Some cars can be assessed in 15 minutes. With the Porsche Taycan, that's not possible. Over three days, Kursiv Avto drove the brand's first production electric car around Almaty, sat in city traffic jams, went to Konaev, and tried to live with the car the way ordinary owners do. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Already on the first day, it became clear: the model's main feature is not acceleration.
Today, Kazakhstan's roads are filled with bright and flashy cars, especially among new Chinese electric vehicles. Against their background, the Taycan looks restrained: it doesn't try to impress with aggressive design or futurism. Yet within a few minutes, you realize: this is a car with pedigree.
To test the sports sedan on a long trip, a Kursiv Avto journalist went with his family to Konaev, to the Kapchagai reservoir. It was there that the strength of Porsche's magnetism became clear: the car was filmed by pedestrians, bus passengers, and beachgoers. For a production model, this is a rarity.
The Taycan is very low. After crossovers, especially if you have knee problems, getting in is initially unusual. However, after a day, you stop noticing it and begin to appreciate something else: the seats, which look hard and sporty, turn out to be surprisingly comfortable.
The two-hour trip passed without lower back fatigue – unlike some crossovers, where after an hour and a half you have to fidget to find a comfortable position.
The front passenger has enough space, but in the second row, there isn't much room – even an average-height adult feels cramped.
Yes, the Taycan 4S is very fast. But what impresses more than the official 0-100 km/h time is how the car gains speed. You press the pedal – a couple of seconds pass, and the speedometer already shows 60–70 km/h. Without engine roar, without vibrations, without the feeling of mechanical struggle. Soon another thought comes: "I hope there wasn't a speed camera set for 40 here."
On the Almaty–Konaev highway, overtaking was so easy and calm that the worst part was realizing the car would soon have to be returned.
On the first day, the car seemed a bit "loose," but the next day it became clear that it was all about driver habits. Once you start understanding the Taycan, it enters corners without unnecessary movements or body roll.
The brakes work in the same style – without nervousness or harshness. The car seems to know in advance what the driver is going to do.
It must be admitted that there are plenty of drawbacks.
Ground clearance. Even with the air suspension at maximum height, some homemade speed bumps have to be crossed very carefully. Before an obstacle, you often need to stop, raise the body, and only then slowly drive over.
Regeneration. It seemed less noticeable than in some electric cars of other brands. Moreover, after each start, it had to be turned on again via the multimedia system. Perhaps it was worth studying the settings more thoroughly.
Ergonomics. The gear selector in the form of a small switch on the panel is not the most convenient solution. Adjusting the air vents via the screen also raises questions. Such things look modern, but in everyday use, classic buttons and levers are often more practical. I also didn't like the placement of the wireless charger and USB-C ports in the armrest.
Even in Almaty, where the infrastructure for electric vehicles is the best developed in Kazakhstan, an owner of a European Porsche should be careful. The car uses CCS Combo 2 and Type 2 connectors, while most city stations are oriented to the Chinese GB/T standard. Because of this, it is necessary to plan the route and charging in advance.
There is no clear answer. When it comes to sums around and over 100 million tenge, you involuntarily start comparing the Taycan with Korean, Japanese, and Chinese electric cars that cost significantly less.
On the other hand, Porsche is bought not only for its characteristics. Here, brand history, status, and that very pedigree, which is felt even before pressing the start button, come into play.
Kursiv Avto verdict: After three days, the Porsche Taycan 4S turned out to be far from ideal. The cramped second row, low ground clearance, controversial ergonomics, and charging infrastructure nuances haven't gone away.
But behind the wheel, all this quickly fades into the background. The Taycan delivers emotions that are hard to get from many premium cars. When you return the keys with the thought "oh, if only for another week," you understand: the German engineers did their job more than right.
Earlier, Kursiv Avto reported on the second Porsche Experience, which took place at the Sokol circuit near Almaty.