The Carrera is as basic as a Porsche 911 could get. It stands at the bottom of the lineup both in terms of power and price. Even though it is entry-level, it is like that mascot on the front gates of Coney Island that let you know exactly what it's like in the rest of the range. The Carrera Coupe still carries the essence of a nimble, high-performance sports car of its upper siblings in a noteworthy spirit. Now in its 56th year of production, it would be quite interesting to see how Porsche gives a sendoff to the last of the 991 series Carrera.
Rear seating lacks comfort and is somewhat unusable
Infotainment system needs improvement
What's New?
The Carrera T joins the lineup
A new interior air filtration system
New seat styling themes
Features
vehicle bio
base price
$91100
bodystyle
2dr Coupe
passenger capacity
4
drivetrain
RWD
engine type
displacement
182 cu.in.
horsepower
370 hp @ 6500 rpm
torque
331 lbs.-ft @ 1700 rpm
transmission
7-speed manual
chassis
frame type
Unibody
suspension front
Independent front strut suspension w/anti-roll bar
suspension rear
Independent rear multi-link suspension w/anti-roll bar
brake rotors (f/r)
60.7/59.8
dimensions
wheelbase
96.5 in.
length
177.1 in.
width
71.2 in.
height
50.9 in.
curb weight
3153 lbs.
ground clearance
4.3 in.
capacity
cargo volume
5.1 cu ft.
payload capacity
980 lbs.
performance
zero to 60 mph
4.1 sec.
fuel economy
city/combined/highway
20/23/29 mpg
highway range
490.1 mi.
warranty
basic warranty
4 yr. / 50000 mi.
drivetrain warranty
4 yr. / 50000 mi.
powertrain warranty
48 months. / 50000
corrosion warranty
12 yr. / unlimited
roadside assistance
4 yr. / 50000 mi.
Pictures
exterior
interior
Colors and Styles
Agate Gray Metallic
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
The latest 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera is backed by a twin-turbocharged flat-six engine. The base trims make less than 400 horsepower but it is how the Porsche 911 Carrera uses that power that makes it such a remarkable automobile. A lightweight chassis, rear engine mount, and RWD all come together to grant the 911 Carrera its prowess for agility. The cabin is not left out, either. Porsche offers near-limitless customizations to make sure you get the 911 that perfectly suits your taste.
Porsche 911 Carrera is one of the most elegant and reliable rides to offer riders the real feel of speed. In its segment, the racing car competes with the likes of Audi TT RS, Nissan GT-R, and Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT. Even though its power and torque capabilities are less than the competitors, Porsche 911 Carrera is one of the best deals with a stylish build, a lucrative fuel economy, and an impeccable racing car disposition.
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Front Three-Quarter View
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Rear Three-Quarter View
7.8/10 Features
9.3/10 Engine and Performance
9.0/10 Fuel Economy
8.5/10 Interior
7.0/10 Exterior
8.3/10 Safety
8.1/10 Final Verdict
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Features
7.8/10
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera is available in 8 trim levels: the Carrera and Carrera S coupes along with their AWD and cabriolet variants. Each Porsche 911 Carrera trim packs a 3.0L twin-turbo flat-six engine. However, the power and torque delivered are of two types. The engine delivers 370 hp and 331 lb.-ft. of torque for the basic Carrera trims. Upgrading to the S trims grants you 420 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque to play around with. A premium of $12,000 upgrades the coupes to their convertible counterparts. This gives you the ability to take the roof down in under 12 seconds whilst moving at speeds up to 30 mph.
3.0-liter flat-six engine with more power (420 hp, 368 lb-ft)
Features Same as Carrera Plus:
Features Same as Carrera S Plus:
A seven-speed manual gearbox(standard)
larger brakes
All Wheel Drive System
All Wheel Drive System
dual-clutch automatic (optional)
20-inch wheels
Sport-tuned suspension
Active stabilizer bars
Rear-wheel steering
We Recommend
There are just so many options one can choose for the Porsche 911 Carrera. While all the S models have more power and torque along with other feats, all cabriolets come with a convertible feature. Priced at $105,100, Carrera S provides the most value for money.
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Engine and Performance
9.3/10
"If anyone ever asks you how much car $100,000 can buy, tell them to look no further than the 2020 Porsche 911. Objectively a strong performer and subjectively a joy to drive, it's worth every last penny." -Car and Driver
Engine and Transmission
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera makes use of a Twin-Turbocharged 3.0L Boxer 6-Cylinder engine. The drivetrain in all Porsche 911 Carrera trims is Rear-Wheel Drive. The power and torque delivered by the engine are different for Carrera base trims and Carrera S trims. For the former, the power and torque are 370 hp and 331 lb.-ft. While for the latter, the engine delivers 420 hp and 368 lb.-ft. of torque.
