2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4

In a lineup that includes both conventional coupe and cabriolet body styles, the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 is a unique proposition. Named after the Targa Florio race in Sicily, Italy, the 911 Targa was originally created to get around US safety laws in the 1960s that made it difficult to sell fully open-roof convertibles. The first Targa model featured a removable roof panel like a Chevrolet Corvette, while the latest 992 generation version gets a more modern electronically retractable roof mechanism that opens or closes in 19 seconds when stationary. It's not quite a convertible, but it's not a coupe either.

Though it doesn't offer many distinct advantages over the 911 Carrera coupe or Cabriolet on paper, the 2022 911 Targa 4 manages to combine the best of both worlds. It offers arguably the best style of any 911 body along with the open-top fun of a convertible. Porsche offers the 911 Targa 4 with all-wheel-drive only, in base, S, and GTS power configurations, producing 379, 443, and 473 horsepower, respectively. CarBuzz was invited to Porsche's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia to sample the most potent 911 Targa 4 GTS model alongside its fixed-roof counterpart. It's not the sharpest GTS model available, but the Targa may be the most charming to drive.

This drop-top Porsche is all about the exterior looks. Instead of the traditional soft-top cabriolet style offering, the Targa makes use of a hardtop folding roof that cantilevers back into the trunk in a folding process that takes around 19 seconds to complete. The Targa 4 also features an auto-deploying rear spoiler, a slew of 'Targa' logos, and a set of 19-inch alloys in the front and 20-inch alloys in the rear on Targa 4s, and 20/21s on the 4S and 4 GTS, with the latter getting model-specific Satin Black items. 50 Years Porsche Design models come with exclusive bading on the doors and grille.

The optional Sport Design package on the base model adds a new front and rear fascia and an extended front lip spoiler, while upper trims can select Sport Design side skirts. Porsche will ask 1,610 of your hard-earned dollars to paint the front air intakes and lower rear fascia in the same hue as the rest of the car. The Targa 4S gets two dual-tube tailpipes at the back which replaces the base model's two single-tube tailpipes. The new GTS has various exterior black accents and a sport exhaust system with two oval tailpipes.

The 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 shares its dimensions with the regular Cabriolet and Carrera models and measures 177.9 inches in length with a wheelbase of 96.5 inches. The GTS is slightly longer at 178.5 inches. Total height is 51.1 inches, and the width with the mirrors folded is 72.9 inches. The Targa 4S is slightly taller at 51.2 inches.

The base Targa 4 weighs 3,658 pounds - nearly 200 lbs heavier than the 911 Carrera 4 Coupe - but the lightest model is actually the Targa 4S with the manual gearbox at 3,602 lbs. With the PDK gearbox, the 4S comes in at 3,687 lbs. The GTS weighs 3,653 lbs with the manual gearbox and 3,737 lbs with the PDK.

Porsche prides itself on its ability to completely customize each and every one of its cars to suit the customer's needs perfectly, and this is especially true when it comes to exterior colors. The 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 can be painted in any color under the sun but comes with nearly 20 standard colors to choose from. The four no-cost options on offer are White, Black, Guards Red, and Racing Yellow. Metallic colors cost $840 and include Carrara White, Jet Black, Gentian Blue, Agate Grey, GT Silver, Aventurine Green, and Dolomite Silver. The $3,270 special color options include Carmine Red, Lava Orange, Chalk, Python Green, and Shark Blue.

New special edition 50 Years Porsche Design models come only in black exterior paint. The Targa's roof can also be finished in a choice of colors, those being Black, Brown, Red, and Blue. We drove a GTS model painted in Chalk, a subtle but unique hue. If none of these options work for you, a custom color will set you back $11,430.

The latest generation of 911 cars is so capable that most would be quite content with the performance offered from even the base model. Thanks to smooth turbo power and tons of low to mid-range torque, even the least powerful 911 will push you back in your seat with ease. When it comes to the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 with AWD, one must make peace with the fact that, despite its high price tag, this won't be one of the fastest 911s in the range, even in the most potent GTS configuration. In base form, the 911 Targa kicks out 379 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, and will hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. With the Sport Chrono package, that time drops to four seconds. The top speed for this base model is 179 mph.

The 911 Targa 4S boosts outputs up to 443 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The zero to sixty time plummets to 3.6 seconds, and the top speed increases to 188 mph. That applies to the PDK. With the PDK and the Sport Chrono package, it's capable of a 3.4-second 0-60 time. Finally, the 4S with the manual and the Sport Chrono package takes 4.2 seconds for the benchmark sprint.

