As Tesla Boosts Range, a Mileage Comparo With Porsche Proves Interesting

Tesla Model S sales have taken a backseat to the electric sedan’s hot-selling Model 3 sibling, but the model remains a valuable asset for the automaker. For one thing, it offers the most range of any Tesla vehicle. Now, buyers of both the Model S and X can expect greater driving distances, all thanks to a product upgrade added several months ago.

Real-world range is another matter, and on that front there’s reason for Porsche Taycan buyers to smile.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the upgrade late last week, saying the Model S Long Range Plus now delivers an EPA-estimated 390 miles of range, up from 373 miles. The additional range will soon be unlocked in existing vehicles via an over-the-air software update.

The pricier Model S Performance retains its 348-mile rating.

Like the Model S, the long-legged version of the Model X sees its range grow to 351 miles, up 23 from before. While no version of the Model S or X can be described as a range slug (or slow), adding extra miles is one way to keep these now aging models fresh as competition gathers around the Palo Alto automaker.

One of those competitors is Porsche, with its Taycan sedan. The slinky EV comes in performance-minded Turbo and Turbo S guises, though its EPA rating falls far short of its U.S. rival.

While the hottest Taycan’s 192-mile range earned the vehicle both jeers and sympathy, Car and Driver set out to discover whether the differences between the hottest electric Porsche and brawniest Tesla Model S were really all that great in real-world driving. A comparo test ensued between the Turbo S and Model S Performance, performed on a California track at interstate cruising speeds.

Recall the two range ratings: 192 miles, and 348.

The simulated road trip did not see the test vehicles driven to the point of drainage. In the interest of longevity, EV battery packs halt the vehicle, or at least slow it, before the pack can become too depleted. Under optimal conditions (and time constraints) at Hyundai’s flat California City test loop, both models were put through their paces.

The results, after 100 miles of 75 mph driving (which most certainly is not how the EPA tests average range), showed that battery depletion was not in line with the stated ranges. Especially not in the Tesla’s case.

From Car and Driver:

At the conclusion of our 100 miles, the Tesla was sitting at a 55 percent state of charge, and the Porsche was just behind at 52 percent. We then used the rate of battery depletion and range reduction—which, given our idealized test conditions, was extremely stable—to extrapolate out to a predicted total range figure.

The results were far closer than we expected: 209 miles for the Taycan, and 222 for the Model S.

Although that number might seem low for the Model S, it’s between our other Tesla highway-range results. The last Model S we tested, a 2018 100D, achieved 270 miles to a 335-mile EPA rating, and the first Model 3, a rear-drive Long Range, got 200 miles versus its 310-mile EPA figure at the time. That means at a steady 75 mph, the 100D achieved 81 percent of its EPA range, and the Model 3, 65 percent, while the figure for this latest Model S is 68 percent.

It’s food for thought for any prospective EV buyer. Certain models make more efficient use of their battery capacity, and everything from speed to terrain to temperature to driving style will impact how far you can go on a charge.

[Images: Abu hasim.A/Shutterstock, Porsche]