The Porsche 911 is arguably the most iconic sports car of all time. But even the most recognizable sports car in the world has to keep up with the most recent trends. So when it came time to give the 992 generation a mid-cycle update, Porsche decided to take the hybrid route.
Performance
Engine – The big news for the 992.2 generation Porsche 911 is that it is now available with a hybrid powertrain. Sadly, the so-called T-Hybrid engine is only available on the 911 GTS and it’s not a typical hybrid system. It cannot be driven just on electricity and instead it uses an electric motor in the transmission and one on the turbocharger to provide better response, better fuel economy and more power. The 2025 911 GTS produces 532 hp and 449 lb-ft of torque (397 kW & 609 Nm).
But the 2025 Porsche 911 that I was able to test drive, from Porsche Centre Richmond, was the standard 911 Carrera. This one also received a slight powertrain update over the 992.1 generation. The 3.0L flat-6 engine now uses the same twin-turbochargers as the 992.1 GTS had. Power output has been increased to 388 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque (289 kW & 449 Nm). With the optional sport chrono package, the 911 Carrera can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in a Porsche claimed 3.9 seconds.
This engine is responsive and has plenty of low-end grunt thanks to those turbochargers. It pulls hard to the redline with no sensation of slowing down in its acceleration. Should you want a burst of acceleration when wanting to overtake another vehicle, simply press on the little red button on the steering wheel and the transmission will downshift to the lowest possible gear, the car is set to its sportiest settings, and the engine delivers maximum power for 20 seconds. For those that are just entering the 911 family or have never experienced a Porsche 911 before, this standard Carrera provides more than enough power to keep things fun and also to get you into trouble if you’re not careful. There’s also the Carrera S should you want more power or there’s always the 911 Turbo if you really want to scare yourself.
Fuel Economy – As is to be expected, fuel economy is not exactly that of a Toyota Prius, or even a Supra, but it’s not too bad. The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera is rated for 12.9 L/100km (18.2 MPG) in a city and 9.2 L/100km (25.5 MPG) on a highway. I didn’t get to drive the 911 over a week as I usually do with the other cars I review but I still managed to drive it for about 240 km. It involved mostly city with about ⅓ being highway driving and I averaged 12.1 L/100km (19.2 MPG).
Transmission – Another change for the 2025 Porsche 911 is that the manual transmission is only available on the 911 Carrera T, and also the GT3. But this standard Carrera, the Carrera S and the GTS are only available with an 8-speed PDK transmission. Porsche’s dual-clutch PDK is the golden standard of high performance transmissions. Not only is this transmission smooth to change gears and set off from a stop, but it is lightning quick to react. In fact, if you just plant your foot on the throttle pedal, this transmission will skip from 8th to 4th gear, for example, in what feels like the same time it takes for you to blink your eyes once. On top of that, the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters are also enjoyable and responsive to use.
Braking – With more power, the 2025 Porsche 911 receives more powerful brakes to help it slow down. 6-piston front calipers are now standard along with 4-piston rear calipers and 350 mm discs on all four corners. Very little braking force from the brake pedal is required to bring the car to a stop in everyday traffic. The brakes have a good initial bite and the brake pedal can be actuated just enough to provide smooth stops. Under harder braking situations, the car stays planted and stops without any fuss.
Handling – The Porsche 911 has always been known as the driver’s car for the way it drove around corners. The current generation Porsche 911 may be heavier than before with a curb weight of 1,516 kg (3,342 lbs), but its wider stance and clever suspension make it feel like it’s on rails. Even with its RWD powertrain, the 911 Carrera has loads of grip.
The steering is perfect. It has a hefty weight that translates the road surface to your fingertips. However, I did notice the steering get a little bit lighter under full throttle acceleration from a stop as the weight transfer shifted to the back. But it quickly firmed up again under braking and through corners.
If you will find yourself driving the 911 Carrera mostly on city streets, Porsche offers power steering plus which provides a lighter feel at slower speeds for easier maneuverability. There’s also a front axle lift which raises the nose of the Porsche 911 by 40mm to prevent it from scraping a speed bump or steeply angled driveway. This system also uses the navigation system to remember frequently visited areas or pre-programmed areas and automatically lift without any driver intervention.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – This being a sports car, the ride is firm. However, it is not so firm that it rattles your teeth and makes your vision blurry. It feels as though the suspension rounds off the edges of a pothole or manhole cover so that it’s not a straight edge. Of course, bigger potholes should be avoided. The optional 20” front and 21” rear wheels are not cheap to replace.
