In 2020, a third of all Porsches sold in Europe had an electric or hybrid drivetrain. By 2025, it’ll be more like half.

The fully electric Taycan sports sedan is already a big catalyst of change, having outsold the Boxster and Cayman individually last year, and no doubt outselling the entire 718 range by the end of 2021.

Not least because there’s a new one. Meet the Taycan Cross Turismo, an off-road ready estate version of Porsche’s Tesla Model S rival.

Except in this instance, Porsche is offering something Tesla doesn’t quite. This is a car that appears more reflective of the crossover zeitgeist than a Model X.

In summary, it’s a Taycan that’s a little taller and much roomier. The Cross Turismo sits 20mm higher than the (admittedly really quite low) standard sedan, or 30mm if you’ve specced the optional off-road pack.

There’s an additional 47mm of headroom in the rear, which is a welcome boost to a car that was hardly going to oust Porsche’s own Panamera from limo duties.

There’s also more space for feet beneath the front seats and a trebling of maximum luggage volume, up past 1,200 litres with the seats flipped.

It launches in Singapore with four powertrains: the Taycan 4 kicks things off at S$384,758 (before COE and option) with 380hp, 0-100km/h in 5.1secs and a 455km range.

The Taycan 4S costs S$487,158 (before COE and options) and offers 490hp, 4.1secs and 452km.

Then there are the Turbos, both with a 625hp powerplant but differing launch control systems: the stock Taycan Turbo starts at S$605,958 (before COE and options) and ups peak power to 680hp (on overboost) from a standstill, for 0-100km/h in 3.3secs. Range sticks at 452km.

The Turbo S cranks things up to 760hp on overboost for a 2.9secs sprint, dipping max range to 418km in the process.

The Cross Turismo gets a number of things as standard, including air suspension with PASM electronic damper control and the higher performance 93.4kWh battery which is a pricey option on lower-rung Taycan sedans.

As a result, the premium you’ll pay for the Cross Turismo varies depending on spec, but it works out just shy of S$6,000 over a like-for-like Taycan four-door. Which strikes us as very good value indeed.

All the more reason to indulge in some very frivolous extras, such as Porsche’s eBike cross and eBike Sport in order to fully take advantage of the soft-roading Taycan’s fancy new bicycle carrier, whose design allows the rear tailgate to fully function behind it.

The fact you could tow a second-hand Boxster along on a trailer for similar cash is neither here nor there…

STORY Stephen Dobie