2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Review: A Luxurious and Capable Grand Tourer

My first 30 minutes with the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera were spent in the worst traffic backup I’d experienced in years. There I was, piloting one of the greatest GT cars of all time, averaging 3.5 miles per hour. What’s worse, my carefully crafted original plan was to retrieve the 911 at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta at 7 a.m. that morning—and get out of town immediately. This would have set me on my way as the morning commute was coming into the city. Instead, thanks to numerous flight delays, I finally laid eyes upon the curvaceous 992.2 series Porsche at 4 p.m. that afternoon, which, of course, was prime time for the evening commute—going in my direction. Poor me, right?

2025 Porsche 911 Carrera First Impressions

Well, not really. After all, I was sitting in one of the most luxurious GT cars ever conjured from the minerals of planet Earth. So, rather than lament the situation, I used the time to appreciate the Carrera’s artfully crafted interior treatment. Admittedly dredging up every scintilla of maturity I have developed over the years, I turned it into a “lemons to lemonade” moment and took the opportunity to take in the creature comforts the Porsche’s $120,100 base price brings. Besides, I knew I’d eventually get to see what the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera’s $145,445 price as tested would get me over the ensuing five days.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

My destination was some 220 miles away from Atlanta. I’d purposely told my iPhone’s navigation app to guide me without using highways. The idea being it would eventually put me on some nice winding roads when I crossed through the southern Appalachians. All the commuters eventually found their homes, and there was just one car left between me and the twisties up ahead. Nothing was coming in the other direction, and a dotted line separated the two lanes.

Given full throttle for the first time that day, the other side of the Porsche’s personality came out, in what could only be described as the Hyde side of a Jekyll and Hyde moment. All civility was left behind as the eight-speed PDK gearbox instantly chose what the algorithm “told it” was the perfect gear. The urgency of sound emanating from the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged DOHC flat six in the back of the Carrera was glorious—in both tone and ferocity. A huge smile spread across my face as the 388-horsepower engine, unleashing its full 331 pound-feet of torque, flung me past that astonished driver, who had to be wondering why, in the name of everything holy, anybody would be rushing toward that curve so fast.

Gradually lifting off the throttle as I approached the corner, I shifted the Porsche’s weight forward ever so slightly to help the front tires get a better bite. I was pleased to note the precision with which the 911 responded to my inputs. Nicely weighted, the steering communicated the exact degree of grip the front wheels had, while faithfully guiding the Carrera’s nose into the corner on the exact line I’d chosen. Getting back on the throttle, I noted the transmission had downshifted into exactly the right gear to send me rocketing off the apex.

Noting the next corner was considerably tighter than the first. Applying just a bit of brake, the Porsche assumed the exact pace I’d intended, and together we carved that corner with the precision of a neurosurgeon. I have been blessed with the opportunity to drive a great number of cars over the 27 years I have been doing this work. Doing the math one day, my son and I calculated I have driven well over a thousand different cars, and none of them—not even one—has ever felt alive in my hands the way a Porsche sports car does, while exhibiting the stability of a 275-year-old Swiss bank.

Performance Specifications

2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Fuel Economy

According to the denizens of the offices of the EPA, the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera is good for 18 miles per gallon in the city, 25 on the highway, and 21 combined. This latter figure proved a bit optimistic, as I averaged 19.8 mpg overall—according to the 911’s trip computer. And yes, I know, that isn’t a huge number in these days of 57 mpg Prius models. But hey, ain’t no Prius ever put a smile on my face the way a Porsche sports car does. As a measure of compensation though, “my” Carrera was fitted with the 22.1-mile extended range fuel tank, which gave it a range of just over 437 miles.

Interior Design And Comfort

Sumptuous barely begins to describe the 911’s passenger compartment. Upholstered in a combination of Bordeaux Red and black leather, there was no questioning the fact that this was something truly special. What’s more, the interior architecture, as well as the layout of the controls, left no doubt as to the performance potential of the 992.2 series Porsche Carrera.

A singular focus on the needs of the driver was apparent in the way all the controls I was most likely to need at speed were positioned within easy reach of the steering wheel. What’s more, puttering along in that bumper-to-bumper traffic, I was struck by the fact that even though the Porsche harbored outstanding performance potential, it was quite content to fall into line in a civil fashion. Quiet, comfortable, and smooth, the Carrera conducted itself with a grace typically found in only the most luxurious of automobiles.

