Key Points
- The author recommends the 2026 Porsche Taycan 4 as a Tesla Model S replacement.
- The Taycan offers all-wheel drive, 320-kilowatt charging, premium interiors, and styling comparable to the Model S.
- Its 294-mile range falls slightly short, while rear space and lease terms remain potential concerns.
In my ongoing series that focuses on car recommendations I make to friends and family, the latest episode is all about premium EVs. While I’m not an big EV fan, I recognize their growing prevalance in the automotive industry and one that won’t let up anytime soon. My friend, Alex has been a Tesla fan for as long as I’ve known him. He’s owned four of them, and he’s reluctant to give them up. He also won’t consider going back to gas.
Tesla
I wouldn’t characterize him as a Tesla fanboy, mostly because he’s realistic about his expectations from the brand and recognizes its shortcomings. Alex has always leased his Teslas, and he doesn’t want to change that. He also loves the size and high-end look of his current Model S Dual Motor but knows it’s no longer an option since Telsa ended the model this year. He used to own a Model 3 but doesn’t want to downsize, nor does he like the Model Y’s Cybertruck-ish look.
What He Likes About the Model S
I happen to think the Model S is the best looking Tesla ever created, even better than the original Roadster. It’s the styling opposite of the brutalist Cybertruck. Alex loves the sleek styling, the elegant creases and contours, and the fastback sedan silhouette. It’s a design that didn’t really change, save some tweaks from facelifts, and it held up incredibly well for 14 years, an eternity in the auto industry.
He also loved the range, charging speed, and convenience of Tesla’s robust charging network. Alex mostly drove to and from work, and he has a Level 2 charger at home, making the Tesla Dual Motor’s 400+ mile range almost pointless. His family’s two other cars are a Volvo XC90 and an Audi A3. He wants a slick looking EV with solid range and better build quality than his current ride. Oh, and it can’t be another Tesla. I asked him what his requirements are for his next vehicle, and here’s what he told me.
- 300+ miles of range
- All wheel drive
- NACS charging, 800-volt architecture with peak charging speeds around 300+ kW
- Room for four
- Exterior styling as good or better than the Model S
- Better build quality than the Model S
My Recommendation: 2026 Porsche Taycan 4
The Taycan is an EV that doesn’t get enough attention anymore, mostly because of the bad publicity and software issues surrounding it. But that’s where folks would be wrong. Porsche has done the hard work of fixing its deficiencies. I recommended the Taycan 4 because of everything it is, as well as what it doesn’t need to be. The Taycan 4 is the entry-level all-wheel-drive Taycan sedan, positioned above the rear-wheel-drive model and below the Taycan 4S. Its specifications vary depending on whether it has the standard Performance Battery or optional Performance Battery Plus. Here are the powertrain, performance, and charging details compared to the Model S Dual Motor:
| Specification | 2026 Porsche Taycan 4 with Performance Battery Plus | 2024 Tesla Model S Dual Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Body style | Four-door sedan | Five-door liftback |
| Drivetrain | Dual-motor all-wheel drive | Dual-motor all-wheel drive |
| Maximum horsepower | 429 hp with Launch Control | 670 hp |
| Maximum torque | 449 lb-ft with Launch Control | 723 lb-ft, as listed by The Car Connection |
| Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 mph | 4.4 seconds with Launch Control | 3.1 seconds |
| Transmission | Single-speed front; two-speed rear | Single-speed |
| Battery capacity, gross | 105 kWh | Approximately 100 kWh |
| Battery capacity, usable | 97 kWh | Approximately 95 kWh; third-party estimate |
| EPA-estimated range | 294 miles on the cited 2026 configuration | Up to 402 miles with 19-inch wheels |
| Maximum DC fast-charging power | 320 kW | 250 kW |
| Claimed 10–80% charging time | Approximately 18 minutes under ideal conditions | Around 30 minutes under ideal conditions |
| Seating | Four standard; optional 4+1 seating | Five |
I recommended the Taycan 4 equipped with Performance Battery Plus. The correct boxes are checked for all-wheel drive and charging speeds. It falls just under Alex’s desire for 300+ miles of range but not by much. He doesn’t care much for the horsepower or 0-60 times. He appreciates the quickness of a sporty EV, and the Taycan 4 is plenty powerful. The performance and charging specifications look solid enough to be a convincing replacement for the Model S Dual Motor.
The Taycan 4 also checks the style box. While I actually think the Model S looks better (shocking), the Taycan 4 isn’t far behind. It’s better proportioned, and the lighting elements are more refined, especially the quad DRLs nestled into the headlight cluster. The wraparound full-width taillights look phenomenal, as do the big fenders and rear haunches. Most importantly, however, it looks like a Porsche and doesn’t deviate much from a proven formula with the sloping nose, curvaceous body, and fastback greenhouse.
The cabin is echelons higher than the Model S’s minimalist and overly plasticky cabin. Porsche knows how to do sporty interiors. The three spoke steering wheel is stunning, and the waterfall center console is a direct descendant of the Panamera. The two-tone coloring looks great, as do the large instrument display, embedded center infotainment screen, and the touch controls just below.
The back row isn’t quite as spacious as the Model S’s, but it’s very close. The Taycan 4 measures 35.2 inches of rear legroom, while the Model S provides 35.5 inches. Where the Model S wins is headroom. It measures 38.1 inches against the Taycan 4’s 36.2. The sloping roofline of the Taycan 4 can’t match the room provided by the liftback design of the Model S. Alex doesn’t drive four adults often, so it’s an acceptable compromise.
Final Thoughts
Alex has yet to make a decision, but there aren’t too many contenders he’s willing to look at. He pretty much has to move away from Tesla. He’s not a fan of Audi’s designs, so the e-tron GT, the Taycan’s twin, isn’t an option. Much of it depends on what it feels like when he test drives the Taycan 4 and what kind of lease terms he can get. As much flack as the Taycan has received since its inception, it remains an impressive premium EV that’s worth at look. That said, it will be interesting to see if he follows my recommendation based on the criteria we discussed.
About the author
Amos Kwon
Contributing Writer, Autoblog