When Porsche first debuted the Taycan EV, it promised that more was in store for the moniker and that it would spawn its own lineup of variants. Porsche has delivered the goods and has unveiled the 2021 Taycan Cross Turismo, which brings elegant wagon styling and increased capability to the futuristic EV.
Wagon Shape Enhances Cross Turismo’s Flair
The 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is not the first design-focused wagon entry that we have seen from Europe, but it’s perhaps the most futuristic-looking one that we have seen yet. The front fascia is typical Taycan, but Porsche designers have added chunky pieces of black cladding in the lower portions of the bodywork and the fender arches to help protect the car from damage when it goes off-roading.
The roofline will arguably be the main item that will draw the most attention, with the Cross Turismo being the second wagon entry in Porsche’s lineup alongside the Panamera. Here it helps give the Taycan a more practical shape, with a massive sunroof being standard equipment on all Cross Turismo models. The flatter roofline also helped increase headroom slightly in the interior, which should please rear passengers that might have felt cramped in the Taycan sedan’s passenger area.
The rear styling is also shared with the Taycan sedan, but here the wagon dimensions actually help it look more aggressive, especially with the tweaked rear bumper and the tidy roof spoiler. The Cross Turismo also debuts two exclusive wheel designs, including one based on the Mission E Cross Turismo concept.
It will be interesting to see whether the Cross Turismo creates internal pressure for the Panamera in sales cannibalization. Still, it certainly has the styling game down, which should send a strong message to rivals like Audi and Jaguar, which also offer design-focused wagon entries.
Taycan Cross Turismo Brings Zero Emissions Trailbusting To Buyers
As you would suspect, the 2021 Taycan Cross Turismo results from what would happen if the sedan’s already impressive pedigree was given an extra pinch of capability. As a result, the bulk of the performance changes here focus on the minor details. The suspension has been raised 20 millimeters with the optional Off-Road Design Package enhancing that further by 10 extra millimeters.
Porsche engineers also added an all-new Gravel mode to the Taycan Cross Turismo, which raises the suspension to its highest setting and also makes needed tweaks to the stability and torque management systems for better grip. The Cross Turismo won’t be dueling Jeep Wranglers on the Rubicon Trail anytime soon (and Porsche reps admitted it wasn’t built for that sort of thing). Still, it will be noticeably better at handling gravel roads versus its pavement dwelling four-door counterpart.
In an interesting twist, the base trim will be the Taycan Cross Turismo 4, a noticeable departure from the Taycan norm. The sedan version doesn’t have this model here in the U.S. and forces buyers to go from the rear-wheel-drive base sedan all the way up to the Turbo 4S if they want all-wheel drive. The base model doesn’t skimp on performance either, with the electrified hardware producing 375 horsepower, which is bumped up to 469 horsepower when launch control is active. All of this helps the base Cross Turismo sprint its way to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds before hitting 136 mph.
The hotter 4S is the trim to go to if you want to start exploring the Cross Turismo’s wild side. Only bested by the Turbo and Turbo S models, all three offer the same power figures as their sedan counterparts, with the Turbo S streaking its way to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds. That’s only a tad slower than the sedan though top speed does drop by 6 mph to a still lofty 155 mph. That’s an already impressive feat in and of itself, but it’s magnified when you consider that the Cross Turismo weighs just under 5,200 lbs.
When Can I Buy One?
Porsche did not reveal full pricing for the 2021 Taycan Cross Turismo but did confirm that the base model will start at $90,900, which doesn’t include the $1,350 destination fee. While this is a bit of a premium over other wagon/shooting brake entries, it’s still very approachable for a Porsche model of its caliber.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Porsche model without a Golden Corral-sized menu of options. The Cross Turismo incorporates many of the appetizers that the sedan version indulges in. A new menu item is the all-new rear-mounted bike carrier which can haul up to two of Porsche’s all-new eBikes. Porsche claims that both bikes’ carbon wheels are supposed to be inspired by the car’s roofline though we will need to wait until we see both in person to find out if they have succeeded in that mission.
The bicycles will begin making their way to Porsche dealers this spring though buyers looking to complete the puzzle with the Cross Turismo will need to wait until summer when the first units begin rolling out to showrooms.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.