Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo: Debuts with Huge Glass Roof, Gravel Mode

The sedan has less practicality and performance than the SUV.

Although the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo may not be the first electric wagon in the world, it is certainly one of the most interesting. The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo combines the best features of the sedan with extra practicality that you would expect from a car having a longer roof. It is 0.8 inches (20 mm) taller than the regular Taycan, and 0.4 inches (10 mil) higher if the Off Road Design Package has been purchased.

Optional kit includes more plastic body cladding, to replicate the SUV-like appearance. This is possible thanks to beefier fenders and model-specific rockser panels. Rear and front fascias have been updated. The most noticeable changes are at the back, where the trunk lid has been removed to make way for a more practical hatch.

Porsche will add a Gravel mode for the Taycan Cross Turismo. This raises the suspension to its highest settings, and makes changes to the stability control system and torque management system to improve grip on rough roads. Zuffenhausen says the wagon was not designed to be a rock-crawling offroader, but that the new Gravel mode makes the wagon more capable on bumpy roads than the sedan.
The electric wagon has air suspension and all-wheel drive thanks to two electric motors. The base trim level of the Taycan Cross Turismo 4 is not available with the sedan. This is because the lineup changes from the base rear wheel-drive model to 4S. To further differentiate the sedan from its counterpart, you can choose from bespoke 20- or 21-inch alloys.

The Panamera Sport Turismo is Porsche’s second wagon. It has 375 horsepower (280kilowatts) and 469 hp (405 kW) with launch control. This electric muscle can sprint from 0-60 mph (96 km/h), in just 4.8 seconds, and reach a maximum speed of 136 mph (219.5 km/h).

The 4S is available as a standard option with the Performance Battery Plus (optional for the 4S sedan). It is followed by Turbo and Turbo S. All three offer the same power level as the Taycan sedans. The electric wagon can reach 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds with its range-topping trim. This makes it 0.1s faster than its sedan counterpart. The top speed drops 6 mph to just 155 mph (250 km/h). This is a remarkable level of performance when you consider that the Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S weights in at 5,199 pounds (2.358 kilograms).

The Taycan Cross Turismo comes standard with a large glass roof. This gives the front of the Taycan Cross Turismo 0.35 inches more headroom due to its lower roofline. After turning the sedan into an SUV, passengers enjoy an additional 3.62 inches in headroom at the back. This body style change is also paying dividends in terms cargo capacity at 15.7 cubic feet, or 42.8 cu. ft when the rear seats are folded for the 4S and 4S models.

You can upgrade to one of the Turbo models and your practicality will be a lot better. The luggage volume drops to 14.3 cubic feet, which is the same as the non-Turbo Taycan sedans. All models share a trunk that has a capacity of 2.9 cubic feet. An optional rear-mounted bike rack is available at an additional charge.

The 2021 Taycan Cross Turismo 4 starts at $92,250, including destination. You can also add additional goodies such as adaptive cruise control, active lanes-keep, 14-way massage seats, a head-up screen, Bose or Burmester sound system, and Bose music systems. Porsche includes three years of free Electrify America Charging.

The 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is expected to arrive at American dealers this summer. Details about the EPA range will be revealed closer to the launch.