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2022 Porsche Taycan RWD Review


The Porsche Taycan sits at the top of the EV food chain, but with the release of their entry-level option, we had questioned whether or not the Porsche ‘fizz’ would remain with a single electric motor mounted to the rear axle. Reviews were positive from the launch, and with most of the car remaining intrinsically ‘Porsche’ by definition, the Taycan RWD has quickly become a favourite amongst the luxury EV buyer.

We recently had the chance to spend a week behind the wheel of the $156,300 AUD (plus on-road costs) Porsche EV to figure out if you’re really missing anything at all compared to its more expensive siblings.

Porsche taycan rwd on the road from the rear
Image: Porsche Australia

What Powers the Porsche Taycan RWD?

You have two battery choices to make from the get-go with the entry-level Porsche Taycan RWD. Our car was fitted with the $12,000 AUD Performance Battery Plus, but we’ve outlined both options below.

Porsche Performance BatteryPorsche Performance Battery Plus
Maximum Power240 kW / 326 PS280 kW / 380 PS
Overboost power for Launch Control300 kW / 408 PS350 kW / 476 PS
Maximum Torque345 Nm357 Nm
Electric range (WLTP)369 km434 km
Recharging time (AC, 11 kW, 0% to up to 100%)8.0 hours9.0 hours
Recharging time (DC, 50 kW, 5% up to 80%)93 min93 minutes
Rechanging time (DC Max, 5% up to 80%)22.5 minutes22.5 minutes

Motor

As mentioned our car was optioned with the Performance Battery Plus. The option raises the overall power of the vehicle from 240kW to 280kW but in doing so, also increases the battery size (and thus range) from 79.2kWh to 93.4kWh.

While expensive, the Performance Battery Plus is an absolute must-tick box in our eyes. While the power of the 240kW car would be adequate for daily driving duties, the benefit of the extra range and punch just makes the overall driving experience more pleasant and something you more closely equate with the badge on the front of the bonnet.

It’s worth also mentioning here that Porsche has created one of the most efficient electric motors in the business. Without going too deep into the ins and outs of strators, laminate cores, and ‘permanently excited synchronous motors’ the gist is that Porsche’s ‘hairpin’ winding method of copper filling is measured at a factor of 70 per cent vs. a copper filling factor of 45 to 50 per cent for conventional electric motors. In essence, it’s dense – 130 mm long and has a diameter of 245 mm. These are the nerdy EV terms we’re all going to have to get used to, so play along people!

Battery

Moving from Performance Battery to Performance Battery Plus raises thebattery size from 79.2kWh to 93.4kWh. This compares close to par with its closest competitor the Tesla Model S Long Range whose battery measures 100kWh.

Related: We Spent 1,000KM Daily Driving the Porsche 911 GT3.

Porsche taycan rwd charging
Image: Porsche Australia

Range

The numbers on paper suggest the Tesla Long Range and Taycan RWD would share a very similar WLTP range, but in reality, the Porsche falls well under with just 434 km of range compared to the Tesla’s 652 km. We hate using the ‘T’-word as much as the next person, but choose not to tick the $12,000 box for the larger battery and you’ll only be able to travel a maximum of 369km which is just not far enough.

Start bringing other luxury EVs into the conversation – such as the recently reviewed BMW iX xDrive50 with 620km of range – and the numbers start to look less than appealing. While Porsche has some of the most ‘realistic’ range numbers in the business, we can’t help but think they have a battery upgrade coming to the Taycan range in the near future to keep up with the rest of the pack. There’s no missing that the Taycan is the absolute best EV to drive on the market, but the range means you’ll be charging up more often than not and a home charger is a must.

Charging

Battery capacity and range may not be the Porsche Taycan’s strength, however, the charging still remains some of the best in the business. If you can find a DC ultra-fast charger even the entry-level model can charge from 5-80 per cent in around 22.5 minutes. Find a public 50kW NRMA or Evie charger and you’ll get it from 5-80 per cent in around 90 minutes.

Ultimately, you’ll want to do most of your charging at home during off-peak hours and the 11kw charger will take around 9 hours for the Performance Battery Plus and 8 hours for the standard battery. If you’re running from home to the CBD and back, you might have to charge it at home once or twice a week. In our time with the Taycan RWD, we never took it outside the Sydney CBD, however, we do have a feature range test with the Taycan Cross Turismo on the way that has a very similar WLTP Range.

Like most premium EV manufacturers in Australia, Taycan buyers receive a complimentary three-year subscription to Australia’s Chargefox Ultra-Rapid DC charging network (with recharging units up to 350 kW) and selected Chargefox-managed Fast DC charging sites (mostly 50 kW). Your subscription starts on the day you take delivery of their car.

Related: We’d Do Naughty Things for the Porsche 911 Sport Classic

Porsche taycan rwd on the road
Image: Porsche Australia

How Does the Porsche Taycan RWD Drive?

