My Taycan 4s vs Model S90D

[Svaba]

We picked up our new Taycan 4S yesterday and I wanted to share some of my initial thoughts between it and my 2016 Model S90D (refresh). I have a brand new non-plaid Model S on order with 21" wheels and a yoke, which I will discuss when I get it but wanted to share some of my initial thoughts between both cars.

***CAVEAT*** - I have had the Taycan for less than 24 hours, so I am still learning, probably haven't done certain things properly and would appreciate any help on how to fix things (if I'm doing them wrong). In truth, the Taycan is my wife's car, replacing her 2017 Lexus RX350, which wa a great vehicle.

Technology and UI

* Generally speaking the Tesla UI is way more user friendly, way more intuitive and IMO vastly superior in almost all regards except speed (remember - I have an old Tesla that operates super slow). I'm sure the new one will be fast.

*I've watched quite a few YouTube vids on the car and I am in agreement with some of them talking about unnecessary redundancies in the Taycan. It seems at times, you can perform a function (like lifing or lowering the car) numerous different way. To me, this is a negative and complicates things.

* Homelink - this might be the first thing I am using incorrectly but it was quite easy to set up. Accepting my rolling codes, I synced it and added my location, but it doesn't work like the Model S. In my S, the default is that when I get home, it opens the garage (with an option to "skip") the open feature. The Taycan initiates the Homelink, but I still have to press the button to get it to work. This seems so counter-intutiive, I feel like I must be doing it wrong. To me, the default should always be auto open and auto close. Not so, with how mine is working.

* Regen braking - I'm sure this one will probably be controversial but I've been driving an EV now for 7 years. I LOVE them. For me, they are way better than ICE cars, so I don't understand why the Taycan tries so hard to drive like a ICE car when I think it should be proud to drive like an EV. Again... personal opinion but I like the one peddle driving in my Tesla better. Having said that, I have set up accounts for both my wife and I and even though we turn on "recuperative" braking to the full mode, when we come back to the car after its been off, the default goes back to turning it off. Is this something else I am doing it wrong? Why does it not save recuperative braking with my driving profile.

* FM Radio "favourites". I had hit a bunch of stations as favourites but I can't find how you get to favourites or even FM presets. This isn't huge because I primarily use Spotify and even though the UI on Tesla's Spotify is far superior, the Taycan is sufficient.

* The charging menus in the Taycan seem to be needlessly convulted and complex. Again, big edge to Tesla.

* The App... the My Porsche App looks better but I haven't used it enough to give a valid opinion. The Tesla app works wonderfully but looks dated and maybe too simple.

Long story short... even though my Tesla is 7 years old, it is still light years ahead of the Taycan in technology and ease of use.

Driving Experience

So, this is where the Taycan is LIGHT YEARS ahead of the Tesla. The ride is smoother, the steering is tight and responsive, it corners like it's on rails, the accelaration is better than my 90D. It is in virtually every driving metric I care about better than the Model S. In fact, it's not even close. Now, keep in mind, my Model S doesn't have air suspension and is 7 years old but I'm 99.9% sure I will feel the same way even when I get the new one.

The steering wheel on my S is like something you'd find on a 60' sailboat. It's huge and rather ridculous. No matter what mode you put the Tesla in, the steering is loose and way less responsive. I use to think my Tesla drove like it was on rails... until I drove the Taycan.

Range... the Taycan is interesting because the range actually means something. For those who have one, you understand that the range KM on a Tesla is like a lurid Elon Musk choose your own adventure book. You never really know what you're getting in range.

Braking... yeah, do I really even need to discuss braking? I mean, my Model S does have brakes and I think that's where the comparison ends.

I was going to make a separate category for "fit and finish" but I think that would be silly. The Taycan is put together they way you expect from a car at this price point. My Model S is put together like it was assembled by some toddlers who were exposed to some edible cannibis.

Seats... I've always really liked my seats in the Tesla, but the Taycan are far superior (IMO) as are the interior materials inside the car.

Aesthetics

This one is purely subjective and really has no value to anyone but me, but we got the Taycan with the 21" Mission E wheels. White Car, Glass roof, black interior. My current Model S is white with black interior and I've got the stock 19" rims which I had powder coated satin black. My new Model S will be 21" wheels with a white interior and a yoke. I love my Tesla but it loses badly in the looks department to the Taycan. To me (and again this is purely subjective), absent some supercars, the Taycan is the nicest looking car on the road (not just best looking EV). I put a caveat in there because yesterday at the dealership there was a Carrera GT which I would happily take over the Taycan (but I digress).

So, if anyone can tell me I'm using the homelink wrong on the Taycan, I would be most welcome or if you could teach me how to keep regen on at all times, I would be very thankful (or where to find my FM favourites). I'm sure I will have more questions...

