The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- So, so poised
- Top-notch steering
- Impressive turbo power
- A version for everyone
Dislikes
- Goes away soon
- Expensive
- Not much safety tech
- Impractical
Buying tip
features & specs
Grab these brilliant gas-fueled mid-engine sports cars while you still can.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Porsche 718? What does it compare to?
Porsche groups its Boxster roadster and Cayman coupe under the 718 banner. These mid-engine sports cars are worth shopping against the Chevrolet Corvette, Nissan Z, and BMW Z4.
Is the 2025 Porsche 718 a good car?
Undoubtedly so. The 718 is hardly a bargain, but these are some of the most balanced gas-fueled sports cars the world will ever see. They’re a 6.8 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Porsche 718?
Nothing, but as of the publication date this is set to be the final year for the 718 lineup in its current form before Porsche switches them over to all-electric sports cars. We will miss them.
The 718 badge goes on the back of both the Boxster (roadster) and Cayman (coupe) models. They both have the same front and rear styling, with only the Cayman’s sleeker roofline and the Boxster’s cloth top differentiating them.
Inside, the 718 has what we’ll now call a throwback look thanks to myriad buttons and knobs. It’s easy enough to sort through, though, and the highlight of the show is the high level of customization potential that Porsche offers for materials and trim.
Base and 718 S models have turbocharged flat-4 engines that emit a raspy, not-quite-sporty note, but they’re plenty quick. This engine helps contribute to spectacular handling as it's light and mounted in the middle of the car. The GTS 4.0’s flat-6 ups the ante considerably in terms of in-reserve power without feeling too much heavier, though it’s not quite as light on its feet. GT4 and RS models have 493 hp, which makes them some of the most rapid models to ever bear the Porsche crest.
No 718 is as adept at grand touring as the brand’s 911, but these cars have a special personality fed by near-perfect steering and a poised, firm suspension. They’re exceptionally balanced vehicles. Both cars are most engaging with the standard 6-speed manual, but the 7-speed dual-clutch is great for track use since it rifles through gears with methodic precision.
By sporty coupe and roadster standards, the 718s can offer decent fuel economy. Figure between 19 and 24 mpg combined for most variants, aside from the powerful 718 RS models.
They may not be spacious inside, but the 718 models have nice cabins with attractive materials and comfortable standard or optional sport seats. They are not particularly practical, though, as even the Cayman’s cargo area is downright compromised.
Don’t look for much in the way of safety or crash-avoidance tech here, though. Porsche offers only front and rear parking sensors standard. Adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitors are optional, but only the blind-spot monitors are available for cars with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
How much does the 2025 Porsche 718 cost?
Porsche offers the 718 Boxster and Cayman in base, S, Style Edition, and GTS models. The Cayman is also available as the GT4 RS, while the Boxster also comes as the Spyder RS. The 718 Cayman starts at $74,795, while the Boxster starts at $76,895, both including a $1,995 destination fee. Those prices can double or triple as you work your way up this complicated lineup. Base cars are no slouches, though, with leather upholstery, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Where is the 2025 Porsche 718 made?
In Germany.
2025 Porsche 718 Styling
Roadster or coupe, the 718 makes for a dashing sports car.
Is the Porsche 718 a good-looking car?
The 718 has a distinct Porsche flair that works really well. We rate the range a 9 out of 10.
Both the Cayman coupe and Boxster roadster start off with the same front end that features bulbous headlights and muscular fenders that give way to a somewhat upright windshield. From the side, the Cayman version’s sloping roofline is simply to die for, though the cloth-top Boxster is hardly unattractive. Both have functional air vents behind the front doors that give off a Carrera GT vibe. At the rear, the narrow taillights are connected by a delicate Porsche script, and they sit over a single central exhaust outlet.
Inside, the cabin sticks with traditional buttons and knobs, unlike the rest of the Porsche lineup. This look and functionality work and look great, though they're also about a decade behind the times. There’s also a seemingly endless level of customization potential in trim and materials here, so there’s no reason to stick with simple black leather—unless you want it draping every surface.
2025 Porsche 718 Performance
The Porsche 718 is peak mid-engine sports car.
Light on its feet yet decidedly planted, the 2025 Porsche 718 models are spectacular to drive. These cars easily net a 10 on the TCC scale; top-end models would score an 11 if only our scale went that high.
Is the Porsche 718 4WD?
No, the 718 is rear-wheel drive. If you want an all-wheel-drive Porsche sports car, it’ll have to be a 911.
How fast is the Porsche 718?
No model is slow. The base turbocharged flat-4 muscles out 300 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque via either a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic or a 6-speed manual gearbox. The automatic is quicker, but the visceral feel of the manual earns our nod. The 0-60 mph run takes as little as 4.5 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. Still, we’d go for the 718 S, which ups the ante to 350 hp and 309 lb-ft that helps cut a half-second off of the run to 60 mph.
