How Does the Base Taycan Compare To the New Tesla Model S?

New Competitor

Porsche has finally brought its entry-level Taycan to the U.S., which means that the car got $24,000 cheaper here overnight with a new base price of $79,990. Thus, it's worth revisiting how the car stacks up against its main rival (for now) - the Tesla Model S, which itself has just received a slight refresh for the new year.

Photos: Porsche

Long Range

The new "base" Model S Long Range model comes with one drivetrain choice - a pair of electric motors, one at each axle, which produce a total of 670 horsepower in an all-wheel-drive configuration. Tesla says it will do 0-60 in 3.1 seconds and go 412 miles on a full charge, though the automaker has not provided a quarter-mile time just yet. Interestingly, it matches the Taycan's base price of $79,990.

Photos: Tesla

>>Join the conversation about the base Taycan vs the base Model S right here in Rennlist.com.

Two Choices

The Taycan, on the other hand, is available with either a standard Performance Battery or Performance Battery Plus. The base setup offers up 402 horsepower, while the optional one gives buyers 469 ponies. Porsche says both will do 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, but the quarter-mile times are 13.7 versus 13.5 seconds, respectively. As of this writing, the range is listed as "TBD" on Porsche's site.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about the base Taycan vs the base Model S right here in Rennlist.com.

Controversial Cabin

The most controversial piece of the new Model S is its interior, which features a wild "yoke" in place of a traditional steering wheel. There are no stalks here, as the car "predicts" which gear you need to be in or whether or not you are changing lanes and acts accordingly, though there are buttons on the steering wheel for things like turn signals.

Photos: Tesla

>>Join the conversation about the base Taycan vs the base Model S right here in Rennlist.com.

More Traditional

Porsche takes a much more traditional approach with the Taycan, of course, with plenty of physical buttons, an actual transmission, and a shifter. Which setup buyers prefer is highly subjective, but we'd much rather select our own gears than rely on a computer to do so, personally.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about the base Taycan vs the base Model S right here in Rennlist.com.

Quality Issues

In terms of styling, both of these cars are quite handsome, though the Taycan arguably looks better overall. There's also the issue of build quality, as things like excessive panel gaps and paint imperfections have plagued Tesla since its inception. 

Photos: Tesla

>>Join the conversation about the base Taycan vs the base Model S right here in Rennlist.com.

Pros and Cons

Though these two cars have a lot in common, each offers its own unique pros and cons. The Model S is obviously faster and will likely offer more range, but the Taycan provides supreme quality and a more operator-friendly interior. Regardless, we're just glad to see these two models duking it out and making each other better as a result of that competition.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about the base Taycan vs the base Model S right here in Rennlist.com.

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