Models
Porsche 911 Carrera
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Audi TT RS
MSRP
$91,100
$124,400
$64,900
Engine
Twin-Turbocharged 3.0L Boxer-6
Handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 Biturbo
2.5 TFSI inline-5
Drive Train
RWD
RWD
RWD
Transmission
7-Speed PDK Manual
7-Speed AMG SpeedShift Automatic
7-speed S-Tronic Automatic
Power
370 hp
469 hp @
400 hp
Torque
331 lb-ft
465 lb-ft
354 lb-ft
Almost all the cars for this price range offer higher power figures. For about $40,000 less you can get the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. It has a behemoth 797-horsepower V8, making it the most powerful production road-legal car currently available in the US. However, as the 911 Carrera goes on to prove, brute force is not everything.
Acceleration
Having a 4.2-second acceleration time for hitting the 60 mph mark is impressive. However, it is the slowest among the competition, led by Nissan GT-R with 2.9 seconds. The same feat is 3.5 seconds and 3.9 seconds for Audi TT RS and Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT, respectively.
Models
Porsche 911 Carrera
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Audi TT RS
0-60 MPH
4.4 sec
3.9 sec
3.6 sec
Quarter mile
12.7 sec
11.4 sec
13.6 sec
Engine Displacement
3.0L
4.0L
2.5L
Emission(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/year)
7.7
9.8
8.0
Even though the Porsche 911 marginally underperforms when compared to its rivals in this segment, it would save you a lot of money long term as far as EPA taxes are concerned. Its tiny engine has lower emissions than other sports cars in this segment, which translates well into good mpg numbers as well. This makes the Porsche 911 Carrera the perfect combination of a comfortable cruiser and an exciting speedster.
Ride and Handling
Riding the Porsche 911 Carrera has always been a joy for the lovers of speed. Officially known as the Porsche Active Suspension Management, driver-adjustable adaptive dampers are available in all 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera trims. It offers two modes, Normal and Sport.
Moreover, Carrera offers brake-based torque vectoring and rear-wheel steering. These are excellent agility-enhancing options without losing control, even to the slightest. The one-of-its-kind power-steering system in 911 Carrera delivers a steady road feel. Also, the driver gets precise info on the situation of the front tires.
Braking
Porsche 911 Carrera features a well-balanced braking system. Both the front and the rear brakes are 13 inches. This is the smallest brake size in the competition but it is the 911's weight, or lack of it, that gets it the advantage. It stops dead from 60 mph within 96 feet, way before any other car in this segment. The brakes also have just the right travel and the compact dimensions of the car help greatly to keep it on a leash at all times.
Model
Porsche 911 Carrera
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Audi TT RS
Brake Front(in)
13.0
14.2
14.6
Brake Rear(in)
13.0
14.2
12.2
Curb weight(lbs)
3153
3682
3306
60-0 MPH (ft.)
96
99
106
The Merc and Audi might feature bigger brakes, but their immense weight spread over a long wheelbase diminish their braking performance. Even the mighty Godzilla fails to match up to the 911's braking performance, despite the fact that it is a track-bred supercar-killer with excellent AWD.
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Fuel Economy
9.0/10
Obviously, fuel economy doesn't factor in purchasing high-performance cars to the likes of Porsche 911 Carrera. Nonetheless, having an above average economy is certainly better. The latest entry into the Porsche 911 Carrera delivers a 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on highways. Together, it delivers an impressive fuel economy of 23 mpg, which is far better than its contemporaries.
Model
Porsche 911 Carrera
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Audi TT RS
MPG (city)
20
16
19
MPG (highway)
29
21
29
MPG (combined)
23
18
22
While the Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT and Nissan GT-R deliver a combined fuel economy of 18 mpg, Audi TT RS max out on 17 mpg.
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Interior
8.5/10
"The 2020 Porsche 911 is supremely equipped for up to two people with exceptional materials and fit and finish." -The Car Connection
Seating and Comfort
The 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera ties with the Nissan GT-R in terms of passenger capacity, which is 4. Audi TT RS and Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT can accommodate only 2 persons. The Porsche 911 Carrera has a well-built and comfortable passenger volume of 70 ft. cube. This is much greater than the 50 ft. cube offered by R8. Nonetheless, Nissan GT-R and Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT offers more passenger volume of 79 and 86 ft. cube, respectively.
