Compare the2022 Porsche TaycanVS 2021 Audi A8

Both the Taycan and the A8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available night vision systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Porsche pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taycan for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Porsche will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A8.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche 15th in initial quality. With 77 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in reliability, above the industry average. With 41 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 5 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The Taycan has more powerful engines than the A8:

As tested in Car and Driver the Taycan Performance Plus electric motor is faster than the A8 55 TSFI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Taycan Sedan gets better mileage than the A8 running on electricity:

The Taycan 4S Performance Plus/Cross Turismo’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 227 miles on a full charge. The A8 60 TSFI e can only travel about 17 miles before it has to start its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Porsche Taycan higher (10 out of 10) than the Audi A8 (3 to 5). This means the Taycan produces up to 36.3 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A8 every 15,000 miles.

The Taycan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The A8 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Taycan Turbo S’ brake rotors are larger than those on the A8:

The Taycan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The A8 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Taycan stops shorter than the A8:

For better traction and acceleration, the Taycan has larger standard rear tires than the A8 (275/45R19 vs. 255/45R19). The Taycan’s optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the A8 (305/30R21 vs. 265/40R20).

The Taycan’s optional 265/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A8’s optional 40 series tires.

The Taycan offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The A8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taycan is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A8.

The Taycan 4S handles at 1.03 G’s, while the A8 55 TSFI pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Taycan Turbo S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the A8 55 TSFI (23.6 seconds @ .87 average G’s vs. 25.9 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Taycan w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is 8.1 feet tighter than the A8’s (34.1 feet vs. 42.2 feet). The Taycan Cross Turismo’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the A8’s (39.4 feet vs. 42.2 feet).

The Porsche Taycan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Audi A8.

The Taycan is 1 foot, 1.3 inches shorter than the A8, making the Taycan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Porsche Taycan amounts to more than styling. The Taycan offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .22 to .26 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the A8 (.26 to .28) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Taycan get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Taycan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A8 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Taycan has a much larger trunk than the A8 (17.2 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

The Taycan has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the A8 (18.7 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

The Taycan’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The A8 doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche first in service department satisfaction. With a 37% lower rating, Audi is ranked 12th.

The Taycan has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A8 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Taycan’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The A8 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Porsche Taycan comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi A8 isn’t available as a station wagon.

The Taycan is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A8 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Porsche Taycan outsold the Audi A8/S8 by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.