2022 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S: An Expert Review
There are only a few cars, whether electric or gas-powered, that can achieve what the battery-powered Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo […]
Monza Staff
There are only a few cars, whether electric or gas-powered, that can achieve what the battery-powered Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S might do: combine performance, agility, luxury, light off-road capability, efficiency, and enhanced cargo adaptability. With up to 750 electron-moving hp and 774 pounds-feet of torque, the Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S fulfills a number of practical checkboxes but also thrills the senses in a way that few other EVs can. It does this by combining the tuned-in, direct reactions of a Porsche with the immediate, stomach-dropping acceleration.
However, all of this does not imply that it is a vehicle without compromise: Although we saw encouraging efficiency and range estimates in fair weather, it may have a more excellent real-world range than its rating suggests, but its EPA-rated 202-mile range is disappointing. The cargo space is also smaller than that of Porsche’s smallest SUV, the Macan, although it is more adaptable than that of the Taycan sedan. Additionally, the as-tested price of $216,000 for our test Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S is an absolute supercar amount; consider the Porsche 911 Turbo S or McLaren GT.
However, the Taycan Cross Turismo is more reasonably priced, with prices beginning at slightly under $100,000 (with destination but excluding EV incentives). The Taycan, a utility-focused vehicle, comes in two variations: Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo. The Cross Turismo, which includes plastic wheel arches and other cladding, is offered as the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo, and, of course, this evaluation is for the best Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo. Only the GTS trim level of the Sport Turismo is available, and it features a sportier look akin to the Taycan sedan.
The 2022 Taycan Cross Turismo has just minor differences from the 2021 model, including the addition of Android Auto and improved battery thermal management for quicker DC fast charging. The car we tested was a 2021 Taycan Cross Turismo. Porsche claims that upgrades for 2023 will include a longer range and faster charging times, but in an intriguing twist, older-model Taycans can still receive these updates for free via dealer-installed software. Driving the Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S is more like driving a Porsche than an electric vehicle, but it costs money and reduces range and efficiency.
Oddly, the Cross Turismo Turbo S, which has the most performance, retains the Taycan’s off-road-inspired fender highlights and Gravel lift mode, which lowers the suspension for greater ground clearance. It’s an odd choice for a vehicle with 750 horsepower available from its electric powertrain, which consists of potent front and rear electric motors and an 800-volt battery pack. However, keep in mind that the Turbo S only produces its full 750 horsepower when the quick-start launch control system is used; otherwise, the car only produces 616 horsepower.
That’s unfortunate since it implies that the car’s highest reported specs—0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds and 750 horsepower—only apply when activating a very constrained real-world application feature. We put in the work to see how the car accelerates with and without launch control. The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S integrates features of a sports car, electric car, and utility vehicle in a combination that feels spontaneous and compelling. It is not a no-compromise vehicle yet.