Lighter and much less expensive than the next-cheapest trim, the new—rear-drive—2021 Porsche Taycan base model seems like a great way to get this electric sports sedan into the hands of more enthusiasts. Before today, the least-expensive Taycan was the 4S version, which starts at $105,150. The new rear-drive Taycan slices a full $23,900 off the price, ringing in at $81,250.
The single-motor Taycan still brings some heat, though not nearly as much as the Taycan 4S and the even-more-powerful Taycans further up the range. Equipped with the standard 79-kWh battery pack, the base Taycan pumps out 402 hp and 254 lb-ft through its rear-mounted motor.
Upgrade to the 93-kWh Performance Battery Plus, a $5,780 option, and the juice is turned up to 469 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. Other than cost, the other penalty for the battery and performance upgrade is 170 pounds of increased mass. The 0-60-mph time is the same—an estimated 5.1 seconds—for both, but the Plus version covers the quarter mile in 0.2 second less.
In terms of equipment, the standard wheels are 19-inch Aero units. Behind them hide six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers. Upgraded brake options, as well as larger wheels, are optional. Porsche Active Suspension Management is standard, but an adaptive air suspension is an option. Like any proper Porsche, lather on the options and the Taycan’s price bloats.
While the base Taycan is a better value overall than its 4S sibling, the comparison to the 2021 Tesla Model S Long Range Plus is less positive for the Porsche. We peg the Long Range Plus at 417 hp, thanks to its dual-motor all-wheel drive, and achieves an EPA-estimated 402 miles of range. Its 0-60 time is an estimated 3.7 seconds, significantly quicker than the base Taycan’s. More problematic for the Porsche is the fact the Model S undercuts the price of the base Taycan significantly; it starts at $69,420, a savings of roughly $11,830 over the Taycan.
Still, the Taycan is a Porsche. And the new base model brings it within reach of more enthusiasts.
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