Skip advert
Advertisement

McLaren Senna review - the ultimate track driving experience - Performance and 0-60 time

McLaren has taken a legendary name and produced what genuinely could become a legendary car

Performance and 0-60 time

With 659bhp/ton you won’t be surprised to hear that the Senna is fast. Just how fast is clearly betrayed by the numbers, with 62mph arriving in 2.8 seconds, 124mph in 6.8 seconds and 186mph after just 18.5 seconds, but in reality it doesn’t seem that much quicker than the already studenously rapid 720 S - perhaps additional performance becomes largely academic beyond a certain lofty point. In any case, the top speed is 211 mph, but such matters were hardly McLaren’s focus with this car.

There’s certainly a lot more noise and drama to the way it accelerates, thanks to the Senna’s minimalistic cabin, reduced sound proofing material and dorsal air intake, which really screams as the V8 is wound up to high rpms. Nevertheless, the engine still sounds essentially the same as all the 3.8-litre and 4-litre McLaren V8s do - that is to say, hard-edged, aggressive, but not exactly melodic. One new facet to its character is the vibration felt: McLaren have fitted more rigid engine mounts, and at certain revs the V8 sends a fizzing tremor down the driver’s spine.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Four modern classic sports cars that cost a fraction of their modern equivalents
Cheap sports cars
Best cars

Four modern classic sports cars that cost a fraction of their modern equivalents

A new 911 is over £100,000, a new Lotus Evora just under, a new Vantage just over £160,000. Save a fortune and buy their modern classic ancestors
5 Feb 2026
Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale (2003 - 2004) review – the original 911 GT3 RS rival
Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
Reviews

Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale (2003 - 2004) review – the original 911 GT3 RS rival

Ferrari’s 360 Challenge Stradale set the template for Maranello’s lightened, hardcore mid-engined specials
10 Feb 2026
Used Mini Paceman (2013 - 2017) review – a weird crossover from a weird time
Mini Paceman
Reviews

Used Mini Paceman (2013 - 2017) review – a weird crossover from a weird time

Market trends and the success of the Range Rover Evoque compelled Mini to produce a two-door crossover. Strange times, strange car
10 Feb 2026