The most powerful is the GTS which packs 473 hp and will get to sixty in 3.3 seconds with the PDK gearbox and the Sport Chrono package, or 4.1 seconds with the manual. With the PDK, it'll blitz the quarter-mile in just 11.7 seconds. It tops out at 190 mph. Though it's tied as the slowest GTS model (with the 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet), the Targa 4 GTS still feels rapid with the PDK.

Regardless of the model you choose, every Porsche 911 Targa 4 gets a 3.0L twin-turbocharged boxer-six engine and all-wheel drive. The Targa 4 produces 379 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, and is only available with the 8-speed PDK double-clutch automatic transmission. The mid-tier Targa 4S generates 443 hp and 390 lb-ft and comes with a choice of either a seven-speed manual or the eight-speed PDK. The same transmission choices apply to the new GTS, but it produces a powerful 473 hp and 420 lb-ft. In all cases, Porsche's flat-six engine provides excellent torque low-down and doesn't run out of puff at high revs.

During our trip to Atlanta, we sampled the Targa with Porsche's excellent PDK, and we drove a GTS Coupe to try out the available seven-speed manual. Though we consider ourselves manual purists and Porsche's seven-speed is stellar, the PDK feels like the better fit for the Targa. The PDK offers impossibly quick shifts, while also operating with impeccable smoothness in traffic. No matter which mode you are in, the PDK is smart enough to drop down gears rapidly, ensuring that the engine never feels caught off guard. We have high praise for the seven-speed manual, but with so much torque available from 2,300 rpm to 5,000 rpm in the GTS model, you can leave the car in third gear on most roads without needing to shift in slower corners. If anything, the 911 GTS is simply too good for the manual. In our opinion, a smaller, less powerful car like the 718 Boxster/Cayman feels more suited for an old-fashioned manual.

Our drive of the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS included curvy mountain roads north of Atlanta. Here, we fell in love with the 911. This is one of the premier driving experiences available at any price, and the GTS model strikes the best balance of track-ready speed and on-road comfort, with the Targa model leaning more towards the latter. It's not the quickest in the lineup, but it comes close to GT3 performance in a straight line without the back-breaking ride. Porsche also handed us the keys to a rear-drive GTS Coupe with the Lightweight Package (reviewed separately), and it proved to be far more hard-edged and racey, especially with the optional bucket racing seats. If your tastes skew more towards comfort and livability, the Targa is the far superior daily driver.

Even on some torn-up highway roads to reach the mountains, the Targa's suspension proved compliant enough to never feel tiring. Road noise on the highway is equally acceptable, much better than the 911 Coupe with the Lightweight Package's lesser sound deadening and thinner glass. The Targa 4 is the only GTS model not to receive Porsche's Active Suspension Management from the Porsche 911 Turbo (PASM Sport), instead getting the lesser, standard PASM suspension. This means the Targa is perhaps the dullest of the three 911 variants, but it's still sharp relative to other cars. The steering is among the best we've tested in any new car, and the chassis control allows you to hit supercar speeds without batting an eye.

Driving it back-to-back with the coupe, the Targa's heavier curb weight is noticeable and the suspension is tuned softer for a better ride. This results in more body lean than the comparable coupe or cabriolet, but once you let the car set in through the corner, it's easy to manage. Rear axle steering helps the Targa feel more nimble than its curb weight would imply, though we found the system to feel slightly unpredictable in our limited time with the car. More seat time may be required here. Drivers looking for maximum performance from their 911 should likely avoid the Targa, but if you simply want a good time on a backroad and arguably the best daily driver, this is the perfect body style.

According to the EPA, the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 with the auto box will manage a rating of 18/24/20 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. The more powerful Targa 4S will see those numbers dip slightly to 18/23/20 mpg with the auto box, and the manual will manage 17/24/20 mpg. Unfortunately, the EPA does not have a rating for the GTS as of yet, and the manufacturer makes no claims either.

With a fuel capacity of 17.6 gallons, the Targa should achieve a maximum distance of 352 miles for the most efficient variant.

