2019 Porsche 911 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

New track-focused GT3 RS and GT2 RS modelsPart of the seventh 911 generation introduced for 2012

　　The 2019 Porsche 911 is a sports car that's available in many different versions. Understanding the differences in engines, wheel sizes, body widths, and interior options can be dizzying. But no matter which model you choose, all 911s have the same intrinsic qualities such as two doors, a rear-mounted flat-six engine, the ignition switch on the left, and an analog tachometer sitting front and center. These qualities have made the 911 into perhaps the most iconic sports car on the planet.

　　But the best quality is one that's oft-overlooked: its ability to be blazing-fast on a back road and still livable as an all-weather daily driver. While track-focused versions such as the GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 RS, and T models don't come with rear seats, there are 20 other variants that do. Those rear seats, while small, allow owners to drive their kids or the occasional third or fourth passenger, or just fold down the seatbacks to carry more luggage. And all 911s have generous cargo space in their front trunks, too.

　　Because of this wide variety, it is a good idea to go in with some knowledge of the Porsche you might want. Thankfully for most enthusiasts, this is a pleasurable experience. For others, there are two points that may narrow the decision: timeliness and cost. Out of the 23 911s currently on sale, five are limited in production. And only two models, the Carrera and the Carrera 4, have as-new MSRPs of under $100,000. For a truly indulgent experience, you can custom-order your car to your exact specifications, paint and all.

　　No matter how you buy your 911 — custom or off the showroom lot — know that you'll be driving an unrivaled blend of practicality and performance. It's one of our favorite sports cars on the market.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

8.4 / 10

　　The 911 is one of the oldest continuously produced sports cars on the market, and there's good reason for that. It does the performance thing that all sports cars are expected to do, but it's also shockingly livable as a daily driver. A huge variety of options also allows owners to customize the 911 exactly to their tastes.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Porsche 911 Carrera S (turbo 3.0L flat-6 | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | RWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	8.4 / 10
Driving	9.0
Comfort	8.5
Interior	8.5
Utility	8.0
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

9.0

　　The competence of the Carrera S spans a vast range. It expertly balances power and high-speed performance with in-town drivability and everyday use. The PDK gearbox is a benchmark, and its acceleration from any speed is seamless. You have to look for turbo lag to find it.

　　

Acceleration

9.0

　　In zzdcar track testing, the Carrera S was blisteringly fast, going from zero to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, reaching the quarter-mile marker in 11.4 seconds at 121 mph. Part-throttle acceleration is impressively robust, too. Few drivers will complain about turbo lag, such is its responsive nature.

　　

Braking

8.0

　　The pedal is firm, with lots of braking power when you're really moving, but the brakes' sensitivity may require some drivers to adapt their braking style. Our simulated panic stop at the track from 60 mph took an eye-watering 96 feet. Only a few cars on the road today can beat that.

　　

Steering

8.5

　　The steering is well-weighted in any driving situation. Optional rear steer helps with low-speed maneuvers and tight hairpin turns while increasing high-speed stability. There's a bit of a disconnect from driver to front-end action, but no car with modern power steering feels better.

　　

Handling

9.5

　　Midcorner bumps don't faze the Carrera S, and the speed with which you can enter a corner makes you feel pretty heroic, even though the car is doing the work. The Carrera S's limits are extremely high (it averaged 1.01g on our skidpad) and it exhibits virtually zero body roll.

　　

Drivability

10.0

　　The seven-speed PDK transmission works its magic in almost every scenario. It's excellent on long uphill grades while also super intuitive on curvy back roads. The seven-speed manual transmission is also impressively easy to drive, with a much lighter clutch action than past Porsches.

　　

Comfort

8.5

　　The standard-bearer of comfort among sports car. Great seats, a firm but forgiving ride, and plenty of creature comforts. Elevated road noise is the sole black mark.

　　

Seat comfort

9.0

　　Our car's optional 18-way sport seats' substantial side bolsters provide ample lateral support but don't get in the way of terrific long-distance comfort. A multitude of adjustments will suit even the most finicky driver.

　　

Ride comfort

8.5

　　The ride is firm but won't beat you up on a long trip. The adjustable dampers provide a suitable range of adjustment. You'll feel bumps and ruts, but they are extremely well-damped.

　　

Noise & vibration

6.5

　　It's a relatively quiet ride in the city, but at elevated freeway speeds the optional sport exhaust is audible. There's also a constant hum from the high-performance summer tires.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　Air conditioning blows super cold and acts fast. The cabin gets very comfortable very quickly, even on hot days. The optional heated and cooled seats operate quickly and effectively. The small, complicated and hard-to-find climate controls hurt its score.

