Used Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 2024 long-term test
Depreciation-dodging example of Porsche’s electric estate joins the fleet
*Why we’re running it: *Can a cut-price approved used electric Porsche match the richly satisfying ownership experience of a new one?
-Month 1 - Specs-
-Life with a Porsche Taycan: Month 1-
*Welcoming the Taycan to the fleet *
How you view the second-hand market for electric cars might depend on whether you're a glass half-empty or glass half-full sort of person. Or, perhaps, whether you're looking to sell an electric car you bought new or pick up a used bargain.
Take this latest addition to the Autocar test fleet: a 'used' Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo from its maker's approved used scheme. It's an early 23-plate car that arrived with us with just under 9000 miles on the clock and a known ownership history (full disclosure: it's been well used on Porsche's press fleet).
Had you bought this car new in 2023 it would have cost £90,438. Now? Its value at the time of handover is about £68,000.
Given Porsche's reputation for robust used values (a hybrid Panamera of similar age and mileage and which cost less initially is priced in the mid-£70k region), that's probably a shock to many, especially those who bought a Taycan outright or on PCP. But for savvy used buyers it represents a comparative bargain route into ownership of not only a Porsche but also one of our favourite electric cars.
Granted, for a similar outlay you could have a brand-new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but really, how many thousand drive modes and settings do you want when you can have an EV dripping in Porsche's signature sheen?
There are many reasons why the used values for most electric cars (sharp devaluation isn't limited to the Taycan by any means) have struggled.
For one, the ZEV mandate requiring manufacturers to sell more EVs has put pressure on prices when new (albeit often hidden using offers and incentives), while any used EVs manufacturers sell through their official schemes don't count towards those targets.
There are also no tax breaks on offer for business or fleet buyers for used EVs- and, meanwhile, just over three years after the Taycan's launch and with a facelift having just arrived, there's a relative glut of ex-fleet and PCP examples arriving on the market.
Just as significantly, there's still some scepticism about taking on a used electric car. Given the recent rate of EV progress, will it be as outdated as a BBC Master in a few years time? Will the battery life suddenly and dramatically degrade to the point that the car is unusable? Such concerns are common with new technology.
So with an increasing number of used EVs on the market, it felt like a good time to put the previously owned approach to the test - and, frankly, to get more time in a seriously good car. All of which is why I found myself at Porsche Reading to take collection of our new Sport Turismo.
Buy a car through Porsche's official used scheme and you can enjoy the exact same handover process as a new model, complete with a cover being whisked off your shiny new (to you car in the dealership and an expert on hand to talk you through all the key features with a particular brief to explain some of the nuances of EV ownership for those new to them.
That includes obvious things, such as how to plug it in, along with easily missed features such as where the 'frunk' is or how to use the customisable buttons on the dash and steering wheel.
Anyway, if you'll permit me to return to my tortured analogy about half-full glasses, as far as my new car itself is concerned, my cup runneth over. You might find plenty of used Taycans on offer, but you'd have to search hard to find another in this spec. It's a bit of a peach: a largely base-spec, single-motor, big-battery Sport Turismo.
Its output of 322bhp (402bhp with launch control) may pale in comparison to a Turbo's (and it is positively demure compared with the updated model), but it's still enough for 0-62mph in 5.4sec. And the 83.7kWh (usable) battery means it has an official range of 304 miles.
I'll take that over an excess of power I'll most likely never use. It's also a rare Taycan sitting on steel spring suspension, which it combines with adaptive damping
The Sport Turismo shape adds to the appeal, offering a big-booted estate body without the slight compromise of the Cross Turismo's raised ride height.
The extended roof provides a bit more space for rear passengers, too, especially with the 4+1 seats. It's still not the world's most practical EV by any means, but this bodystyle certainly extends the car's operating window.
The interior is somewhat restrained: black is the predominant colour, and it's generally at the more sober end of the Porsche line-up. That suits me nicely, and the sports seats are proving comfortable so far.
There are other perks: our car came to us with a contract to use the Porsche Charging Network- it's not offered as standard with a used Taycan, but you can buy access.
Using an RFID card, your key fob or the My Porsche app, you get one-touch access to any charger part of that network. You will need to use the app to find them, but it includes the fast chargers found at many Porsche dealers and Ionity and BP forecourts.
On some you will also get a discount reducing significantly the cost of charging. The network info is integrated into Porsche's nav system, so plot in a long trip and it will work out where to stop and how long to charge for while monitoring real-time charger availability.
Initial impressions are good, which you would expect: there's a reason the Taycan is one of our favourite electric cars, and the improvements to the recent facelifted model don't really detract from older examples such as this.
We'll judge that more over time, of course, but just as important here will be to gauge the ownership experience for used buyers drawn in by those headline discounted prices.
They might be painful reading for those set to lose out due to slipping residual values, but a cut-price route into Porsche and electric car ownership is a mighty enticing prospect for those looking to buy.
*Second Opinion*
James has done a fine job intellectualising the higher end of used electric car pricing structures, but I feel I should add something here: Taycan Sport Turismos are really cool. Porsche? Tick. Estate? Tick. And 0-62mph in less than six seconds? Tick!
*Murray Scullion*
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-Used Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo specification-
*Specs: Price New* £80,200 *Price as tested* £90,438 *Options *Performance Battery Plus £4454, 20in Turbo Aero Wheels £1676, Sport Chrono Package £875, Dynamic Silver Metallic paint £852, park assist £575, 4+1 seats £371, ambient lighting £329, Driver Memory Package £282, gloss black side window trims £269, electric folding mirrors £231
*Test Data: Engine* 2x permanent magnet synchronous motors *Power* 322bhp *Torque* 627lb ft *Kerb weight* 2295kg *Top speed* 155mph *0-62mph* 5.4sec *Fuel economy* 3.2mpkWh (claimed) *CO2* 0g/km *Faults* None *Expenses* None
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