Porsche Cayman vs Alfa Romeo 4C

Alfa Romeo is an enigma. Famed for making some of the world’s most beautiful cars, this company has a sporting heritage that stretches back nearly a century.

• Alfa Romeo 4C review

• Porsche Cayman review

Yet with the exception of the limited-edition 8C supercar, it’s been decades since the evocative brand has made a sports car that truly lives up to its illustrious past. The new 4C changes that. Its specification is pure supercar – carbon-fibre chassis, dual-clutch gearbox, mid-engine layout – but it costs less than £50,000. And with a 237bhp, 1.7-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched to a featherlight kerbweight, unassisted steering and rear-wheel drive, it promises to be scintillating to drive.

Yet for a similar amount of cash, you could get your hands on one of the best sports cars on the planet: the Porsche Cayman. In fact, the 271bhp 2.7-litre entry-level Cayman is cheaper and more powerful than the Alfa, so you’ll be able to dip into Porsche’s long options list with the money you save.

The Cayman also promises to be a lot more practical, refined and comfortable than the 4C. However, will this focus on everyday usability blunt the Porsche’s appeal when compared to the razor-sharp Alfa? We pitch the pair head-to-head on road and track to deliver the definitive verdict on one of the most eagerly awaited performance car bouts of the year.

Head-to-head

On track With its hard set-up, the Alfa is more at home on a track than the road. You quickly discover strong lateral body control and lots of grip, and can enjoy high-speed changes of direction. Yet in medium-speed corners, the stiff front end understeers too much, and the transition to oversteer is snappy. There’s lots of stopping power, but the brakes lack feel. The Cayman is more adjustable and agile. Which was quicker around Lincolnshire’s Blyton race track? Our video at www.autoexpress.co.uk reveals all.

Gearbox

The Alfa is only offered with a dual-clutch box, while Porsche sells its similar PDK set-up as a £1,922 option. That still makes the Cayman cheaper to buy than the 4C – although the standard manual box has a great shift action.

Heritage

Few brands can rival Porsche and Alfa Romeo for sports car kudos and motorsport heritage. Alfa has lost its magic in recent times, but in the thirties, fifties, sixties and seventies, its sports cars were lusted after the world over. Racing Alfas were originally famed for their part in classic road races like the Targa Florio and Mille Miglia, and they battled Porsches for class and overall wins in world championship sportscar racing right up to the mid-seventies.

Worth considering

Lotus Exige S The Exige S is closer in character to the 4C than the 4C is to the Cayman. The Lotus delivers more power from its V6 engine, although it’s much more expensive, with a price tag of £52,900.

1st place - Porsche

The Cayman is a fantastic all-rounder. It’s incredibly composed on the limit, and equally engaging and sharp at low speeds. It’s also more comfortable and refined than the Alfa, as well as cheaper to buy. And while it’s a bit slower than the 4C, cabin quality is superb and its everyday versatility is unrivalled. 

2nd place - Alfa Romeo

The 4C is a stunningly attractive sports car and a welcome addition to struggling Alfa’s line-up. But thanks to its unflinching focus on lightness and performance, it’s so raw you’ll need to be a purist to put up with the lack of refinement – and it still can’t match the sweet handling of the Porsche Cayman.