Review of the Porsche 718 Cayman

The Porsche 718 Cayman is a two-door sporty coupe that’s just as good on the road as it looks. With a range of powerful petrol engines, a smart interior, and superb performance, the 718 Cayman is for those looking for a thrilling driving experience. 

Rivals to the 718 Cayman include the Audi TT, BMW M2 Coupe, Jaguar F-Type, and Toyota GR Supra.

Our Porsche 718 Cayman review covers:

• Superb exterior with low-slung body and aerodynamic design 
• Smart and sophisticated interior 
• Total luggage capacity of 422 litres 
• A range of petrol engines available  
• Four trim levels 

Pros:

• Road noise is noticeable 
• Expensive extras 
• Limited practicality 

Cons:

• Great to drive 
• Smart interior 
• Powerful range of engines 

The 718 Cayman is now in its third generation and has consistently had one of the best-looking exteriors on the market. It's characterised by a low-slung body with an aerodynamic design, large headlamps, and a refined rear end. 

The 718 Cayman is comfortable enough for two adults, and in sports car terms, it's pretty practical. There's a decent amount of leg and headroom, and even those above six feet tall won't have too many issues. It's worth noting there are no seats in the rear, unlike in the Audi TT.  

Boot space comes in at 422 litres, split between a standard boot and a space under the bonnet, with the front holding 150 litres and the rear 272 litres. When combined, it looks great, but in reality, both areas won't be able to store much more than a few suitcases or shopping bags. 

The interior of the 718 Cayman is smart and sophisticated. Get behind the steering wheel, and you get a driver-oriented interior that's well-built and features a range of soft-touch plastics. Leather seats are optional, as are wood finishes, but even without these, the 718 Cayman is on par with the Jaguar F-Type. 

As standard, the 718 Cayman has a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, sat-nav, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. It's an efficient, responsive system, but it's starting to show its age and falls short of more advanced systems found in the Audi TT and Toyota GR Supra. 

Four trim levels are available for the 718 Cayman: Standard, Style Edition, S, and GTS 4.0. 

Standard has 18-inch alloy wheels, an auto-deploying rear wing, park assist, a touchscreen infotainment system, an eight-speaker sound system, a sports steering wheel, and a 4.6-inch digital instrument display. 

Style Edition has 20-inch gloss black wheels, front and rear parking sensors with a rear camera, leather upholstery, heated sports seats, a heated leather sports steering wheel, and a touchscreen infotainment system. 

S has gloss silver Porsche badging, park assist sensors, suede material throughout the interior, stainless steel pedals, and smartphone mirroring with the infotainment system. 

GTS adds 20-inch satin black wheels, leather and suede-like sports seats, a GT sports steering wheel, and a sports exhaust. 

The 718 Caymans engine range comprises three petrol engines: a 2.0-litre, a 2.5-litre, and a 4.0-litre. All units have a manual or automatic transmission and have rear-wheel drive. 

The entry-level 2.0-litre unit is a really good option for an entry-level engine. With 300PS and going from 0-62mph in just over five seconds, it's powerful and great to drive. 

The next option is the 2.5-litre unit, which increases power output to 350PS and drops the 0-62mph time below five seconds. It feels a little quicker than the entry-level unit, but the difference isn't drastic, so we'd recommend sticking with the 2.0-litre unit here. 

The range-topper is the 4.0-litre GTS engine that has a whopping 400PS and shoots from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds. If you can afford the extra cash, go for it, as it certainly packs a punch. 

The 718 Caymans performance is impressive, whatever engine you've gone for. Around town, its suspension is smooth and tackles bumps in the road well, and there's a good amount of visibility out of the car. If driving around town is your forte, we'd recommend going for the automatic transmission, which makes life much easier. 

Increase to motorway speeds, and the 718 Cayman is a more than capable cruiser. It reaches 70mph with ease and overtakes brilliantly, but there is a bit of road and wind noise to contend with. 

On a country road, the 718 Cayman is in its element. The rear-wheeled setup and excellent steering combine beautifully when cornering, and the suspension is fantastic when driving at high speeds. Compared to its rivals like the Audi TT and Jaguar F-Type, the 718 Cayman is well clear. 

Prices for the new Porsche 718 Cayman start from £53,800.00 OTR* or to lease from £694.53 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Porsche 718 Cayman? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.