2024 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

There are certain things expected from any Porsche. The driving experience being a major factor. It must be quick, handle well, and be generally thrilling. Although its propulsion comes from electrons and not fossil fuels, the Taycan is nevertheless a true Porsche. Our consumer reviews verify that fact. On the extensive (and expensive) options list, there are also indulgent features like massaging front seats, cabin air ionization, and a high-end Burmester surround-sound system.

The Taycan sedan made its debut for 2020, and it’s since been joined by the more wagon-like Sport Tursimo and Cross Turismo versions bringing a little extra practicality. There are electric cars with better ranges, but none of them have that special Porsche magic.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury electric cars, including the Porsche Taycan.

There are no big changes to the Taycan for the 2024 model year. Just the Spotify app being added to the infotainment system.

For some financial context, the Audi e-tron GT (based on the same platform as the Taycan) comes standard with a dual-motor setup and is priced from $106.5K. The Genesis Electrified G80 starts at $80K; the Lucid Air Pure is $77.4K. The Mercedes-EQ EQE sedan and Tesla Model S both start in the mid-$70Ks. Finally, the new-for-2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 begins at $66.8K.

Before buying a new Taycan luxury electric car, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should pay. The Model S has some of the strongest resale values for this class, but the Taycan is way above average.

The Taycan range kicks off with 321 horsepower, or 402 horses when launch control is engaged. Electric motors are invariably entertaining when taking off from a standstill. This version zips to 60 mph in a brisk 5.1 seconds. Beyond that, it’s all up to the buyer’s tastes and funds.

Porsche offers a wide array of drivetrain choices, going from OK to “oh my goodness.” The basic Taycan sedan has one electric motor driving just the rear wheels. The rest of the lineup has two motors, one for each axle, creating an all-wheel-drive system.

Comparing the base model with those of rival lineups, the 355-horsepower BMW i5 eDrive40 hits 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The Mercedes-EQ EQE 350+ sedan comes with 288 horsepower and a 6.2-second acceleration time. The Lucid Air Pure corrals 430 horses to hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and the 522-horsepower Audi e-tron GT does it in 3.9 seconds.

The mid-trim Taycan variants enjoy muscle going from 522 to 616 horsepower (in launch mode) with correspondingly quicker acceleration. Launch control in the Turbo S versions means a massive 750 horsepower and a phenomenal 0-60 mph time of 2.6 seconds. Some people might quibble about how the quickest Tesla Model S might be faster by a whisker of a fraction of a tenth of a second — but when you’re accelerating at this rate, it hardly matters. By the way, the Turbo models are not turbocharged. Think of it as a sub-brand name signifying a lot of power.

The Taycan has its battery pack in the floor, maximizing stability with an advantageously low center of gravity. Corners, straights, going for a pizza — virtually every moment spent in a Taycan driver’s seat has the potential for fun. None of this happens at the expense of comfort, however. An adaptive air suspension becomes standard in the one-up-from-base model.

In its usual form, the 2024 Taycan luxury electric car has well-bolstered, supportive, yet comfortable seats for four adults. A little center rear seat is available as an option.

Appropriately for something that costs in excess of $90K, the Taycan’s interior is full of quality materials, assembled well into a smart design. Technology coexists with cosseting, as high-resolution displays share space with vegan-friendly simulated leather and simulated suede.

There’s a decent amount of room in the sedan’s trunk. The Turismo versions have another few cubic feet behind their rear seats, plus a maximum cargo area of more than 40 cubic feet when both rear seats are folded down. And they all have an additional 2.9 cubic feet of stowage under the hood.

That’s what Porsche says. In reality, it’s more like two. There’s the regular sedan with doors and a trunk. Or, buyers may choose a Turismo variant with a wagon-ish treatment to the tail end.

The difference between a Taycan Sport Turismo and a Cross Turismo comes down to details. The Sport comes solely as a high-performance GTS model with an adaptive air suspension and a maximum ground clearance of 5 inches.

The Cross Turismo offers a choice of drivetrains and has SUV-like plastic cladding pieces on the sides with 5.8 inches of ground clearance. That’s still not enough for anything more challenging than a dirt road, but at least there’s a choice.

Either way, Porsche offers a broad palette of colors, including the option of matching paint to a customer-supplied sample.

Wireless phone integration
Cable-free Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the 2024 Taycan lineup.

Remote Park Assist
Drivers can control their Taycan with a phone app by using this optional feature, slotting it into (or out of) parallel or perpendicular parking spaces while standing outside.

InnoDrive
Otherwise known as Porsche’s adaptive cruise control. It’s linked to the navigation system, taking topography and curves into account, as well as sensing traffic around the vehicle and keeping the car in its lane. This is optional in the 2024 Taycan.

Variable Light Control
Now available with the panoramic glass roof, it can darken or lighten the glass electronically.

Plug & Charge
Let’s say your free sessions on the Electrify America network have expired — Plug & Charge means you can connect to a charger, and the system recognizes your Taycan. It will use the credit card information on file. It simplifies and streamlines the process.

Carbon ceramic brakes
Optional in some 2024 Taycan variants and standard in the high-performance models, carbon ceramic brake discs will withstand all sorts of punishment without wearing, warping, or overheating.

The version with the best range is the GTS sedan, able to run for 246 miles before needing a recharge — not even close to the 405-mile range of the Tesla Model S. Or indeed the 410 miles of the least expensive Lucid Air (Pure).

The worst Taycan range is the 4S sedan with 206 miles, while the base sedan adds just two miles. The rest of the range goes from 222 miles (the Turbo Cross Turismo) to 238 miles (Turbo sedan). To compare, the BMW i5 eDrive40 is capable of 295 miles, the Mercedes-EQ EQE sedan can run for 305 miles, and the Audi e-tron GT has a maximum of 249 miles.

You have to love Porsche’s exactitude. The company says that charging a Taycan battery on the fastest 800-volt setting from 5% capacity to 80% takes 22.5 minutes. Those 30 seconds make all the difference. That is fast, though. Using a home charger with a 240-volt supply, a full recharge to 100% takes 9.5 hours. Which is fine for an overnighter.

The base and 4S Taycan sedans have a battery rated at 71 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of usable capacity. The rest of the lineup employs an 83.7-kWh counterpart. These sizes are pretty much typical for electric cars, but Porsche’s high-voltage setup means fast-charging times that are as good as virtually any rival. Versions of the Taycan with all-wheel drive can decouple the front motor in Normal and Range modes, enhancing efficiency.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Porsche’s new-vehicle warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. These arrangements are typical among European luxury vehicles.

Safety Ratings

The Taycan has not been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States, but an independent European test program (Euro NCAP) gave the car a maximum overall score of five stars.