Don't Overlook the Porsche 911 Carrera S: Review

The Carrera S does not grab headlines like the other members of the Porsche 911 family. The Carrera T is the enthusiast’s choice now, with its standard manual transmission; the hybrid GTS and Turbo S are the technology leaders, the bleeding edge of sports cars; the GT3 and GT3 RS are the ones that everyone wants. 

By contrast, the Carrera S is the bread and butter 911, the one dealers will stock in inoffensive colors for people who simply want a cool daily driver. 

But, don’t overlook the Carrera S. It might seem like the "boring" 911, yet the reality is anything but.

Porsche facelifted the 911 Carrera S earlier this year, though it’s not radically different from its predecessor. The 992.2 C2S uses the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six that’s powered 911 Carrera models for 10 years now. It gets some hardware tweaks from the old GTS to boost power while also meeting increasingly strict Euro 7 emission standards. Now, you get 473 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque.

The 911’s new hybrid flat-sixes have moved the game on in a huge way, but this engine is still remarkable. Porsche did a lot to make sure throttle response was as sharp as a naturally aspirated engine, and for this new application, emphasized top-end power. This thing explodes from 6,000 RPM up to the 7,500-RPM redline. You can catch the turbos sleeping once in a while, but the PDK gearbox makes it so easy to keep the engine in its sweet spot.

Pros: Powerful Engine, Excellent Handling, Daily Usability

It shouldn’t leave you wanting for any performance. You might think you need a quicker car, but believe me, you don’t. Consider that this Carrera S has just 17 fewer hp than a 911 GT3, more torque over a broader rev range, and a curb weight only 146 pounds heavier. On a track, of course, the GT3 will win every time. But out on a twisty road, the Carrera S should keep up without much trouble. 

But this is so much more than a great engine. What really sets this car apart is the tactility. 

Even as Porsche has inched the flat-six towards the middle and added more advanced electronics to this car, it still feels like a 911. You can’t escape rear-engine dynamics, and this is a car that feels alive in the hands and feet, while also being superbly competent. This one had the optional PASM Sport adaptive dampers and 10.0-millimeter ride-height drop, which helps give this car impressive body control at the expense of a firm ride.

The chassis balance and the feel you get through all your contact points with the car give you so much confidence. And it’s the rare modern performance car that feels great even if you’re not hell for leather. The limits are high, yes, but it’s still fun well below them.

Cons: Sport Suspension Is Stiff, No Manual Option, Expensive

This car also may have one of the nicest-feeling brake pedals of any on sale today. Through the pedal, you can feel exactly when the pad meets the disc, and just how hard one grips the other when you get deeper into it. 

For all this sports car-ness, the Carrera S is still a very nice daily driver, which is what Porsche wants it to be. Personally, I’d skip the Sport suspension, because where I live, it’s quite firm, and I just like a softer setup regardless.

But, other than that, this is a car that’s perfectly suited to everyday use. The engine is quiet when you want it to be, PDK shuffles through the eight forward ratios smoothly, the visibility is great, and, as so many cars delete buttons, the 911 has tons of great-feeling physical controls. Plus, the infotainment system is perfectly straightforward.

Photos by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

There’s an interesting debate with sports cars, putting specialness vs usability on a sort of spectrum. I don’t think it’s a simple binary, but often, you do give up a bit of one for the other. The Carrera S has the right amount of both.

This is an easy car to use, but it doesn’t feel ordinary. There are always little hints of its 911-ness.

And that usability doesn’t just pay dividends on the day-to-day; it also encourages you to use the car more for special occasions. An early fall drive, trying to find the changing leaves outside New York City, for example. 

My only real issue with the Carrera S—other than the Sport suspension—is the price. Even before tariffs, Porsche cars were getting very pricey, and now with tariffs, they’re crazy. This 2025 Carrera S starts at $153,695, and as tested, this one is $178,825. A 911 has never been a cheap car, but this is a huge sum for one of the more “ordinary” models. 

For my money, I’d be very tempted to go for a base Carrera, or perhaps a Carrera T to get a manual. The extra speed of the S is probably surplus to requirements, and you’re getting something similar in character. 

But, the price doesn’t change the fact that this is such a wonderfully complete car. I’m sure plenty of folks will happily pay the price for a Carrera S, and they’ll be thrilled with the car. I’d be, too.

Competitors

• Aston Martin Vantage
• Chevrolet Corvette
• Mercedes-AMG GT

Gallery: 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S Review