Can a $1000 price premium justify Godzilla's older tech? Find out how the entry-level 992.2 Carrera compares to the base R35 in this final showdown
by Dimitar Angelov on January 14, 2025, 14:30Competition invites progress and in the automotive world, there are plenty of rivalries, pushing the limits of what can be achieved with an internal combustion engine (or an electric motor). You know about Mustang vs Camaro, BMW vs. Mercedes, Ford vs Ferrari, and Lancia vs Audi, but one rivalry I feel isn’t talked about enough is the Porsche 911 vs Nissan GT-R. Since 1969, the Japanese performance model has been shooting for motorsport domination, the same as Porsche.
The R32 GT-R’s all-wheel-drive system was inspired by the legendary Porsche 959, and when it came out in the late 2000s, the Nissan R35 GT-R was beating 911s left and right, like it was nothing. But is it still the case? Five years is a very long time in the performance car segment, and 18 years is an eternity. That’s how long the R35 has been here. Currently, there are not a lot of fast cars with pedigree that you could get for around $120,000. There are just two: the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera and the 2025 Nissan GT-R. One of them is going away after this year and here’s how this rivalry looks in its final stage.
Porsche 911 (992.2) Carrera Vs. Nissan GT-R R35: Features
Price-wise, the Porsche 911 Carrera (992.2) and Nissan GT-R R35 are in the same range. Currently, you need to shell out $121,090 if you want to get a base-model Nissan GT-R while the base 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera (992.2) starts at $120,100. That’s where most of the similarities between the two sports cars end. Two completely different philosophies have been adopted when developing the Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911.
The biggest feat of the Porsche 992.2 is the T-Hybrid powertrain. However, this is unavailable on the base Carrera and the newly-unveiled 992.2 Carrera S. The upcoming 992.2 Turbo is also getting a hybrid powertrain. While this would be the logical rival to the GT-R, the price difference between the two cars is huge. You can buy two R35 GT-Rs for the price of a single Porsche 992 Turbo S. Regardless, here is a more comprehensive depiction of how the Porsche 992.2 Carrera and Nissan GT-R R35 differ.
Features | Porsche 911 (992.2) Carrera | Nissan GT-R R35 |
---|---|---|
Exterior | Classic Porsche 911 design, optional HD Matrix LED headlights, Optional SportDesign package with different finish options, optional aero kit (rear spoiler), optional race stripe, and side decals | Classic, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe design |
Interior | Fully digitalized instrument cluster with the classic 5-gauge design, optional contrasting stitching, Race Tex, and extended leather package, 4-way adjustable Sport seats (standard), 18-way adjustable Sport seats (optional), rear-seat (optional/ free of charge), 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, 4.77 cubic feet of front cargo space | Partially-digital instrument cluster 8-inch Touchscreen, standard leather seats with synthetic suede inserts/ optional hand-stitched Aniline leather, 2+2 layout, 8.8-inch cargo space |
Chassis and drivetrain | A rear-engine version of VAG’s MMB platform, rear-engine layout, aluminum chassis, aluminum-alloy body panels permanent AWD with torque-vectoring and rear-wheel steering electro-mechanical limited-slip differential, Sport Chrono with launch control | Nissan’s premium midship platform, front-mid-engine engine layout ATTESA-ETS Pro permanent AWD with torque-vectoring, limited-slip rear differential, 6-speed DCT transaxle co-developed with BorgWarner, launch control, |
Mechanical highlights | 3.0-liter flat-6 engine with DOHC, and twin turbochargers from the 992.1 Carrera GTS, direct fuel injection, VarioCam, 8-speed PDK/ dual-clutch automatic with 3 modes/ co-developed with ZF, able to change gears in 0.1 seconds, rear-wheel drive only for 992.2 | VR38 DETT, twin high-mounted turbochargers for better heat dissipation and response, intake-only variable-valve timing, two driveshafts, rear-mounted transmission for better weight distribution, 0.15-second shift times in R-Mode |
Wheels, brakes, and tires | Staggered wheel set of 19/20 or 20/21 inches front/rear, standard tire size - 235/40 ZR19 front, 295/35 ZR20 rear, ventilated brake discs 408 mm front, 380 mm rear, with 6-piston front brake calipers and 4-piston at the rear | 20-inch wheels front and rear - 9.5J front/ 10.5J front, standard tire size -255/40 R20 front/ 285/35 R20 rear, Ventilated disc brakes, 390mm front/ 381mm rear, Brake calipers - aluminum Monobloc 6-piston front/ 4-piston rear |
Porsche 911 (992.2) Carrera Vs. Nissan GT-R R35: Performance And Features
Looking at the numbers, it hardly seems right to compare these two cars. The 992.2 Carrera is your entryway into the 911 lineup. As such, it features the least powerful of Porsche’s iconic flat-six engines, only matched by the lighter Carrera T. For 2025, the Nissan GT-R has five trim levels, and almost all of them, except the NISMO, feature the same 565-horsepower V-6 (NISMO has 600 horsepower). There are very few significant features that you can add to the GT-R as it comes fairly packed even in the lower trim.
Meanwhile, Porsche will happily charge you extra for even the most minor optional equipment, but you can think of this as an admission fee to the Porsche 911 community. This doesn’t appear to deter 911 enthusiasts as the car truly offers superior build quality and in the 992.2’s case, superior engineering. In terms of performance numbers, the Porsche 911 Turbo has always been a more appropriate comparison for the Nissan GT-R, but these days, the equivalent Porsche costs twice as much. Instead, we are looking at how much performance you are getting for $120,000.
Performance specifications | Porsche 911 (992.2) Carrera | Nissan GT-R R35 |
---|---|---|
Engine | 3.0-liter, DOHC, twin-turbo flat-6 | 3.8-liter, DOHC, twin-turbo V-6 |
Power | 389 horsepower at 6,500 RPM | 565 horsepower at 6,800 RPM |
Torque | 332 pound-feet at 1,900-5,000 RPM | 467 pound-feet at 3,300-5,800 RPM |
Transmission | 8-speed, PDK (DCT) automatic | 6-speed DCT automatic |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD |
Curb weight | 3,351 pounds | 3,935 pounds |
0-60 mph | 3.9 seconds | 2.8 seconds |
Top speed | 183 mph | 199 mph |
Dimitar Angelov
Dim has been an automotive journalist since 2014. Although he is interested in all things automotive, his main interests revolve around, Asian, classic, and sports cars. He is particularly fond of Porsche sports cars as well as JDM classics from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and others. Dim operates mainly from Bulgaria, but can, occasionally, be seen attending Europe's most reputable Auto shows, and events. Read full bio