Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo verdict
Should you buy one?
Absolutely. It is arguably one of the most accomplished, yet emotionally appealing electric cars on sale now, retaining Porsche’s driver appeal without sacrificing the benefits of battery power.
It comes down to money, though, and if you’re comparing the Taycan Cross Turismo with higher-end mainstream rivals from Tesla, Jaguar or even Audi, the scope of affordability can easily slip out of grasp. While the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is great value compared to the cheapest Taycan as the extra you spend gets loads of worthwhile upgrades – not least of which is that big battery – you still need to add features like driver assistance and head up display, that you’d take for granted on other cars at this price.
Once you’ve created an equally lavish Taycan, or crossed into selecting the best that Porsche offers such as advanced brakes and all-wheel steering, it becomes a six-figure car and tantalisingly close to a Turbo or Turbo S.
Most of the options are relevant for comparison but you can probably live without them – the build, consistency and competence of the basic Taycan Cross Turismo is worth it.
What we like
Good real-world practicality, and balanced performance that leaves chasing the headline-grabbing figures to the high-end models, allowing the core Cross Turismo to be an effective sports car, tourer and larger luxury shooting brake all in one package. Air suspension and a long range battery with realistic range predictions make it comfortable to live with in every sense.
What we don’t like
The options list and the prices attached; and at least until the servicing regime settles down, the prices that UK dealers have been seen asking for the smallest amount of attention and a stamp in a service book.