Porsche doesn't cut corners when it comes to interior design and quality, and the two-door 911 Targa 4 shines in this department. The standard partially power-adjustable seats are supportive enough for aggressive driving, and we appreciate just how refined the Targa can be with the roof down. The 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 convertible may not sport a fixed roof like its coupe sibling, but wind noise remains well suppressed. In typical Porsche fashion, the dashboard design is highly ergonomic, and we adore the clean, sophisticated lines and large integrated displays. Heated seats, the central tachometer flanked by two seven-inch screens, and an eight-speaker sound system are all standard. The interior can be upgraded with extras such as ambient lighting for $580, or why not get Lizard Green seatbelts for $540?

The Porsche 911 can be generously described as a two-plus-two with one of the most laughably tiny back seats on the market. There's plenty of space up front for two adults, but the seats in the rear are best folded down to accommodate golf clubs as even the youngest of children will struggle to fit back there. Even worse than other 911 models, the Targa provides a unique opportunity for rear occupants to be cooked by the sun under the glass canopy.

Fortunately, Porsche does not offer the 911 Targa with its torture chamber bucket racing seats. Instead, buyers get a choice of Sport Seats Plus with 4-way or 18-way adjustment or softer comfort seats with 14-way adjustment. Compared to the buckets we sampled in the coupe, the Targa's 18-way chairs felt comfortable and supportive on twisty roads.

The base Targa gets partial leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and Dark Silver interior trim with inlays in Dark Silver Diamar. Black or Slate Grey seats won't cost anything extra, but a Black/Mojave Beige interior costs $700 on this trim although it's free for upper trims. A more luxurious option is leather seats with the Leather Package. This will cost $2,840 on the base model and is offered in Black or Slate Gray.

The next level up adds more leather to the deal for $4,530 ($3,830 on 4S) and color choices are Black, Slate Grey, Graphite Blue, and Bordeaux Red, or all the same colors with Chalk stitching. The customization options don't end there and you can also get more combinations with Black/Iceland Green or Black.Mojave Beige for $4,960 ($4,260 on 4S).

Club leather is also available in colors like Truffle Brown and Agave Green for $6,040 ($5,340 on the 4S), or Black leather with Chalk stitching and checkered Sport-Tex centers for $4,530 (4S trims get this for $3,830). If this is still not enough for you, the Heritage Design Interior Package covers the seat centers and door panels in corduroy, the backrest shells in leather, and adds bespoke floormats, amongst various unique touches - all for around $15k, excluding the additional packages you will be required to spec on too. Two-tone Exclusive Manufaktur Leather can also be had if you want to spend even more, but this requires the addition of even more options.

The GTS uniquely gets a Black interior in sporty Race-Tex upholstery as standard. Certain elements like the front seat side bolsters are finished in embossed leather. On this model, the GTS Interior package adds nearly $9,000 to the price. Available in Chalk or Carmine Red, this package includes carbon fiber trim. However, many other leather choices are also offered for this range-topper. The GTS gets black interior trim with inlays in black brushed aluminum, while the special 50 Years Porsche Design edition comes with a checked pattern for the seat centers in Black and Cool Grey. For these models, the seatbelts are Slate Grey and the headrests are embossed with the 50 Years Porsche Design logo.

A 2-door sports coupe is not the car to get if you're planning a big road trip or if you're going shopping for a few new outfits at the mall. The Porsche 911 Targa 4 was designed to transport two people (realistically), and the 4.6 cubic feet of space you get in the front luggage compartment is minimal. The good news is that the tight rear seats are split-folding and can thus be used as extra storage when needed.

Small-item storage inside the cabin is limited, but you still get a small glove box, center console bin, and the rear seats fold down for additional 'trunk' space. There are also two cupholders in front - one on the passenger side and one in the center console. If you get the manual transmission, the cupholder in the center console becomes unusable. Luckily, the passenger-side cupholder works well, though it's tough to reach as a driver.

Traditionally, Porsche tends to be stingy with its standard features, leaving most of the good stuff on the options list, but the Porsche 911 Targa 4 comes with just enough gadgets to keep most modern car owners happy. Standard features for 2022 include two-zone automatic climate control, partially power-adjustable front seats with heating, front and rear ParkAssist, cruise control, keyless go, HomeLink, a rearview camera, and forward-collision warning. It is disappointing that Porsche did not include more active driver assistance systems on the Targa 4. Optional extras include a surround-view camera system, lane change assist, ventilated front seats, and ambient lighting (bundled together with other extras in the $5,350 Premium package). Adaptive cruise control, surround-view monitoring, night-vision assist, lane departure assist, and remote park assist, are available on the options list but are quite pricey.

