You might think flying all the way to Finland for a First Drive is a bit excessive, but the snow-covered landscape and ice-coated roads were just what we needed to discover the all-wheel-drive limits of the refreshed 2025 Porsche Taycan 4.

This battery-electric’s mission is to combine the better handling of four-corner power delivery with the efficiency of the rear-wheel drive entry-level model. Each axle receives an electric motor; the rear unit is 80-kilowatts more powerful, and the front electric motor remains dormant until called upon, switching on in milliseconds.

DAVE SCRIVENER: “What better spot to try out an all-wheel-drive car than Porsche’s Arctic Center in Levi, Finland, where we’re here trying out the Taycan 4 for the first time – and learning some car control tactics, how to use the throttle and brakes judiciously, let the all-wheel-drive system do the work for you… how to balance the car, not be too aggressive. It really is a lesson in patience. You think you wanna do one thing, but it’s easy to over-throttle, over-brake, but the all-wheel-drive system is just amazing, how these cars can actually handle this slick terrain and increase the traction circle – through technology.

If the car will pass these extreme tests, imagine what it will do on your normal snowy commute to work at home… probably wouldn’t drive like this, but know that you could.”

An 82.3 kilowatt-hour Performance battery is standard, upgradable to a 97 kilowatt-hour Performance Battery Plus. Naturally, selection will dictate range, estimated between 260 and 310 miles. The standard battery provides enough juice for 402 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, the Performance Plus kicking that up to 429 horses and up to 449 lb-ft with launch control.

As for ride and chassis, Porsche’s Adaptive Air Suspension and Active Suspension Management are standard. In our case, the 19-inch aero wheels were wrapped by factory-optional Michelin winter tires.

The 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 starts at just over $105,000, about four-grand over the two-wheel drive base model. Available for ordering now, the 4 is expected to become the Taycan lineup’s sales volume leader.

Only time will tell. And in the meantime, we’ll have more Quick Spins…soon!