Sitting alongside the Porsche Taycan, a four-door electric GT, the Taycan Cross Turismo is a five-door fastback that offers more practicality and a hint of off-road capability. Think of it as an electric Panamera and you're not that far off, but it's a bespoke design for the battery-powered platform and uses all the benefits of electric tech to full effect.

Where the Taycan seems relatively expensive next to other high-end electric cars, the Taycan Cross Turismo comes across as being better value. Yes, it's more than a rear-wheel drive Taycan, but you start out with more space, a bigger battery, all-wheel drive with adjustable air suspension, and a more useful car overall.

Next to a Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-Pace, or Audi e-Tron, the Taycan Cross Turismo doesn't seem like bad value even ignoring the cachet of the badge on the front, at least until you delve into the specs.

How is the Cross Turismo different from the regular Taycan?

As well as the fundamentally more practical bodystyle, the Cross Turismo version brings a few off-roading niceties and includes the larger battery and air suspenion on all models. The regular Cross Turismo has a ride height of 20mm higher than a Taycan, while an off-road package gives it another 10mm of ride height.

Porsche is known for performance, and there are S, Turbo and Turbo S models that push the performance away from the 'adequate' of the entry-level model and into 'ludicrous', at which point prices start to climb. Getting the stats to out-argue a Tesla owner will cost you six figures.

 

But realistically, for use in Britain, you don't need that performance. What the Cross Turismo does best is present an air of style, quality and comfort that is rarely found these days. Exemplary fit and finish, supportive seats, and a combination of electric smoothness and attention to detail that results in a rapid and refined GT that can also be used to pop to the shops guilt-free. Even if those shops are somewhere in the Alps.