One of the most popular sports cars on the market, the Porsche 911 has timeless, distinctive styling and dynamic performance as a calling card. The 2020 model builds on that reputation with innovative improvements that remind Porsche fans that the automaker remembers its commitment to them. The 911 is offered as both a coupe and convertible (Cabriolet).

With the base car starting at six figures, many find the interior to be a bit dull. That being the case, is the 2020 Porsche 911 still worth the high sticker price?

The least expensive new Porsche 911

Car and Driver says the 2020 Porsche 911 is the least expensive new Porsche 911 you’ll ever see. The base car starts at $106,290 and only has $7,540 as far as options, which Porsche fans will tell you aren’t a lot.  

The base car offers just four add-ons. It has a Sport Exhaust system valued at $2,950 along with the Sport Chrono package with launch control that’s valued at $2,720. Porsche’s version of blind-spot monitoring, they call it Lane Change Assist, is available at $1,060. Finally, there is the Sport Seats Plus option valued at $810.

But does the base 911 live up to those six figures?

The Porsche 911’s bland interior

The interior of the base Porsche 911 is pretty basic. The interior is grainy black, and the Car and Driver team found it pretty monotonous. The only thing that breaks up all that black is the gray trim that runs along the door from the handle to the dash and under the center screen.

The materials are soft-touch, and there are leather upgrade options that start at $2,840. The team points to the big area of black trim around the shifter that even the top-shelf Turbo S models don’t fix. In the four-door Panamera, there would be controls in that space. The window-switch area is blank too because Porsche is now sharing hardware across lines with varying door counts.

While the team misses the layering of mechanical gauges that used to flank it, the big, appealing tachometer is still center stage of the 911’s digital gauge cluster. The same small back seats are still there so those who want to spend that kind of coin on a kick-ass car and have little kids can feel good about their purchase.

It’s worth the price

According to Car and Driver, the base Porsche Carrera has a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six-cylinder engine that gets 379 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. That goes up to 443 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque for the S models. The eight-speed automatic transmission is fast shifting on all models. The S and 4S models also offer a seven-speed manual transmission. All models are rear-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive. 

Maximizing its assets, the 911’s performance is efficient thanks to keeping its weight in check. It weighs 57 pounds more than previous versions and yet is almost 300 pounds lighter than the latest Chevy Corvette. The 911 has added inches and turbos according to the Car and Driver team but doesn’t weigh 100 pounds more than the 997-generation models from 2005.

No matter which model you select, you’ll be pleased with the 911’s dynamic acceleration, particularly when using good launch control. The entire experience is boosted by the optional Sport Exhaust system for a fuller engine note. The steering is accurate and responsive. There’s better grip and stability when cornering.

The ride quality is smooth and as comfortable as the interior, even with the car’s enhanced body control. You can switch from a fast sprint to a relaxing cruise quickly and easily.

The ride can get choppy over uneven or rough roads, especially with the slimmer sidewall and higher-pressure rear tires. The new 911 has a staggered-diameter wheel setup with 19-inch wheels up front and 20-inch wheels in the back standard. You can also get a 20/21s arrangement.

Is the dynamic performance of the 2020 Porsche 911 enough to justify a six-figure sticker and a bland interior? The answer is a qualified yes.