Porsche 911 (2015-2018) review - Interior, design and technology
More tech and smarter cabin address one of the old 911’s few flaws
The previous 911’s interior was solid and functional, rather than a feast of craftsmanship and interesting design, like in the Audi R8. However, with this model Porsche has injected some extra tech and more equipment options to give it a more modern feel.
The basic layout is still the same, so the high dashboard and centre console surround you, placing the focus on the driver and giving a nice cocooned feeling.
It’s not the most stylish dash, with an upright centre console and flat fascia, but material quality is excellent and it feels solidly screwed together. Plus there are some neat little features, such as the two cupholders that pop out of the thin strip in the dash.
However, the big news is the updated PCM Porsche Communication Management system. The seven-inch touchscreen recognises swipe gestures just like a smartphone, so you can swish side to side from menu to menu. Plus, real-time traffic info and online navigation now come as standard, while Apple CarPlay is also available.
Porsche says it’s also developing the system for Android users, and with the Porsche Car Connect app you can check the status of your car remotely, including features such as fuel level and remaining range, as well as folding the wing mirrors remotely.
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As with all 911s, the car’s clever 2+2 layout remains. This means there are two small seats for young children – the back rests can be folded down to create a larger luggage space as well, complementing the 145-litre boot in the car’s nose. It’s a surprisingly usable shape and is big enough for at least two overnight bags.
Other neat features include the digital screen next to the central rev counter – this gives different readouts including car and audio info, as well as the sat-nav map, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road for too long.
You can personalise the interior of the 911, just like the outside. Porsche has added a number of bright exterior colour options for this mid-life model update, which really work well with the subtly revised design.
You might not want to go quite as bright on the inside, but with extras such as contrast stitching, bucket seats, carbon fibre and aluminium trim inlays, there’s plenty of scope to customise the cabin to your tastes.
Porsche Exclusive allows customers to match the interior and exterior of their car to their favourite colour, while you can also choose different hues for the seat belts. There’s even a choice of steering wheels, and both are now smaller than before, making the 911 feel even quicker to respond to inputs at the wheel.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
As above, the higher-res graphics on the new infotainment system improve its functionality. It’s also more responsive, and the gesture recognition is a nice touch – literally. USB, Bluetooth and sat-nav all come as standard, while you can upgrade the system with a better stereo.
Connected services are now available, further improving the 911’s usability, which has been a big target for Porsche with the 991.2 update.