Interior Space – The cabin of the 2025 Porsche 911 is spacious for taller individuals. At 6’4”, I had zero issues with legroom and headroom in the driver’s seat. The visibility around the car is good and I loved seeing the lovely curved wheel arches in the side exterior mirrors. Getting in and out of the car may be more of a hassle for certain individuals as the car and the seating position is low to the ground.
For this 2025 model year, the back seats are an optional feature. The car doesn’t come equipped with them but at a cost of $0, Porsche will add them back in. Unlike in other sports cars, the back seats hold you tight in them thanks to the contoured bottom cushion but space is very, very tight. There’s virtually no legroom and headroom is basically up to the rear window.
In the frunk, the 2025 Porsche 911 has 135 L (4.7 cu-ft) of cargo space which is enough for a small carry-on bag and a backpack. You can also fold down the backrest of the rear seats and have 261 L (9.2 cu-ft) of extra space.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The cabin of the 2025 911 Carrera is quite loud on highways. Most of the noise comes from the tires. Thankfully, the noise can be drowned out by the stereo system or the engine. This demo car had the optional sports exhaust system which can be louder with the flick of a toggle switch. But from the outside, the engine still sounds a bit like a muffled vacuum cleaner. From the inside though, it sounds a lot better and I think this may be due to a bit of enhancement from the audio system.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera is the most expensive it has ever been. It starts at $143,600 CAD ($127,700 USD) and the price will easily reach the $200,000 CAD mark with the amount of options that are available for this sports car. This demo car didn’t have too many options on it but it still carried a price tag of $171,690 CAD ($162,200 USD), and this is before fees, taxes, and any possible dealership markups.
Gadgets – The Porsche 911 remains as one of the most customizable cars on sale today. There are not only a lot of different convenience features but also many different styling options. From the sport design front bumper to having the Porsche crest on the center console to the nearly limitless paint options, it’ll be a tough time for you to find another 911 that is specified the exact same way as yours.
Some of these convenience features include heated & ventilated front seats, power sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, surround view cameras, power 18-way driver and passenger seats, Burmester surround sound system, HD Matrix LED headlights and even a night vision system among other features.
The infotainment system is displayed on a 10.9” touchscreen with crisp graphics and a fast response time. The different icons are arranged almost like a smartphone with commonly used functions being on the left side while the home button displays all other functions and apps. The system supports wireless CarPlay & wireless Android Auto along with apps such as YouTube.
Interior Design – The fit and finish of the 2025 Porsche 911’s cabin is good apart from the gloss black that surrounds the center console controls. That material will easily attract and highlight fingerprints, dust and scratches. Being a Porsche, you can choose from a few different materials to line the seats and dashboard.
Changing a setting is quick and simple thanks to the physical toggle switches and knobs. But there are just a few capacitive touch controls on the top-most portion of the center console. These are generally for less commonly used items such as the front defroster. One big change for this 992.2 generation 911 is the fully digital driver display. The analog tachometer is gone but the screen can display a few different versions of a tachometer including one where the redline is at the top. Another change is the push button start that is situated on the left side of the steering column. I also really like the cup holder that extends from the dashboard on the passenger side.
Exterior Design – The changes to the exterior styling are subtle. There are the new Matrix headlights with a new four point DRL. The marker lights underneath the headlights are gone. The taillight bar has been supposedly tweaked but I can’t tell the difference. And there are new wheel designs to choose from. Otherwise, the 2025 Porsche 911 still remains as one of the most iconic sports cars of all time with its swooping roofline and big hips that you can see every time you look in one of the side mirrors.
Safety – The Porsche 911 comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver and safety aids as standard. The only optional features are lane change assist, surround view cameras with active parking support, and adaptive cruise control.
Warranty – The 2025 Porsche 911 is covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty which is the same as most other luxury vehicles. In the United States, it is 4 years / 50,000 miles. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on U.S.A. warranty, click here.
Conclusion – The Porsche 911 remains as the best sports car that money can buy. But it is a lot of money that you’ll be paying for it.
Thank you to Porsche Centre Richmond for providing the car. www.PorscheCentreRichmond.ca
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Gallery
