In 2015, the Porsche Taycan was unveiled to the public at the Frankfurt Auto Show, and since then, this all-electric Porsche has set the standard for all other electric sports cars to follow. Porsche, as a car brand, has always been a trendsetter in the automotive performance industry while sticking true to its roots, and recently Porsche shocked the world when they announced that they planned on having 50% of their lineup powered by plug-in hybrid drivetrains or all-electric drivetrains by 2025.

With this goal in mind, Porsche has been hard at work refining its lineup with brand-new hybrid and electric vehicles on the horizon. However, despite all of that development in the future, Porsche is still investing heavily in their current 2023 Porsche Taycan, ensuring to the public that this electric sports car isn’t just a phase but a true commitment to continuing the Porsche heritage through a different drivetrain. Recently, MotorTrend got behind the wheel of the 2023 Porsche Taycan to see what has changed for the new model year, and while doing so, released their top pros and cons of the new Taycan. Here is everything you need to know about the new 2023 Porsche Taycan, according to MotorTrend.

2023 Porsche Taycan pros

The 2023 Porsche Taycan starts at $135,550 for the GTS model, and it is designed to be a more approachable performance EV with 590 horsepower and 626 lb-ft of torque for drivers to have fun with. While Porsche states that the GTS is made to be a more approachable performance EV, this Porsche is no slouch, propelling to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. 

The Porsche Taycan Turbo S, which starts at $188,850, is even faster on the higher end. Its dual motors propel this car from 0 to 60 mpg in just 2.4 seconds, producing a combined 750 horsepower and 774 lb-ft of torque. Regarding performance, the Porsche Taycan is a true Porsche that handles incredibly well and accelerates violently quickly.

Another distinctive pro, according to MotorTrend, is the Porsche Taycan’s infotainment system, which has been updated to be quicker and more intuitive. The MotorTrend team also praised the Taycan’s chromatic roof, which can darken the vehicle’s nine glass sections with a single input.

2023 Porsche Taycan cons

While the Porsche Taycan is an incredibly impressive EV sports car, there are still a couple of glaring factors that keep this car from being the best it can be. Of course, performance-wise, the Porsche Taycan is a powerhouse. 

Still, as a daily driver, one annoying factor found with the 2023 Porsche Taycan is the need for more updates available over the internet. That’s right. If your $188,850 sports EV needs a drivetrain-related update, you must take it to a Porsche dealer for the software to be updated by the dealer’s service department, reports MotorTrend. While this may seem like a small issue, Porsche dealers can be few and far between for some owners, and entry-level Teslas have no issues updating wirelessly from home.

Another big issue found with the Porsche Taycan is the regenerative braking feature on the car. Many EVs have a regenerative braking system that allows for one-pedal driving. This means while the vehicle is coasting to a stop, the power produced by the wheels charges the battery. 

Unfortunately, the Taycan cannot adjust the intensity of this regenerative braking. As a driver, you can turn the system off entirely or have it on, but in doing so, the regenerative braking works so little you end up having to use the brake pedal anyway, wasting a ton of energy in the process. With an adjustable regenerative braking system, the Taycan could be driven with one pedal, making this a much easier commuter and a much more efficient car overall.

2023 Porsche Taycan: living up to its heritage

Even though there are some obvious oversights and improvements to be made with the 2023 Porsche Taycan, it is still a Porsche performance car through and through. If you can get behind the wheel of a Taycan, you will not regret it. Porsche has found a way to take its performance car heritage and elevate it even more with an electric drivetrain.