque vectoring plus, which makes it a much more driver’s car over the Taycan. However, the Tesla Model S impresses massively with its Autopilot self-driving feature, which is a one-of-a-kind experience. Both the cars share all of these features, but the way they excel in them differently is what makes them so exclusive in their ways.

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Verdict

Select any one of the cars, and you are bound to experience a completely different aura and value from the other one. If you are someone who wants to experience the traditional essence of owning a Porsche and wants all the traditional Porsche virtues like a rich driving experience, impeccable quality and brand value, the Porsche Taycan is for you. However, the Tesla Model S feels technically more advanced with more powerful powertrains, a more futuristic cabin in comparison, quicker performance and a bigger battery with a longer range, and that too, at a substantially lower price.

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