Photography: Vaibhav Dhanawade, Siddhant Gadekar
Purists were up in arms when the Porsche Taycan broke cover. After everything they’ve done with flat-six engines for decades and of course, the aural delight that a Porsche’s exhaust note is, a silent, fully-electric powertrain in a car wearing the coat of arms logo didn’t sound like a good marriage. But the Taycan proved naysayers wrong, living up to being a Porsche with its performance and dynamics. EVs are perceived as boring, but one with a heavy dose of Porsche-ness injected was perhaps what was needed to stir things up in the quietness of the EV world.
And the Cross Turismo is an interesting take on the regular Taycan, perhaps the next step even. At first glance the bodystyle is puzzling, because Porsche’s never done a wagon/estate, has it? I’ve got to admit though, it’s the Cross Turismo’s derriere that truly commands attention. Look at it from the front and you can’t tell if anything’s different but head towards the rear and you’ll find yourself looking at a backside you want to check out instantly! There’s oodles of appeal to the rear and this isn’t a bodystyle you expect in Porsche’s line-up, but the Taycan Cross Turismo looks awesome from behind.
The thin LED strip running across the width, sleek tail lamps, Porsche name etched out on the backdrop of a printed circuit board, sharply raked windscreen and roof-mounted spoiler present a very pretty picture along with the well-rounded rear end. This is one of the best executions of the bodystyle – trust Porsche to beautify everything they touch! The Cross Turismo also looks very appealing from the sides thanks to the gorgeous looking 20-inch wheels that show off red brake calipers. The front end isn’t different from the regular Taycan’s and Porsche’s trademark headlamp design helps the car look good.
Our test car’s cabin was swathed in rich leather, finished in a shade of maroon that helps it exude classiness and luxury. The steering wheel is the same as the current 911 while the curved display for the instrument cluster and main infotainment screen are the same as the Taycan, just like the optional touchscreen for the front passenger. As always, the analogue clock takes its place of pride on top of the dashboard too. The cabin feels more luxurious than sporty, which is understood given the different target buyer as compared to Porsche’s ‘regular’ sportscar buyers. The rear bench is spacious and comfortable, while a spacious boot makes sure there’s enough room to load up a few bags for a road trip. Despite the slightly taller stance than your average Porsche, seating is low and sporty and you need to stretch your legs ahead slightly, adding to the car’s appeal further.
The Cross Turismo is identical to the standard Taycan mechanically so the Cross Turismo 4S here uses the same 93.4kWh battery pack that sits below the cabin, aided by the car’s 2.94 metre long wheelbase. Claimed 0-100kmph is 4.1 seconds, though sub-4 second times are possible on a good day, with launch control. That’s really quick for a 2.2 tonne electric car – made possible by the 490PS (up to 571PS with overboost) and 650Nm outputs. Smile inducing launches are thus guaranteed, and when you turn the ‘sound’ on, you’re also accompanied by a spaceship-like sound that compliments the car squatting under power nicely. I did miss paddle shifters behind the steering, given the Porsche logo on the wheel though.
The Cross Turismo surprises even more around corners with it’s agility and ability to change direction. This isn’t something you expect from a car as big and as heavy. The steering feel, feedback and responses are pure Porsche and this is one car where I’m more in awe of its dynamics than the performance. Of course, what’s impressive on the performance front is that the strong surge in acceleration continues well into triple digit speeds unlike most other EVs, where it tapers off after a point. Claimed 0-200kmph time is 13 seconds flat, while claimed quarter mile time is a mere 12.2 seconds!
The greater joy is in driving the Cross Turismo on a winding road though, as this is a Porsche after all. And being the Cross Turismo, a car meant to tread off black asphalt too, it gets a Gravel mode exclusive to it. The mode alters throttle responses and torque distribution to let you drive on tricky stuff, besides which you can also raise ground clearance by 30mm courtesy the adaptive air suspension. Turn traction control off and the Cross Turismo also lets you engage in sideways action and feedback and responses all round are excellent even when the rear wheels are trying to overtake the front, as you would expect of a Porsche.
Ride quality is impressive given the adaptive suspension and the Cross Turismo doesn’t mind Indian roads or speed breakers. The more I drove it the more I was convinced this is one of the most suitable Porsches for India – it’s got that Porsche demeanour, but is also far better suited to our conditions than the two door sportscars the manufacturer is known for. Heck, the Cross Turismo is the perfect middle ground between Porsche’s sportscars and SUVs! I’m now really wondering if there’s a shooting brake-style Porsche like the Cross Turismo on the cards with a straight-six petrol engine under the hood instead of the Taycan’s 84-litre frunk!
For now, the electric powertrain impresses. You can expect upwards of 350km per charge in the real world and fast charging lets you juice it up quickly, as the Cross Turismo supports up to 270kW! I found a 120kW DC charger at a Shell petrol station which got the car up to 100 percent charge in about an hour. We sure need more of these – 120kW chargers and EVs like the Taycan Cross Turismo! Prices for the car begin from Rs 1.82 crores ex-showroom, which is a good deal, considering how this is easily the best of Taycans for India!
