There’s always been something about the one-car garage. An automotive chameleon that can do it all. Budget constraints aside, that honour is usually bestowed upon the likes of the Audi RS6, a wagon with abundant pragmatic performance and enough badge cachet to fill its commodious boot. So, is the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo the contemporary, EV equivalent? It certainly stacks up. And in base 4 specification, it’s cheaper than the internal-combustion alternative. However, get trigger happy and the monetary value can soon skyrocket. We’re driving the facelifted version to see if it’s a modern do-it-all proposition.
The Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is the cheapest way to get behind the wheel of the booted Porsche EV. Although it will still set you back more than $200K by the time it silently arrives in your driveway, with an asking price of $197,400 before on-road costs (ORCs) and options – more on the latter later.
Completing the three-tier range is the $223,400 4S and the ballistically fast $309,800 Turbo (all prices exclude ORCs). All Cross Turismos are fitted with Porsche’s new 104.9kWh (97kWh useable) Performance Battery Plus, dual permanent magnet synchronous motors and a two-speed transmission on the rear axle.
Of course, there’s the rather large, ever-present depreciation elephant in the room. A universal issue with all expensive EVs. So, if resale values are important to you, then a high-end EV isn’t likely to generate smiles when it comes time to pass on your vehicle.
In terms of upkeep, Porsche covers the Taycan with a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty – which is a bit meagre in 2025. The battery is also covered by an eight-year/160,000km plan. Servicing is every two years or 30,000km, whichever comes first.
In terms of direct rivals, it’s rather slim pickings for go-fast electrified wagons. BMW gets closest with its i5 M60 xDrive Touring. The other obvious competition is the platform-sharing Audi e-tron GT, while the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 is also worth a look.
Oh, and that Audi RS6 will set you back $252,600 (plus ORCs).
Erm, we wouldn’t blame you for not noticing this was an updated car given the styling of the 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo continues with very minimal tweaks.
Most of the nips and tucks are for the purpose of increasing aerodynamic efficiency. New front wings and flatter HD Matrix LED headlights are two of the key changes. There’s also a new LED light bar at the rear with a three-dimensional glass look – it doesn’t change the aero balance, but it looks cool.
Other feature highlights include full leather upholstery with Alcantara roof lining, 14-way power adjustable front seats with lumbar and memory, seat heating, comfort access, keyless entry with push-button start and head-up display.
However, the test car is positively flush with $39,160-worth of options – too much to detail here. Some of the heavy-hitting box ticks surround the $9650 21-inch alloys (up from 19 inches), which are painted in black for an extra $2500. Then there’s the $4170 Offroad Design Package, $3500 panoramic glass roof, $2860 passenger display, $2290 Sport Chrono Package, $1770 quad-zone climate control and $1470 soft-close doors.
Stepping up to the more powerful 4S Cross Turismo presents better value than selecting too many options.
The 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo doesn’t hold an ANCAP safety rating. The first iteration Taycan did gain a five-star Euro NCAP score, but that was in 2019.
However, the standard kit remains good with 10 airbags, active bonnet, dual ISOFIX points and top-tether anchorages.
Other active safety is highlighted by autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and junction detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane change and lane keep assist, blind-spot warning, attention assist, road sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors as well as a 360-degree camera.
In practice, the systems are well-calibrated and act far more seamlessly than other competitors – and with fewer audible warnings.
Screens dominate the cabin of the 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo. You almost require more than one hand to count them all.
Ahead of the driver is the curved 16.8-inch instrument cluster that showcases information like charge status, battery temperature as well as the usual driving data. The central touch-screen is on the smaller side by modern standards at 10.9 inches, but it’s coupled with a passenger display and a handy lower screen for things like the climate control.
The improved infotainment system now comes with TV streaming and the latest generations of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless charging pad (with cooling function) also now finds its way into the Taycan. Elsewhere you’ll find Bluetooth, voice recognition, DAB+ digital radio, USB-C ports and a premium Bose audio system.
No, the 4 isn’t the fastest variant you can buy. In fact, it’s the direct opposite. But you never really feel shortchanged. The 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is anything but a slow car, charging through the 0-100km/h marker in 4.7 seconds with the aid of launch control.
What’s more, it isn’t just quick off the line (where the 4’s alarming all-wheel drive purchase assists with the rapid pace). Overtakes are just as easily dispatched given it can progress from 80-120km/h in 2.9sec.
Providing the propulsion are two e-motors – one for each axle. Combined they conjure 320kW and 610Nm, a significant bump on the original Cross Turismo. A new rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor is the main reason for the increased performance and it continues to run through a two-speed gearbox.
Of course, it’s missing the soulful sound of something like the Audi RS6. Like our test car you can option Porsche’s ‘Electric Sport Sound’ for $1050, but only do that if you’re a fan of acoustics that hark back to The Jetsons.
Range anxiety be gone. Well, sort of.
This is one area where the facelifted Taycan has tangibly improved with a quoted range of 601km for the 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo. Although, given the quoted figure is gleaned from the less stringent NEDC testing regime, expect somewhere in the vicinity of 500-550km from a single charge.
The sizeable jump in range is thanks in part to the bigger 104.9kWh lithium-ion battery, but also software updates and a further honing of the aerodynamics to reduce rolling resistance – the Cross Turismo has a drag coefficient of just 0.26Cd. Selecting Range mode also lowers the ride height and disconnects the front motor to reduce friction.
After a week behind the wheel we managed to record an average of 21.8kW/100km, which is higher than the figure recorded with the Audi e-tron GT. Like the Audi, the Porsche’s range predictions are impressively accurate and even vary depending on the driving mode selected (Range, Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Gravel).
