2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster vs. 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster ・ Photo by Aston Martin

Aston Martin and Porsche have been fierce rivals since the late 1940s. The two European manufacturers are known for building some of the world’s greatest sports cars, and their machines have not only battled each other in America’s showrooms but also on racetracks around the world. The war rages on. For the 2021 model year, both brands have launched an all-new six-figure turbocharged convertible sports car.

Aston’s new Vantage Roadster and Porsche’s equally new 911 Turbo Cabriolet are two of the sexiest and most powerful convertible sports cars in the world. They’re a couple of head-turners with more than 500 horsepower, mind-bending acceleration, and top speeds above 190 mph. Both are also civilized enough to be driven and enjoyed every day and offer the features and luxuries you expect at their lofty price points. But which is best? Let’s examine the 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster and the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet in key areas and decide.

Styling and Design

Astons have been turning heads for 107 years, and the Vantage Roadster not only lives up to that legacy, but it’s one of the brand’s most beautiful convertibles ever. With its engine still mounted up front, its classic long hood and short deck proportions are as timeless as its broad stance. Though wonderfully modern, its big curves and wide grille pay tribute to Astons of the past, including Bond’s silver DB5. It’s striking from any angle, especially with the top down, and detailed to perfection with an integrated rear spoiler, flush door handles, and oversized fender vents. Its soft top drops in just 6.7 seconds, which Aston says makes it the quickest-folding soft top in the world. 

Porsche’s 911 Turbo Cabriolet also successfully links to the past. The sports car’s unique rear-engine design and resulting proportions have evolved since the first 911 in the mid-1960s, which makes it one of the most recognizable cars in the world. With its big hips, large rear spoiler, and oversized scoops, the new Turbo is as eye-catching and timeless as any 911 that has come before, but it doesn’t make quite enough effort to distinguish itself from previous models, or from lesser 911s like the Carrera 4S.

Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

Photo by Aston Martin

Comfort and Cargo

We prefer the seats in the Porsche. The Aston’s seats are comfortable, but they lack some thigh support on long drives. That said, the Aston rides more smoothly than the 911. Its suspension isn’t as stiff and it has a 10-inch longer wheelbase, which helps it soak up the bumps. The Porsche’s ride isn’t uncomfortable, it just isn’t as compliant as the Astons. Both cars are surprisingly quiet on the highway with their tops up and both offer impressive wind protection when they’re down. 

Though the Porsche has the more attractive and more modern interior, it’s the Aston that has more interior storage, and better cup holders. The Aston’s trunk measures 7 cubic feet of space, which is big for this class. Because the Porsche’s engine is mounted in the rear, its trunk is up front and measures 4.5 cubic feet. But the 911 also has a small back seat, which can be folded down to increase its luggage space by another 9.3 cubic feet. 

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Photo by Porsche

Infotainment System

A few years ago, Mercedes-Benz invested in Aston Martin and started supplying the brand with engines, interior switchgear, and in-cabin tech. The infotainment system in the Vantage is one of Benz’s older systems. It’s easy enough to use, but it feels a bit dated and its 8-inch screen seems small for this price point. Overall, it doesn’t feel as special as the rest of the car.

Porsche’s infotainment system is better. The 911’s 10.9-inch screen is much larger and it’s a touchscreen, which makes it much easier to use. The system is also faster to respond to your inputs and it has more-modern graphics. The Porsche’s system offers Apple CarPlay compatibility and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and its standard audio system has more speakers. 

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Photo by Porsche

Safety and Technology

Neither of these sports cars has been independently crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Therefore, neither has been award overall safety scores from either institution.

Despite their big price tags, both cars are also light on collision avoidance technology and driver aid systems. Most well-equipped compact sedans have more of these systems in place. The Vantage has front and rear parking sensors, while blind-spot monitoring is an option. Other technologies like a lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking are not available. The Porsche offers more safety tech. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a night vision camera, a surround-view camera, and a traffic sign recognition system are all optional. Both cars have a launch control system that maximizes traction off the line and both feature standard LED headlights, but only the Porsche has all-wheel drive, which would improve stability in sloppy weather. The Aston is rear-wheel drive. 

