Active Ride - Less sporty? - Take or avoid?

[trebzz]

How so?

A car with active ride has no springs or conventional dampers and is under computer control in every mode - it has to be.

Some of the comfort functions will be switched off when going into another mode but it will still be controlled by a microprocessor with settings chosen by the Porsche engineers, just like the air suspension already is, but with more variables and control.

Active suspension Formula One cars didn't have any comfort settings

This is my understanding about it also! And it does improve your stability while in sports mode, albeit very different, lower, stiffer. Even the fact the car lowers shows the active ride is working.

Tbf though when people use the term active ride the thing they think about more is how stable it keeps you during normal daily usage, bumps, turns etc it’s their technology for doing this that impresses folks the most

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[f1eng]

This is my understanding about it also! And it does improve your stability while in sports mode, albeit very different, lower, stiffer. Even the fact the car lowers shows the active ride is working.

Tbf though when people use the term active ride the thing they think about more is how stable it keeps you during normal daily usage, bumps, turns etc it’s their technology for doing this that impresses folks the most

Fair enough!
99.9% of owners never get anywhere near the grip limit of their car (including me of course) except during an accident so the comfort and convenience aspects are much more marketable than performance (which people think the want/like but rarely exploit at all )

 

[Rbwalters]

Not sure. But the manual says active ride can only be activated in Notmal mode. Perhaps this just refers to the Active Pitch and Roll, which can be unchecked in the comfort setting:

 

[Rbwalters]

I would disregard anyone's post above who doesn't actually have (or even tested) the Active Ride capability. You should only listen to people who have experienced it.

I have it and it is 100% a game changer and something you absolutely want to have.
It does not take any "sportiness" away because the body leveling stuff turns off automatically when you enter sport mode.

I plan on keeping the car long term, so I do have concerns about whether maintenance on Active Ride could become an issue, but that's perpetually a tomorrow problem.

Would it still be a great car without Active Ride? Sure, but if you're buying this car because you like to drive, then you won't be disappointed in having Active Ride.

I have to agree with this post. I'm only about 500 miles in, but I have had a few chances to push some hard curves (Mt. Hood), and I'm heading south on Hwy 101 next weekend and coming back through the Redwoods with my wife in the car. I'm very much looking forward to testing the Active ride under those conditions.

 

[Boss Hogg]

I have active ride and 16k miles in, 100% get it if you can stomach the cost, all drive modes from comfort to more aggressive / sport are enhanced. It is most noticeable at higher speeds when driving for either comfort or gunning it. Active Ride is the best part of may J1-2 Taycan.

To clarify on the on/off discussion, Active Ride is "on" ALL THE TIME in ALL MODES, it cannot be "turned off". In 'normal' mode you can choose to have an additional features of 'active lean' and/or 'active pitch' control turned on, with these options active, Active Ride will additionally overcompensate for comfort reasons but it is not to everyone's taste hence it is configurable (I personally quite like it when wafting around or have the dogs (or people?!) in the back).

Potential downside, I have have had 2x front strut replacements (one each side). Not sure if these were due to active ride or just defective units. Defect was a clear knocking noise at low speeds, particularly when turning.

 

[GreenHornet]

I have tried the J1.2 Turbo S on track with Active Ride. It's even better then the PDCC I have on my J1.1 GTS. If you can afford it, get it. It's great.

 

[Jagu]

I always see people talk about comfort...if a person buys a sport car, he knows there won't be comfort..or less than a wagon or suv so don't buy a coupe!
I don't get why people buy a car then add optional to make it different than its purpose or without using it at its 90%..
another option, why add 19" 20" instead of 21" and improve comfort in a smart way? oh sorry my bad, then people will tell you they have bigger wheels or you have less grip..!
I can continue but won't be pointless..

I guess it's because the car is their daily driver, and they want it to be very versatile .

 

[Avantgarde]

The fastest time around Nurburgring in an EV was recorded with a car that had Active Ride as standard (Taycan Turbo GT Weissach Package). Not sure i see the point in debating whether it could be “sporty enough” when needed ?

