You’ve probably noticed by now that more than ever before, electrified vehicles (EVs) have captured the attention of Canadian drivers. This year is the first year in the AutoTrader Awards that EVs have won in non-EV categories, signalling not only how good these offerings have become, but also how important they are. But while we are big fans of efficiency, rest assured our collective of more than 20 automotive experts still love driving and motoring excellence as much as we ever have. It’s just that the integration of electrification has been polished to a point of brilliance in many of today’s new cars.
Above all the other EVs, Porsche’s Taycan is arguably one of the very best. It’s a machine that’s the complete package, a triple threat of beauty, brains, and brawn, and now with the Cross Turismo, it’s also got more practicality.
Want a Jack-of-all-trades in automotive form? There’s no more perfect example than the Taycan Cross Turismo that delivers astonishing acceleration, incredible handling, cuts a dashing profile, and offers 405 L of cargo space that can expand to 1,171 L with the rear seat folded. And there’s an 84 L “frunk” too. The wagon roofline also improves the Taycan sedan’s tight rear seat headroom, making the cabin more useful for up to five occupants.
In fairness, to the finalists in the Best Wagon category, the Taycan Cross Turismo’s carrying capacity is less than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain, Volvo V60 and V90, and Porsche’s own Panamera Sport Turismo, but as AutoTrader Editor-in-Chief, Jodi Lai said in her review, the Cross Turismo is “the type of special yet approachable car that makes people do a little dance when they walk up to it in a parking lot – one that gets people hyped to drive it, and one that would land in my garage if I were fortunate enough to have the means.”
It’s that sort of overall driving excellence coupled with Porsche’s exceptional build quality and eye-catching appearance that make up for its smaller cargo capacity. As the only EV in the category, the Taycan Cross Turismo is, of course, the most efficient, and its ability to charge at speeds up to 270 kW means that a majority recharge can happen in 20 minutes.
The Cross Turismo is offered in a few different flavours from the spicy 469-hp Taycan 4 up to the full habanero 750-hp Taycan Turbo S model, with prices ranging from $136,000 to well north of $300,000 if someone gets carried away with the options. In any configuration, the Cross Turismo is Canadian winter-ready with all-wheel drive.
The Cross Turismo’s cabin is a plush place to collect kilometres, too, with bucket seats that envelop the occupant, and a ride that’s sporty and firm, yet never harsh. Plus, wind and road noise are nicely hushed, and without any engine noise at all, it’s easy to enjoy the Taycan’s great audio system or the spaceship noises it makes when accelerating or decelerating. Interior materials and assembly are first rate and customizable in a nearly infinite number of ways, ensuring a buyer is limited only by how much they wish to spend.
There aren’t many wagons left in the Canadian automotive market, but those that remain are each outstanding choices that blend driving dynamics and design in a way that few – if any – crossover SUV can do. Among all of them, the Taycan Cross Turismo is the most powerful yet most efficient, and also the most impressive. As a result, it’s the one that’s captured our hearts, imaginations, and AutoTrader’s Best Wagon Award for 2023.
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