Porsche 718 Boxster Review 2024

The Porsche 718 Boxster has really come into its own in recent years. It’s a proper mid-engined roadster that is deserving of the famous Stuttgart badge. Once seen as a lesser Porsche, today the Porsche 718 Boxster and its tin-top sibling, the Porsche 718 Cayman, are fantastic to drive, well-equipped and surprisingly good value for money. Read on for our  Porsche 718 Boxster review.

The Porsche Boxster was once seen merely as the cheaper alternative to a Porsche 911, and accordingly was derided by many. Today, however, these early cars have become increasingly popular as modern classics.

The latest model, first introduced in 2016, has far fewer critics. We’ll explain in our Porsche 718 Boxster review how its sharp looks, superb dynamics, everyday usability and powerful engines have made it a real benchmark among the best sports cars on the market.

The Porsche 718 Boxster follows a classic two-seat sports car formula, sitting close to the ground with a design that makes it appear wider than it is. High front wings not only give it a muscular appearance, but help the driver place the front wheels perfectly in each corner.

It looks both purposeful and cheeky, as though designed with fun very much in mind.

That is demonstrated when you get behind the wheel. Porsche engineers really know how to create a car that rewards the enthusiastic driver, and at the same time provide a sporting experience for those who want everyday comfort with the top down.

A switch to four-cylinder engines for the main Porsche 718 Boxster models attracted some criticism, not so much for their power, which actually increased, but for their failure to deliver a compelling soundtrack compared with the previous six-cylinder engines.

Porsche tried its best to recreate the sound, but when the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS arrived with the 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine from the Porsche Cayman GT4, it was obvious that the engineers wanted to correct things.

All models deliver superb power and torque, with the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch automatic. The latter provides access to the Sport Chrono package, offering faster acceleration, combined with ease of driving in urban traffic.

There are plenty of driver assistance systems as well, such as Porsche Stability Management and Porsche Active Suspension Management, while some models even connect to the Porsche Track Precision App to get the most from track driving.

The range has something for drivers of all ability and experience, with the entry-level Porsche 718 Boxster delivering a good level of driving fun and Porsche character.

The recent addition of the Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition adds some vibrant colours to the mix, with contrasting combinations inside and out, as well as decals that help it really stand out.

If you want substance over style, though, the Porsche 718 Boxster S is the best option, thanks to its increased power and better chassis set-up. The Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 takes things even further, with 400PS and driving characteristics that make it comparable to a 911.

The flagship is the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS with its 500PS, a 0-62mph time of just 3.4 seconds, reduced weight and a sharper chassis. This is the one for the keenest of drivers, designed and engineered to tackle mountain passes rather than high streets.

The Porsche 718 Boxster can now really stand proud in the illustrious Porsche line-up. It has some strong rivals, including the brawny Ford Mustang, rejuvenated BMW Z4, and classy Jaguar F-Type, but none of these can match it for driving pleasure and quality of engineering.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar’s Porsche 718 Boxster review.

The Porsche Boxster has always been an everyday sports car, so much so that many drivers owned the original as a company car.

The latest Porsche 718 Boxster is still as comfortable to drive on the commute or to the shops, but you’ll ideally want to exploit its potential on twisting country roads, or even at a racing circuit.

The ride is firm – it is a sports car, after all – but not to such an extent that you feel every bump, especially if you have the Porsche Active Suspension Management option fitted.

The suspension and steering are simply wonderful, with the latter an electro-mechanical system that is pinpoint-accurate. This helps make the Porsche 718 Boxster a seriously controllable car, relishing every corner of a country lane, or every apex on a track.

It all adds up to a package that is guaranteed to put a smile on any driver’s face.

The latest generation of the Porsche 718 Boxster switched to four-cylinder petrol engines when it was launched a few years ago.

This prompted a bit of an outcry, but the only thing that really changed was the sound.

The standard model gets 300PS from a 2.0-litre engine, with the maximum torque of 380Nm coming in between 2,150 and 4,500rpm.

The combination of low-down torque, the turbocharger and a 6,500rpm power peak makes for some high-revving fun when you want to play with the six-speed manual gearbox.

In this configuration, it will reach 62mph in 5.1 seconds, but opt for the PDK dual-clutch automatic and this is reduced to 4.9 seconds, or 4.7 if you spec the car with a Sport Chrono Package.

The Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition matches these figures, but with added cosmetic flair.

The best all-round Porsche 718 Boxster is the GTS 4.0 with its flat-six 4.0 litre engine borrowed from the 911. Maximum power is 400PS at 7,000rpm, with torque of 430Nm at 5,500rpm for the PDK and between 5,000-6,500rpm in the manual.

