There has been quite a bit of debate on if the Tesla Model S or the Porsche Taycan is the better car. There are no easy answers and it depends far more on what someone is looking for. That said, we’ve compiled all of the know facts about competitive Tesla and Taycan models for a side-by-side comparison. (Jul-2022)
Basic Facts • Options • Features • Intangibles • Sources
Basic Facts
Basic facts are from the manufacturer’s websites. The Model S LR and Plaid began deliveries in June 2021. Data on Taycan based on 2022 model year.
While it’s hard to make a total apples-to-apples comparison, there are many extra options in the Taycan models that are included in the base price of the Tesla Model S. We’ve included a chart of these items and prices to come up with our Prices with equivalent options. For the Price with every option, we included every available option from the manufacturer’s websites. Any combo packages that save money were chosen over individual items. We did not include incompatible options but choose the most expensive option for a category when such a choice was available.
| Item | Model S LR |
Model S Plaid |
Taycan 4S |
Taycan Turbo S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $104,990 |
$135,990 |
$103,800 |
$185,000 |
| Price with Equivalent Options (see list) | $105,190 |
$136,190 |
$133,519 |
$201,620 |
| Price with every Option (not equivalent) | $126,100 |
$157,190 |
$208,535 |
$211,235 |
| Possible IRS Tax Credit | 0 |
0 |
$7,500 |
$7,500 |
| EPA Range | 405 mi |
390 mi |
199 mi (est) |
201 mi (est) |
| EPA Efficiency (lower kWh is better) | 31 kWh/100 mi |
32 kWh/100 mi (est) |
41 kWh/100 mi (est) |
50 kWh/100 mi |
| Battery Power | 100 kWh |
100 kWh |
79.2 kWh |
93.4 kWh |
| Battery Usable | 95 kWh (est) |
95 kwh (est) |
71.0 kWh |
83.7 kWh |
| Battery Type | 18650 Cell |
18650 Cell |
Pouch |
Pouch |
| Battery Vendor | Tesla/Panasonic |
Tesla/Panasonic |
LG Chem |
LG Chem |
| Maxium Speed | 155 mph |
200 mph |
155 mph |
162 mph |
| 0 to 60 mph | 3.1 sec |
1.99 sec |
3.8 sec |
2.6 sec |
| Maximum Regen | 50 kW (est) |
50 kW (est) |
265 kW |
265 kW |
| Cargo Space, Seats Up | 28.0 cu ft |
28.0 cu ft |
14.3 cu ft |
12.9 cu ft |
| Cargo Space, Seats Down | 60.2 cu ft |
60.2 cu ft |
14.3 cu ft |
12.9 cu ft |
| Seats (standard/optional) | 5/7* |
5/7* |
4/5* |
4/5* |
| Max Charging Rate | 250 kW |
250 kW |
270 kW |
270 kW |
| Max Charging Speed | 800 mi/hour |
800 mi/hour (est) |
658 mi/hour |
540 mi/hour |
| Alternate Charging Rate** | 150 kW |
150 kW |
50 kW |
50 kW |
| Alternate Charging Speed | 483 mi/hour |
483 mi/hour (est) |
122 mi/hour |
100 mi/hour |
| Best AC Charging Rate | 11.25 kW |
11.25 kW |
9.6 kW/19.2 kW* |
9.6 kW/19.2 kW* |
| Charging Standards Supported | Tesla, CHAdeMO* |
Tesla, CHAdeMO* |
CCS |
CCS |
| Cd (drag coefficient) | 0.208 |
0.208 |
0.22 |
0.25 |
| Weight | 4,561 lbs |
4,766 lbs |
4,947 lbs |
5,101 lbs |
* Optional, extra cost ** Based on prior generation DC stalls. Taycan includes 50 kW charging standard, and has optional up to 150 kW charging at 400V CCS for those stalls that support this rate.
Options
This is a price list of the minimal options required in either car to get a similar level of features.