　　

Interior

8.5

　　Loads of headroom and good forward visibility. The materials quality and driving position are excellent. While the back seat is small, the 911 is one of just a few cars in the class to offer one. Rear visibility is limited, and the backup camera isn't great.

　　

Ease of use

7.5

　　The controls are well within reach. The drive mode knob on the steering wheel works especially well (included with Sport Chrono pack). But there are too many small buttons that don't all work the way you'd expect.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　A low roof and somewhat high stepover notwithstanding, it's no more difficult than any other sports car to get into or out of. Our tester, equipped with the optional PASM sport suspension, sits nearly an inch lower than standard.

　　

Driving position

10.0

　　Solid fundamentals of control placement are aided by a huge range of adjustment in the optional 18-way adjustable front seats and power tilt-and-telescoping steering column. There's nothing in the way of you and your perfect driving position.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　Front headroom and legroom are abundant, but wider passengers may feel the pinch. The back seat is best for luggage since even small children will be cramped. Our sunroof-less test car easily fits long-of-torso 6-foot-plus drivers.

　　

Visibility

8.5

　　The low sloping hood and large windshield contribute to excellent forward visibility. The relatively large rear roof pillars block your view out to the rear. The mirrors and rear window are small. The parking sensors are excellent, though, and the backup camera's view is acceptable.

　　

Quality

9.5

　　After two weeks in the Carrera S, we were only able to find one fault in build quality: a clunky plastic knob for the drive-mode selector on the steering wheel. Practically everything else is flawless. Excellent materials, tight tolerances and everything you'd expect for $135K.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　The Carrera S is very practical for a sports car. Beyond the front trunk, the rear seat has a fold-down luggage shelf that's quite useful. Small-item storage, like general cargo capacity, is far from capacious but still excellent for the class.

　　

Small-item storage

8.0

　　Small-item storage is limited. The cupholders stow unobtrusively in the dashboard, but they're still tiny. The center console isn't very deep but easily swallows a large smartphone and a wallet. And the door pockets are long but shallow.

　　

Cargo space

8.5

　　While its 9.1-cubic-foot trunk seems small, the 911 has a folding rear seat that acts as a large luggage shelf. Combine the two and you've got plenty of space for gear. Even a golf bag will fit in the back. Most rivals only have two seats and therefore forgo this additional space.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

　　Two easily accessible lower LATCH points are under small Velcro-attached patches. There's one top anchor on each rear seat. Big child seats won't fit back there. Even medium-size ones will have a problem. However, several rivals are missing a back seat altogether, giving the 911 a big leg up.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　While an improvement on previous systems, the current Porsche tech interface isn't the most user-friendly on the market. Device integration and voice controls had a few hiccups during our test. Get past those quirks, though, and the system can do all of the basic tasks you'd expect.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.0

　　Eight-speaker system is relatively bass-heavy. Twelve-speaker Bose and Burmester systems are optional. The nav screen is lower than preferred, though its pinch-to-zoom feature is excellent and entering destinations was simple.

　　

Smartphone integration

6.5

　　Apple CarPlay is standard, which works relatively well once you get it connected but may take a few attempts. No Android Auto. The native music system is easy to understand, but it doesn't index music quickly and doesn't always obey commands.

　　

Voice control

6.0

　　Underwhelming voice control. It had a difficult time responding to basic commands, and its menu structure has a steep learning curve. If you've got Siri at your disposal, use that feature instead — it's much more responsive.

　　

Which 911 does zzdcar recommend?

　　With so many versions available, many of them with overlapping price windows, the question the potential 911 buyer must ask is: What do you want your 911 to do? Knowing the answer will get you a long way toward picking the ideal 911. As a generalized recommendation, though, the GTS is a can't-miss proposition. It has more power than the regular Carrera and the Carrera S, but it isn't so extreme that it pounds the fillings out of your teeth with a jarring track suspension setup. Plus, the GTS-specific interior features neat-looking microsuede seating surfaces and contrast stitching.

　　

2019 Porsche 911 models

　　The 2019 Porsche 911 is available in coupe, retractable-roof coupe (Targa) and soft-top convertible (Cabriolet) body styles. There are then multiple variations with increasing levels of performance, including the Carrera, the Carrera S, the Carrera 4 and the Carrera 4S (the 4 indicates all-wheel drive), the Targa 4 and the Targa 4S, the GTS, the Turbo and the Turbo S. There are also four track-oriented trims: the Carrera T, the GT3, the GT3 RS and the GT2 RS.