Acceleration

The acceleration of the Taycan RWD is great and with standard launch mode across the range, you’ll have no issue getting the car to acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds (claimed). Launch mode does activate more power, but it only lasts for 2.5 seconds, so if you’re desperate to chop someone in anything faster than a VW Golf GTI at a set of traffic lights we might suggest a Taycan 4S at the very least.

It’s worth mentioning again that EVs do feel a lot quicker when you plant your foot at speed, even if it’s only for the first few seconds. And the overtaking capability of the Taycan RWD is far better than its 0-100km/h time would lead you to believe. Without mechanical components such as traditional gearbox or turbochargers, it’s brisk and plenty quick enough to slot into a line of fast-moving traffic.

Our only gripe comes from the two-speed transmission, because in our time with the Taycan Turbo last year we found it to be unreal. The change between low and high ratio in the Taycan RWD is more pronounced as it doesn’t have the power of the Turbo, which clearly masks some of the difference between ratios. In the 500kW car, you feel the transmission physically kick into its higher gear ratio (designed for top speed) and it shoots you off like a rocket ship. The RWD on the other hand gives you the kick to signal it’s in the higher gear but doesn’t offer the same shove unless it locks itself in the lower gear ratio for acceleration, where it feels far quicker.

We found that in going full throttle for a big overtake the car would accelerate hard for 3-4 seconds before kicking itself into high gear and tapering off quite hard (slowing down). In the end, you find yourself wishing for that extra power that you just don’t have. Would you notice it without the high ratio kicking in? Maybe not.

Porsche taycan rwd handling
Image: Porsche Australia

Handling – Our Favourite Feature of the Taycan RWD

Ride and comfort have always been the Taycan’s ball game, it’s where it shines from the pack in reminding the driver that they’re sitting inside a Porsche. Our time in the Taycan Turbo last year set the benchmark in ride and handling for EVs and we’re yet to sit in an EV that rides and handles better than the Taycan. The case mostly stays the same for our RWD test car that doesn’t have the optional Air Suspension or the big wheels (we tested 19-inch aero wheels).

You can option things like rear-axle steering, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, and Air Suspension but if the end game of your new Taycan RWD purchase is settling in under the big $200,000 figure then we recommend keeping a close eye on the options list.

It doesn’t appear as much of a ‘sportscar’ with the 19-inch wheels but the handling remains flat through corners, soft and compliant over bumps, and quite floaty when cruising around. You could argue it feels a little too floaty in some cases, but like all Taycans, the weight of the car helps it to ride smoothly over uneven ground and combines with the suspension for an executive ride. We did find it a little too softly sprung in some cases, especially over big speedbumps and road humps.

Does it feel RWD? You might expect the Taycan RWD to feel more like a lightweight twisty road king than its bigger brothers, however, our test car was fitted with the single-tube dampers so it felt more cruiser than ‘sports car’. The large profile tire fitted to the 19-inch wheel doesn’t help with turn-in and while the car remains flat and composed through bends, rotating nicely through throttle lift-off, the weight is still prominent when loading up each corner through downhill braking sections. Make no mistake you can have a lot of fun (if you’re within range of a charger) but we’d option the Taycan RWD with the bigger wheels and lower-profile tires alongside the Air Suspension if you’re looking to prioritise fun over outright comfort.

As always, the steering is an absolute delight and we really look forward to jumping back behind the wheel of every Porsche because the feedback you get through the wheel is miles ahead of any EV on the market – the wheel itself is the best in any car today.

Related: 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Track Review: The Purist’s Porsche.

Porsche taycan rwd interior
Image: Porsche Australia

What’s the Interior Like on the Taycan RWD?

Step inside the Taycan RWD and you’re welcomed to the full Porsche experience. Everything is so well thought out on the inside of the car and you’d struggle to tell the difference between the entry-level model and the 4S or Turbo by just sitting in the driver’s seat and looking out over the bonnet with the gorgeous wheel arches. The materials are as premium as they come, and by optioning the $800 leather adaptive sports seats the cabin looks and feels uber premium.

The standard fare included with PCM or ‘Porsche Communication Management’ includes;

  • Online navigation
  • Mobile phone preparation
  • Audio interface
  • Voice control
  • Music streaming
  • Native Spotify
  • Online radio
  • Access to remote services
  • E-mobility, including charge management, vehicle parking pre-climatisation, and range management.

Apple Carplay and Android Auto are supported, and Sound Package Plus is fitted as standard (a BOSE Surround sound system with 14 speakers (including subwoofer) and 710 Watts of output is optionally available).

The boot on the Taycan RWD is 407 litres (40 litres more than the Turbo) and the front trunk is 84 litres.

Porsche taycan rwd vehicle setup screen
Image: Porsche Australia

Infotainment System

First things first, the 16.8-inch curved digital driver display is our favourite in the business. While the likes of BMW and Mercedes offer systems that are more advanced, better looking, and with more functions, the Porsche system is well laid out, features the nicest fonts, textures, and graphics, and is nothing more than you’d ever need. We love it.

Moving to the centre of the cabin and you have a capacitive touch panel/ screen that controls climate, amongst other shortcuts for the upper 10.9-inch touchscreen display. Sadly, we feel the lower screen is already aging the interior of the Taycan, it does function well enough, but it’s a large panel with not a whole lot going on outside of climate control, and most of the time you’ll just use it to warm your seat up on cold days.

You could argue that the infotainment systems are already starting to feel 1 or 2 years behind the competition, but if you’re moving from any car older than MY17 it will feel brand new. Our only minor complaint comes from the general lack of quality storage (something we expect in EVs today) and the number of fingerprints the glass screens attract, an issue you can curb in cars like the BMW iX which still has a scroll knob and sliders for major controls. Overall the interior of the Taycan is strictly Porsche and we absolutely love it.

Related: RIMOWA Drops Stunning Porsche 911-Inspired Hand-Carry Case.

Porsche taycan rwd side front
Image: Porsche Australia

Should You Buy the 2022 Porsche Taycan RWD?

How Much Does the Base Taycan Cost?

The base Porsche Taycan RWD costs $156,300 AUD (plus on-road costs). When it comes to any Porsche the general rule of thumb is to factor in around 20% of the vehicle’s base price for options. It goes without saying then that our Taycan was fitted with its fair share of options – just under $40,000 worth – including the $12,020 ‘Performance Battery Plus’, LED Matrix headlights ($3620), a panoramic sunroof ($3370), Taycan S ‘Aero’ wheels ($2400), and many more.

The price as tested for our Taycan RWD was around $195,000 AUD (plus on-road costs). Ouch.

It gets a little ugly when you start looking at the optional kit, the Performance Battery Plus (with adequate range) should be a standard kit in an EV at this price point today and options like the heated front seats for $910 + $2120, if you want them ventilated, are asking a bit much.

Ultimately, you’ll still be able to land under the $200,000 AUD benchmark with a range of quality options, but the competitors in the EV market drop badge points for better value for money. With options, you also start creeping into Taycan 4S territory (the most popular option with buyers so far) which costs from $194,700 AUD before on-road costs.

Warranty

The Taycan comes with a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and an eight-year or 160,000km battery warranty.

It rivals the likes of BMW but is well off the pace when you look at competitors such as Mercedes-Benz who offer the five-year warranties.

Servicing

Service intervals are two years or 30,000km.

Porsche offers three, four or five-year capped-price servicing plans – pricing can be found by contacting Porsche Centre.

Related: The ‘Perfect Spec’ Porsche 911 GT3 You Can Only Get in Australia.

Porsche taycan rwd drivers seat
Image: Porsche Australia

Our Verdict on the Porsche Taycan RWD

Is this the base Porsche Taycan the model to buy? The simple answer is yes if you’re looking to spend under $200,000 AUD on a Porsche EV. There’s no doubt in our mind that the Taycan is fundamentally the best driving EV on the road today, however, the lack of standard options and limited range capability is a big weight you’re going to have to think about if you’re in the market for a do-it-all EV. It attracts a buyer who is less concerned about the outright pace of their car, and one who’s looking for everything that comes with the Porsche lifestyle.

Ultimately, if budget is less of an issue, we’d strongly consider moving up into the Taycan 4S Cross Turimo, which we’ll be reviewing (and getting very muddy) soon.

Check it out

Porsche Taycan RWD Standard Specification in Australia

This is what your base Porsche Taycan gets without options in Australia.

  • LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus)
  • 14-way Comfort seats with memory package
  • Steering wheel heating
  • Automatically dimming mirrors
  • Electrically-folding exterior mirrors
  • Windscreen with Grey top tint
  • Privacy glazing
  • Tyre sealant with electric air compressor
  • Power steering Plus
  • Comfort Access
  • ParkAssist (front and rear) including Surround View
  • Head-Up Display
  • Active Lane Keeping including Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Side airbags in rear compartment
  • Digital radio
  • Public charging cable (Mode 3)
  • 150 kW On-board DC Charger
  • Mobile Charger Connect
  • Porsche Charging Dock
  • Home Energy Manager
Porsche taycan rwd boot
Image: Porsche Australia
Porsche taycan rwd interior layout
Image: Porsche Australia
Porsche taycan rwd rear seat
Image: Porsche Australia
Porsche taycan rwd door switches
Image: Porsche Australia
Porsche taycan rwd ambient lights
Image: Porsche Australia
Porsche taycan rwd cup holder
Image: Porsche Australia

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