Porsche Boxster
All generations, specs and history
Updated Published Sources (4) Report an error
By Felix Hartmann, Automotive Technology & EV Contributor Reviewed by Oleksandr Hnatiuk
- Built
- 1996–2025
- Generations
- 4 · 986 to 982
- Top power
- 368 kW (500 PS)
- New price
- from about €49,957 (2012)
Timeline
Boxster generations
Click a generation for its own page
- Boxster (986) 1996–2004 · Convertible · 150–195 kW (204–265 PS)
- Boxster (987) 2004–2012 · Convertible · 176–235 kW (239–320 PS)
- Boxster (981) 2012–2016 · Convertible · 195–276 kW (265–375 PS)
- 718 Boxster (982) 2016–2025 · Convertible · 220–368 kW (299–500 PS)
Newest first · 4 generations since 1996
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2016
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2012
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2004
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1996
All generations by year: 718 Boxster (982) (2016–2025) · Boxster (981) (2012–2016) · Boxster (987) (2004–2012) · Boxster (986) (1996–2004)
Which one is mine?
Pick the year of first registration to see which generation it is.
Check by VINWhich Porsche Boxster to buy
Our verdict · Felix Hartmann
For most buyers, the best balance is a 981 Boxster S or GTS: modern, light and with the flat-six sound. A late 987 with direct injection (2009–2012) is the cheaper way into a six-cylinder Boxster and avoids the bearing issue of earlier cars. Choose a 718 GTS 4.0 or Spyder if you want the best engine. The four-cylinder 718 suits drivers who value fuel economy and turbo torque over sound.
Avoid any 986 or early 987 without proof that the intermediate-shaft bearing has been checked or replaced. More models from the brand are in the Porsche catalogue, and the brand's story is told in the history of Porsche.
The Porsche Boxster is a two-seat, mid-engined roadster built from 1996 to October 2025 in four generations: 986, 987, 981 and 982, sold as the 718 Boxster. Its engine sits behind the seats, unlike the rear-mounted engine of the 911. Power grew from 150 kW (204 PS) in the first 2.5-litre car to 368 kW (500 PS) in the 718 Spyder RS.
In short
- Shown as a concept at the 1993 Detroit motor show and launched in late 1996; built in Zuffenhausen, at Valmet in Finland (1997–2004) and in Osnabrück from 2012.
- Flat-six engines until 2016, turbocharged flat-fours in the 718, and a 4.0-litre flat-six again in the GTS 4.0 and Spyder models.
- Two luggage compartments, one at each end, holding about 280 litres in the 981.
- Production of the combustion Boxster ended in October 2025; Porsche plans an electric successor.
Size at a glance
| Dimensions | Porsche Boxster (981) |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,374 mm172.2 in |
| Width | 1,801 mm70.9 in |
| Height | 1,282 mm50.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,475 mm97.4 in |
Specs by version
Engines
Dimensions and weight
Verified Manufacturer and type-approval data from our catalog · Sources and methodology
The Porsche Boxster at a glance
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Two-seat roadster, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Generations | 986 (1996–2004), 987 (2004–2012), 981 (2012–2016), 982/718 (2016–2025) |
| Plants | Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen; Valmet, Uusikaupunki (1997–2004); Osnabrück (from 2012) |
| Engines | 2.5–4.0 flat-six; 2.0 and 2.5 turbo flat-four (718) |
| Power | 150–368 kW (204–500 PS) |
| Gearboxes | 5- and 6-speed manual, Tiptronic automatic, 7-speed PDK |
| Coupé sister | Porsche Cayman (from 2005) |
Boxster generations from 986 to 718
| Generation | Years | Engines | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 986 | 1996–2004 | 2.5, 2.7, 3.2 flat-six | 150–191 kW (204–260 PS) |
| 987 | 2004–2012 | 2.7, 2.9, 3.2, 3.4 flat-six | 176–235 kW (240–320 PS) |
| 981 | 2012–2016 | 2.7, 3.4, 3.8 flat-six | 195–276 kW (265–375 PS) |
| 982 / 718 | 2016–2025 | 2.0, 2.5 turbo flat-four; 4.0 flat-six | 220–368 kW (300–500 PS) |
The 986 followed the 1993 Boxster concept and went on sale in late 1996 with a 2.5-litre flat-six. The old 1cars text notes that it shared many body and interior parts with the 996-generation 911. In 2000 the base engine grew to 2.7 litres and the Boxster S arrived with 3.2 litres. Valmet in Finland built 109,213 Boxsters between 1997 and 2004.
