2023 Porsche 911 Carrera Review: The Spirit Of Stuttgart

It might be outsold by the Macan and Cayenne SUVs, but Porsche is still personified by the 911. And its essence is best captured by the new Porsche 911 Carrera T trim, devoid of a rear seat and with a standard stick shift. In fact, Porsche USA still offers the seven-speed manual on five of the seven trims. And though hybrid assistance may be on the horizon, even for the 911, Porsche is adamant to keep the charismatic flat-six engine alive in its sports car, even if it has to run on the new e-fuels it's developing, and even if it still hangs out the back like that of a classic Beetle. With outputs ranging from 379 to 473 horsepower, there is plenty of performance on tap, even from the base car, and the driving experience is as rewarding as it's always been. The GTS also provides an excellent compromise between the lower-rung S and the 911 Turbo cars. But it's not all moonshine and roses; since our last review of the Porsche 911 Carrera, prices have increased dramatically, and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 looks like better value than ever by comparison. Does the Porker still come out on top?

What's The Price Of The 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera?

The starting price of the Porsche 911 Carrera is $114,400 this year, up by more than $13k over last year's model. Next up is the Carrera 4 at $121,700, the Carrera T at $124,900, the Carrera S at $131,300, the Carrera 4S at $138,600, the Carrera GTS at $150,900, and the Carrera 4 GTS at $158,200. The seven-speed manual gearbox is standard on the T and optional on the S, 4S, GTS, and 4 GTS, while the eight-speed PDK automatic is the only option on the Carrera and Carrera 4, but there is no charge either way and it won't cost you anything extra, whichever transmission you select. Keep in mind that these prices of the Porsche 911 Carrera are MSRP and don't include Porsche's $1,650 destination charge.

2023 Porsche 911 Carrera Handling And Driving Impressions

Porsche has to be applauded for sticking with the 911's rear-engined format. It became an integral part of the Porsche DNA early on, and the automaker had its work cut out taming a layout that was inherited from the VW Beetle and now had to do duty in sports cars with ever-increasing power outputs. It all comes together seamlessly in the 992 911 and we are in constant awe at how the 911 flows with the road and corners on rails. You no longer drive around the understeer and fear snap oversteer as the pendulum in the tail swings around. It's a superb sports car in every sense, and it's still a case study for how to engineer feel and feedback into an electric power-steering system. The suspension is comfortable enough to go touring, even in the sportier trims, yet even the slowest one will fling you to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and charge around a race track all day without getting its oil in a froth. A class act indeed.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera A Good Car?

The 911 is still perhaps the world's best everyday sports car. Throughout its history, it's been liveable on a daily basis, is as easy to place in traffic, see out of, and park as a sedan, while providing sports-car thrills and performance on the weekends and around a race track. Nothing has changed, and in the intervening years, the 911 has added refinement and excellent touring comfort to the recipe without losing its playful edge when you lean on it. But for the same money as a base 911 Carrera, you can get a 670-hp Corvette Z06 that trades blows with the 911 GT3 on a track and offers 911 Turbo performance without a turbocharger in sight. The auto-only mid-engine Chevy is a very different car and if it's all about the sound, fury, and performance, it has the Porsche licked. But you'll never cease to be amazed at the 911's purity of purpose and incredible all-round talent. You can't go wrong with either.

What 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera Model Should I Buy?

The GTS may sound very tempting, as it sits just below the blistering Turbo models, but it's expensive, and the compelling new T is the one that will make you sit up and think this year. It's cheaper than the S but comes with some delectable standard features that you only get on higher trims, such as the Sport Chrono package and the sport suspension. It's a more visceral experience than other 911s due to less sound deadening, yet it remains comfortable and civilized enough, while still giving you a choice between the manual and automatic transmissions. It ditches the rather useless back seat too to give you more cargo space, but you can always opt it back in if you want. Go for a test drive first; if it's a little too unrefined for you, the S is a great second choice for only a little more money. It loses the T's Sport Chrono package and sport suspension but is more powerful, quieter, and more refined, and gets extended leather interior trim.