Model
Porsche 911 Carrera
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Audi TT RS
Passenger capacity
4
2
4
Passenger Volume (ft cube)
70.0
86.0
N/A
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
N/A
39.5/55.6/45.2
37.1/53.6/41.1
Rear(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
N/A
N/A
33.8/47.9/28.9
Infotainment System
The infotainment system integrated with the Porsche 911 Carrera is almost monochromatic and chic. It blends in effortlessly with other controls on the dashboard. While navigating the several available menus are easy, the display performance is somewhat snippy at times. The 2017 iteration of the Carrera introduced the simplified on-screen menu and on-screen shortcuts, which are now enhanced.
Cargo Capacity
Cargo capacity isn't much of a concern in sports cars. For Porsche 911 Carrera, it is merely 5.1 cube ft. This is less than the competition, where Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT has the most of 10.1 cube ft. Audi TT RS and Nissan GT-R offer a cargo volume of 8.0 and 8.8 cubes ft., respectively.
Model
Porsche 911 Carrera
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Audi TT RS
Volume (cube ft)
5.1
10.1
12.0
Interior Features
The interior of the Carrera is specifically designed to allow the passengers to enjoy the coupe's powerful performance. And with each iteration, it keeps on getting better and better. The inside of the 2020 avatar of the legendary sports car features:
Several new two-tone seat options, including Black and Chalk with Guards Red stitching
Greater customization with Porsche's Exclusive program
Enhanced interior air filter
A new page in the instrument digital readout, displaying cabin air circulation
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Exterior
7.0/10
"The 2020 Porsche 911’s performance is perfect, regardless of model." -The Car Connection
The Porsche 911 Carrera flaunts to have the lightest build, with a total curb weight of 3153 lbs. This is over 500 lbs. less than the Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT and even lesser than that of Audi TT RS and Nissan GT-R. Dimension-wise, Carrera has 177.1 inches, 71.2 inches and 50.9 inches of length, width and height, respectively. The length and width of Carrera are less than that of AMG-GT and GT-R but greater than that of the sleek Audi TT RS.
Model
Porsche 911 Carrera
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Audi TT RS
curb weight(lbs)
3153
3682
3306
Length(in)
177.1
179.0
165.0
Width(in)
71.2
76.3
72.1
Height(in)
50.9
49.6
52.9
Ground clearance(in)
4.3
4.9
4.3
Wheelbase(in)
96.5
103.5
98.6
Track width(in) F/R
60.7/59.8
66.1/65.0
61.6/60.8
Exterior Features
The Porsche 911 offers a great amount of variation in Carrera and Carrera S trims, however, the iconic shape remains the same. Enduring an entire half-century is something remarkable that the Carrera body styling has achieved. It is actually a mesh of coupe, convertible and Targa body styles. New to the exterior of the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera is:
A unique graphic on the side
Front lip spoiler and gray exterior mirror caps
20-inch wheels option
A new white hue, dubbed Chalk available for $3150
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Safety
8.3/10
Safety and reliability are of the essence to any sports car, to which the Porsche 911 Carrera is no exception. In addition to having 4-wheel ABS, the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera comes with 4-wheel disc brakes. Brakes assist and electronic stability control are also available in addition to the DRL (Daytime Running Lights).
Additionally, the racing coupe has auto-leveling headlights, blind-spot monitor and lane departure warning system as important safety measures.
Safety Features
Driver Front and Side Airbags
Passenger Front and Side Airbags
4-Wheel ABS
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Emergency Brake Assist
Electronic Stability Control
Daytime Running Lights
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
Traction Control
Blind Spot Monitor
Auto-Leveling Headlights
Lane Departure Warning
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Competition
Porsche 911 Carrera vs Audi TT RS
Audi TT RS is one of the economic racing car options, priced at $64,900. However, it is worth that money especially because of its powerful 2.5L FSI engine that delivers 540 hp of power and 398 lb.-ft. of torque. The 0-60 MPH acceleration time is also impressive at 3.5 seconds. Moreover, it makes a quarter-mile distance in just 10.9 seconds, best than any other racing coupe.
Porsche 911 Carrera vs Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT
Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT is capable to deliver 469 hp of solid power and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. All thanks to the Handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 bi-turbo engine. Acceleration time of 3.9 seconds from 0-60 MPH isn't impressive and CO2 emission value of 9.8 is not also good. However, it has a great ground clearance of 4.9 inches, about 0.6 inches more than that of the 911 Porsche Carrera.
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera Final Verdict
8.1/10
The 2020 Porsche Carrera remains largely unchanged. Unlike the Ferarri belief of redesign, Porsche believes in evolving their present lineup and perfecting their craft of automaking with each iteration. As the years have passed the 911 series has come a long way since its birth in 1963 and the 2020 911 sets the benchmark for sports cars. One of the lightest and most fuel-efficient cars the Porsche is a great option for both serious and casual petrolheads alike.