If your budget allows, go for the GTS 4.0. Its flat-6 puts out a hefty 394 hp. On paper, it’s not that much quicker, but it provides far stronger acceleration when it comes to passing slow-moving vehicles or climbing steep grades. A version of this engine puts out an astounding 493 hp in the 718 Spyder RS and Cayman GT4 RS models, which makes them some of the fastest Porsches you can buy.
These are proper, old-school sports cars, though, so they’re not just about going fast. They have near-telepathic steering with a granular feel that no other automaker can seem to emulate. Turn-in is quick and responsive, giving the 718 go-kart-esque moves at any speed. They’re not darty, though. The poised chassis seems to hunker down for remarkably relaxed highway cruising. That said, the 718 has a firm ride even in its softest configuration. Opt for adaptive dampers and the cars become more tolerable for rougher roads, though the RS models will never be truly comfortable. If you’re after a mile-eating Porsche, the brand’s 911 has a longer wheelbase that helps contribute to a more relaxed experience at speed. But if you’re after a track-day superstar, you can stop right here.
2025 Porsche 718 Comfort & Quality
Porsche fits a luxury-grade cabin to its 718 models.
The Porsche 718 is hardly spacious, but it is quite comfortable and well-outfitted for two. We land at 5, adding points for great seats and fine materials but subtracting points for very little cargo space and no back seat.
The standard leather seats are heated but lack power adjustments unless you spend more. You can also swap them out for various levels of sport seats with more bolstering and up to 18-way power controls, but it’s important to try out the sportiest of these before buying them as they can get quite confining.
The Cayman’s 9.7 cubic feet of rear cargo space and 5.3 cubic feet up front almost makes it practical, but the storage areas have awkward shapes that will make loading suitcases a challenge. Boxsters cut the rear cargo area to just 4.4 cubic feet to make room for the cloth top.
2025 Porsche 718 Safety
The 2025 Porsche 718 is light on crash-avoidance tech.
How safe is the Porsche 718?
We don’t know for certain since these cars have not been evaluated by either the IIHS or the NHTSA. Never say never, but it’s highly unlikely they will be tested.
Porsche only outfits the 718 with standard front and rear parking sensors. The company charges extra for automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, both of which can’t be bundled with a manual transmission. Blind-spot monitors can be ordered with either transmission.
2025 Porsche 718 Features
Porsche will build you a 718 in just about any flavor you like, but none are cheap.
The Porsche 718 follows the automaker’s traditional recipe. Its basic menu is enormous, with numerous extra-cost customization options. It runs $74,795 for the cheapest 718 Cayman, or around $2,000 more for a 718 Boxster. They’re outfitted with leather upholstery, heated seats, a bright 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 18-inch wheels. We grant the 718 lineup points for standard equipment, myriad customization options, and a fairly good infotainment system. They’re an 8 for features.
The 4-year/50,000-mile warranty is high-end typical.
Which Porsche 718 should I buy?
We’d spend up for the Cayman S. It’s $12,000 more, but that money buys bigger wheels and more power. You’ll definitely want to budget for a few additional options, and there’s no reason to be shy at this point since 2025 is the 718’s swansong year in its current configuration. Figure at least another $10,000 to net such niceties as keyless ignition, adaptive dampers, upgraded leather, and metallic paint.
Before you add too many options to a Cayman S, though, be sure to consider the GTS, which runs $14,900 more, tickling six figures. Its 6-cylinder powertrain is more powerful and also gives the 718 a throaty, more traditional Porsche sound. It’s not a gigantic price leap once you start adding features to an S.
How much is a fully loaded Porsche 718?
It’s easy to crest $100,000, and it’s even easier to keep going. A 718 Spyder RS or a 718 Cayman GT4 RS will both set you back $167,495, including a $1,300 gas-guzzler tax, and even then it’s quite possible to spend your way into the $250,000 range with custom paint, magnesium wheels, and all sorts of additional features.
2025 Porsche 718 Fuel Economy
By sports car standards, the 718 models are fairly frugal.
Is the Porsche 718 good on gas?
They’re not nearly as thrifty as their inevitable EV replacements, but the Porsche 718 models offer reasonable fuel economy for sporty cars. While 2025 estimates are not yet available, the 2024 ratings should hold as the cars haven't changed. Base models are estimated as high as 21 mpg city, 27 highway, 24 combined with the automatic gearbox, while the manual gearbox dents those estimates to 20/25/22 mpg. Both of those figures rate a 2 on our scale.
S versions are rated between 21 and 22 mpg combined, while the 718 GTS slumps to 19 mpg combined with the manual transmission. A 718 RS guzzles fuel at just 16 mpg combined, but we wouldn’t expect otherwise.
