2020 Porsche 911 Review

　　

2020 Porsche 911 Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Although the 2020 Porsche 911 kicks off a new generation — code-named 992 — it isn't wildly different from its 991 predecessor. If you want that from your next sports car, Chevrolet will be happy to sell you a mid-engine C8 Corvette. But the redesigned 2020 911 is more than up to the challenge of subtly evolving Porsche's rear-engine icon.

　　This new 911 picks up right where the old model left off by pairing supercar-adjacent performance with everyday drivability. For now, Porsche is offering just the Carrera and Carrera S versions, plus the all-wheel-drive 4 and 4S versions. Engine horsepower is up slightly, and the PDK automatic transmission now sports an extra gear. Bored with the idea of just a "regular" Carrera? Just as the sun sets in the west, you can bet that Porsche has its typical buffet of Turbos and GT3s queued up in the pipeline for future model years.

　　Key infotainment updates and interior improvements make the interior look more modern than before. But, really, it's the driving experience that matters, and here the newest 911 once again delivers. It's relentlessly fast in a straight line, uncannily balanced through tight or long-sweeping corners, and surprisingly comfortable to drive on a daily basis. If you need one performance car that can do it all, the Porsche 911 is still at the top of a very short list.

　　Notably, we picked the 2020 Porsche 911 as one of zzdcar' Best Luxury Cars for this year.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.5/10

　　How does the 911 drive? We tested the 911 Carrera S with the PDK eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Acceleration is impressively rapid in any situation. The launch control mode is easy to activate, and with it we observed a 0-60 mph sprint of just 3.2 seconds. This car feels as if it can do full throttle and high speeds all day.

　　Similarly impressive are the brakes. Our test vehicle had the optional carbon-ceramic brakes, and they stopped our test car from 60 mph in a scant 97 feet. Brake feel and pedal effort are excellent for both casual and high-performance driving. Around turns, the 911 is so quick and precise that it feels as if it's tapped directly into the driver's mind. Even with all this capability, the 911 is an easy car to drive in everyday conditions thanks to its best-in-the-business PDK automatic transmission. The breadth of the 911's capabilities is nearly unrivaled at this price.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the 911? Overall comfort is impressive considering how much performance the 911 provides. The optional ventilated adaptive sport seats are agreeable even after several hours of driving, for instance. Our test vehicle had the optional sport suspension. With it, you'll feel every flaw in the road, but impacts are never harsh, even when driving in Sport mode.

　　Road noise is more noticeable than in some rival sports cars, but it's not grating. The engine sounds rough and surprisingly unrefined at cold startup and really doesn't start sounding like a proper 911 flat-six until you get the revs high. Buyers new to the 911 might not mind but returning customers will pine for the sound of older 911s.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Porsche bills itself as a builder of driver's cars, placing technology and infotainment as secondary concerns. While some owners may appreciate that sentiment, we're sure more will be disappointed in both the execution and functionality of many of the 911's advanced features.

　　For example, many drivers will find the high-definition touchscreen and controller knob placed just out of reach, and the on-screen buttons are too small. Apple CarPlay is easier to use and has more natural voice controls than Porsche's native system, but Android Auto is not offered. The standard audio system is truly disappointing — it sounds weak and suffers from terrible staging.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Because the engine occupies the rear half of the car, cargo space is restricted to a 4.6-cubic-foot bin under the hood. It's large enough for two soft-sided carry-on bags but not much else. You can use the rear seats for additional storage, but getting stuff in and out requires an awkward stoop and a tight squeeze. There's also not a lot of space for your personal items. The cupholders, pockets and bins are all small, so pack accordingly.

　　Want to take your new baby along for a ride? The car-seat anchors are easy to find, but that's about the only good thing we can say. The lack of rear seat room means installing a child safety seat is very difficult. (The same goes for getting a child in or out.) But if you really need a vehicle for family duty, the Panamera, Cayenne and Macan are obviously better suited.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Carrera S at 20 mpg combined (18 city/24 highway), which is good for the class. As with any sports car, achieving those results is an exercise in restraint. On our best behavior, we only managed 16.4 mpg. On a racetrack, our results plummeted to a wastefully rewarding 6.6 mpg.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the 911 a good value? The Carrera and Carrera S base pricing is right in there with other sports car rivals, but you won't get nearly as many standard features as you would with the competition. At this price, competitors such as BMW 850i come almost fully loaded. In some cases, you'd have to shell out tens of thousands of dollars to option-up a 911 to a similar specification. Of course, the build quality is excellent, and Porsche offers nearly endless opportunities for personalization. In warranty coverage and ownership experience, it's comparable to the rest of the class.

　　

Wildcard

10.0/10

　　When it comes to pure driving joy, the 911 Carrera S gets it right. It's very entertaining to drive and, even more important, it's easy to drive in a spirited manner. The impeccable steering and predictable handling encourage the driver to push a little harder, yet the 911 remains controllable if you overstep those boundaries.

　　Just as impressive as its outright performance is the 911's friendly demeanor in everyday situations. The 911 is perhaps a victim of its own success since its prevalence means it doesn't turn heads as much as some other sports cars. But it hasn't lost any of its style or desirability.

　　

Which 911 does zzdcar recommend?

While we expect plenty of additional variants in the 992's future, there are only a few to pick from right now. As the default choice, we'd recommend the Carrera S. It's got more power, bigger standard brakes and a torque-vectoring differential. From there, you can customize your 911 to your heart's content with all sorts of unique paint, stitching, seat belts and extra options packages.

　　

2020 Porsche 911 models

The 2020 Porsche 911 is currently available as a coupe and convertible. Both come in four variants: Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S (the 4 indicates all-wheel drive). The Carrera and Carrera 4 share a turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine rated at 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. The S models get an upgraded version of that engine good for 443 hp and 390 lb-ft. All four variants come standard with an eight-speed dual-clutch (PDK) automatic, though a seven-speed manual is available for the Carrera S and 4S for no additional charge.

　　Standard equipment on the Carrera includes 19-inch wheels in front and 20-inch wheels in the back, summer tires, an adaptive suspension (PASM), LED headlights, parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control and leather upholstery. Technology features include two USB ports, a 10.9-inch touchscreen interface, a navigation system, Apple CarPlay, onboard Wi-Fi and an eight-speaker sound system.

　　The Carrera S gets the aforementioned more powerful engine, bigger wheels and brakes, and an electronically controlled torque-vectoring rear differential. Selecting the manual adds the Sport Chrono package (optional on PDK models) and a mechanical differential. The Carrera 4 and the Carrera 4S feature all-wheel drive.

　　As you'd probably expect if you've got any familiarity with the 911, the options are nearly endless. Depending on whether you go with the standard Carrera or the S, you can add upgrades such as a PASM sport suspension, a sport exhaust system, a rear-wheel-steering feature to tighten the turning radius and improve high-speed stability, and a more advanced torque-vectoring rear differential (PTV Plus). Inside, Porsche offers sport seats with a combination of leather and simulated suede upholstery, a couple of sound system upgrades, and a seemingly endless array of trim and color customization options. Most of the 911's advanced driver safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, are optional as well.

　　

2020 911 Highlights

Type: CoupeConvertibleCoupe

　　Trim: CarreraCarrera 4Carrera SCarrera 4SCarrera

　　

Base MSRP	$97,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$228/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	4.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles