Porsche Taycan 2022 review: GTS

Is there anything interesting about its design?

8 / 10

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes, inside and out, to make it stand out in the range.

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

1 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

2 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

3 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

4 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

5 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

6 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

7 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

8 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

9 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

10 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

11 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

12 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

13 / 14

Beyond the standard Taycan design elements, the GTS gets a raft of unique styling changes.

14 / 14

The outside features black or dark touches to the front spoiler, the underside of the mirrors, the side window trims, side skirts and rear diffuser.

There’s also 20-inch Taycan Turbo S alloy wheels finished in satin black, as well as a ‘Porsche’ logo integrated (in black) into the rear light strip to complete the look.

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

1 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

2 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

3 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

4 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

5 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

6 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

7 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

8 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

9 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

10 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

11 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

12 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

13 / 14

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense.

14 / 14

Inside, there’s extensive use of Porsche’s 'Race-Tex' synthetic suede, which provides a sportier appearance, especially with the brushed aluminium trim, as well as ‘GTS’ logos on the front and rear seat headrests and a multifunction sports steering wheel trimmed in Race-Tex.

How practical is the space inside?

7 / 10

The GTS doesn’t offer anything different from the rest of the Taycan range in a practical sense. It’s a mid-size sedan, filling a gap in the brand's line-up beneath the larger Panamera, which means the front seat occupants are well accommodated but the rear seats are a bit tight on space - specifically kneeroom and head clearance.

The boot measures only 366 litres in total capacity and the opening is relatively small, so fitting bulky items in can be challenging.

Fortunately, there’s an additional 84L of space underneath the bonnet, so the Taycan ends up being quite practical.

The biggest gripe is the lack of a specific storage area for the on-board charging cable. Instead it comes in a large rectangular box which can be secured via clips in the boot, but that means you’ve lost some of what was already a modest luggage space.

The boot measures only 366 litres in total capacity.

Porsche claims most owners won’t travel with a cable, instead they’ll do most charging at home. But it’s still an odd move given the Taycan was designed to be an electric car from scratch, so a cable storage space should have been included from the beginning.

Explore the 2023 Porsche Taycan Range

Porsche Taycan 2021 review: 4S snapshot Porsche Taycan 2021 review: Turbo S snapshot Porsche Taycan 2021 review: Turbo snapshot Porsche Taycan 2022 review: GTS Porsche Taycan 2022 review: RWD Porsche Taycan 2022 review: Turbo Porsche Taycan 2022 review: Turbo Cross Turismo

Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

8 / 10

The Taycan GTS doesn’t just slot in between the 4S and Turbo in performance terms, it also neatly intersects the pair on price. The GTS starts at $241,900 (plus on-road costs), which is $40,000 cheaper than the Turbo (from $281,900) and $43,100 more expensive than the 4S (From $198,800).

For that money you get a well-equipped model which comes with keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats, a 14-speaker Bose surround sound system, digital radio, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

It also comes equipped with a 150kW on-board DC charger for 400-volt public charging stations, a 22kW mobile charger, a public charging cable and a Porsche charging dock.

Also included in the price is a three-year subscription to the Chargefox network of public infrastructure. This allows for charging on Chargefox’s 350kW ultra-rapid chargers which makes the most of the Taycan’s 800-volt electrical system for the fastest possible charging time at present.

What are the key stats for the drivetrain?

9 / 10

The GTS is motivated by the same permanently excited synchronous electric motors as the Taycan Turbo but they have been tweaked for this new model.

I use plural because there are two motors, one on each axle, which means the GTS is all-wheel drive - just like the Turbo and 4S.

In the GTS the motors are tuned to make 380kW of power and 850Nm of torque. However, there’s an 'Overboost' function as part of the launch control system that allows for up to 440kW released for short bursts.

That fits the GTS between the 4S, which makes 390kW/640Nm, and the Turbo, rated for 460kW/850Nm.

In order to extend driving range Porsche is able to effectively disconnect the front motor when in ‘Normal’ or ‘Range’ driving modes to reduce drag on the powertrain and conserve energy.

Like most EVs the Taycan uses a single-speed transmission, at least on the front motor. At the rear Porsche has opted for a two-speed unit, which is the key to the Taycan’s rapid acceleration (0-100km/h takes just 3.7 seconds) and repeatability.

How much energy does it consume?

