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Porsche takes the already impressive Taycan EV and gives it the off-road wagon treatment. Here’s the latest on the upcoming Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.
Your (Rich) Granddad’s Outback
Luxury wagons have a special place in the hearts of car reviewers. As we detailed when we compared the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S and the Audi RS6 Avant, the German uber-wagon is perhaps the automotive world’s best all-rounder. Low enough to retain sport car levels of handling, packing gobs of power, and yet offering plenty of space for four passengers and loads of luggage. Porsche decided that not only did they want to get in on the wagon game they upped the ante two-fold. First by giving their all-electric Taycan the wagon treatment and then ruggedizing it with some off-road Outback-esque touches. The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo covers a lot of bases. Just as a proper power wagon should.
Technical Specifications
Mechanically, the Taycan Cross Turismo is nearly identical to the sedan version. Like the normal Taycan, the Cross Turismo will feature a 93.4 kWh battery pack feeding power to two electric motors. The “base” Cross Turismo 4 starts at 469 horsepower in launch control, or at 375 horsepower while driving around town. The power figures scale up along the trims to top out with the Turbo S and its whiplash-inducing 750 horsepower. Unlike most other halo EVs, the Taycan Cross Turismo has a 2-speed gear box located on the rear axle for extra punch at higher speeds.
With a maximum 270 kW fast charging capability the Taycan Cross Turismo can go from a 5% to an 80% charge in just over 22 minutes. Though range for the Cross Turismo has yet to be released, we expect it to be right in line with the regular Taycan at around 270 miles on a single charge.
Weekend Warrior
So what actually separates the Taycan Cross Turismo from its sedan sibling? Size and stance. First and most obviously, the Cross Turismo gets a larger, wagon sized rear end. Cargo now starts at 15.7 cu. ft. (up from 14.3 cu. ft.) and, with the rear seats down, a full 43 cu. ft. of space. There’s also a frunk up front that measures 2.9 cu. ft., which is good for charging cables if little else. Additionally, rear seat passengers gain nearly two inches of headroom over the regular Taycan.
But the larger hatch and extra space of a wagon is just the beginning for the Cross Turismo. Nearly as noticeable is the higher stance of the car, which gains 0.8 inches of ground clearance. Not a ton, but another 0.4 inches can be accessed either through the new “Gravel” mode or the “Off-road Design” package which also adds more exterior cladding. To top off the “rugged wagon” theme, Porsche will be offering optional roof rails and a rear bike rack.
On the Road
You may be rightly wondering, at what cost does this wagon treatment come? It turns out Porsche has made sure the Cross Turismo sacrifices virtually nothing. The Cross Turismo still handles like the Taycan, which is to say like a proper Porsche. The sedan Taycan feels most closely analogous to the 718 Cayman in terms of handling, albeit with the slightly unnerving power of those twin electric motors to rocket you out of the corners. The Cross Turismo’s additional ride heigh adds a subtle and not entirely unpleasant amount of body roll that is otherwise dialed out of the regular Taycan.
To put it simply, the Taycan Cross Turismo handles better than any wagon has any business handling. Porsche appears keenly aware that the party trick of absurd 0-60 sprints ware off rather quickly and they’ve made all the necessary provisions for the Taycan Cross Turismo to remain an entertaining drive once the thrills of launch control have worn off.
Trims & Prices
The Taycan Cross Turismo’s wagon-y goodness does come at a premium, adding $10,000 to the already steeply price Taycan’s sticker of $82,250. From here however, the gap narrows as we ascend the trim ladder. The 4S trim comes in at $111,650, up from the regular Taycan’s $105,150. The Turbo rings up at an eye-watering $154,850, just $2,600 off the sedan version. The Turbo S starts at $188,950, again up $2,600 from the Taycan Turbo S sedan. This is all before you start the requisite Porsche customization process to add everything from interior accent stitching and ambient lighting to ceramic brakes and Burmester premium stereo. In fact, Porsche says the Taycan Cross Turismo will be the most customizable Porsche ever, with over 22,000 potential combinations.
Next Level Uber-Wagon
If you saw the Porsche Taycan debut back in September of 2019 and said, cool, but call me when it’s a wagon. A) you’ve got impeccable taste and B) this is that call. Setting it alongside the Mercedes-AMG E 63 and the Audi RS6 Avant, the Taycan Cross Turismo offers something equally potent while totally distinct. Those two V8 wagons deliver absurd acceleration that the all-electric Taycan Cross Turismo easily matches and in the case of the Turbo S exceeds. But what’s more impressive is the Cross Turismo’s handling. Yes, the Audi and the AMG are fleet of foot and nimble as deer, but the Porsche does what Porsches do best, offer a level of connectedness and precision that’s still unmatched.
That’s what makes the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo uniquely appealing as the next generation of German uber-wagons.