 

[LHitchen]

Interesting comparison agree with most points.
I have a 2021 model 3 LR and though I loved the one pedal driving until I recently had a hire for 2 weeks car Mercedes GLC EV and realised how much I missed driving a proper car don’t get me wrong the one pedal drive has its place definitely in busy city’s and towns.
Tesla wins on tech and charging infrastructure
Tycan wins on handling/driving looks build quality.

 

[SergeyIndy]

If I can be simple and direct, we buy Taycans for the way it drives first, as we are the drivers, and for the looks as a close second, as it turns heads, and everything else does not matter. I have never driven a Tesla, so only know about superior things you mention from reading and hearing.

You are not doing anything wrong to the points that you mentioned:

- Homelink execution is poor and the way you are experiencing is the way it works, I would be able to live with if they would have left the hard buttons as in other Porsches, but no, had to be in screen pop up and press and hold. I set it up to the diamond button on the instrument cluster and that is good enough to open one door without having the pop up and press and hold screen.

- One Pedal not going to happen in a Porsche pretty much ever and I like natural coasting as this is my first EV, so to me this is a positive. Also, it is Porsche's way not to allow to retain individual settings, so we all learn to live with it, and start pressing and resetting every time we get into it.

- UI and App are the best Porsche have ever had that I have experienced having being part of the fold for 10 years now, so cannot complain of things I have never seen, i.e. other car apps. However, I have noticed that PCM 5 in our Cayenne is superior to the Taycan PCM 6 as it comes to Radio favorites management and overall flexibility of individual tiles on the home screen, but PCM 6 UI is totally different and has no resemblance of the PCM 5.

I cannot wait to drive it every day, that is all that matters.

I had to drive more than usual today due to our son's schedule, and was running low, so decided to try out a new EA station in the area, it was 4/6 full of ID4s and a Volvo, I pulled up, plugged in, plug and charge, 4 min total to go from 11% to about 27% charging at sustainable 196kw and I thought that was awesome, and battery friendly charging option was ON.

 

[MHC]

I owned a 2017 model X , 2018 Model S and a 2022 Model X . Your new model S will be way ahead of your old 90d in terms of software and charging . Significant improvements in these areas . Fit and finish still lacking although a little better on interior trim. The Yoke is a huge pain in the ass and my wife refused to drive the car. That’s why they now offer the round wheel option. The Taycan is a very different vehicle that the model S and I agree with your comments. Given recent price cuts to the model S it’s a relative bargain.

 

[Svaba]

If I can be simple and direct, we buy Taycans for the way it drives first, as we are the drivers, and for the looks as a close second, as it turns heads, and everything else does not matter. I have never driven a Tesla, so only know about superior things you mention from reading and hearing.

You are not doing anything wrong to the points that you mentioned:

- Homelink execution is poor and the way you are experiencing is the way it works, I would be able to live with if they would have left the hard buttons as in other Porsches, but no, had to be in screen pop up and press and hold. I set it up to the diamond button on the instrument cluster and that is good enough to open one door without having the pop up and press and hold screen.

- One Pedal not going to happen in a Porsche pretty much ever and I like natural coasting as this is my first EV, so to me this is a positive. Also, it is Porsche's way not to allow to retain individual settings, so we all learn to live with it, and start pressing and resetting every time we get into it.

- UI and App are the best Porsche have ever had that I have experienced having being part of the fold for 10 years now, so cannot complain of things I have never seen, i.e. other car apps. However, I have noticed that PCM 5 in our Cayenne is superior to the Taycan PCM 6 as it comes to Radio favorites management and overall flexibility of individual tiles on the home screen, but PCM 6 UI is totally different and has no resemblance of the PCM 5.

I cannot wait to drive it every day, that is all that matters.

I had to drive more than usual today due to our son's schedule, and was running low, so decided to try out a new EA station in the area, it was 4/6 full of ID4s and a Volvo, I pulled up, plugged in, plug and charge, 4 min total to go from 11% to about 27% charging at sustainable 196kw and I thought that was awesome, and battery friendly charging option was ON.

Too bad about Homelink. Not a huge deal, but since you have location services on the car, seems like a simple fix (even an over-the-air software fix).

In terms of one-peddle driving... I totally get that some will always prefer the feel of an ICE car, but again, when you have the ability to set the car to a particular profile, why not just give the driver the option, as opposed to making that decision for them? For example, in my Tesla every profile can set the car up exactly how that profile wants (either one peddle or just like an Ice, using the “creep” feather also).

In any event, really enjoying the Taycan. Getting a PPF tomorrow, so we will be all systems go by Friday.

 

[mystermykee]

You lost me at "I like the one pedal driving."

 

[PorscheCH]

Tesla sw may be ahead of the game but why is CarPlay not supported? Would be a deal breaker for me. On top of one pedal driving.

