Overview
Who would have thought that what started out as a chopped-roof Volkswagen would have the kind of staying power that the Porsche 911 has? The sports car has been a benchmark for performance driving for decades, and it’s not likely to change. That’s because over the years the 911’s formula has evolved slowly, allowing Porsche’s engineers to create something truly timeless. The 2024 Porsche 911 has a turbocharged flat-six engine that hangs off the back, aft of the rear axle, just as it did in the 1964 original. Except now, it can be had with an output as high as 473 horsepower. Want more? Porsche will happily sell you an even more expensive Turbo or GT3 model, but we review those monsters separately. This, the standard 911, is equal parts sports car and grand tourer, with just the right amount of performance and luxury blended to create something that will give you chills on your weekend joy rides but also be pleasant enough so you wouldn’t mind driving it every day. The hardtop coupe has classic styling reminiscent of the vintage cars that came before, while Cabriolet and Targa models serve up some fresh air with their tops retracted. Rivals such as the Aston Martin Vantage and the Maserati MC20 might offer a more exotic flavor, but the 911’s well-rounded nature and precise handling keeps it at the pinnacle of the sports-car class.
What’s New for 2024?
Wireless Android Auto finally makes its way to the 911’s infotainment system for 2024. For a couple of years now, Apple users have been the only ones able to connect their phones wirelessly to Porsche’s system, but now Android folks can officially cut the cord. The only other change this year also involves infotainment, and it’s the addition of Spotify as a native app, meaning you won’t need to connect your smartphone to stream music.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Based on our experience with myriad 911 models, we can confidently recommend the Carrera S coupe. It boasts 64 horses more than the standard Carrera and can be had with your choice of a seven-speed manual or a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. We’d also opt for the Sport Chrono package, which adds features including launch control and additional drive modes. The Sport Seats Plus option provides more supportive front buckets, and the Sport package adds a lowered suspension and a snarltastic exhaust system. Our selection of upgrades would conclude with ventilated front-seat cushions, passive entry, a heated multifunction GT steering wheel, and Porsche’s Dynamic Light System Plus, which features automatic high-beams and headlights that swivel in the direction the front tires are pointed. That’s just a sprinkling of the customization options Porsche offers on this car. They add substantially to the price, but be forewarned: they’re hard to resist.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Mounted in the rear of the 911 is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six-cylinder engine. The base Carrera has 379 horsepower, the S pumps out 443 ponies, and the GTS generates 473 horses. While every model comes standard with a ridiculously quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, a sweet seven-speed manual is offered but you’ll have to shell out for an S or GTS to get it. The coupe and cabriolet have standard rear-wheel drive, but they can be fitted with all-wheel drive for four-season, high-performance driving. The Targa is all-wheel drive only. We’ve tested the base Carrera as well as several variations of the more powerful Carrera S, which proved its prowess at the racetrack and its incredible traction in adverse weather conditions. No matter the application, every 911 has astonishing acceleration, especially when the gleefully good launch control is utilized. At our test track, the GTS model bolted to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds when equipped with the eight-speed automatic; with the seven-speed manual, the 911 GTS delivered a slightly slower 3.2-second result in the same test. Porsche’s optional sport exhaust system also helps enhance the experience by providing a fuller engine note. Best of all, the 911 is as comfortable as ever and also better to drive. Its steering is communicative and brilliantly direct, and the coupe and convertible have increased cornering grip and stability. The ride quality is surprisingly supple, too, despite the 911’s amazing body control, which allow drivers to seamlessly switch between relaxed and spirited romps.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
With EPA ratings of 18 mpg city and 25 highway, the Carrera S with the manual transmission is the most fuel-efficient 911. However, other 911 models’ fuel-economy estimates don’t drop much farther from those figures. On our 75-mph highway route, a Carrera and Carrera S (both equipped with automatics) earned impressive results of 33 and 30 mpg, respectively. For more information about the 911’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 911’s interior continues to look sophisticated rather than complicated, with a mix of buttons, knobs and touch-screen controls and—for the first time ever—a large center cupholder. The gauge cluster also deviates from history, ditching the mainly analog instruments for mostly digital ones. While these screens have some user-experience issues and can be blocked by the steering wheel, the central tachometer still uses a physical needle that follows the engine’s revs towards its heavenly 7400-rpm redline. The 911’s low-slung driving position and supportive front seats are fantastic, and the steering wheel has a wide range of adjustment. We only wish Porsche used less piano-black trim on the center console, provided more interior cubby storage, and gave this icon of a car a grander shifter than the stubby flipper that comes on automatic-equipped models. Although the 911 continues to offer seating for up to four in theory, the tiny back seats remain as hostile to adults as they were when 911s first hit the road in the mid-1960s.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every 911 is outfitted with a 10.9-inch touchscreen integrated into the middle of the dashboard. In addition to voice commands and buttons on the steering wheel, the center screen also features rotary push-button controls on the console. The infotainment system supports a Wi-Fi hotspot and features wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Porsche does provide two high-end surround-sound systems that include a 12-speaker Bose unit and a 13-speaker Burmester stereo.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 911 is available with myriad driver-assistance technologies, including desirable options such as automatic high-beams, blind-spot monitoring, and even night vision. For more information about the 911’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Porsche’s warranty coverage is standard for the segment, with the first maintenance visit covered free of charge. However, rivals such as the Jaguar F-type offer more value by covering maintenance for up to five years.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 10,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
Vehicle Type: rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $138,050/$162,940
ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve flat-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 182 in3, 2981 cm3
Power: 473 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 420 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 16.1-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc/15.6-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
F: 245/35ZR-20 (91Y) NA1
R: 305/30ZR-21 (100Y) NA1
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 96.5 in
Length: 178.5 in
Width: 72.9 in
Height: 50.9 in
Passenger Volume: 49 ft3
Cargo Volume: 14 ft3
Curb Weight: 3399 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 2.8 sec
100 mph: 8.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 10.9 sec @ 128 mph
130 mph: 11.3 sec
150 mph: 15.9 sec
170 mph: 23.6 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.2 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.7 sec
Top Speed (mfr’s claim): 193 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 143 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 288 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.06 g
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 19/17/23 mpg
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2020 Porsche 911 Carrera
VEHICLE TYPE
rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2+2-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE AS TESTED
$106,290 (base price: $98,750)
ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve flat-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 182 in3, 2981 cm3
Power: 379 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 331 lb-ft @ 1950 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.0-in vented, cross-drilled disc/13.0-in vented, cross-drilled disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4, F: 235/40ZR-19 (92Y) NA0 R: 295/35ZR-20 (101Y) NA0
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 96.5 in
Length: 177.9 in
Width: 72.9 in
Height: 51.1 in
Passenger volume: 72 ft3
Cargo volume: 5 ft3
Curb weight: 3360 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.2 sec
100 mph: 7.9 sec
130 mph: 14.0 sec
150 mph: 20.5 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.1 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.4 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 sec
1/4 mile: 11.5 sec @ 120 mph
Top speed (mfr’s claim): 182 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 139 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 277 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 1.08 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 18 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 33 mpg
Highway range: 550 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 20/18/24 mpg
