2019 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet Review

In Malaysia's supercar market, the 911 series has always been the "Dream Car" for many performance enthusiasts—it retains Porsche's classic sporty genes while offering daily practicality. This time, we test-drove the 2019 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, a version in the series that combines the fun of a convertible with the stability of all-wheel drive. Its core selling points are clear: a 3.0T twin-turbo engine delivering 450 horsepower, the enhanced handling brought by the all-wheel-drive system, and the sense of ceremony provided by the convertible design. In this review, we aim to evaluate whether it can truly meet the dual demands of supercar users in three scenarios: daily commuting, mountain road driving, and convertible experience.

Let’s start with the exterior. It continues the 911 family’s iconic frog-eye silhouette, with smooth yet muscular lines overall. At the front, the LED headlight group has a sharp design, and the internal light strip is highly recognizable when lit. The front bumper’s air intake is slightly larger than the standard version, complemented by a front lip design that optimizes aerodynamics and enhances the sporty feel. On the side, the combination of 20-inch front tires and 21-inch rear tires (front 245/35 ZR20, rear 305/30 ZR21) creates a more balanced side profile, while the "4S" badge on the fender highlights the all-wheel-drive identity. At the rear, the through-type LED taillights are a classic 911 design. The dual-exit exhausts, while not overly aggressive, produce a sound that’s well-layered. When the electric soft-top is retracted, the roofline remains smooth, without compromising the overall aesthetics, and the opening and closing process only takes 12 seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

Sitting inside, the interior strikes a good balance between luxury and technology. The center console adopts Porsche’s latest family design, with a 10.9-inch touchscreen at the visual center, which boasts excellent interface smoothness and responsiveness. Common functions like navigation and music can be operated quickly. In terms of materials, the seats and inner door panels are wrapped in genuine leather, offering a refined texture. The multifunction steering wheel feels solid to grip, and the driving mode selector (Normal, Sport, Sport Plus) on the left side is intuitive to operate, allowing for quick changes in driving style. In terms of features, dual-zone automatic air conditioning comes standard, while the front seats are electrically adjustable, with lumbar support and side bolsters tailor-adjustable to fit one’s body, ensuring long drives remain comfortable. In terms of space, while it has a 2-door 4-seat layout, the front row is very spacious, with sufficient head and legroom for passengers up to 180 cm tall. The rear seats are more suitable for placing backpacks or short trips with children, offering slightly better practicality compared to traditional two-door sports cars. The trunk has a capacity of 132 liters, capable of accommodating two carry-on suitcases, making it adequate for daily commutes or short trips.

In terms of dynamic performance, the 3.0T twin-turbo engine is the highlight. It delivers a maximum of 450 PS, with peak torque continuously available between 2,300-5,000 rpm, paired with an 8-speed DCT transmission. The official 0-100 km/h acceleration time is just 3.8 seconds. In actual driving, the power delivery in Normal mode feels linear, with smooth starts and low-speed driving, avoiding the "jerky feeling" often seen in supercars, making it suitable for daily commutes. Switching to Sport mode, the throttle response becomes noticeably quicker, and the transmission’s shift logic becomes more aggressive. A deep press on the accelerator triggers an instant burst of thrust, making overtaking extremely confident. With the all-wheel-drive system, its handling ceiling is significantly higher. On mountain roads and sharp turns, even when pushing the speed a bit, the rear wheels don’t easily slip, and the car maintains excellent stability. The steering is precise, with minimal dead zones, and provides clear feedback on road conditions, giving the driver great confidence. As for the chassis, the MacPherson front suspension is tuned on the firm side, but it absorbs bumps better than expected—when driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension quickly absorbs vibrations without excessive rebound, balancing sportiness with daily comfort.

In terms of the special test, the fuel consumption performance is average. During urban driving, the fuel consumption is approximately 12-14L/100km, and it can drop to 8-9L/100km on highways, which is normal for a 3.0T supercar. Noise control is quite good. When the convertible top is closed, wind and road noise at high speeds are not significant. Even with the top open, wind noise at speeds below 80km/h is within an acceptable range and does not affect communication with the passenger. The comfort of the seats is worth mentioning. The lateral support firmly secures the body during spirited driving, yet they do not feel too tight during daily driving, and they remain comfortable for long-distance trips.

To summarize, the 2019 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet has very clear advantages: first, the classic 911 design language, which balances sporty feel and recognizability; second, the combination of the 3.0T engine and the four-wheel-drive system, providing both smoothness for daily commuting and supercar-level performance; third, the sense of occasion brought by the convertible design, ideal for users who enjoy the driving atmosphere. Compared to its peers like the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster or the Audi R8 Spyder, its strengths lie in more balanced practicality and more mature reliability, and Porsche’s brand retains a higher resale value.

This car is best suited for those who want both supercar performance and a vehicle they can use daily, and occasionally take their family on short trips — for example, 30-45-year-old business owners or senior white-collar professionals. They have a certain level of economic strength, value lifestyle quality, and also care about practicality and the brand’s image. Overall, the 2019 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is a supercar with "no obvious shortcomings." It can let you enjoy driving fun on mountain roads while also accompanying you comfortably on urban commutes. It’s the perfect combination of performance and practicality.