2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Review: Bottled Lightning Gets New Packaging

As an electric vehicle that bears a sporty and very eccentric crossover SUV and wagon-esque design, the 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo EV really is in a class of its own. It's a genuinely phenomenal car, though, conveying blistering acceleration performance and handling prowess, serene cruising, and utter luxury. Propulsion comes from a dual-electric-motor powertrain that employs a 93 kWh Performance Plus battery. In the entry-spec Taycan Cross Turismo wagon, the powertrain emits 375 horsepower, while the 4S ups the ante to 482 hp. Both versions come with an overboost function and launch control, which drastically increase hp outputs for far more rapid acceleration responses. The most comparable alternatives include the Tesla Model X for its vigorous electric powertrain and the Audi A6 Allroad for its raised wagon stance.

Taycan Cross Turismo Exterior

Dimensions

Taycan Cross Turismo Performance

Engine and Transmission

Powering both models in the 2021 Taycan Cross Turismo EV lineup are two AC permanent synchronous electric motors that draw energy from a 93.4 kWh Performance Plus battery. The forward-axle motor is mated with a single-speed automatic transmission and the larger rearward-axle motor gets a 2-speed automatic transmission, resulting in an all-wheel drivetrain setup. The 4's powertrain emits up to 375 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque, while the 4S ups this to 482 hp and 479 lb-ft. Engage the overboost power function and launch control switch, and hp momentarily spikes to 469 hp for the 4 and 562 hp for the 4S. Fully charging either of the Taycan Cross Turismos will take around 10.5 hours on a 9.6 kW AC outlet.

Taycan Cross Turismo Interior

Taycan Cross Turismo Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo A Good Wagon?

Though some may feel that the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is an overly bizarre-looking wagon with a far too sesquipedalian marque, it is a phenomenal vehicle and an engineering marvel. Porsche took an already impressive EV and basically just improved its practicality by extending and lifting its frame, rendering it a bonafide 4-door sports wagon. The prodigious performance associated with the Taycan marque is retained in the new 2021 Cross Turismo, which is essentially just a far more livable version. These desirable qualities include speed, handling, and fuel economy-equivalent figures. It also boasts an exquisite interior that's brimming with modern creature comforts, conveniences, and advanced safety features. Only the Euro NCAP has subjected a regular version of the 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo to review for its crashworthiness, though it scored superbly.

At a starting price of $90,900, the 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo wagon is a really pricey car and that's discouraging, considering just how many EVs there are in the USA that offer far better driving ranges. This is the first generation of the Taycan Cross Turismo, however, and with Porsche and Rimac's new partnership, there's certainly a lot to look forward to in the coming year or two.

What Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Model Should I Buy?

The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4S is a proficient and nicely specced version of the Taycan line, and one of the more pragmatic variants, too. The Turbo and Turbo S versions are just overkill in terms of their performance potential and exorbitantly high pricing, and the 4S has more than enough chops to face off against more conventional ICE competitors such as the Mercedes-AMG E63 S station wagon and the Audi RS6 Avant. We'd recommend opting in the Performance Package, which adds rear-axle steering, dynamic chassis control, torque vectoring, an electronic sport sound, and the content of the Sport Chrono Package. With how pricey this machine is, we also feel compelled to recommend the Technology Package, which throws in a head-up display, active parking support, and adaptive cruise control, plus a passenger-side infotainment system touchscreen.