All 2022 model year 911 models receive a new PCM 6.0 infotainment system, which lives on a 10.9-inch touchscreen. The menus are easy to navigate, and are customizable based on which functions you use the most. Wireless Apple CarPlay is included as standard along with Apple

Music and Apple Podcasts integration. Porsche finally adds Android Auto compatibility for 2022, though it requires a cable connection. Other improvements to the system include quicker real-time traffic updates for the native navigation.

The standard audio system is nothing special with eight speakers and 150 watts of power. An optional 12-speaker Bose system sounds a bit better, while a pricier Burmester unit with 13 speakers offers the best music listening experience.

At the time of writing, the 2022 911 Targa had not been recalled for any issues. However, the 2021 model was subject to three. These were for a seat belt locking retractor malfunction, the incorrect installation of a passenger seat that could affect the airbag, and suspension components that were improperly tightened.

Porsche will cover the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty with drivetrain and roadside assistance cover, a one-year/10,000-mile maintenance plan, and a 12-year/unlimited-mile corrosion warranty.

Like the rest of its 911 siblings, the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 has not been subjected to review from the NHTSA, and the IIHS has also failed to test this rather exotic German sports car. Porsche is, however, a trusted brand, and its vehicles feature excellent build quality and most modern safety features, which should help set buyers at ease.

It might not have an official crash safety rating, but the Porsche 911 Targa 4 is still a modern sports car that comes with a host of contemporary safety features. This includes two dual-stage front airbags, head-thorax airbags for those upfront, integrated rollover protection, tire-pressure monitoring, and a rearview camera.

Other driver assistance features include cruise control, front and rear park assist, forward collision warning, and the Porsche Wet Mode. Driver aids such as lane change assist, a surround-view camera system, lane keep assist with traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, night vision assist, remote parking assist, and the Porsche InnoDrive with adaptive cruise control and active lane-keep are all available as standalone options. Some of these options can also be added individually.

Porsche rarely offers the best value in the industry, and the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 is no exception. This is a vehicle that you buy based on emotion rather than pure numbers, even within the vast 911 lineup. A 911 Coupe offers more capable performance and a lower base price, while the 911 Cabriolet is lighter and offers a more open-top experience. Targa buyers are ideally looking for the best of both worlds without as much emphasis on track performance. Though the numbers would suggest the Targa is the worst 911, in some ways we think it's the most honest and least intimidating.

There are other open-top sports cars you can cross-shop with the 911 Targa, including the Audi R8 Spyder, Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, BMW M8 Convertible, Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, and Jaguar F-Type Convertible to name a few. Of these options, only the Corvette matches the Targa's unique roof configuration and none live up to the 911's unparalleled driving manners. There's a reason why the Porsche 911 has been called the pinnacle sports car for decades, and the latest Targa model continues that legacy.

You're going to have to cough up a few extra bucks for the privilege of seeing that overcomplicated roof go up and down: the 2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4 starts with an MSRP of$121,300 excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,350 in the USA. The price of the Porsche 911 Targa 4 increases to $137,200 for the 4S, and the top-of-the-line Targa 4 GTS will set you back $156,800. A fully-loaded 911 Targa 4 GTS will cost you close to the $220k mark, which puts it dangerously close to the Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder.

While only 750 models will be produced, the 50 Years Porsche Design special editions will go on sale for $183, 800, but the corresponding watch that goes with it adds a further $12,050 to the total price.

There are three different flavors to choose from: the vanilla Targa 4, the strawberry and chocolate Targa 4S, and finally, the Oreo, M&Ms, and Mountain Dew Targa 4 GTS. All three models are powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-6 gas engine in various states of tune. The Targa 4 produces 379 hp and 331 lb-ft, the 4S produces 443 hp and 390 lb-ft, and the GTS delivers 473 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but both the 4S and GTS can be had with a seven-speed manual.

The base model features 19-inch front and 20-inch rear Carrera wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and LED headlights. The interior includes two-zone climate control, partially power-adjustable and heated front seats, and driver aids such as warn and brake assist, and front/rear park assist. The infotainment system features a 10.9-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, wireless internet connectivity, navigation, and an eight-speaker sound system.

Targa 4S models include exterior features such as 20-inch front and 21-inch rear Carrera S wheels with wider tires, six-caliper front brakes, and two dual-tube tailpipes. Inside, the 4S gets front seat centers in smooth-finish leather.

The hardcore Targa 4 GTS gets exterior features such as Turbo S wheels in Satin Black, larger front and rear brakes, a sports exhaust system with two oval tailpipes in high gloss black, Satin Black GTS logos on the front doors, and LED headlights with dark detailing. Inside, the GTS features four-way Sport Seats Plus' with electric backrest angle and seat height adjustment with the seat centers finished in Race-Tex, complemented by GTS embroidered logos in the headrests. The GTS also featured reduced sound insulation and a steering wheel finished in Race-Tex material.

Based on the Targa 4 GTS, the special 50 Years Porsche Design model will only be produced in black exterior paint with Satin Platinum exterior accents. It comes with 20/21-inch center-locking 911 Turbo S wheels with high gloss black brake calipers and model-specific Porsche Design logos emblazoned on the doors. Inside, 750 lucky buyers get 18-way Adaptive Sport Seats Plus with seatbelts in Slate Grey and a checked pattern on the seat centers. The Sport Chrono Package is included with a Porsche Design Subsecond Clock featuring a red second hand.

Those going for a base model Targa 4 have the option of going for the impressive but pricey Heritage Design Interior package, which adds niceties such as corduroy seat centers and door panels, extended leather trim, unique floor mats, lots of extra 911 logos, white needles on the instrument cluster, and improved seats. It costs $15,850, but requires various other extras too.

The $5,350 Premium package adds the Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus, a Bose surround-sound system, a surround-view camera system, lane change assist, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, and a storage package. For the driving enthusiast, the Sport package is worth looking at: for $5,840 on the base model, you get Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, the Sport Chrono package, and a sport exhaust system. It costs a little less on the 4S, since some of the features are already standard. The Porsche ceramic composite brakes are an $8,970 standalone option but they require a wheel upgrade for at least another $1,790.

Another standalone option is the $2,770 front axle lift system. In terms of comfort and driver assistance, Porsche offers features such as night vision assist for $2,540 or Porsche InnoDrive with adaptive cruise control and active lane-keep for $3,020. A variety of driver assists can also be fitted.

As much as we loved the 911 Targa 4 GTS, we feel the GTS model is better suited to the Coupe, where it offers performance closer to a GT3. Instead, we'd step down to the Targa 4S, which offers a perfectly reasonable 443 hp starting at $137,200, saving $19,600 compared to the GTS. Choosing the 4S will help avoid the nearly $200,000 as-tested price of our Targa 4 GTS. From there, it's easy to go overboard with Porsche's endless options list, but we'd highly recommend the 18-way sport seats ($3,470), Premium Package ($5,350), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control ($3,170 plus $2,090 required for rear axle steering), and Sports Exhaust ($2,950). You can also add a few driver assists, and still get a 911 Targa 4S for under $160,000.

The 911 Carrera Cabriolet is the traditional route to enjoying that wind-in-your-hair feeling in a 911 Porsche and remains a popular choice. The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet makes use of the same platform and powertrain, and its twin-turbo flat-six produces the same power in base trim, right up to the 473 hp and 420 lb-ft peak in GTS guise. However, the cabriolet is also offered in RWD guise. From the outside, the main difference is the Cabriolet's use of a traditional folding roof. The cantilevered contraption of the Targa is cool-looking but adds complication and weight, and we'd much rather stick with the clean and straightforward design of the Cabriolet. On the road, the Cabriolet is just as much fun to drive, and its lack of a roof is barely noticeable when it comes to spirited driving. People love a good dose of nostalgia; that's why the Targa 4 was built. But if you're simply after fun in the sun, the cheaper (by over $7,000) Cabriolet will be perfect.

The Corvette Stingray Convertible is one of the few cars that offer a similar Targa-roof experience, and despite the glaring price difference between these two performance drop-tops, the American Corvette still manages to put up an impressive fight. At a starting price of $68,400, you can nearly buy two Corvette Convertibles for the price of a single Porsche 911 Targa 4, but is the Porsche all that better? With 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Corvette is more powerful than even the top-spec Targa GTS, which sells for over $155,000, and with the Z51 performance package equipped, it will easily outrun any 911 Targa to 60 mph. Sure, the cabin of the Chevy isn't as refined, and you don't get the pedigree that comes with Porsche ownership, but it's still comfortable to drive daily, it's got an excellent infotainment system, stunning performance, and the convertible offers virtually no compromises over the hardtop. The Porsche is fantastic, but the Corvette just makes more sense.