Porsche Taycan vs BMW 740i
What's the difference?

Porsche Taycan

—

2024 price

View pricing & specs

BMW 740i

—

2023 price

View pricing & specs

Aston Martin Vanquish

Lamborghini Aventador

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C43

Mercedes-Benz C63

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E53

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Rolls-Royce Spectre (bev)

Summary

2024 Porsche Taycan

2023 BMW 740i

By James Cleary

By Chris Thompson

Safety Rating

Electric motor type

Permanent Magnet

Turbo 6, 3.0L

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Electric range

503 km

7.9L/100km (combined)

Energy consumption

20.0 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

89.00 kWh

Seating

Likes

Properly fast
Superb dynamics
Efficiency

Genuinely impressive rear passenger comforts
EV drivetrain is smooth and flexible
Magnificently quiet cabin

Dislikes

Tight rear seat
No spare tyre
Short warranty

Backwards step in tech ease of use
Doesn’t feel quite $300K from the driver's seat
Design will be divisive

2024 Porsche Taycan Summary

Can you believe Porsche’s Taycan has been on sale in Australia for three and a half years?

Well, it has, which means the mid-life refresh clock has struck 12 for this ground-breaking pure-electric performance sedan and wagon.

Porsche says it’s faster in a straight line… and to charge, with more power and an extended range. It’s also been refreshed cosmetically, the dynamics have been tweaked and the standard features list has been lengthened as prices have gone up.

We’re ready to share our first impressions review, so stay with us to see if the new Taycan keeps the Porsche flame burning in an increasingly electrified automotive world.

View full pricing & specs

2023 BMW 740i Summary

The BMW 7 Series is Munich’s flagship, the car that fans of the blue and white roundel respect as peak plush motoring.

Now, for the seventh 7 Series, BMW has brought electric power to the table in the form of the i7 in order to stay ahead of the curve.

It’s still joined by a petrol-powered variant here in Australia, the 740i, which is a mild hybrid and shares a lot of the luxury specifications of the i7 - including a properly impressive rear seat theatre screen.

But is it forward-thinking enough to fend off the likes of the Mercedes EQS?

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2024 Porsche Taycan 2023 BMW 740i

Verdict

Porsche says its Taycan models have always been performance-focused and this updated version is even faster than the car it replaces, in a straight line and point-to-point. It’s better equipped, more efficient, and yes, more expensive but every millimetre a Porsche in the way this EV sedan and wagon package has been executed.

It’s an impressive car likely to appeal to Porsche newcomers rather than traditionalists, although you may already have other Porsches in the garage. But with the Macan EV landing any minute and the pure-electric 718 Boxster and Cayman just around the corner it's a key part of the changing face of this iconic German brand.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Verdict

While the new 7 Series won’t visually appeal to everyone, nor is it at the forefront of spirited driving dynamics, it’s hard to argue that it isn’t fit for purpose.

Its rear theatre screen and lounge layout might seem gimmicky at first, but it’s difficult to think of a more comfortable way to be transported on wheels short of putting a chassis under your loungeroom. Even then, you’d have to ask someone for a massage.

This is one of those cases where a car becoming larger isn’t such a bad thing, and BMW should feel like it’s achieved, seemingly, what it set out to do in building an electric limousine that doesn’t fall short in range or dynamics.

If BMW can bring this level of refinement down to its more affordable models, its electric future is looking promising.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Porsche Taycan vs BMW 740i What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Porsche Taycan vs BMW 740i
What's the difference?