[Auto] New Porsche Taycan vs Tesla Model S: interiors

[HiTLeR]

New electric Porsche is a four-seat sports car with up to 751bhp. But is it better than the bonkers-fast Tesla that made electric cars desirable in the first place?...

 

 

Behind the wheel
Driving position, Visibility, build quality
You sit lower in the Taycan, leaving you in no doubt about its sporting pretentions. Whether that appeals more than the Model S’s higher perch is a matter of taste, but the Taycan's seats are definitely better. Our car’s 18-way electrically adjustable Adaptive Sports Seats are a no-cost option, and they grip you perfectly in corners and cushion you ideally on the straights. The Model S’s seats are also powered but don’t offer the same range of adjustment, have less side support and the adjustable lumbar support extends into the small of your back like a little anvil.

Both cars have electrically adjustable steering columns, and behind their steering wheels sit digital displays for all your driving info. It’s a touchscreen in the Taycan, but the majority of its features are controlled from a central 8.4in touchscreen, which has haptic feedback, and the 10.9in infotainment screen above it. Neither car comes with many proper buttons, and finding touchscreen icons while driving isn’t that easy. It must be said, the Model S’s huge 17in screen makes the job easier, though (read more on their infotainment systems below). 

 

You might imagine that sitting lower in the Taycan would make it harder to see out of, but while the Model S feels more airy, thanks in part to its standard panoramic glass roof, both cars have fat windscreen and side pillars. These can hinder your view at junctions, while steeply angled rear screens limit what you can see out the back.

 

 

Still, parking isn’t much of an issue, because both cars come with front and rear sensors, and the Model S has a rear-view camera – a £480 option on the Taycan. The Taycan comes with adaptive Matrix LED headlights, which can stay on main beams without dazzling drivers in front, while the Model S has simpler, non-adaptive LEDs. 

If you’re still puzzled by the cost differential between these cars, a quick quality inspection reveals part of the answer: the circa £100,000 Model S might look futuristic inside, but you sense it’s not as well put together as a £30,000 Skoda. Its panel gaps, inside and out, are all over the place; the ‘vegan leather’ feels synthetic; and there are parts of the interior – like the centre console – that feel a bit flimsy.

The Taycan, on the other hand, feels like it’s been made of girders that have been bolted together with far greater care, and wrapped in the finest quality materials. The soft, natural hides, which cover most internal surfaces, look and feel more special than the Tesla’s coverings, and if you’re against the use of leather, you can opt for an alternative without charge.

 

Infotainment systems
Porsche Taycan

 

There are actually two infotainment touchscreens in the Taycan, but it isn't a great solution. The lower one is awkward to use without contorting your arm, and if you’re trying to steady your hand to use the upper screen, you can catch it with your palm and alter the menus by mistake. The menus have many layers, too, so you need a bit of time to get used to them, but the software is pretty responsive. Wireless phone charging isn’t available (yet), but you get Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, which adds lots of functionality. The £3245 Burmester sound system is pricey but excellent.

 

Tesla Model S

 

The massive 17in touchscreen makes this system. It allows multiple menus to be displayed at the same time and runs slick software. It doesn’t have Apple CarPlay, which, if you’re used to it, you might miss, but Google Maps, Google web browsing, Netflix, games and many other features are in-built. Wireless charging is also included. We found the voice activation to be pretty poor, and the standard stereo isn’t as good as the Taycan’s upgraded system. The Tesla app gives you many remote functions – Porsche has something similar in the wings.