2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Review + Video

The Porsche 911 has been around for more than 60 years, and when people talk about iconic sports cars, this is likely what they’re picturing.

Over eight generations, the 911 has mastered the art of evolution, and this new 992.2 refresh continues the trend with painstaking refinements to an already excellent sports car. The 911 has set the global benchmark for sports cars for decades and every generation has only gotten better, even though it seems to be deviating further from what the traditionalists say they want.

As manual transmissions become obsolete and electrification becomes more necessary, the future might appear bleak for driving enthusiasts. But rest assured — the dedicated masterminds at Porsche are working hard to ensure the passion persists. 

Styling: 10/10

Unwilling to change the silhouette of its legendary sports car for good reason, the 911 remains one of the most immediately recognizable cars in the world, even with the top down. It remains a pretty yet tactical design. Only Porsche nerds can spot the minutiae of changes between generations and refreshes — which are usually implemented to improve aerodynamics and performance — but this update brings some more fun into the look. Drivers can now personalize their 911 even further with body-coloured inlays on the rear lid and inside the cabin, adding a dash of colour that helps the interior feel even more special and less serious.

Power: 10/10

The base 911 is powered by an updated 3.0L twin-turbocharged flat six-cylinder that now outputs 388 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, both increases over the previous model. It also gets a new intercooler borrowed from the previous-generation 911 Turbo, and turbochargers from the previous-gen GTS.

A flawless eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sends torque to the rear wheels. With this 992.2 generation, the base 911 is no longer available with all-wheel drive or a manual transmission (you’ll need to upgrade to the GTS for four-wheel traction). I’m not too fussed about the lack of all-wheel drive because of the added weight and complexity, but the omission of a manual transmission in the base models stings a bit. The only way to get a manual now is with the 911 Carrera T, which is about $15,000 more than the base model, or the almost unattainable GT3, squeezing the traditional enthusiast out of the entry-level.

Driving Feel: 10/10

Porsche’s engagement, refinement, precision, and balance are cornerstones of what makes its cars so great. The previous 911 had already set such a high benchmark for sports cars, and somehow Porsche managed to improve on something that many already considered perfect, so the 992.2 version is even more focused and precise than it used to be. All the minor improvements and enhancements add up to make a meaningful impact, making the already excellent driving dynamics for this rear-engined sports car even more outstanding. 

The steering is a highlight; it’s incredibly accurate, quick, and perfectly weighted. The brakes are strong without being grabby, and the action is smooth, linear, and predictable. The chassis is balanced, the transmission is flawlessly intuitive, the power delivery is immaculate, and the safety systems don’t intervene unless they’re absolutely needed. The 911 makes any driver, regardless of skill level, feel like a pro who’s always in total control. It’s forgiving without being coddling, fast without feeling dangerous, composed and predictable without being boring, and comfortable for daily driving without feeling compromised. 

Features: 8/10

This is the first time in a 911 that a fully digital and customizable information display has replaced the central analogue tachometer. The ignition crank has also been replaced by a push-button start but remains to the left of the steering wheel. Traditionalists won’t like that these 911 features have been sidelined, but there’s still an analogue clock and stopwatch atop the dashboard (with the Sport Chrono package).

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now both wireless, but iPhone users will find the experience better because they get more functionality and better integration with the rest of the infotainment system. A wireless fast charger is now located under the armrest and has cooling so the phone doesn’t overheat and can charge more optimally. 

Comfort access is now standard, and drivers can unlock the car by proximity without the need to reach for their fobs, and other standard highlights include interior ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, an integrated garage door opener, and USB-C fast-charging ports. 

Porsche offers a blinding selection of add-ons and packages and isn’t shy about charging handsomely for them, allowing drivers to add pretty much any feature they please to their 911 if they have the desire and means. I wish more features were included as standard, especially on the safety side, but the 911’s focus is driving enjoyment, meaning sacrifices had to be made.

