Review of the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet has been a car that everyone's dreamt about at some point. Known for its iconic design and superb performance, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet appeals to those who want an open-top driving experience. 

Rivals to the 911 Carrera Cabriolet include the Ford Mustang Convertible, Jaguar F-Type Convertible, and BMW 8 Series Convertible. 

Our Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet review covers:

• Soft-top convertible roof that looks amazing 
• Luxury interior with plenty of premium features 
• 132-litre front boot 
• One 3.0-litre flat-six petrol engine with varying power outputs 
• Six trim levels 

Pros:

• Fast out of the block 
• Superb on-the-road performance 
• Luxury interior 

Cons:

• Not as quick as the Coupe 
• Expensive 
• Ride quality can be firm 

The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet is one of the most recognisable cars in the world. Currently part of the 992 generation model, its exterior includes a retractable soft-top roof, wide rear fenders, and Porsche's iconic 911 front end. 

The 911 Carrera Cabriolet can hold up to four people, but only realistically two adults. In the front, you'll find plenty of leg and headroom for two adults (even with the roof up), and the centre console keeps you from rubbing shoulders. In the rear, legroom is pretty tight, and the seats aren't that comfortable, so try your best to be in the front on a long journey. 

The soft-top roof also only takes 12 seconds to fold up or down and can be used at speeds up to 30mph. 

Because the engine and roof are stored at the back, the only boot space you get in the 911 Carrera Cabriolet is under the bonnet. Here, you'll find 132 litres of space, good enough for a couple of small bags. 

It's a tough task to find something in the cabin of the 911 Carrera Cabriolet that isn't high quality. All the buttons on the dashboard are well-damped, and any other contact points are made from metal or covered in leather. 

On the dash, you'll find a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that displays sharp graphics and responds quickly. It comes standard with a DAB radio, an eight-speaker stereo, sat-nav, and smartphone mirroring. 

Behind the wheel, you get a traditional analogue rev counter flanked by two seven-inch screens displaying all your relevant information, such as speed, time, driving mode, and fuel. 

Six trim levels are available for the 911 Carrera Cabriolet: 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 4, S, 4S, GTS, and 4GTS. 

911 Carrera Cabriolet has 19/20-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, an auto-deploying rear spoiler, two-zone automatic climate control, four-way sports seats, a smooth-finish leather multifunction steering wheel, keyless drive, front and rear park assist, and cruise control. 

4 is pretty much the same but with four-wheel drive. 

S has 20/21-inch alloy wheels and a 450PS engine. 4S adds to this with four-wheel drive. 

GTS has black alloy wheels, four-way electric sports seats, a lowered sports suspension, interior LED lighting, an interior black pack, and a more powerful 480PS engine. 

4GTS adds to GTS with four-wheel drive. 

In the back of the 911 Carrera Cabriolet, you get a flat-six petrol engine that comes with various power outputs. Depending on the variant, you get rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and an eight-speed dual-clutch or a nine-speed manual transmission. 

The engines are the same as the 911 Carrera Coupe, but performance slightly drops because the Cabriolet is 70kg heavier. 

The entry-level engine will be good enough for most and is our top pick because it's significantly cheaper than the others. It's available in rear and all-wheel drive and returns good performance, coming with 380bhp, achieving 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds, and topping out at 181mph. 

Upgrade to S or 4S, and you get a 444bhp unit that does 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, while the range-topping GTS and 4GTS have 473bhp and achieve 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds. 

If you can, go for the dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which is a pleasure to drive with and is much better than the traditional automatic found in the F-Type Convertible. 

The 911 Carrera Convertible belongs on a country road with the wind blowing through your hair. Body lean is non-existent, while the steering is weighted to perfection to ensure you can push the car to its limit and still feel in control. 

Both the all-wheel and rear-wheel drive versions are good, but the former is slightly more engaging and provides that bit more excitement. 

If you find yourself on a bumpy road, the 911 Carrera Convertible deals with it well. As long as you avoid 'Sport' mode, the car keeps you flat and stable where many rivals wouldn't. Obviously, it's no off-roader, but it deals with the basics well. 

Prices for the new Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet start from £109,800.00 OTR* or to lease from Price On Request per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.