2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS Test Drive Review: Open-Roof Bliss

In a lineup that includes both conventional coupe and cabriolet body styles, the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 is a unique proposition. Named after the Targa Florio race in Sicily, Italy, the 911 Targa was originally created to get around US safety laws in the 1960s that made it difficult to sell fully open-roof convertibles. The first Targa model featured a removable roof panel like a Chevrolet Corvette, while the latest 992 generation version gets a more modern electronically retractable roof mechanism that opens or closes in 19 seconds when stationary. It's not quite a convertible, but it's not a coupe either.

Though it doesn't offer many distinct advantages over the 911 Carrera coupe or Cabriolet on paper, the 2022 911 Targa 4 manages to combine the best of both worlds. It offers arguably the best style of any 911 body along with the open-top fun of a convertible. Porsche offers the 911 Targa 4 with all-wheel-drive only, in base, S, and GTS power configurations, producing 379, 443, and 473 horsepower, respectively. CarBuzz was invited to Porsche's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia to sample the most potent 911 Targa 4 GTS model alongside its fixed-roof counterpart. It's not the sharpest GTS model available, but the Targa may be the most charming to drive.

What's the Price of the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4?

You're going to have to cough up a few extra bucks for the privilege of seeing that overcomplicated roof go up and down: the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 starts with an MSRP of$121,300 excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,350 in the USA. The price of the Porsche 911 Targa 4 increases to $137,200 for the 4S, and the top-of-the-line Targa 4 GTS will set you back $156,800. A fully-loaded 911 Targa 4 GTS will cost you close to the $220k mark, which puts it dangerously close to the Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder.

While only 750 models will be produced, the 50 Years Porsche Design special editions will go on sale for $183, 800, but the corresponding watch that goes with it adds a further $12,050 to the total price.

2022 911 Targa 4 Exterior

Dimensions

2022 911 Targa 4 Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Our drive of the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS included curvy mountain roads north of Atlanta. Here, we fell in love with the 911. This is one of the premier driving experiences available at any price, and the GTS model strikes the best balance of track-ready speed and on-road comfort, with the Targa model leaning more towards the latter. It's not the quickest in the lineup, but it comes close to GT3 performance in a straight line without the back-breaking ride. Porsche also handed us the keys to a rear-drive GTS Coupe with the Lightweight Package (reviewed separately), and it proved to be far more hard-edged and racey, especially with the optional bucket racing seats. If your tastes skew more towards comfort and livability, the Targa is the far superior daily driver.

Even on some torn-up highway roads to reach the mountains, the Targa's suspension proved compliant enough to never feel tiring. Road noise on the highway is equally acceptable, much better than the 911 Coupe with the Lightweight Package's lesser sound deadening and thinner glass. The Targa 4 is the only GTS model not to receive Porsche's Active Suspension Management from the Porsche 911 Turbo (PASM Sport), instead getting the lesser, standard PASM suspension. This means the Targa is perhaps the dullest of the three 911 variants, but it's still sharp relative to other cars. The steering is among the best we've tested in any new car, and the chassis control allows you to hit supercar speeds without batting an eye.

Driving it back-to-back with the coupe, the Targa's heavier curb weight is noticeable and the suspension is tuned softer for a better ride. This results in more body lean than the comparable coupe or cabriolet, but once you let the car set in through the corner, it's easy to manage. Rear axle steering helps the Targa feel more nimble than its curb weight would imply, though we found the system to feel slightly unpredictable in our limited time with the car. More seat time may be required here. Drivers looking for maximum performance from their 911 should likely avoid the Targa, but if you simply want a good time on a backroad and arguably the best daily driver, this is the perfect body style.

2022 911 Targa 4 Interior

2022 911 Targa 4 Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 A Good car?

Porsche rarely offers the best value in the industry, and the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 is no exception. This is a vehicle that you buy based on emotion rather than pure numbers, even within the vast 911 lineup. A 911 Coupe offers more capable performance and a lower base price, while the 911 Cabriolet is lighter and offers a more open-top experience. Targa buyers are ideally looking for the best of both worlds without as much emphasis on track performance. Though the numbers would suggest the Targa is the worst 911, in some ways we think it's the most honest and least intimidating.

There are other open-top sports cars you can cross-shop with the 911 Targa, including the Audi R8 Spyder, Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, BMW M8 Convertible, Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, and Jaguar F-Type Convertible to name a few. Of these options, only the Corvette matches the Targa's unique roof configuration and none live up to the 911's unparalleled driving manners. There's a reason why the Porsche 911 has been called the pinnacle sports car for decades, and the latest Targa model continues that legacy.

What Porsche 911 Targa 4 Model Should I Buy?

As much as we loved the 911 Targa 4 GTS, we feel the GTS model is better suited to the Coupe, where it offers performance closer to a GT3. Instead, we'd step down to the Targa 4S, which offers a perfectly reasonable 443 hp starting at $137,200, saving $19,600 compared to the GTS. Choosing the 4S will help avoid the nearly $200,000 as-tested price of our Targa 4 GTS. From there, it's easy to go overboard with Porsche's endless options list, but we'd highly recommend the 18-way sport seats ($3,470), Premium Package ($5,350), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control ($3,170 plus $2,090 required for rear axle steering), and Sports Exhaust ($2,950). You can also add a few driver assists, and still get a 911 Targa 4S for under $160,000.

2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 Comparisons

2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 vs Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

The 911 Carrera Cabriolet is the traditional route to enjoying that wind-in-your-hair feeling in a 911 Porsche and remains a popular choice. The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet makes use of the same platform and powertrain, and its twin-turbo flat-six produces the same power in base trim, right up to the 473 hp and 420 lb-ft peak in GTS guise. However, the cabriolet is also offered in RWD guise. From the outside, the main difference is the Cabriolet's use of a traditional folding roof. The cantilevered contraption of the Targa is cool-looking but adds complication and weight, and we'd much rather stick with the clean and straightforward design of the Cabriolet. On the road, the Cabriolet is just as much fun to drive, and its lack of a roof is barely noticeable when it comes to spirited driving. People love a good dose of nostalgia; that's why the Targa 4 was built. But if you're simply after fun in the sun, the cheaper (by over $7,000) Cabriolet will be perfect.

2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 vs Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

The Corvette Stingray Convertible is one of the few cars that offer a similar Targa-roof experience, and despite the glaring price difference between these two performance drop-tops, the American Corvette still manages to put up an impressive fight. At a starting price of $68,400, you can nearly buy two Corvette Convertibles for the price of a single Porsche 911 Targa 4, but is the Porsche all that better? With 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Corvette is more powerful than even the top-spec Targa GTS, which sells for over $155,000, and with the Z51 performance package equipped, it will easily outrun any 911 Targa to 60 mph. Sure, the cabin of the Chevy isn't as refined, and you don't get the pedigree that comes with Porsche ownership, but it's still comfortable to drive daily, it's got an excellent infotainment system, stunning performance, and the convertible offers virtually no compromises over the hardtop. The Porsche is fantastic, but the Corvette just makes more sense.