8 / 10

The GTS is fitted with the 'Performance Battery Plus' as standard, which is a 93.4kWh battery pack that is an upgrade from the 79.2kWh battery that’s standard in the Taycan 4S.

Porsche claims the GTS has a greater driving range than the models around it, befitting its title as the ‘sweet spot’ in the line-up. The company claims the GTS can go up to 485km between charges, compared to 414km for the 4S and 420km for the Turbo.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get an accurate real-world figure on energy consumption because our test drive included a significant amount of track driving. However, the fact the Taycan GTS was able to do both an extended road drive and track running on a single charge suggests the 485km claim is realistic.

In terms of recharging times, Porsche quotes nine hours using an AC 11kW outlet, while a DC 50kW charger can take it from five per cent battery to 80 per cent in 93 minutes.

If you get access to the 350kW ultra-rapid charger it can top up 5-80 per cent in just over 22 minutes.

What's it like to drive?

9 / 10

This is where the true test of the GTS lies because of its positioning as the ‘driver’s car’ in the Taycan line-up. We already know electric cars are quick in a straight line thanks to the instant torque offered by the motors, but there hasn’t been one that has matched conventional sports sedans in the corners yet.

The GTS comes as close as any EV to providing the same driving experience as its petrol-powered equivalent, which are the highly-rated BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63 S.

The GTS comes as close as any EV to providing the same driving experience as its petrol-powered equivalent.

1 / 6

The GTS comes as close as any EV to providing the same driving experience as its petrol-powered equivalent.

2 / 6

The GTS comes as close as any EV to providing the same driving experience as its petrol-powered equivalent.

3 / 6

The GTS comes as close as any EV to providing the same driving experience as its petrol-powered equivalent.

4 / 6

The GTS comes as close as any EV to providing the same driving experience as its petrol-powered equivalent.

5 / 6

The GTS comes as close as any EV to providing the same driving experience as its petrol-powered equivalent.

6 / 6

Porsche allowed us to experience the Taycan GTS on the roads of south-east Queensland, as well as the Norwell Motorplex circuit near the Gold Coast.

In either environment the sheer size of the Taycan is hard to disguise, with the GTS tipping the scales at a hefty 2295kg, more than 200kg heavier than its petrol rivals.

To compensate for the extra weight the Taycan feels more stiffly sprung, which helps to control the chassis better, but does make for a less forgiving ride. 

Even though the GTS uses a uniquely tuned version of Porsche’s three-chamber adaptive air suspension it can still feel too sharply sprung on sharp edged bumps and across patchy road surfaces.

However, the GTS is also equipped with Porsche’s adaptive dampers - officially known as the Porsche Active Suspension Management or PASM - which helps the car really come alive when you push the handling to its limits.

Read more

Porsche Taycan 2022 review: Turbo Porsche Taycan 2022 review: Turbo Cross Turismo Porsche Taycan 2022 review: RWD

In typical Porsche fashion the steering is well sorted, providing direct feedback and ideal weighting, and the chassis responds quickly to your inputs.

On the track, when pushed to its limits, the GTS car occasionally feels a bit slow to react because of its weight, but it never feels dull or lazy. This might be the best handling electric car yet.

Warranty & Safety Rating

Basic Warranty

3 years/unlimited km warranty

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ANCAP Safety Rating

-

What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?

7 / 10

Like all Porsches, the Taycan hasn’t been crash tested by ANCAP, most likely due to the high costs associated with the multiple vehicles that are needed to finalise a rating.

Despite this, there’s strong evidence to suggest the Taycan is a very safe car, both in a passive and active safety sense.

The Taycan GTS comes equipped with active cruise control, active lane keeping assist and 'Traffic Jam Assist' (which is a mild form of autonomous driving).

There’s also autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring as well as surround-view cameras and front and rear parking sensors.

There are also eight airbags fitted, including side airbags for the rear passengers.

The Taycan features three top tether points for child seats or baby capsules across the rear row, with ISOFIX anchors on the two outer positions.

What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered?

8 / 10

Thanks to the more simplistic nature of electric cars, or at least less oily bits that need maintenance, servicing intervals for the Taycan GTS are a lengthy two-years or 30,000km, whichever comes first.

Porsche doesn’t list pricing for the servicing because labour charges vary in each state.

The Taycan GTS is covered by Porsche’s regular three-year/unlimited warranty for the majority of the car, but the battery pack gets an extended eight-year/160,000km of coverage.

Pricing & Specs Insurance Quote

Verdict