The sense of déjà vu you're feeling isn't just your own -- we feel it, too. Despite the ever-growing time and space between pandemic era shortages and restrictions, its phantom effects are still being felt. Case in point: The 2026 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo station wagon competing for our 2026 Car of the Year title is virtually identical to the 2025 Porsche Taycan 4S sedan we had competing for our 2025 Car of the Year title, save an extra 12 cubic feet of cargo space and a $1,120 premium. In the before times, they might have launched together and been at the same Car of the Year event. But they didn't. And they weren't.

That's not to say that it was necessarily a bad thing as far as our judges were concerned. The Taycan sedan earned a finalist nod last year for its sublime driving dynamics and record-breaking charging speeds, and you'd be hard-pressed to find an editor who stepped out of the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo without an expression resembling a smile on their face. "Why don't I see more of these in Los Angeles?" asked features editor Scott Evans. "It's quick. It's stylish. It's got SUV-like cargo space. It handles well. It does everything buyers say they want." Judges were impressed by the way the Taycan's air suspension filters out the rough stuff while still allowing it to corner flatly. We also loved its serenely quiet cabin at speed, and because we love novelty, the analog compass and altimeter mounted atop its dash drew praise.

Unlike many EVs, uncorking the powertrain of the Taycan Cross Turismo 4S, which consists of a permanent-magnet motor at each axle (the rear is paired to a two-speed automatic) rated for a combined 590 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque, doesn't come at the expense of efficiency. The new 97-kWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt battery Porsche started fitting to Taycans last year has a lot to do with that. The Taycan overperformed on our 70-mph Road-Trip Range test, cresting 308 miles (it's EPA-rated for 272), and it boasts a blistering 5-80 percent charge time of just 22 minutes. (The Taycan lineup includes the quickest-charging EVs we've ever tested.)

Still, if we're nitpicking -- and with a $133,000 vehicle that's priced at a premium compared to its competitive set, you'd better believe we are -- some judges felt the Taycan Cross Turismo lacked some of the sizzle inherent in its sedan counterpart. While the Cross Turismo's body control, steering feedback, power delivery, and brake feel are all fundamentally good, we found this Taycan gets to its limit quickly and is pretty one note once there, not coming alive and goading you into pushing harder like the Taycan sedan or other Porsches do.

As we did last year with the Taycan sedan, judges also felt that one-pedal driving should be offered and that the infotainment system -- specifically the lower touchscreen -- could be less obtuse to operate. Additionally, the Taycan's interior could be more space-efficient, sedan or wagon. There are also the more objective issues of price and efficiency; the Taycan Cross Turismo is both slightly more expensive and less efficient than its sedan counterpart. Add that all together, and, well, we're sure Porsche is now feeling that sense of déjà vu, too. This review was conducted as part of our 2026 Car of the Year (COTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.

You Feeling What We're Feeling When You See Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo?