Porsche hasn't made it a secret that a more practical Taycan model was coming this year. After months of spy shots, the 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is finally here, and it's ready to offer a more practical take on the electric sports car. Like its relative, the Panamera Sport Turismo, the Cross Turismo adopts a wagon-like profile. In this case, Porsche gave the car additional ground clearance to add versatility and make it more SUV-like.

This new model will launch with four variants, the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo, and Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo, with power outputs matching those of the standard Taycan. Only the base rear-wheel-drive Taycan variant hasn't transferred over to the Cross Turismo, which makes sense given this car's more rugged persona. All Cross Turismo variants include a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with a two-speed transmission.

The Cross Turismo's proportions look vastly different than the standard Taycan. It features a longer, flatter roofline, which grants rear passengers 3.62 inches of additional headroom. Cargo space is improved too, with up to 15.7 cubic feet in the 4 and 4S models or 14.3 cubic feet in the Turbo and Turbo S. It's worth noting that these figures aren't drastically larger, as the Taycan sedan holds between 12.9 and 14.3 cubic feet in its traditional trunk.

Folding the Cross Turismo's rear seats opens the available space to 42.8 cubic feet in non-Turbo derivatives, with an additional 2.9 cubes in the front trunk also available. The Cross Turismo includes a roof transport system for larger items, and a rear bike rack is available from Tequipment. Porsche will even launch a pair of electric bicycles in collaboration with the Taycan Cross Turismo.

Porsche raised the ride height by 0.78 inches compared to the standard Taycan to provide better ingress and egress into and out of the cabin. A standard Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management system with air suspension can raise the car even further. Opting for the available Off Road Design Package adds body cladding and 0.39 inches of additional ride height.

To take full advantage of the extra height, the Cross Turismo features a Gravel driving mode that raises the suspension by 10 millimeters, sets the suspension firmness, traction, stability control, and torque management system for maximum grip. The car comes with available 21-inch Cross Turismo Design wheels, but the Off Road Design Package reduces those to unique 20-inch wheels.

Performance in the Cross Turismo is nearly identical to the standard Taycan. Porsche says the top Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo hits 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, one-tenth slower than the sedan. Even the base Turbo is rapid with a 3.1-second 0-60 mph time, while the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo and Taycan 4 Cross Turismo take 3.9 and 4.8 seconds, respectively. These figures are all nearly identical to the standard Taycan because the Cross Turismo features identical power outputs.

The entry-level 4 model produces 375 horsepower (469 hp with launch control) and 368 lb-ft of torque, while the 4S ups the outputs to 482 hp (562 hp w/ launch control) and 479 lb-ft. Speed freaks will want to seek out the Turbo model with 616 hp (670 w/ launch control) and 626 lb-ft or the Turbo S, which has the same 616 hp but has 774 lb-ft and can increase power to 750 hp with launch control.

Inside, the Cross Turismo looks identical to the Taycan sedan. It includes three years of Porsche Connect, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Function on Demand, Plug & Charge capabilities, Apple Music, and over-the-air update plus three years of free Electrify America charging. As we expect of Porsche, the options list is long, with features like 14-way seats with massage, Bose and Burmester audio system options, a head-up display, and safety systems.

Pricing for the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo starts at $90,900 plus a $1,350 delivery fee. Porsche says after factoring in the Performance Battery Plus, adaptive air suspension with PASM, fixed panoramic roof, the Cross Turismo is $1,530 more than a standard Taycan. The 4S starts at $110,300, the Turbo at $153,500, and the Turbo S at $187,600.

The Taycan Cross Turismo arrives at US dealerships in summer 2021. Official range estimates will come closer to the launch, though we expect them to be lower than the Taycan sedan.