2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S review: Practical, but is it needed?

Heavyweight Taycan Cross Turismo expands and gives dizzying acceleration

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Remember the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake? A brilliant idea, combining the style of the CLS coupé with the practicality of a conventional estate. Brilliant, that is, in all regards but one: it didn’t sell.

So what hope then for this Taycan Shooting Brake – I’m sorry, Cross Turismo? Like the CLS it sits on the same wheelbase as the car from which it’s derived, has no more legroom in the back, but comes instead with a higher roofline and big boot grafted on behind the rear wheels. It is, of course, even heavier than the already startlingly heavy standard Taycan.

For myself, however, I wish it well. The Taycan was already the world’s best electric car and the Cross Turismo body adds a load more practicality for an additional 25kg of weight, an increase of barely more than 1%.

Of course the Turbo S version I drove is hideously expensive at a shade under £140,000 and not just faster than anyone needs to go, but also faster than anyone would want to go. One full bore acceleration run was more than enough to make me feel sick and dizzy. But the entry level 4S model with a few choice options and still delivered for a five-figure sum? Now you’re talking. Swift, svelte, comfortable and very smart; if I could have any machine not powered by fossil fuels it would be that, standard Taycan included.


Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S statistics

  • Price £139,910
  • Engine Front and rear electric motors, 94.3kWh battery
  • Power 751bhp
  • Torque 774lb ft
  • Weight 2320kg
  • Power to weight 324bhp per tonne
  • Transmission Two speed, four-wheel drive
  • 0-60mph 2.7sec
  • Top speed 155mph
  • Range 241-260 miles
  • CO₂ n/a
  • Verdict Functional and very fast