Overview
With up to 640 horsepower, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S are the company’s latest salvo in the horsepower wars. High-output sports cars such as the 577-hp Mercedes-AMG GT R, the 602-hp Audi R8, and the 631-hp Lamborghini Huracán Evo are all rivals to both 911 Turbos, but none of them come with the same heritage and storied history. With coupe and cabriolet body styles, they offer similar standard and optional equipment as lesser 911 models but are powered by a more powerful twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter flat-six engine located—where else?—in the rear. While the 2021 911 Turbos are very expensive, their incredible performance and divine driving nature are worthy of our Editors’ Choice list.
What’s New for 2021?
Based on the new-for-2020 992-generation Porsche 911, the 2021 911 Turbo and Turbo S models are all new.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
To unlock the entirety of the 3.7-liter six-cylinder’s 640 horsepower, you’ll need to spring for the Turbo S model. While the drop-top cabriolet version is enticing, we’d take the coupe for its purity of purpose. In addition to its tremendous power and standard performance upgrades, every Turbo S comes with 18-way adjustable sport seats, 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bose surround-sound stereo, carbon-fiber interior trim, and Porsche’s Sport Chrono package.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Hanging out in the rear of both the Turbo and Turbo S is a twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter flat-six engine that makes up to 640 horsepower in the more powerful of the two variants; the regular Turbo model makes 572 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard and shifts are handled by an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Porsche claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 2.6 seconds for the Turbo S, but at our test track it blasted to 60 in just 2.2 seconds. Aside from the explosive acceleration, the 911 Turbo exhibits insane levels of cornering grip and strong brakes to boot, making it a true performance powerhouse. The cabriolet variants are slightly heavier than the coupe, but the drop-top Turbo S we drove proved equally thrilling.
Jessica Lynn WalkerCar and Driver
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Regardless of body style or engine output, the 2021 911 Turbo and Turbo S are both rated at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. We tested a Turbo coupe on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, and it earned 27 mpg on the highway. For more information about the 911 Turbo’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
As with all 911 models, the Turbo and Turbo S are technically four-seaters, although the rear seats aren’t usable by adults. The cabin mirrors that of the entry-level 911 Carrera models but with racier trim, more expensive options, and plenty of standard technology features such as a reconfigurable digital gauge display. The 911 comes with a front trunk which holds two carry-on suitcases and the rear-seat backs fold forward to create a large flat cargo area in the coupe model; in our testing, we were able to fit six carry-on cases behind the front seats.
Jessica Lynn WalkerCar and Driver
Infotainment and Connectivity
In addition to digital gauges in front of the driver, the 911 Turbo and Turbo S come standard with the same large touchscreen infotainment system as lesser 911s, complete with Porsche’s intuitive software interface. A premium audio system from Bose is standard, and a Burmester stereo is optional, too, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay capability; Android Auto has so far been omitted from the features list for all of Porsche’s models.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 911 Turbo can be ordered with several high-tech driver-assistance features including adaptive cruise control and night vision. For more information about the 911 Turbo’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Porsche’s warranty coverage is pretty standard for the segment, and the first maintenance visit is covered free of charge. However, rivals such as the Jaguar F-Type SVR offer far more value by covering maintenance for up to five years.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 10,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S
VEHICLE TYPE
rear-engine, all-wheel-drive, 2+2-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE AS TESTED
$216,050 (base price: $204,850)
ENGINE TYPE twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve flat-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injectionDisplacement
229 in3, 3746 cm3Power 640 hp @ 6750 rpmTorque
590 lb-ft @ 2400 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink Brakes (F/R): 16.5-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic disc/15.4-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4, F: 255/35ZR-20 (93Y) NA1 R: 315/30ZR-21 (105Y) NA1
DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 96.5 in Length: 178.5 in Width: 74.8 in Height: 50.9 in
Passenger volume: 74 ft3
Cargo volume: 5 ft3
Curb weight: 3646 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 2.2 sec 100 mph: 5.3 sec 130 mph: 8.9 sec 150 mph: 12.5 sec 180 mph: 21.4 sec Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 3.7 sec Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.0 sec Top gear, 50–70 mph: 2.4 sec 1/4 mile: 10.1 sec @ 137 mph Top speed (drag limited): 205 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 139 ft Braking, 100–0 mph: 284 ft Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 1.10 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 17/15/20 mpg
Keyword: 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Review, Pricing, and Specs