► Road-biased version of Cross Turismo
► Full range of e-motors and batteries available
► Taycan Sport Turismo GTS driven in the UK
The Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo is best thought of as the final piece of Porsche’s electric car puzzle, especially as it, like the four-door, is now available in GTS guise. As you’d expect, both price and performance slot neatly between the 4S and Turbo while the usual GTS styling tweaks are present and correct, too.
As for the Sport Turismo part of the equation, it’s effectively the bodyshell of the Cross Turismo with the suspension of the regular Taycan, quite the appetising combination. Although this is by no means a capacious estate car, the bodywork changes do free up a bit more passenger and boot space whilst adding a far more practical hatchback.
How practical?
The squarer tail brings a modest increase in boot space with the Sport Turismo’s 446 litres 39 up on the saloon. It’s not quite the whole story as you can always remove the parcel shelf, freeing up a bit more height in the load area. That’s handy on trips to the garden centre and gives you the option of sticking a dog in the boot, preventing your leatherwork getting clawed or slobbered on.
Sport Turismos ride on the same wheelbase as every other Taycan so legroom is unchanged, with plenty up front and just enough for a six-footer in the back. The remodelled roofline does boost headroom by a modest 9mm up front and a useful 45mm in the rear. That’s enough to make it the Sport Turismo feel less claustrophobic, especially with the large panoramic roof.
Our test car came with Variable Light Control fitted to its glass roof, a system that uses an electrically switchable liquid crystal film that can turn from transparent to opaque. It’s split into nine panels, so you can partially ‘close’ it or make some artsy patterns. Even fully opaque it still lets in light, great for making the interior feel airy, less so if your passenger wants a snooze.
Enough sensible stuff, how does it drive?
Funnily enough, the Taycan Sport Turismo drives much like a regular Taycan. With less ground clearance and slimmer sidewalls than the Cross Turismo, it follows the road more faithfully whilst still providing excellent long-distance comfort. That’s impressive given that GTS models such as our test car receive tweaked air suspension with a greater focus on handling.
And my word does it handle, especially given the kerbweight significantly north of two tonnes. With optional rear steer also fettled for added agility and the box for active anti-roll bars also ticked, it disguises its mass incredibly well in most scenarios. It’ll carry serious speed through tricky S-bends whilst remaining impressively flat and keen to change direction.
Even on mud-strewn country roads on a bright but cold day grip levels are seriously high, although there’s easily enough power in the GTS to break traction should you wish. Flicking the stability control into Sport allows a pleasing amount of slip from the rear end, bringing entertaining adjustability that’s easily gathered up.
With super-precise steering that supplies a little information on the road’s condition also in its favour, it’s only really the odd moment you’re aware of the Taycan’s bulk we can complain about. That clever air suspension can’t always prevent it grazing its chin on compressions, and while the brakes are certainly effective, they need a good push to really reel the speed in.
As with the Panamera and Cayenne, the GTS gets a detuned version of the Turbo’s motor rather than one from an S with the power wound up. Of course, we’re not talking about a low-boost V8 in the Taycan GTS, instead the rear electric motor the same longer, torquier unit found in the Taycan Turbo but tweaked to produce less power – up to 510bhp in normal use or 590bhp on overboost.
That’s accessed via Launch Control, a feature that’s easy to use unlike the majority of systems out there. Some deft footwork in Sport Plus mode will see 0-62mph pass in just 3.7 drama-free seconds. You’re hurled forwards, but traction is managed perfectly with no squirming or sliding.
You could argue the 4.0 second 0-62mph time of the 4S is plenty on the road, but the GTS is that little bit more exciting without being full on barmy like the Turbos. Who’d have thunk it? A GTS that’s perfectly judged for the road.
Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo: verdict
We’ve already heaped praise on the Porsche Taycan, and the Sport Turismo delivers everything the four-door does plus a little more. Despite looking as good if not better, the boost in practicality is much more than just a slight bump in boot space.
The added space for passengers allows you to enjoy the fine build and largely intuitive infotainment system, with the comfortable seats making long trips a breeze. Treated as a large and luxurious electric car, it makes a great deal of sense.
However, the Taycan has so much more to give, proving genuinely fun to drive and exceedingly capable. Ongoing updates also mean the GTS is also the first version to get an official range of more than 300 miles, making it even easier to recommend.
