Porsche 718 Boxster - TopCarNews

Porsche 718 Boxster (2016 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Porsche 718 Boxster is a two-seat roadster, with a sister coupé model called the 718 Cayman. Porsche refers to the current car as the fourth generation of the Boxster, but it’s really more like a mid-life update for the third-generation model.

The 718 numbering is a new addition to the current model and is drawn from an obscure racing Porsche from the 1960s that very few Boxster drivers will have ever heard of. It is part of Porsche’s (so far largely unsuccessful) attempts to garner enthusiasm for its decision to downsize the Boxster’s engine from six cylinders to four.

The Porsche 718 Boxster range, which now includes a higher-performance Spyder model, has received very positive reviews from the UK motoring media. As with previous generations of Boxster, it has been praised for its driving dynamics compared to other open-top sports cars at any price point. The main criticism has been almost universal condemnation of the new four-cylinder engines that have replaced the six-cylinder units in previous models. A new GTS model with a 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine has addressed those misgivings, although that’s only available on top-level cars.

As of December 2021, the Porsche 718 Boxster holds an Expert Rating of 86%, based on 28 different reviews published by the UK media.

Key specifications

Body style: Two-door convertibleEngine: petrol
Price: From £47,090 on-road

Launched: Spring 2016Last updated: Spring 2021
Replacement due: TBA

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Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol automatic GTSScore: 10 / 10“Even faster than its manual sibling, the Boxster GTS 4.0 PDK is one of Porsche’s most usable, fun cars. It feels perfectly sized for British roads and handles superbly, and has an emotional appeal that the regular four-cylinder Boxster simply cannot match.”
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Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol manual GTSScore: 10 / 10“On the surface, this Boxster seems like a lot of money, but as roadsters go, the GTS 4.0 is difficult to fault. Its six-cylinder engine is the star of the show, but it’s backed up by a brilliant chassis and effortless everyday usability.”
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Model reviewed: SpyderScore: 10 / 10“As sensational to drive as it is to look at or listen to, the new Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder is a seriously good sports car.”
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Model reviewed: Range review718 Boxster TScore: 9 / 10“The Porsche 718 Boxster T taps into the vein of ability that makes the 718 such a great sports car – its handling and involvement.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 9 / 10“Latest generation Porsche 718 Boxster gets four-cylinder engines that blend performance and efficiency.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Boxster SpyderScore: 9 / 10“The Porsche 718 Spyder is a truly special machine and evidence the brand hasn’t totally forgotten its purist roots. With its big engine, manual-only transmission and spicy handling it’s a car for drivers, its unique style and limited availability setting it apart from the 718 Boxster on which it is based.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“Most roadsters are more about posing than driving, but the Porsche 718 Boxster is a consummate sports car. The latest model looks brilliant inside and out, and combines brilliant handling balance with immense grip and turbocharged performance that’s easier to access during everyday driving.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol automatic GTSScore: 9 / 10“The PDK automatic gearbox doesn’t damage the ultimate driver appeal of the Porsche Boxster GTS and it makes day-to-day driving more bearable if, like most people, you deal with traffic more than you tear down back roads.”
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Model reviewed: 718 SpyderScore: 9 / 10“New flat six rectifies most, if not quite all, of the Porsche 718 Boxster’s shortcomings”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“It remains the finest open-top sports car at its price by some distance – enough, certainly, for a sun and fun seeker to buy without a second thought.”
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Score: 9 / 10“Porsche’s drop-top sports car already had a strong driver focus, but the 718 Boxster T goes further – and is all the better for it.”
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Car

Model reviewed: TScore: 8 / 10“The Porsche 718 Boxster T is a lovely thing, but so is the standard Boxster for around £7k less.”
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Model reviewed: 718 CaymanScore: 8 / 10“It might be the cheapest, least powerful member of the Porsche convertible family, but you really shouldn’t write it off. The 718 Boxster is still a brilliant machine to drive.”
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Model reviewed: 718 Boxster SScore: 8 / 10“Once, the Boxster used to give you so much of the 911 Carrera Cabriolet experience at around half the price. Even with the Carrera’s switch to turbocharging, that’s no longer the case.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 8.6 / 10“The latest Porsche 718 Boxster is more powerful and efficient than ever and remains one of the best cars to drive in any class.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: 718 Boxster SScore: 10 / 10“There are seven-star hotels in Dubai. If the same rating ever applies to cars, we need to chuck this Porsche 718 Boxster in there at the front of the queue. Whatever German is for cream of the crop, it’s that.”
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Evo

Model reviewed: 718 Boxster SpyderScore: 10 / 10“The Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder is a rare gem of a sports car, there is nothing else like it at the price.”
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Model reviewed: GTSScore: 8 / 10“Sharper feel and extra power make the GTS the best Porsche 718 Boxster yet.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)“Dynamically superior to the previous Boxster, its problems lie in the engine bay.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 7 / 10“The once untouchable Boxster has come unstuck, swapping a naturally aspirated ‘six for a poor sounding, poorly performing turbo ‘four.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 10 / 10“The Porsche 718 Boxster, likes its predecessor, is the best two-seater performance convertible you can buy. It may not have the same character as before, but it makes up for that with sublime handling, strong performance and everyday comfort.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 9 / 10“Entry-level Porsche is still great to drive”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: 718 Boxster SScore: 8 / 10“Yes, it’s faster. Yes, it does more miles-per-gallon. And yes, it produces less CO2 yet more horsepower. But it isn’t as much fun.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol manual GTSScore: 10 / 10“While the 718 Cayman coupé is clearly the driver’s choice of the two, there is not much lost despite the loss of a roof in the Boxster. The set-up is supple and very street biased, yet you can drive this car hard on a track and for as long as the tyres last it’s faithful, fast and fastidiously mannered.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 9 / 10“The Porsche 718 Boxster has the balance, grip, speed and desirability to make it one of the greatest sports cars on sale, but its new engines are hard to love.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: 718 SpyderScore: 8 / 10“Beautiful up top, focused below. Not quite as unique as it once was, but still a glorious item.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“No sports car handles as well or is packaged so expertly.”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 10 / 10“In GTS trim with its glorious 4.0-litre flat-six engine, the Porsche 718 Boxster is sensational to drive and beautifully built – it’s one of the best open-top sports cars on sale. However, the four-cylinder versions aren’t as pleasing.”
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Safety rating

No safety rating

The Porsche 718 Boxster has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP, and we’re not expecting it to happen anytime soon. If it does, we’ll include the results here.

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Porsche 718 Boxster has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP. As yet, relatively few new cars have been tested for environmental impact by Green NCAP, and inevitably the testing programme was halted in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic before resuming later in the year.

Given that the Boxster is a high-performance, petrol-engined sports car that prioritises performance over economy, it’s unlikely to win any environmental awards…

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Porsche 718 Boxster has received

2017

World Car Awards – World Performance Car

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