Top 10 Favourites from Porsche

The two-seater Cayman was derided when it was first unveiled in 2005 – partly because snobs would claim it was a Porsche designed for people who couldn't afford a 911.

Nobody who bought one cared – and since then, the Cayman has gone on to forge its own success, praised for its superb handling and excellent build quality.

In fact, due to its smaller size, many will argue the Cayman handles better than the 911. So, to make the most of that, we've gone for the top-of-the-range 400PS model, the GTS 4.0.

Confusingly, despite the badging, it’s a 3.0-litre engine. But choosing this one still undercuts the 911 by a significant margin – and this six-cylinder is the pick of the range for sound and performance.

Although it goes by a different name, the Boxster is essentially a Cayman convertible with largely identical features but with a soft-top roof.

If you're going for a drop-top, you'll likely be keener to cruise along, so in our view, the GTS might be overkill here. Although, hearing the noise of the 3.0-litre with the roof down will take some beating.

However, given convertibles are generally less agile than their hard-top counterparts, we've plumped for the next best thing: the Boxster S.

It still packs 300PS and a top speed of 170mph from its 2.0-litre four-cylinder.

The answer to 'Which is the best 911 you can buy?' is a question that'll never be satisfied. Porsche enthusiasts and fans will all have their own opinion.

So, we're not saying the Carrera T is the best, but it's our pick here, partly because it comes with a manual gearbox, which the entry-level Carrera doesn't.

The T has the same power as the base model at 385PS, albeit with some weight savings, including lighter glass, to aid the handling.

If you don't want a manual, though, we'd stick with the entry-level version, which is blisteringly quick and makes the higher Carrera S and GTS versions seem like overkill.

As with the Boxster, the 911 convertible isn't quite as good to drive as the Coupe. If it were, it would mean Porsche had achieved something virtually impossible.

Nevertheless, its engineers have done exceptionally well with the Cabrio’s handling, and most people won't notice the difference.

We have gone with the S model because it's slightly more fun to drive as a rear-wheel drive car than the all-wheel drive version.

What's more, at 450PS, it's got 65PS more power than the entry-level versions but only 30PS less than the range-toppers, which are barely any quicker.

For the uninitiated, the Targa versions are a sort of 'semi-convertible' which retains the rear window but not the roof – and they're all four-wheel drive.

On that note, we'd be picking the 4S, as it's a step up in power from the entry-level car (450PS versus 385PS), is 0.6 seconds quicker from 0-62mph (3.8 seconds), has larger alloys – and you get a choice of automatic or manual gearbox.

Although the Targa is still great to drive, it's the least handling-focused in the 911 range, so we'd consider the top models a tad excessive.

The four-door Taycan coupe is Porsche’s first all-electric vehicle, so there’s no engine note to factor in here.

Nevertheless, for a large-ish Porsche that runs on batteries, it's not as expensive as you might think, so, like with the Targa, we've gone for the 4S again.

Some upgrades around a year ago improved things, most notably its energy efficiency, as it no longer uses the front electric motor when stationary or coasting.

Improvements to the steering help one's confidence behind the wheel, too, meaning it handles even more impressively than before – and can get from 0-62mph in 4.0 seconds.

The Porsche Panamera is the original four-door Porsche of the modern era, offering superb performance that, in some trims, can outgun many a supercar.

We would be going for the 4 E-Hybrid version, though, as the engine and electric motor combination gives it 462PS, only 18PS shy of the V8 GTS edition – and that's enough to tackle 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds. 

Adding to the incredible fuel economy that a plug-in hybrid gives you makes running costs much lower, enhancing the satisfaction.

Of course, if you need a dollop of extra practicality, there's the Turismo estate version, too, as an alternative.

The Macan was introduced as a smaller SUV offering following the success of its bigger sibling, the Cayenne.

While practicality is reduced, it's still more spacious than most Porsches. And, for an SUV, it's terrific to drive, with agile handling – especially if you opt for its air suspension.

The interior is lovely, too – and the T is our pick as it's the best blend of engine, performance and value for money.

265PS is on tap for a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds, which, although a little pedestrian compared with the non-SUV Porsches, is still perfectly adequate for a car like this.

The larger SUV of the Porsche range, the Cayenne, offers it all: practicality, fine handling (considering its size) and excellent performance.

Even if you go for the entry-level model, you’ll still get a 3.0-litre six-cylinder with 353PS.

We are going for the S version, though, which has a thumping great 4.0-litre engine under the bonnet, 474PS and a 0-62mph time of 5.0 seconds flat.

There are plug-in hybrids which are brilliant, too. Even the entry-level PHEV is more than worthy of being picked given its similar performance – but the Cayenne sounds much better with a V8, while choosing the hybrid cuts boot space by nearly a fifth.

If you really must have the best of both worlds, then the Cayenne Coupe is a regular Cayenne with a diagonal chunk removed from its upper rear end (as viewed side-on).

Sure, you still get the practicality of a larger car, but you also retain a sportier and less boxy look compared with the full-size Cayenne.

The result is less weight, which improves the handling – and for this one, we’ve plumped for the Turbo E-Hybrid GT.

Given this is the sportier model, we were tempted to go for the V8 again. But practicality is unlikely to be as much of a priority in the Coupe, so we can live with the reduced boot space by choosing the plug-in hybrid instead.

Granted, this model is hugely expensive, but with 739PS on offer and a 0-62mph time of just 3.6 seconds, this is the most potent Porsche money can buy. So, sorry, we just can't be sensible any longer.