The Car Guide’s 2020 Best Buys: Porsche 911
Every year, The Car Guide publishes its Best Buys in nearly 30 different vehicle categories. Today we finish our review of the 2020 winners with a look at luxury sports cars, the segment with the highest top scores.
Completely revised and improved, the next-generation Porsche 911 (MSRP from $113,000) takes the crown this year. It benefits from new technologies and more powerful engines, but its exterior design still pays tribute to the original 911 of 1963.
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The Carrera and Carrera 4 variants boast a twin-turbo, 3.0-litre flat six that develops 379 horsepower, while the same engine produces 443 ponies in the Carrera S and 4S. Purists will love having a seven-speed manual gearbox to choose from, while others will be more than satisfied with the available eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Beyond the numbers, the new Porsche 911 is a brilliantly designed model that is equally at ease on the road and on the track. It’s a true sports car that can be used year round, especially the four-wheel-drive variant.
Last year’s champ slides in second place. We’re talking about the duo comprised of the Porsche 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster (MSRP from $64,400 and $66,800, respectively). Just like their more renowned sibling, these two cars offer many configurations and trim levels, with power ranging from 295-414 horsepower. They also show splendid road manners and impeccable build quality.
As for third place in the luxury sports car segment, we picked the BMW M2 (MSRP from $72,000). This small Bavarian coupe is already super-explosive in base Competition trim, generating 405 horsepower. But wait until you try the new, limited-edition M2 CS with 444 ponies, which cuts 0-100 km/h acceleration times down to four seconds flat. Handling is marvelous thanks to the adaptive M suspension, among other things.
The Car Guide’s 2020 Scores
- Porsche 911 – 87%
- Porsche 718 – 86%
- BMW M2 – 84%