I hope Porsche will introduce farts soon though (currently I have to do everything myself and it distracts from driving)

 

[Svaba]

Tesla sw may be ahead of the game but why is CarPlay not supported? Would be a deal breaker for me. On top of one pedal driving.

I hope Porsche will introduce farts soon though (currently I have to do everything myself and it distracts from driving)

So my wife is iPhone user and I use an Android and I was not impressed with either. Prefer the native Tesla system, especially since I am a Spotify user and their Spotify integration is vastly superior.

 

[Svaba]

Can someone explain if the Taycan allows me to just leave the vehicle and walk away allowing it to turn off and arm the alarm, like my Model S?
Again, I’m probably doing it wrong but I garage parked my car and came into the house (with my key). Went back to the garage about 10 minutes later and the car was still on, music on, lights on etc…

 

[Jhenson29]

For me, they are way better than ICE cars, so I don't understand why the Taycan tries so hard to drive like a ICE car when I think it should be proud to drive like an EV. Again... personal opinion but I like the one peddle driving in my Tesla better.

I don’t understand the “drive like an EV”.

Just because Tesla and some others have one pedal driving doesn’t mean that’s how EVs drive.

It’s not like electric motors naturally regen when you lift off the accelerator. With no control applied, they coast, as the Taycan does.

The one-pedal driving is a programming operation to have zero torque at some middle accelerator position and negative torque with the pedal fully lifted.

It’s not necessarily how an EV drives. Just how some are programmed. It’s fine to prefer it, but it’s not the case that it’s more natural for the drivetrain as opposed to coasting.

 

[Svaba]

I don’t understand the “drive like an EV”.

Just because Tesla and some others have one pedal driving doesn’t mean that’s how EVs drive.

It’s not like electric motors naturally regen when you lift off the accelerator. With no control applied, they coast, as the Taycan does.

The one-pedal driving is a programming operation to have zero torque at some middle accelerator position and negative torque with the pedal fully lifted.

It’s not necessarily how an EV drives. Just how some are programmed. It’s fine to prefer it, but it’s not the case that it’s more natural for the drivetrain as opposed to coasting.

I disagree. Tesla set the standard for EVs (especially in the areas of battery tech, charging infrastructure and other internal vehicle technology). Everyone else is playing catch-up and one peddle driving and regenerative braking simply makes more sense for an EV than an ICE vehicle.

I mean, if you could use your brakes to add more gas to your car, you’d probably think it’s a good idea and restoring some energy back to the battery in lieu of braking, seems pretty intuitive.

I get that it may not be for everyone (as a driving preference) which is why Tesla gives you the OPTION to have it either way (and as a simple aside…there is an added bonus that my current Model S has 162,000km and I’m still on the original brakes). For me, it comes down to choice. I’d like to choose how I like to drive, not how some third party decided I should drive.

 

[or1]

Be careful to distinguish between "one pedal driving" and regenerative braking. A Taycan always regenerates as much as it can when the brake pedal is applied (except for the first 500 kms or so, and for the first few kms each day to keep the brakes clean). Other threads here cover this in full detail.

One-pedal driving is an operational (user interface) feature that Taycan does not have, but it has regen in spades.

(Edited for clarity: added parenthesis «(user interface)».)

 

[Jhenson29]

Everyone else is playing catch-up and one peddle driving and regenerative braking simply makes more sense for an EV than an ICE vehicle.

Um, Taycan regens WAY more than any Tesla. Maybe more than all 4 of their models combined. I don’t know. Someone else can look that up.

So….who’s playing catch up there?

And that’s aside from the fact that coasting is more efficient than regen.
So, double win for the Taycan. ??

I disagree. Tesla set the standard for EVs

That’s your opinion. Just because “Tesla did it that way” doesn’t make it the “EV way”. You’re of course welcome to keep repeating it, but that doesn’t make it true.

Again, the motor doesn’t inherently regen on lift off. If it did, I would agree with you. But as is, it’s simply a design/control decision.

 

[LongLive959]

I’m at over 300,000km with original brakes still looking good. Porsche has a different approach, and the benefits show in their ability to be more efficient at higher speeds. I do prefer the option to turn one pedal driving off/on in the Tesla via a simple button, and I do like one pedal driving in general. It would be nice to combine the two, as I believe Tesla’s approach just limits regen, as opposed to Porsche’s blended braking model. I suppose it’s fair to put one pedal driving in an EV bucket, since it’s not as doable on an ICE car. But Porsche insists this is how a P car should drive…thems the brakes

 

[Jhenson29]

I suppose it’s fair to put one pedal driving in an EV bucket, since it’s not as doable on an ICE car.

Why is it not “as doable”? What would prevent no fuel/no brake in a middle accelerator pedal position and downshifting and/or applying brake in a lift off pedal position?

…asking as someone who has implemented numerous automatic mechanical braking control applications…