| Feature | Model S LR | Model S Plaid | Taycan 4S | Taycan Turbo S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control | Included |
Included |
$2,050 |
$2,050 |
| Fifth Seat Package | Included |
Included |
$480 |
$480 |
| Frunk Liner | Included |
Included |
$158 |
Included |
| Heated Steering Wheel | Included |
Included |
$280 |
$280 |
| High End Surround Sound System | Included |
Included |
$7,000 |
$5,810 |
| High Power 400V DC Charger | Included |
Included |
$460 |
$460 |
| Interior Carbon Fiber | N/A |
Included |
$2,460 |
Included |
| Mobile Charger Cable | $200 |
$200 |
$1,120 |
$1,120 |
| Painted Calipers | N/A |
Included |
$900 |
Included |
| Painted Exterior Mirrors | Included |
Included |
$660 |
$660 |
| Power Charge Port Cover | Included |
Included |
$640 |
Included |
| Power Folding Mirrors | Included |
Included |
$330 |
$330 |
| Premium Package (Glass roof, LCA, Memory seat, etc.) | Included |
Included |
$7,170 |
$4,240 |
| Seat Heating Front and Rear | Included |
Included |
$530 |
Included |
| Seat Material, Simulated Leather | Included |
Included |
$4,130 |
Included |
| Thermal Glass | Included |
Included |
$1,130 |
Included |
| Trunk Liner | Included |
Included |
$221 |
Included |
| TOTAL | $200 |
$200 |
$29,719 |
$16,620 |
Features
This is a list of feature differences, where one car offers something different than another. There are many features all these cars offer, and these are not listed.
| Special Features/Options | Model S LR |
Model S Plaid |
Taycan 4S |
Taycan Turbo S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360 Degree Driving Visualization | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Adaptive Rear Spoiler | No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| All Aluminum Body | Yes |
Yes |
Partial |
Partial |
| Auto Extending Door Handles | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Base Displays area, combined | 206 sq in. (3 screens) |
206 sq in. (3 screens) |
143 sq in. (3 screens) |
143 sq in. (3 screens) |
| Blind Spot Warning | Full Visualization |
Full Visualization |
LED Light |
LED Light |
| Birds Eye View for Parking | No |
No |
Optional |
Optional |
| Charge at CCS (North America) | No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Charge at CHAdeMO | Optional |
Optional |
No |
No |
| Charge free at Destination Connections | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Charge at Superchargers | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Climate Dog Mode & Camp Mode | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Climate Zones | 3 |
3 |
2 (4 optional) |
2 (4 optional) |
| Connection for services | 1 year free |
1 year free |
3 years free |
3 years free |
| Connection Monthly price | $10/mo |
$10/mo |
$40/mo |
$40/mo |
| Crash Testing, All Categories | 5-Stars |
5-Stars |
Untested |
Untested |
| Cup holders | 4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Displays | 3 |
3 |
3 (+1 optional) |
3 (+1 optional) |
| Fake Engine Sounds | No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Free Charging* | destination |
destination |
3 years |
3 years |
| Full Regen with no pedal application | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Full-Self-Driving | Optional |
Optional |
No |
No |
| Games | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Heat Pump | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| HEPA Air Filtration | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Homelink | Location aware |
Location aware |
Generic |
Generic |
| Infotainment | Tesla |
Tesla |
CarPlay |
CarPlay |
| Memory Seat | Yes |
Yes |
Optional |
Optional |
| OTA updates | Yes |
Yes |
Limited |
Limited |
| Radio AM | No |
No |
No |
No |
| Radio FM, with HD | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Radio XM, free service period | Yes,None |
Yes, None |
Yes, 3 months |
Yes, 3 months |
| Rear Axle Steering | No |
No |
Optional |
Yes |
| Rear Seat Fold-down | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Seat Belt Height Adjusters | No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Seat Material, Standard | Ultra-Leather |
Ultra-Leather |
Partial Leather |
Leather |
| Sentry Mode | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Streaming Services | Yes |
Yes |
only with Phone |
only with Phone |
| Transmission Gear Selection, Front | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Transmission Gear Selection, Rear | 1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| Video Services (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Washer Nozzle Heater | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Wiper Blade Defroster | Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
* For Tesla, lifetime destination charging (< 50 amps). For Porsche, EA free charging is limited to the first 30 minutes per session.
Intangibles
This is our take on various aspects of these vehicles. They are our opinion, with similar views from major reviewers.
| Category | Model S LR |
Model S Plaid |
Taycan 4S |
Taycan Turbo S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Fresh Innovator |
Fresh Innovator |
Legacy Performance |
Legacy Performance |
| Customization | Limited |
Limited |
Extreme |
Extreme |
| Driver Assistance Ratings* | One of the best |
One of the best |
Below average |
Below average |
| Driver Assistance Option Cost** | $6,000 |
$6,000 |
$5,760 |
$5,760 |
| Exterior Style | Understated Sedan |
Understated Sedan |
Flashy Sedan |
Flashy Sedan |
| Handling | Very Good |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
| Interior Style | Minimalist |
Minimalist |
Modern |
Modern |
| Service | Mobile and Shops |
Mobile and Shops |
Shop only |
Shop only |
| UI Ease of Use | Excellent |
Excellent |
Average |
Average |
* Consumer Reports, Feburary 2021 Issue ** Tesla Enhanced Autopilot similar to Taycan driver assiantance package.