　　The base model 911 Carrera is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine (flat-six) that produces 370 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission is standard, and Porsche's dual-clutch (PDK) automatic transmission is optional. Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, summer tires, an adaptive suspension (PASM), automatic bi-xenon headlights, parking sensors, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, four-way power-adjustable front seats (for the backrest and seat height; fore/aft is manual) and leather upholstery.

　　Technology features include Bluetooth; two USB ports; two SD card slots; Porsche Communication Management, which has a 7-inch touchscreen interface with navigation, Apple CarPlay, onboard Wi-Fi and Car Connect remote vehicle services; and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player and satellite and HD radio.

　　The Carrera S has an upgraded version of the same engine that produces 420 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. It also has 20-inch wheels and a torque-vectoring rear differential. The optional Powerkit ups the engine to 450 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque.

　　The Carrera 4 and the Carrera 4S, as well as the Targa 4 and the Targa 4S, feature all-wheel drive and wider rear fenders, plus the engine that corresponds to their rear-wheel-drive counterparts above.

　　The GTS variants have the Carrera S engine with the Powerkit upgrade (450 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque). The GTS also has a wider rear track, 20-inch center lock wheels from the Turbo S, a PASM sport suspension (coupe only) that includes a ride-height reduction, a sport exhaust system (optional on all lesser versions), special exterior styling, sport seats with a combination of leather and simulated suede upholstery, and a sport steering wheel. The GTS also comes with the Sport Chrono package, which includes dynamic engine mounts, a stopwatch, turbo overboost function for temporarily increased torque, and additional performance driving aids. This package is available on lesser versions.

　　The 911 Turbo has a turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six good for 540 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque. It comes only with the PDK automatic and all-wheel drive. It also comes standard with a power-retractable front spoiler, a fixed rear spoiler with articulating wing elements, various other aesthetic and functional body revisions, a rear-wheel-steering feature to tighten the turning radius and improve high-speed stability (optional on the Carrera S family), and a more advanced torque-vectoring rear differential (PTV Plus). Also standard are adaptive LED headlights, the Sport Chrono package, 10-way power seats with four-way power lumbar and memory settings, extended leather trim and a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.

　　The Turbo S is uprated to 580 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It also gets active stabilizer bars (PDCC), carbon-ceramic brake rotors, 14-way power front seats with adjustable side bolsters, and carbon-fiber interior trim.

　　Finally, the track models. The Carrera T is based on the standard Carrera and uses the same 370-hp engine, but it features lightweight door panels with nylon door pulls, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and shorter final drive ratio for better acceleration.

　　The GT3 is a lightweight, track-focused performance model. It has a 4.0-liter non-turbocharged flat-six that produces 500 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. PDK is standard and a six-speed manual is optional. It also gets its own special suspension tuning, rear-wheel steering, the carbon-ceramic brakes, lightweight body components (including a carbon-fiber fixed rear wing), a rear underbody diffuser and special styling elements. For the GT3 RS, Porsche takes a GT3 and sharpens it further with more power (520 hp, 346 lb-ft of torque), aerodynamic enhancements, and more trick lightweight parts, such as a magnesium roof and carbon-fiber trunklid and fenders.

　　For the ultimate 911 track experience, the GT2 RS takes the GT3 RS's body and aerodynamics and swaps out its non-turbocharged flat-six in favor of an uprated twin-turbo engine from the 911 Turbo S that produces 690 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful and fastest street-legal 911 ever produced.

　　Many of the higher-end items, especially those included on the Turbo, are available as options on lesser trims. Other add-ons include alternative wheel designs, a front axle lift system, a rear wiper, power-folding auto-dimming mirrors, a solid or glass sunroof (coupe only), keyless entry and ignition, adaptive cruise control (with automatic braking for forward collision mitigation), a blind-spot warning system, various sport seats, heated seats, ventilated seats, a multifunction steering wheel (heating can be added), a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system and a 12-speaker Burmester audio system.

　　As with any Porsche, you can also customize the 911 to your heart's (and hopefully wallet's) content, with numerous paint colors, upholstery types and trim selections. You can also specify everything from colorful Porsche crests on the seats to leather trim on the climate vent slats.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 911 articles

　　

2019 911 Highlights

Type: CoupeGT3 RSGT2 RSSpeedsterConvertibleGT3Coupe

　　Trim: CarreraCarrera 4Carrera TCarrera STarga 4Carrera 4SCarrera GTSTarga 4SCarrera 4 GTSTarga 4 GTSGT3TurboGT3 RSTurbo SGT2 RSCarrera

　　

Base MSRP	$91,100
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$196/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	5.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles