2021 Porsche 911 Carrera Review: The Price Of Perfection

Flaws. They remind us of our humanity and that even the wealthiest, most distinguished figures don't always get everything right. And, although sports cars have gas rather than blood running through their veins, they're similarly more intriguing when they occasionally shock, frustrate, or disappoint. Porsche does not subscribe to this philosophy, believing instead that every detail of a sports car that isn't perfect, can be made perfect. Enter the Porsche 911, which is near impossible to find fault with. Honed to perfection over several decades, the current 992 is an overachiever of note: it handles with precision, its turbocharged engines deliver brilliant acceleration, the cabin is stunningly made, and it looks both modern and classic. But does its sheer competence in every aspect make it less captivating than an achingly pretty Lexus LC500 or an angry, raucous Ford Mustang Shelby GT500? That's without mentioning the Porsche 911's high price - since you can no longer drive off in a new Porsche 911 for under six figures. Chances are, though, that once you're behind the wheel of the 911, all of these concerns will be rendered meaningless.

What's the Price of the 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera?

At $99,200, the base model Porsche 911 Carrera is $1,800 more expensive than last year's car. Once you've added in the $1,350 delivery fee, it means that for the first time, you can't get a Porsche 911 for under six figures. Next in the lineup is the AWD Carrera 4 with an MSRP of $106,500. After this comes the more powerful Carrera S at $115,100, followed by the Carrera 4S at $122,400. So extensive is the options list that you can effectively double the price of a 911 by adding on enough extras.

2021 911 Carrera Exterior

Dimensions

2021 911 Carrera Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Porsche 911 remains the perfect example of an everyday sports car, combining a comfortable ride with legendary handling that flatters even less experienced drivers. Unlike older 911s, where the rear-mounted engine required more attentiveness from the driver to manage the weight at the back, Porsche has endowed the latest 992 with more precise and controllable handling than ever before. The electromechanical steering is once again a highlight, communicating what the front wheels are up to and it combines deftly with the ability to power through corners early without losing traction.

There's a lot going on beneath the surface, of course, with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system's electronic dampers compensating for varying surfaces and driving modes constantly. With the Sport Chrono Package, there are additional driving modes - besides the standard Normal and Sport - including Sport Plus and Wet, providing more flexibility. On the Carrera S, available rear-axle steering improves low-speed agility and aids stability at higher velocities. The beauty of the 911 is that it never feels overly computerized - there's an organic feel to all the controls that make the driver feel like an integral part of the process. While the AWD models do provide more traction in the wet, the RWD 911's stability controls do such a phenomenal job that we don't think the upgrade is a necessity.

2021 911 Carrera Interior

2021 911 Carrera Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera A Good car?

Porsche has made precious few changes to the 911 Carrera for the 2021 model year, but this is no surprise since the 992 generation remains a recent introduction. It also speaks to how fundamentally accomplished the model line is, which could probably go without any changes for another two or three years and still not have its all-round appeal surpassed by anything else. Aesthetically, Porsche has introduced changes like the wide rear arches and a rear light bar that are noticeable upgrades from the 991, yet retained the coupe's instantly familiar silhouette. The turbocharged engines are all potent, flexible, and reasonably efficient. On a twisty road, the 911's supreme balance and feelsome steering remain the envy of most competitors. There's also a stunning cabin and a much-improved infotainment system, although Porsche continues to frustrate by excluding too many driver-assist technologies from the standard specification sheet. The Porsche 911 has never been more expensive, but it's also never been better.

What New Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Model Should I Buy?

Although the Carrera S is quicker, the base Carrera is over $15,000 cheaper in comparison, and is still a mighty fast sports coupe. We'd be tempted to stick with the base Carrera and use around $10,000 for optional upgrades. The boxes we'd tick include the Sport Chrono Package, the Premium Package, and the Black/Mojave interior to brighten up the standard dark environment. Including delivery, which takes the total price to $109,390.

2021 Porsche 911 Carrera Comparisons

2021 Porsche 911 Carrera vs Porsche 718 Cayman

At almost half the price, the smaller 718 Cayman is a much more affordable entry point into the world of Porsche. With its smaller size and lighter weight, the Cayman is one of the most well-balanced and entertaining sports cars on the planet, even if the 911 is a more refined companion on a cross-country jaunt. At the bottom of the range is Porsche's 2.0-liter turbo-four, which can't match the acceleration or acoustics of the 911's six-cylinder, but it's still really nippy. More of an issue for the base 911 is the Cayman GT4, which costs exactly the same but uses one of Porsche's most astounding engines - a 414-hp naturally aspirated 4.0-liter that sounds glorious. It's paired with a manual transmission and the combination makes the Cayman GT4 an even more exciting driver's car than the base 911. However, the 911 is better-equipped, has a much more upscale interior, and offers two extra seats. If you can't stretch to the 911 Carrera S, we'd recommend the phenomenal Cayman GT4.

2021 Porsche 911 Carrera vs Audi R8 Coupe

Where the 911 Carrera is more of an everyday sports car, the Audi R8 is an all-out supercar. With its bellowing V10 producing over 550 horsepower, the Audi has similar performance to the Carrera S, yet feels a lot more dramatic in the way it blasts off the line. The same is true of the appearances of each car; the 911 is familiar and approachable, whereas the R8 is all theater. Both handle brilliantly, but the 911 is a more delicate performer at the limit. They are both also comfortable enough as daily drivers. Although the Audi's interior is an older design, it's still blessed with high-quality materials and feels appropriately racy - of course, it can only accommodate the driver and one passenger. At around $170,000, the R8 is far pricier but a Carrera S can fairly easily be specced to the same price. Despite the R8 turning more heads, it's the flawless 911 that gets our vote between these two.