It’s a fantastic engine which is eager to be revved hard and will get you to 62mph in just 4.5 seconds with the dual-clutch gearbox.

At the very top of the line-up sits the Porsche 718 Spyder RS. It uses the same flat-six as the GTS, but the engineers have wrung 500PS and 450Nm out of it, with maximum power arriving at a heady 9,000rpm.

Only available with the PDK gearbox, it will hit 62mph in just 3.4 seconds.

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the Porsche 718 Boxster, but we’d expect the body to be strong enough for most eventualities. It’s also equipped with plenty of driver and passenger airbags, as well as pop-up roll hoops that deploy if the car flips over.

There are plenty of electronic safety systems as well, including Porsche Active Stability Management, traction control and ABS.

However, it's a pity Porsche sees fit to charge extra for lane change assist and a reversing camera. Parking sensors are included as standard.

Towing is not a possibility with the Porsche 718 Boxster due to its central exhaust pipe, although it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to pull a caravan or horsebox with it anyway.

The Porsche 718 Boxster is a two-seat sports car, so practicality is probably not high on the list of buyer priorities. Even so, it is surprising how easy it is to live with on a daily basis, with decent comfort and interior space.

The boot capacity isn’t huge, at 122 litres, but it’s enough for daily use and a couple of weekend bags. There’s also 150 litres of luggage space under the bonnet, so it should be sufficient for most needs.

There’s an Isofix child seat mounting point on the passenger seat and you can squeeze a bit of extra stuff behind the seats, which have plenty of adjustment.

Even the soft-top is fairly practical, thanks to its ability to be opened or closed at the push of a button at speeds up to 40mph. It does a fine job of keeping out most wind and road noise.

You’d expect a Porsche to be well built and that’s definitely the case here. It all feels really good quality, with materials that are pleasing to the touch.

There’s plenty of soft trim on the dashboard and inside the doors, while the buttons all feel solid.

The multi-layer fabric roof folds away in just 10 seconds and fits snugly, doing a fine job of keeping external noises at bay.

The latest generation Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system is a huge improvement over previous iterations.

The icons are clear and easy to select, and the system can be paired easily to your smartphone for access to streaming or using Apple CarPlay. It also provides access to some of the car’s settings.

The infotainment system is also linked to the screen in one of the dials within the instrument cluster.

It’s a pity that buttons on the steering wheel are an option on most models, though, as they make it easy to scroll through radio stations, trip information, the satellite navigation or settings without taking your eyes away from the road.

At the time of writing, prices for the Porsche 718 Boxster range start at £53,800 for the standard model.

However, if you want the likes of electrically operated seats or buttons on the steering wheel, you’ll soon be ticking away on the options list, adding to the cost.

You can jazz things up with the Porsche 718 Boxster Style from £58,000, while the 718 Boxster S starts from £63,800.

And if you want the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 with its 400PS and superb soundtrack, you’ll be parting with anything upwards of £75,300.

At the top of the line-up sits the Porsche 718 Spyder RS, the ultimate Boxster with 500PS, a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds and the ability to thrill the driver and their passenger at every turn, all for a price of £123,000.

Fuel consumption varies immensely across the range and if you spend lots of time driving a Porsche 718 Boxster enthusiastically, it’s probably best you don’t look at the economy figures at all.

The base model is capable of achieving a combined miles-per-gallon figure in the early 30s, while the Porsche 718 Boxster S is more likely to sit in the upper 20s, along with the GTS 4.0. You’ll be lucky to get much more than 20mpg in the Porsche 718 Spyder RS, frankly.

Every Porsche comes with a three-year warranty and three years of Porsche roadside assistance, which is applicable in the UK and across Europe. Servicing is every two years or 20,000 miles.

The range starts with the standard Porsche 718 Boxster. This offers a decent amount of kit, although you might be surprised to find electrical adjustment for the seats on the options list.

It does have an electrical folding fabric roof, climate control air-con, a six-speaker audio and the Porsche Communication Management infotainment system.

Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition versions get all this, plus unique bright colours and decals, as well as a few contrasting interior trim elements.

Go for the Porsche 718 Boxster S and, as well as more power and performance, there are 19-inch alloy wheels and partial leather seats.

All models come with various driving modes, including Normal, Sport and Sport Plus, but add the Sport Chrono package and you’ll see a Sport Response Button on the steering wheel.

This provides 20 seconds of maximum alertness from the engine, gearbox and steering, similar to a push-to-pass button in motorsport.

The Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 has the Sport Chrono package as standard. This sits 20mm lower and has a sports exhaust, adaptive dampers and 20-inch alloy wheels as standard.

There is an extensive options list across the range, and you can go further with equipment from Porsche’s Tequipment catalogue – or even go down the personalisation route with Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur department.