Compare the2025 Porsche TaycanVS 2025 Audi A8

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taycan has a standard Maneuvering Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A8 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Taycan helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The A8 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Taycan has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A8’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taycan has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A8.

The Taycan’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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 and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

Porsche pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taycan for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Porsche will pay for cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A8.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Taycan first among upper midsize premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The A8 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 above average in initial quality. With 70 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 11 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The Taycan Performance Battery’s standard electric motor produces 67 more horsepower (402 vs. 335) than the A8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Taycan 4 Performance Battery’s standard electric motors produces 67 more horsepower (402 vs. 335) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (431 vs. 369) than the A8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Taycan Performance Battery Plus’ standard electric motor produces 94 more horsepower (429 vs. 335) than the A8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Taycan 4 Performance Battery Plus’ standard electric motors produces 94 more horsepower (429 vs. 335) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (449 vs. 369) than the A8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Taycan Turbo GT’s standard electric motors produces 684 more horsepower (1019 vs. 335) and 545 lbs.-ft. more torque (914 vs. 369) than the A8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Taycan 4S Performance Battery Plus Sedan running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the A8 (94 city/92 hwy vs. 20 city/26 hwy).

The Taycan can travel with zero emissions for 266 to 318 miles (dependent on model). The A8 can’t move without running 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 (4). This means the Taycan produces up to 25 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 CCB’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. 265/40R20). 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 305/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A8’s optional 35 series tires.

The Taycan AWD 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 2.4 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A8.

The Taycan 4S handles at 1.03 G’s, while the A8 55 TFSI 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 TFSI (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 5.6 feet tighter than the A8’s (36.7 feet vs. 42.3 feet). The Taycan Cross Turismo’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the A8’s (39.4 feet vs. 42.3 feet).

The Taycan is 1 foot, 2.1 inches shorter than the A8, making the Taycan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 (17.3 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

The Taycan has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the A8 (18.8 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 second in service department satisfaction. With a 40% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

The A8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Taycan’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 Taycan will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Taycan will retain 48.47% to 55.71% of its original price after five years, while the A8 only retains 40.79%.

The Porsche Taycan outsold the Audi A8/S8 by over three to one during 2023.