 

[kermit]

My new Taycan GTS order will be locked soon, and hesitating on Active Ride.

- It gives you a tons of comfort but Im afraid it will be less sportier with it, and gives you a less enjoyable ride if you want to go sporty

- Since its new technology at Porsche Im afraid about the teething problems

Whats your toughts, take or avoid?

Thank you!

I have had my 4S CT since Jan with Active Ride. Two comments

- It lasted 48 hours before it failed and needed the complete rear driver side suspension unit to be replaced. It took 3 months to fix. I won’t bore you with the whole sorry tale.

- It’s back, it works, it’s incredible. Never driven anything that is somehow so completely planted, totally controlled and yet so comfortable - not in the slightest squishy comfortable, just a new type of driving experience to be honest. If is not active in Sport/Sport+, and you can configure it also.

Yes, it is also fun having the car jump up to greet you )

Would I option again, 100% Yes.

Hope that helps.

K

 

[Mr.Smith]

I have active ride and 16k miles in, 100% get it if you can stomach the cost, all drive modes from comfort to more aggressive / sport are enhanced. It is most noticeable at higher speeds when driving for either comfort or gunning it. Active Ride is the best part of may J1-2 Taycan.

To clarify on the on/off discussion, Active Ride is "on" ALL THE TIME in ALL MODES, it cannot be "turned off". In 'normal' mode you can choose to have an additional features of 'active lean' and/or 'active pitch' control turned on, with these options active, Active Ride will additionally overcompensate for comfort reasons but it is not to everyone's taste hence it is configurable (I personally quite like it when wafting around or have the dogs (or people?!) in the back).

Potential downside, I have have had 2x front strut replacements (one each side). Not sure if these were due to active ride or just defective units. Defect was a clear knocking noise at low speeds, particularly when turning.

I read Active Ride completely disenages over 93mph

 

[HerrCooles]

I got it — and the reason why is easy to explain.
I drove a 2021 model for four years, and while that’s not the only reason, it definitely played a part in my decision to upgrade to the 2025.


Since most of us drive “normally” 90% of the time, comfort is a total game changer. Even something as simple as getting in and out of the car is noticeably easier — just a few centimeters make a big difference. You barely feel any bumps, even when hitting a speed bump — it's incredibly smooth.


I absolutely love the way it handles curves — you barely feel any lateral movement, even in long corners. And when I see the cars in front of me bouncing over uneven roads, mine just glides over them. No extra bounce after going over a big bump either.


ActiveRide is active even in Sport and Sport+ mode, though not as a roll stabilization feature in those settings.


For me, it's a must-have.

 

[Boss Hogg]

I read Active Ride completely disenages over 93mph

I've not seen that, sounds kinda dangerous if the suspension behaviour is programmed to change at that speed.

 

[Mr.Smith]

I've not seen that, sounds kinda dangerous if the suspension behaviour is programmed to change at that speed.

This gets deeper into the Audi Active Ride which compares Taycan

This article explains how Audi tunes their Active Ride compared to Par.

Interesting points:
1) PAR is ZF technology.
2) The Taycan will counteract natural lateral and longitudinal acceleration forces until about 93 mph. Beyond there, you can expect to experience more typical body motions that a non-Active Ride Taycan would exhibit.



https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a...e-ride-suspension-tech-is-translated-to-audi/

 

[Boss Hogg]

Suspect they are referring to the optional 'active lean' and 'active pitch' control functions that do the overcompensation by 'leaning' the car for comfort reasons (the article references the 'counteracting' aspect of Active Ride "The Taycan will counteract natural lateral and longitudinal acceleration forces until about 93 mph") I could see this logic and sense to deactivate these optional modes at higher speeds.

 

[bihus]

Suspect they are referring to the optional 'active lean' and 'active pitch' control functions that do the overcompensation by 'leaning' the car for comfort reasons (the article references the 'counteracting' aspect of Active Ride "The Taycan will counteract natural lateral and longitudinal acceleration forces until about 93 mph") I could see this logic and sense to deactivate these optional modes at higher speeds.

Makes complete sense. And the strengths at those speeds would probably need even stronger components.

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