Safety: 8/10

Standard safety highlights include front and rear parking sensors, lane-keep assist with active steering assist, forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, emergency call systems, and driver awareness detection. Other features like adaptive cruise control, surround-view parking cameras, automatic parking assistants, night vision cameras, and blind-spot monitoring are included in optional packages.

Practicality: 7/10

All 911 Carreras are now two-seaters as standard, with a pair of rear seats available as a no-cost option. Cabriolets come with the 2+2 setup, but the rear seats will be a tight fit, even for children.

Seeing that no one is buying a sports car — especially a convertible — for its practicality, the 911 is just fine, and its deep 135-L frunk can handle a weekend away for two or a decently sized grocery haul, especially if you use the rear seats for cargo. A single, European-sized cup holder takes up a lot of space on the centre console and is too small for most reusable water bottles, the door pockets are pretty useless, and small-item storage doesn’t really exist. The storage compartment under the armrest is now occupied by the wireless phone charger, so there’s even less cabin storage than before.

Comfort: 8/10

Occupants have plenty of head- and legroom, and the seats are comfortable for long trips and supportive during more entertaining drives. I appreciate the now-standard comfort access that sees the driver’s seat slide back and the steering wheel retract automatically when the 911 is turned off, so exiting and entering the low-slung sports car looks more graceful and feels more comfortable.

Audio can still be heard clearly even with the top down, and outside noise is minimal with the top up. The soft top can be opened or closed while in motion so you don’t have to pull over in a panic if it starts raining, but you do have to hold the button down until the roof is done doing its dance.

I wish seat ventilation was offered as standard in the Cabriolet, making it even more comfortable for summertime cruising, and other droptop makers like Mercedes-Benz offer neck heating so drivers can keep the top down even when it’s a bit chilly outside.

User-Friendliness: 8/10

Some of the menus in Porsche’s infotainment system could be simplified, but the interface is easy enough to get used to with a customizable shortcut dock that’s always visible, a home button, clearly labelled physical buttons and toggles, and minimal touch-capacitive controls. The drive mode selector is located on the steering wheel for easy access. 

Fuel Economy: 7/10

The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet’s fuel economy is rated at 13.1 L/100 km in the city, 9.4 on the highway, and 11.3 combined. After about 300 km of mixed but enthusiastic testing in the dead of winter, the indicated average was 14.0 L/100 km. Porsche recommends 93-octane fuel, but 91 is also accepted as a minimum. 

Value: 7.5/10

With most luxury purchases, typical considerations would be brand cachet, design, and build/material quality. But timelessness should also be regarded as another vital component in the luxury value equation. Judging from past generations of the 911, most (if not all) have stood the test of time, so it’s safe to assume today’s 992.2 model will follow a similar path. The 911 looks awesome and drives divinely now, and it will probably continue to do so two decades or more into the future. The 911 will never go out of style, and that’s worth the price of admission, but the brilliant engineering, lustrous history, and meticulous build quality also make it easier to understand Porsche’s hefty prices. 

The most affordable 911 Carrera starts at $135,600 before the $2,950 destination fee, any options, or taxes. The Cabriolet starts at $150,000. The issue with Porsche is that its expensive options add up quickly and, with nearly $36,000 in options, the as-tested price for the car tested here ballooned to $188,860 before taxes. There are plenty of vehicles you can buy for that sum, some of which are sexier and more exciting, but none are as iconic as the 911.

The Verdict 

The Porsche 911 shines as a balanced and entertaining sports car that’s reasonable to drive everyday, an icon of automotive design, and an unwavering constant in the never-ending pursuit of perfection. It’s almost annoying how Porsche never misses. It wears its icon status with pride, and the 911 embodies the concept of refined excellence better than virtually any other vehicle out there.

The 911 is changing with the times, but the fact that it’s so good more than 60 years into its life means it has outlasted so many others with the grace and precision that it has become so well-known for. While purists might not love changing traditions, the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera makes an excellent case for moving forward because it does it so flawlessly.