Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Porsche 718 Cayman review

The Porsche 718 Cayman is a fantastically capable sports car, and arguably more exploitable than the firm's faster models

Overall Auto Express rating

4.5

How we review cars
Price
£56,105 - £128,900
  • Pin-sharp handling
  • Plenty of power
  • Cheaper than a Boxster
  • Expensive options
  • Practicality
  • Road noise on big wheels
Find your Porsche Cayman
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

​The Porsche 718 Cayman is a driving enthusiast's dream and is more than capable of lining up confidently alongside its 911 sibling. With the move to turbocharged four-cylinder engines, it lacks the previous generation’s electrifying soundtrack, and feels marginally less exciting as a result. However, Porsche has responded and restored a six-cylinder unit to the GTS 4.0-litre model.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Every version is superb to drive, though, and as it now undercuts the drop-top 718 Boxster, it’s the cheapest Porsche for sale. We’d go for an entry-level Cayman with small wheels and a manual gearbox, as it offers amazing value for such a talented machine, with the purest driving thrills and heaps of performance.

About the Porsche 718 Cayman

The 718 Cayman is the entry point to the world of new Porsche ownership, but it's by no means any less skilled than other models in the range. For starters, it's not cheap, with prices kicking off at around £52,000. But when you consider that it's one of the best handling and most accessible sports cars you can buy, it could easily justify a far higher price.

And that statement applies whether you choose the standard car, or go for the faster Cayman S or GTS versions. The track-focused Cayman GT4 speaks for itself and offers a driver’s package that is superbly balanced, precise and razor sharp in its responses, while the lightweight GT4 RS model takes things on a stage further and is one of the best road cars we've ever driven on a racing circuit.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The Cayman still shares its running gear with the open-top Boxster, which is around £2,000 more than the coupe, while the name change to 718 Cayman signifies that it too has switched, for the most part, from flat-six to four-cylinder turbo power. That change has boosted efficiency, while performance remains unabridged – in fact, the 718 has the best acceleration and handling of any Cayman yet produced.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Until recently, there weren't many direct rivals for the Porsche Cayman. But today, the Alpine A110 and Lotus Emira are strong opponents to go up against. Other rivals in the sports car world include our Performance Car of the Year for 2023 – the new BMW M2 – and the Toyota GR Supra, while the Jaguar F-Type and Audi TT RS both have their merits but are not long for this world.

The standard Cayman features a 2.0-litre turbocharged flat-four making 296bhp, and it comes with either a six-speed manual or optional seven-speed PDK twin-clutch auto. Both gearboxes are great to use, while opting for the latter sees fuel economy and acceleration improved over the manual.

For around £5,000 more, the Style Edition trim adds in a series of design tweaks including contrasting paint colour combinations, illuminated door sill guards and additional interior leather. Mechanically, though, this version is the same as the entry-level model.

The Cayman S starts from around £62,000, and comes with a 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four engine making 345bhp, again with six-speed manual or seven-speed PDK gearbox options. The Cayman GTS gains 4.0-litre, six-cylinder power, producing 394bhp and a price tag starting from more than £73,000. Like the rest of the range, this base price can quickly escalate if you are careless adding options.

The GT4 uses the same 4.0-litre flat-six engine, but gains an extra 20bhp over the GTS and comes with more sophisticated suspension, special sticky tyres and a host of unique aero-kit. But, if you’ve got pockets deep enough to afford the GT4 RS then we'd say go for it – you won't regret it.

Very soon both the Porsche Cayman and Boxster will be ditching petrol engines in favour of all-electric power, and will sit on a bespoke platform. We don’t expect the next-generation Cayman and Boxster to arrive until 2025 though, so there’s still time to put your order in for the current petrol-powered versions.

For an alternative review of the latest Porsche 718 Cayman visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Cayman

Best track day cars 2024
Best track day cars - header image

Best track day cars 2024

Whether you're looking to shave tenths off your lap time or simply want to have fun, these are the UK's best track day cars
Best cars & vans
1 Oct 2024
Best performance cars to buy 2024
Best performance cars - header image

Best performance cars to buy 2024

Performance cars have reached new heights of speed and interaction - here’s a list of our ten favourites from the current crop
Best cars & vans
12 Sep 2024
Best sounding cars
Best sounding cars - header image

Best sounding cars

As cars are getting quieter, here are the best sounding cars you can buy
Best cars & vans
23 Aug 2024
Best sports cars to buy 2024
Best sports cars - header image

Best sports cars to buy 2024

Fun and thrills by the bucketload! These are the best sports cars for your money
Best cars & vans
25 Jun 2024
Brexit benefit: Porsche Boxster and Cayman axed in Europe, but survive in the UK!
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS - front cornering

Brexit benefit: Porsche Boxster and Cayman axed in Europe, but survive in the UK!

