2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo Review: Ride The Lightning

While some automakers may feel that the wagon body style is passé, the German giants like Audi and Mercedes-Benz feel that it still deserves some love. However, the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo is proof that it may deserve some genuine adoration. This spicy sports wagon is powered by a pair of electric motors, one for each axle, that develop a combined 750 horsepower on the Turbo S, with overboost. This allows the long, heavy vehicle to sprint to 60 mph in a hard-to-believe 2.7 seconds. Naturally, you get the good looks you'd expect from Porsche, and loads of customization options to create the exact style you want, but the interior is upscale and luxurious, too, and there are a lot of features as standard. Its closest competitors are the Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E63, though neither can match the 2021 Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo EV's sub-three-second sprint time. But, with its limited range and hard-to-access price tag, is it really relevant in a market that is being flooded with quick, affordable, and practical electric cars?

Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo Exterior

Dimensions

Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo Performance

Engine and Transmission

Both trims of the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo lineup use the same powertrain, which consists of dual electric motors and a 93.4 kWh battery pack. The front motor receives a single-speed transmission, while the rear gets a 2-speed automatic. This essentially makes the Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo EV wagon an all-wheel-drive vehicle, as any good wagon should be. Both trims boast the same 616 horsepower combined output, while the Turbo has access to 626 lb-ft of torque and the Turbo S gets 774 lb-ft. When the overboost function with launch control is enabled, the Turbo ups output to 670 hp and the Turbo S to 750 hp. This allows them to sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds or 2.7 seconds, respectively, so long as launch control is utilized. Top speed is 155 mph in both guises. Charging the battery takes an arduous 10.5 hrs on a regular 9.6 kW outlet, which a Level-2 50 kW outlet can do the job in 93 minutes.

Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo Interior

Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo A Good station wagon?

A station wagon may be a hard sell in the USA right now, but the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo electric wagon makes a good case for itself. True, it doesn't boast the levels of practicality that we expect from the body style, with an even smaller trunk than the regular Taycan sedan, but it has a spacious rear seat and that long, slightly raised stance has a certain appeal. What nobody can deny, though, is its performance chops. The huge amounts of power it has on tap is instantaneous, thanks to EV technology, and it can do a lot with it. Add in some classic Porsche handling dynamics and you have a wagon that loves to play loose and fast. The luxury interior and available tech are just gravy at this point. However, even with all this, there is no safety rating review of the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo, so you'll just have to take the automaker's word, and count on the very high reliability expectations of the brand.

It's not all good news, though. Apart from having a disappointing trunk, the Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo EV doesn't offer a particularly impressive range. Similar performance models like the Tesla Model S Plaid can drive more almost twice as far before needing to recharge. Considering how much you are paying, you'd be forgiven for expecting more. But even half as much time behind the wheel of this Porsche is more fun than you'd probably have all day in any other car, especially within this niche segment. However, automakers are migrating toward EV technology faster year on year, so it may not be too long before Audi and Mercedes have updated their wagon offerings to give the Porsche a run for its money.

What Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo Model Should I Buy?

When you're spending this kind of money, a mere $30k isn't going to stop you from getting the best model in the range. This would be the Turbo S, which boasts the higher 750 horsepower when using overboost to deliver the quickest acceleration times. This 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo's price starts at $187,600, but you can definitely expect to pay more than $200k after some customization. The sultry Carmine Red paint job is hard to resist, adding $3,150, while you get your pick of 20-inch alloys free of charge. The more luxurious Club Leather adds $2,450 to the bill, and you may as well throw in the Premium Package ($3,420) for the ventilated seats and bonus driver assists. The Off-road Design Package ($1,780) doesn't change much, but that extra 10 mm of ground clearance does give the wagon a slightly more imposing stance, while the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport package ($3,590) is a must if you intend to treat the Cross Tursimo like a genuine Porsche sports car.