The 987 was shown at the 2004 Paris Motor Show. It kept the layout but had a new interior and more power. The S moved to 3.4 litres in 2007, and the 2009 facelift brought a 2.9-litre base engine, direct injection on the S and the seven-speed PDK gearbox. According to the old text, Auto Bild named the Boxster the safest car in its test in 2008.
The 981, announced at Geneva in March 2012, had a new, lighter body with more aluminium. Its chassis was 40 % stiffer, the wheelbase 60 mm longer and the car up to 35 kg lighter. The 982 arrived in 2016 under the 718 name and switched the regular models to turbocharged four-cylinder engines.
Flat-six and flat-four engines: power and performance
| Version | Engine | Power |
|---|---|---|
| 986 Boxster (1996) | 2.5 flat-six | 150 kW (204 PS) |
| 986 Boxster S (2000) | 3.2 flat-six | 185 kW (252 PS) |
| 987 Boxster S (2009) | 3.4 flat-six, direct injection | 228 kW (310 PS) |
| 987 Boxster Spyder (2010) | 3.4 flat-six | 235 kW (320 PS) |
| 981 Boxster | 2.7 flat-six | 195 kW (265 PS) |
| 981 Boxster GTS (2014) | 3.4 flat-six | 243 kW (330 PS) |
| 981 Boxster Spyder (2015) | 3.8 flat-six | 276 kW (375 PS) |
| 718 Boxster | 2.0 turbo flat-four | 220 kW (300 PS) |
| 718 Boxster S | 2.5 turbo flat-four | 257 kW (350 PS) |
| 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 (2020) | 4.0 flat-six | 294 kW (400 PS) |
| 718 Spyder RS (2023) | 4.0 flat-six | 368 kW (500 PS) |
From the first 2.5 to the Spyder RS, power rose by 145 % by our calculation. The 987 Spyder of 2010 weighed 1,275 kg, which gives 5.4 kg per kW. A 718 Boxster S reaches 100 km/h in about 4 seconds. Compare any two versions in the power-to-weight calculator.
The 718 GTS 4.0 of 2020 had 420 Nm and a six-speed manual as standard. With it, Porsche again offered a flat-six next to the turbo four-cylinders, as it did in the Spyder models.
Two boots and a fabric roof: size and practicality
| Parameter | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Luggage space, 981 (two compartments) | about 280 l | about 9.9 cu ft |
| Drag coefficient, 981 | 0.29 | 0.29 |
| Wheelbase change, 987 to 981 | +60 mm | +2.4 in |
| Kerb weight, 987 Spyder | 1,275 kg | 2,811 lb |
The mid-engine layout leaves room for a boot under the bonnet and a second one behind the engine. According to the old 1cars text, the 981 grew 32 mm in length and lost 10 mm in height. It moved the windscreen forward, added a small rear spoiler that rises at speed and reached a drag coefficient of 0.29. The fabric roof is electrically operated, and the 981 cabin added a 7-inch touchscreen.
Fuel use and running costs
Porsche claimed that the 981 used about 15 % less fuel than the 987, helped by direct injection, start-stop and the PDK gearbox. Owners of 986 and early 987 models should know about the intermediate-shaft bearing issue, which led to a class action covering cars built between May 2001 and February 2005. Work out your fuel bill with the 1cars fuel cost calculator.
Prices, trims and special editions
At its 1996 launch, the Boxster cost 76,500 Deutsche Mark in Germany, about 39,100 EUR. In 2012 German prices for the 981 started at 49,243 EUR for the Boxster and 60,191 EUR for the Boxster S.
| Special edition | Year | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Boxster S 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary | 2004 | 1,953 |
| Boxster RS 60 Spyder | 2008 | 1,960 |
| Boxster Spyder (987) | 2009–2012 | 1,667 |
| Boxster Black Edition | 2011 | 987 |
| Boxster Spyder (981) | 2015–2016 | 2,486 |
| 718 Boxster 25 Years | 2021 | 1,250 |
The trim ladder was simple: Boxster, Boxster S, GTS and Spyder, with a long options list. Porsche ended sales of the base 718 Boxster in the EU in 2024 because of new cybersecurity rules.