Cybersecurity regulations mean the Porsche 718-generation sports cars will be killed-off this year on the continent
News
27 Mar 2024
Best used coupes 2024
Best used coupes - header image

Best used coupes 2024

If you want an appealing car that mixes performance with style, the best used coupes will tick a lot of boxes
Best cars & vans
15 Jan 2024
Best used sports cars 2024
Best used sports cars - header image

Best used sports cars 2024

These are the top used sports cars for those looking for some fun but usable second-hand wheels
Best cars & vans
15 Jan 2024
New Porsche 718 Cayman Style Edition 2023 review
Porsche 718 Cayman Style Edition - front

New Porsche 718 Cayman Style Edition 2023 review

The new Porsche 718 Cayman Style Edition stands out from the crowd with a series of bold cosmetic tweaks
Road tests
20 Sep 2023
BMW M2 vs Porsche 718 Cayman GTS: 2023 twin test review
BMW M2 and Porsche 718 Cayman GTS - front tracking

BMW M2 vs Porsche 718 Cayman GTS: 2023 twin test review

We’ve been impressed by the BMW M2 so far, but how does it fare against the performance-focused Porsche 718 Cayman GTS?
Car group tests
5 Aug 2023
New Porsche Cayman and Boxster Style Editions launched
Porsche Cayman Style Edition - front

New Porsche Cayman and Boxster Style Editions launched

Finished in retro Ruby Star Neo paint, the Style Edition models arrive with unique design details and extensive standard kit
News
2 Nov 2022
BMW M4 CSL vs Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS: 2022 twin test review
BMW M4 CSL and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS - front tracking

BMW M4 CSL vs Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS: 2022 twin test review

Focused BMW M4 CSL takes on the razor-sharp Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS in a battle for track-day supremacy
Car group tests
29 Oct 2022
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS 2022 review
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS - front

New Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS 2022 review

The superb 496bhp Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS lives up to its reputation on UK roads
Road tests
18 Aug 2022
Performance Car of the Year 2022: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS - New Car Awards 2022

Performance Car of the Year 2022: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the 2022 Auto Express Performance Car of the Year, with the Ferrari 296 GTB and Toyota GR Yaris commended
Awards
6 Jul 2022
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance hints at next-gen electric Cayman
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance - front tracking

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance hints at next-gen electric Cayman

New 1,073bhp electric racer will serve as a test bed for Porsche’s EV sports car tech, which will be applied to the Cayman’s pure-electric replacement
News
16 May 2022
BMW M240i Coupe vs Porsche 718 Cayman vs Audi TT RS: 2022 group test review
BMW M240i Coupe vs Porsche 718 Cayman vs Audi TT RS - header

BMW M240i Coupe vs Porsche 718 Cayman vs Audi TT RS: 2022 group test review

BMW M240i, Porsche 718 Cayman and Audi TT RS flex their muscle, but which sports coupe wins out?
Car group tests
30 Apr 2022
New hardcore Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS unveiled with 493bhp
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 - front

New hardcore Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS unveiled with 493bhp

The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS track toy features a 911 GT3-derived engine and serious modifications for huge performance
News
17 Nov 2021
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0: long-term test review
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 long termer - final report header

Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0: long-term test review

Final report: parting is such sorrow for our man as he says farewell to the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS
Long-term tests
2 Nov 2021
New Porsche Cayman GT4 PDK 2021 review
Porsche Cayman GT4 PDK

New Porsche Cayman GT4 PDK 2021 review

Can the addition of a PDK gearbox improve the Porsche Cayman GT4 recipe?
Road tests
13 May 2021
Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman GTS 4.0 PDK automatic launched

Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman GTS 4.0 PDK automatic launched

Porsche has dampened down the driver involvement for its 718 GTS models with a new seven-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic gearbox
News
8 Sep 2020
BMW M2 CS vs Porsche 718 Cayman GTS vs Alpine A110 S

BMW M2 CS vs Porsche 718 Cayman GTS vs Alpine A110 S

The new BMW M2 CS is the most hardcore M2 yet, but is it a match for the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and Alpine A110 S?
Car group tests
22 Aug 2020
New Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 2020 review

New Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 2020 review

The new Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 ditches turbocharging for a naturally-aspirated flat-six, we find out if it's the pick of the range...
Road tests
13 Jul 2020
Used Porsche 718 Cayman (Mk3, 2016-date) review: one of the UK’s best sports cars
Used Porsche 718 Cayman - front

Used Porsche 718 Cayman (Mk3, 2016-date) review: one of the UK’s best sports cars

A full used buyer’s guide on the Porsche 718 Cayman Mk3 that has been on sale since 2016
Used car tests
19 May 2020
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 vs Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 vs Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R

Hardcore Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R lock horns in track showdown
Car group tests
28 Mar 2020