2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

If you’ve been following the news, and who hasn’t, you know that experts say one of the best ways to stay healthy these days is to get lots of sunshine. So, consider this road test of the Porsche 911 Cabriolet your recommended daily dose of go-fast therapy. 

Top down summertime cruisin’ in this 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is about as good as it gets around here. And the 992-generation of 911 checks all of the right boxes, as while it has matured into almost a GT-type car; it still boasts more performance than ever.   

The folding top is made out of insulated cloth; and thanks to a new “panel bow” design, it is able to perfectly mirror the Coupe’s smooth lines, without any of its magnesium structure visible through the fabric. It’s also lighter, features a heated flush-mounted glass rear window, and folds in just 12-seconds.  

The quicker one touch operation is equally smooth and near silent, and an integrated wind deflector keeps the interior quiet enough to have a soft conversation with your travel mate.

Standard Carrera S wheels now come in staggered formation; 20’s in front with 245/35 tires, 21s in the rear with 305/30s. 

Structural reinforcements are in place, as part of the assembly necessary for deploying the rollover safety bars; though it feels like there’s quite a bit of support in the doors as well, as they are quite heavy.

Porsche seems to have thought of everything, as even the automatically deploying rear spoiler, rises to different heights and angles depending on whether the top is up or down.  

All Carreras feature a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-6 over the rear axles, base models with a 379-horsepower output. But, in S versions that engine gets upgraded both internally and externally, to breathe freer and crank out 443-horsepower along with 390 lb-ft. of torque. And the 4 in our Carrera 4S, refers to optional all-wheel-drive. 

Finally, as in the Coupe, the dual-clutch PDK, is now working with 8-gears, though a 7-speed manual is still available as a no cost option.

Both the 911 Coupe and Cabriolet are all-new for ’20, but the interior seems very familiar, as things are pretty consistent throughout the Porsche lineup these days. And that’s a good thing as we mostly love the horizontal design, rising center console, flush-mounted touch screen, clear gauges with a mix of digital and analog, and the fact that despite having lots of true switchgear, nothing seems cluttered.

And we’ve even gotten used to the things that we didn’t love initially; like the toy-like shifter.

The front trunk seems more spacious than its 4.7 cubic-ft. measurement would indicate; and for additional storage, the rear seats remain more practical for packages than people. 

Whether driving hard into corners, or sawing your way through a slalom course, you feel the g’s build quickly, and are expecting the body roll that usually accompanies them; but this Cabrio remains unflustered by such things, staying flat as the proverbial pancake. That’s mostly due to Porsche’s PASM Sport suspension being available on the Cabriolet for the first time. 

Now, steering is not quite as communicative as it could be, but still very direct; aided here by our test car’s optional rear-axle steering setup. 

The overall sense of balance throughout, was quite impressive; with nothing here in our short handling course that was anything close to a challenge for this car.  

So, while it truly embraces being pushed hard, this 4S doesn’t need to be flogged to be enjoyed; tooling along at parade speeds is equally gratifying. It remains a weighty feeling car, sliding more—and-more towards the Panamera in overall feel, than the nimbler Cayman.

Porsche’s Launch Control works so well, they assume you’ll want to use it every time you want to make a quick getaway. And why not, it enables brutally hard takeoffs, banging through the gears at precisely the right time, time after time. 

And, don’t think the electronics take all of the fun out of it either, because they don’t; grins arrive quicker than the 3.4-seconds it takes to get to 60 miles-per-hour. That’s with the optional Sport Chrono package of course, which quickens both throttle response and shift times.  

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 18-City, 23-Highway, and 20-Combined. We averaged a fine 21.2 MPG on Premium. That still rates a slightly worse than average Energy Impact Score of 16.5-barrels of yearly oil use with 7.4-tons of CO2 emissions. 

Pricing starts at $134,750, but never has the axiom “you get what you pay for” rang truer. Frugal minded can still opt for a base Carrera Cabriolet for $111,550.

Convertibles are not for everyone.  Some may find them ostentatious, and some might not like the wind in their hair…if they have any. But, it is hard to see why anyone would find serious fault with the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet.  It’s beautiful to look at, and even more beautiful to drive.