Safety and crash protection
Euro NCAP has not published a test of the Boxster. The car uses Porsche's side impact protection system (POSIP), Porsche Stability Management and, on later cars, larger brakes and LED lights. The old 1cars text records the Auto Bild safety result of 2008.
Boxster versus other roadsters
| Model | Layout | Power | How it differs from the Boxster |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW Z4 (G29) | Front engine, RWD | 145–250 kW | Longer bonnet, front-engined balance |
| Audi TT Roadster | Front engine, FWD or AWD | up to 294 kW (TT RS) | Four-cylinder and five-cylinder engines |
| Alpine A110 | Mid-engine coupé | 185–221 kW | Lighter, coupé only |
| Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet | Rear engine | from 283 kW (385 PS, 992) | Rear seats, higher price |
With its engine between the axles, the Boxster is closer in layout to a racing car than its front-engined rivals. Its closed twin is the Porsche Cayman. Rivals and versions can be lined up side by side in the 1cars comparison tool.
Porsche Boxster evolution in numbers
Did you know?
- The Porsche Boxster ran for 29 years, from 1996 to 2025, over 4 generations in our catalog.
- The longest-running generation is the 718 Boxster (982) (2016–2025): 9 years.
- The biggest jump in power came with the 718 Boxster (982): up to 368 kW (500 PS), 92 kW more than the Boxster (981).
Most powerful version, kW
Figures from the 1cars catalog: power is the strongest version of each generation; generations without the figure are left out.
Porsche Boxster: first vs latest generation
| Spec | Boxster (986) | 718 Boxster (982) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | 1996–2004 | 2016–2025 | 20 years apart |
| Most powerful version | 195 kW (265 PS) | 368 kW (500 PS) | +173 kW (+89%) |
Oldest and newest generation in the 1cars catalog. Power is the strongest version of each; other rows are shown only when both generations have the figure.
Image credits · Photos from Wikimedia Commons under free licences
- Porsche Boxster (987) · Photo: Spanish Coches / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
- Porsche Boxster (981) · Photo: Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Porsche 718 Boxster (982) · Photo: OWS Photography / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Porsche Boxster in our rankings
- No. 82 of 1082 · Longest-running car nameplates (29 years · top 9%)
- No. 220 of 1011 · Most powerful cars (368 kW · top 22%)
- No. 23 of 81 · Most powerful convertibles and roadsters (368 kW · top 29%)
- No. 115 of 354 · Most powerful cars of the 2010s (276 kW · top 33%)
- No. 50 of 151 · Most powerful German cars (368 kW · top 35%)
- No. 186 of 531 · Smallest cars (4,374 mm · top 36%)
In production longer than 91% of ranked nameplates in the 1CARS catalog (No. 82 of 1082).
Porsche Boxster photos 15
Porsche Boxster videos 2
Test drive
Video overview
FAQ
How many generations of the Porsche Boxster are there?
There are four: the 986 (1996–2004), 987 (2004–2012), 981 (2012–2016) and 982, sold as the 718 Boxster (2016–2025). The 718 introduced turbocharged four-cylinder engines, while the GTS 4.0 and Spyders kept a flat-six.
Is the Porsche Boxster still made?
No. Production of the combustion Boxster and Cayman ended in October 2025. Porsche's chief executive Oliver Blume has said that electric successors will follow in the medium term.
What engine does the Porsche Boxster have?
Before 2016 every Boxster had a flat-six, from 2.5 to 3.8 litres. The 718 uses 2.0 and 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-fours, while the GTS 4.0, Spyder and Spyder RS have a 4.0-litre flat-six with up to 368 kW.
How much luggage does a Porsche Boxster carry?
The Boxster has two boots, one under the bonnet and one behind the engine. In the 981, they hold about 280 litres in total, enough for weekend bags for two people.
Which Porsche Boxster is the most reliable?
Cars from 2009 onwards with direct-injection engines avoid the intermediate-shaft bearing issue of many 986 and early 987 models. Whatever the year, a full service history matters most.
Data sources
Data checked by an editor against the sources below.
- The text of this article (1cars archive)
- Wikipedia - Porsche Cayman
- Wikipedia - Porsche Boxster
- Wikipedia - Porsche Boxster and Cayman (981)