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Photo by Porsche

Power and Performance

All Aston Martins are now powered by Mercedes engines. Under the hood of every Vantage is a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, which is also used in the Mercedes-AMG C63 S and the GLC63 S. In the Vantage, it’s rated to produce 503 hp at 6,000 rpm and an equally impressive 505 lb-ft of torque at just 2,000 rpm. This is one of the best V8s in the world, rewarding the Aston’s driver with a snarling exhaust note, a 7,000-rpm redline, and power to spare. It’s also paired with a sharp shifting 8-speed automatic. According to Aston, the Roadster hits 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 190 mph, which makes it one of the quickest and the fastest Astons ever.

At 3.8 liters, the Porsche’s twin-turbocharged engine is smaller and has two fewer cylinders than the Aston’s V8, but it makes considerably more power. The horizontally opposed six-cylinder pumps out 572 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, and if you want more you can step up to the 911 Turbo S, which has 640 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. And Porsche’s eight-speed PDK is widely considered the best automatic transmission in the world. The Turbo is also the quicker and faster of the two, hitting 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and boasting a top speed of 198 mph.

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Photo by Porsche

Fuel Economy

The Environmental Protection Agency says these two cars should get about the same fuel economy. The Aston EPA estimates are 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Although the Porsche’s official EPA estimates haven’t been finalized yet, we don’t expect them to be much different than the previous 911 Turbo, which was rated at 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Both cars feature start/stop, which shuts off their engines at red lights to conserve fuel.

During our time with Porsche, which included liberal use of its throttle, we averaged 16 mpg. Our driving time with the Aston included more miles on the highway, but it also saw heavy applications of the throttle; it averaged 18.5 mpg. 

Tie

Photo by Aston Martin

Driving Dynamics

On the road, the 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster delivers a compelling mix of sports car response, serious performance, and the civility of a luxury grand tourer. It’s just as fun in the hills as it is on a road trip. The Aston’s chassis feels solid, and its steering isn’t too heavy. On twisty two-lanes, it’s fast, fun, and forgiving, thanks to excellent balance, superb steering feel, and sticky 20-inch tires. Only a soft brake pedal holds it back in the hills. 

And then there’s the Porsche, which is one of the best-handling cars available, at any price. Ever. No other car is faster on a mountain road. With its all-wheel drive, massive 21-inch rear tires, and a firmer suspension, the Porsche’s hold on the asphalt seems endless, and its massive brakes can stop time. It changes direction like a housefly and accelerates like a pure race car. And few performance cars are this easy to drive. While the Aston is forgiving, the Porsche feels foolproof. 

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Photo by Porsche

Value

Aston’s new Vantage Roadster is its least-expensive convertible. And this year, the brand has slashed its prices. The base price, including its $3,086 destination fee, is $150,086. That’s $8,000 more than the Vantage Coupe, and it’s right in line with many of its German rivals. Our test car was packed with over $50,000 in options, including special paint, carbon fiber trim, and an upgraded audio system for a total price of $203,886.

Include its $1,350 destination fee, and the Porsche’s base price is $183,600. That’s about $13,000 more than Turbo Coupe. Like Aston, Porsche offers an endless list of high-priced options. The brand is famous for it. So getting the 911 up over $200,000 is also easy. When you consider the Porsche has considerably more horsepower than the Aston, plus a rear seat and standard all-wheel drive, it is a good value. However, if you can lay off all those pricy options, the Vantage is the better deal. 

Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

Photo by Aston Martin

Verdict

The new 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is lust-worthy and it has put up a good fight. We’re thrilled by its design, impressed by its comfort, and inspired by its performance, and we like its relatively low base price. Great car.

But the new 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo is on a whole other level. It’s more powerful than the Vantage, more sophisticated, quicker, faster, and more fun to drive. It also has a much more modern interior, a far superior infotainment system, and more safety technology. While we still recommend the Vantage to anyone looking for a sexy six-figure sports car, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet wins this fight without breaking a sweat.

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Photo by Porsche