Porsche 718

Porsche 718 at a glance

The name looks back to the 718 racing cars of the late 1950s, which also used a mid-mounted flat-four. Porsche presented the 718 Boxster in January 2016 and showed it at the Geneva Motor Show; the 718 Cayman followed in April 2016 at the Beijing show. Other Porsche models are listed on our Porsche brand page.

Generations and versions

The 718 is a single generation. It had no conventional facelift; instead Porsche widened the range year by year, from the four-cylinder base cars to the track-focused RS models.

• 718 Boxster and Cayman (2016): 2.0-litre turbo flat-four, the entry point.
• 718 S (2016): 2.5-litre turbo flat-four with more boost and torque.
• 718 GTS (2017): the 2.5-litre engine raised to 269 kW (365 PS).
• 718 T (2019): base engine with sport-oriented chassis and options.
• GT4 and Spyder (2019): 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six; PDK offered from the 2021 model year.
• GTS 4.0 (2020): a detuned version of the same six-cylinder, replacing the four-cylinder GTS.
• Cayman GT4 RS (2021) and Spyder RS (2023): the most powerful road versions.

Engines, transmissions and performance

*With PDK and the Sport Chrono package, as quoted by Porsche at launch.

The four-cylinder cars came with a six-speed manual as standard and the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch as an option. Compared with the six-cylinder 981 models they replaced, Porsche quoted 26 kW (35 hp) more power and up to 13 percent better fuel economy. Torque arrives early: the 2.0 delivers its 380 Nm from 1,950 to 4,500 rpm and the 2.5 its 420 Nm from 1,900 to 4,500 rpm.

The GT4 and Spyder engine produces 309 kW at 7,600 rpm and 420 Nm between 5,000 and 6,800 rpm. The GT4 RS and Spyder RS engine revs to 9,000 rpm. The Spyder RS is PDK-only and weighs 1,410 kg, 40 kg less than a Spyder with PDK; its manual soft-top, made of a sun sail and a weather deflector, weighs 18.3 kg. To compare the outputs in other units, use our power converter.

Dimensions, weight and luggage space

With the engine behind the seats, luggage is split between a front boot and a rear compartment. Carbuyer measured 130 litres in the front and 275 litres in the rear of the Cayman, 405 litres in total; the Boxster's rear compartment is smaller because the roof folds above the engine.

Fuel economy and running costs

On the old NEDC cycle Porsche quoted 6.9 l/100 km for the 718 Boxster with PDK (about 34 mpg US) and 7.3 l/100 km for the Boxster S with PDK. The full launch ranges were 6.9-7.4 l/100 km and 158-168 g/km of CO2 for the 2.0, and 7.3-8.1 l/100 km and 167-184 g/km for the 2.5. These are laboratory figures from 2016; real-world use is higher, especially for the 4.0-litre cars. Our fuel cost calculator turns any consumption figure into a yearly cost.

Trims and equipment

At launch the range was simple: 718 Boxster and 718 Boxster S, then the matching Cayman models. Porsche retuned the chassis for the 718, made the electromechanical steering 10 percent more direct and fitted stronger brakes. PASM adaptive dampers lowered the car by 10 mm, and a PASM sport chassis with a 20 mm lower ride height was offered for the first time on the 718 Boxster S. The T, GTS, GTS 4.0, GT4, Spyder and RS models then filled the range above, each with more standard performance equipment.

Safety

We found no Euro NCAP crash test of the 718 Boxster or 718 Cayman; Euro NCAP rarely tests low-volume sports cars. The 718 was sold with the usual airbags and stability control, but buyers who want an official star rating will not find one for this model.

Reliability and known issues

Our sources do not contain recall lists or fault statistics for the 982 series, so we do not repeat forum claims here. The four-cylinder turbo engines were new in 2016, while the 4.0-litre flat-six shares its basic design with Porsche's other six-cylinder engines. As with any sports car, a complete Porsche service history and a pre-purchase inspection matter more than the badge.

Production end and successor

According to Motor1, Porsche withdrew the combustion 718 from the European market in 2024 because of stricter cybersecurity regulations and scheduled the last cars to be built in October 2025. An all-electric Boxster and Cayman has been under development for years but has been delayed. In September 2025 Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume told investors that the next generation would not be electric-only, and CAR magazine reports that GT versions may keep combustion engines. Porsche had not confirmed launch dates at the time of writing.

Rivals

The BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra share a platform, while the Alpine is the lightest of the group. The comparison tool puts any two of them side by side.

Photo gallery