In truth, if the Taycan Cross Turismo was powered by a twin-turbo V8 like the Audi RS6, it’s doubtful you’d cover more kilometres driving in the same spirited fashion. Of course, the time it takes to regain a full ‘tank’ is where the EV simply can’t match internal combustion. However, if you have access to a public rapid charger, this process is far less time consuming.
The Cross Turismo continues with 800V architecture and can now charge at a maximum rate of 320kW (up from 270kW). Zapping from 10-80 per cent takes just 18 minutes if you can source ultra-rapid DC infrastructure. Hooking up to a more common 150kW fast charger brings that timing up to 33 minutes, while ‘refuelling’ from 0-100 per cent from a 9.6kW AC connection requires 13 hours.
The badge comes with expectations – no matter the propulsion or the 2280kg kerb weight. And the 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo doesn’t disappoint.
Despite the more than two-tonne mass, the J1 EV platform is a mix of steel and aluminium construction. With the majority of the electric gubbins housed deep within the floor, the centre of gravity is low. The Cross Turismo also gains tricky tech like its integrated 4D chassis control, adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Stability Management (PSM).
There are myriad other acronyms to help the Cross Turismo hurtle down the road as dynamically as it does. However, a key one is the optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV), a $3120 option that increases agility and rotation of the wide and long Taycan.
It turns in sharply, remains flat and resists the urge to porpoise mid corner before harnessing the grip afforded by the all-wheel-drive traction and sticky Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres – of which the rears are wide 305-section items. Slight yaw can be induced from the rear, too, which is a surprising element of fun.
Porsche’s intention for its EVs has always been to make them feel like a Porsche to drive in terms of its controls and the Cross Turismo largely does. The steering feedback isn’t overly synthetic and it’s best left in Sport mode for the best weighting – Sport Plus can be a little too heavy.
Even the brake pedal feel is appreciably normal despite the use of regenerative braking (along with 360mm ventilated discs with six-piston calipers up front and 358mm ventilated discs with four-piston calipers at the rear).
For a car with such sizeable rolling stock, the Cross Turismo’s ride quality is pleasingly supple due to the adaptive air suspension. Normal mode irons out just about all the lumps and bumps you can throw at it effectively and the damping manages to control any unwanted movement. And despite the increased ride height, roll through corners is virtually non-existent – no doubt assisted by the wide track widths.
Overall, the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo’s low centre of gravity allows swift changes of direction and it feels far more nimble and beautifully composed than it has any right to.
With pseudo all-wheel drive and advanced traction systems, the 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo can somewhat live up to its billing as a go-anywhere EV. Yet, it’s unlikely many will test the limits – especially when the car we’re testing is rolling on 21-inch wheels that cost more than $12K.
There’s also only 146mm of ground clearance, although that does raise to 176mm in Gravel mode. Realistically, the Cross Turismo is only appropriate for a wet field or smooth unsealed surface. However, we have pushed the limits of its capabilities in the Australian desert and came away impressed.
The Cross Turismo carries a puncture repair kit – there’s no spare wheel of any variety.
Open the frameless door and slide behind the refreshingly round steering wheel and it’s unmistakeably Porsche. You sit low with legs forward, the steering wheel is upright and is ahead of digitised gauges that resemble the company’s analogue past. There’s no physical key barrel to turn and the drive selector is a unique lever placed within the dash.
It’s not all about the go-fast nature, though. The 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is still a luxurious and inviting place to be. It’s certainly stood the test of time despite being on sale in largely the same guise since 2020. The fit and finish is top notch and there’s a plethora of tactile surfaces and pleasing material quality. It befits the price tag.
Of course, the biggest benefit to the Cross Turismo’s interior is increased practicality. While the back seat is hardly palatial, and our test car is in the 4+1 configuration, headroom is noticeably increased and legroom remains adequate. Amenities are well catered for, especially with the optional quad-zone climate control.
Interestingly, the wagon body style hasn’t exponentially increased the boot capacity. There’s 446 litres available, yet the electronically operated tailgate helps ease in larger items and the 40/20/40-split folding rear seats further expand the versatility to 1212L. And you can’t forget the 84L ‘frunk’ that comes in handy for more than just charge cables.
There are a few ‘fails’ in the cabin. The biggest bugbear centres around the air-vent controls, which are moved to the central infotainment screen and are hugely distracting to operate on the move. Otherwise, cabin ergonomics are largely sound after a familiarisation period with all the technology.
Elsewhere, the wide B-pillar can make getting in and out more difficult – especially with comfort access enabled. Both the A- and C-pillars also impact all-round vision. Otherwise, the Cross Turismo only adds to the Taycan experience, rather than detracting from it.
Even for the staunchest of internal-combustion lovers, it’s hard not to be taken with the, erm, Taycan. What’s more, the 2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is endowed with all the performance you could feasibly need – even compared to the RS6 when the road becomes twisty.
Powertrain aside, the dynamic prowess at play here is impressive. It’s a quick car that demands attention irrespective of its EV status. Is it the final word in engagement? Not quite. Yet, it is staggeringly impressive how the Porsche engineers have managed to create a vehicle that behaves as naturally as it does from such a data-driven source.
Higher-than-average depreciation is a real issue. A quick glance at the second-hand market on carsales is proof of that. However, for those with the means to cover the initial outlay and devaluation hit, few EVs generate the emotional pull the Taycan does. Adding the Cross Turismo effect only serves to enchant all the more.
2025 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo at a glance:
Price: $197,400 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Two permanent magnet synchronous motors
Output: 320kW/610Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear (front axle), dual-speed transmission (rear axle)
Battery: 104.9kWh (97kWh usable) nickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion
Range: 601km (NEDC)
Energy consumption: 18.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested