48 APRIL 2020 ~ CAR AND DRIVER
Credit where it’s due:
Despite its advanced age,
the Tesla Model S remains
the benchmark for long-
range luxury electric cars.
are at least based in reality, originating from recordings of
the Porsche’s electric motors on a dyno. And not that the
low and wide Taycan needs any help, but the whir does draw
attention, creating visible confusion as bystanders try to
identify the vessel zooming by.
And what a vessel it is. Judged from the driver’s seat
alone, the Taycan is the better car. It meets the high expec-
tations of this storied brand, proves its real-world range, and
moves the EV bar on a couple fronts. But price is always a
factor, in this case, an insurmountable one.
1st Place: The Tesla
“Tesla’s vision for the future in 2012 is still relevant today,”
quipped deputy reviews editor Tony Quiroga. That is mas-
sively impressive given the Model S’s advanced age. Sure,
there are reminders that this car is from Tesla’s early days,
such as the Mercedes-sourced window switches, shift lever,
and turn-signal and cruise-control stalks. And eight years
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The uneven gap between the hatch and the rear body work,
for example, doesn’t look as though it’s improved one bit.
But the Model S still has a lot going for it. The interior
continues to impress, particularly with the $2000 white
leatherette in our car. And Tesla accurately predicted—or
perhaps caused—the shift in cabin design where infotain-
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The Model S’s rear seat is far larger than the Taycan’s and
can sit three versus two in the Porsche. Taller side glass
makes the Tesla feel airier inside, too, and its rear cargo
area is double that of the Porsche. Even with a larger
battery pack and longer wheelbase, the Model S weighs
nearly 250 pounds less than the Taycan, although that’s
probably part of the reason the Tesla is noisier than the
Porsche at 70 mph.
This latest Model S Performance is even more
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thanks to the new air springs and adaptive dampers.
Ride quality has certainly improved, and there’s sub-
stantial adjustability between the three suspension
modes. There’s not much steering feel, though, and the
turn-in from the Tesla’s relatively giant steering wheel
is far slower and less crisp than the Porsche’s.
The Model S is more competent than fun, and the
harder you push, the less impressive it becomes. Sta-
bility control intervenes early—there’s no way to dial it