Technology And Ease Of Use

With the 992.2, a full digital instrument panel is employed for the first time in the history of the 911. Measuring 12.6 inches diagonally, the display was reconfigurable in a number of different ways. Being an old-school traditionalist, I set it up with the classic five-round dials, with the tach occupying center stage. Later, I discovered the tachometer could also be rotated, so its redline occupied the dial’s 12 o’clock position.

A 10.9-inch touchscreen monitor crowned the center stack, providing an interface for all the Carrera’s infotainment functions. One of those features, the My Porsche app, was configured to work with , which provided the ability to set up climate, seat, and audio settings to be triggered by Siri. And, in what has to be a feature everyone never knew they always needed, the 911’s inductive smartphone charging pad resides inside the cooled center console, which prevents overheating your phone. If you’ve ever retrieved your mobile device from a charging pad on a warm day, you’ll know how welcome a development this is.

On the driver assistance front, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, brake assistant, and pedestrian protection are included as standard. Ditto ParkAssist, and a fatigue detection system. Yes, the 911 now watches to ensure you’re alert. The Carrera’s smart cruise control system incorporates a system Porsche calls InnoDrive, which “looks” just under two miles up the road to make decisions about the speed the car travels when the system is activated. Conditions such as speed limits, curves, and hills are taken into consideration.

Another first, the now has an engine start/stop button located on the left side of the steering wheel, where you’d traditionally find the Porsche’s ignition switch. The 911 also now has a drive mode selector dial on the steering wheel, which was the only aesthetic letdown in the car. While I loved what it did, I wasn’t enthusiastic about its plastic look.

Cargo And Storage Space

In yet another first for the base model 911, the traditional rear jump seats have been made optional. This provides additional interior storage capacity—albeit uncovered. And, of course, the front cargo compartment remains useful, if not exactly commodious. That said, it was more than capacious enough to stow my medium-sized suitcase. However, not much room was left.

Planning an extended road trip with another person will require you to pack lightly—or take your Boxster (which has two trunks). Interior storage space was provided in the center console, the door pockets, and the glove compartment. And yes, this dearth of carrying capacity could be argued to be something of a disappointment in a car that is so very comfortable—and capable—over long distances.

2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Vs. Its Competitor(s)

Some of you might be surprised to learn that the closest competitor to the 911 Carrera, in terms of price, is the 2025 . The two models are priced within a few thousand dollars of one another. The Carrera starts at $122,095 with destination charges included, while the Z06 starts at $116,995 with shipping.

How The Porsche 911 Carrera Compares To The Chevrolet Corvette Z06

You get a lot more power with the Corvette. The mid-engine Chevy delivers 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque from a 5.5-liter V8. You’ll be looking at a 911 Turbo S to get that much power and a Porsche badge, along with a price tag north of $240,000. With that said, while I know we’re talking about high-performance cars here, engine output matters less than you might think on the street—after a certain point. Yeah, I said it; 670 horsepower in a roadgoing car is way overkill. Sure, it endows you with stratospheric bragging rights, but you really don’t need—nor can you use—that much power on the street. Feel free to flame me in the comments section below as much as you’d like—I know that statement will put some of you all up in your feelings—but it’s still the truth.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

In my opinion, the Porsche surpasses the Chevrolet everywhere it counts on the street. The Carrera offers a far more refined experience than you’ll get from the Z06. It’s also more comfortable, more sophisticated, far less ostentatious, and it feels better at speed. To borrow a comparison from the world of fine timepieces, the Corvette is a Rolex Daytona, where the 911 is a Patek Phillipe Nautilus. Both are highly desirable and well-respected. However, the Patek is a cut above the Rolex, without being flashy. Similarly, the 911 is cooler than the Corvette, without being all up in your face about it.

Still, pound for pound, dollar for dollar, all things being equal, the Corvette Z06 will outrun the 911 Carrera for less money. So, when it comes down to it, what really matters is one’s own personal tastes. Me, myself personally—I’d go with that 911. But hey, your results may vary.