2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Starting at $61,250

10/10

C/D RATING

Specs

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10/10 C/D RATING

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Highs Transcendent driving traits, both transmissions are perfect, plentiful personalization options.
Lows Cabin lacks convenient storage spots, grating four-cylinder noises, pricier than its peers.
Verdict The Cayman is so sublime, it might be the world's most affordable supercar.

By Drew Dorian and Eric Stafford

Overview

The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman captures the same physical and emotional excitement of driving that supercars do. This coupe and its convertible sibling—the 718 Boxster, which we review separately—provide unrivaled driver engagement among sports cars. The Cayman's otherworldly chassis provides an open line of communication between the driver, the car, and the road. To create the 718, Porsche knits together strong brakes, an unflappable suspension, and a steering system rich with feedback. The result is so good that both 718 body styles made both our 10Best and Editors' Choice lists. The brand's flawless automatic and manual transmissions and potent engines—particularly the melodic flat-six—complete the picture. While the 2021 Cayman costs more than its distinguished rivals, the Chevy Corvette and Toyota Supra, its still the most focused and satisfying choice in the segment.

What's New for 2021?

Porsche gives the Cayman more standard features for 2021, including Apple CarPlay integration, auto-dimming rearview mirrors, bixenon headlights that turn with the steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. A new model joins the lineup, too: Called the GTS, this Cayman features a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six. This engine also powers the GT4 RS, but in the GTS, it makes 29 less horsepower, for a total of 394. What's more, the six-cylinder engine is now compatible with Porsche's seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The price of the 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman starts at $61,250 and goes up to $101,550 depending on the trim and options.

All 2021 Cayman models see a price bump compared with the previous model year. (For instance, Porsche is asking $2400 more for the base model.) We've previously recommended the 350-hp four-cylinder S model, and it's arguably still the best performance value, but now that the flat-six comes in a less hardcore package than the GT4 RS, we can't deny it's the one we'd choose. We'd also keep the standard manual transmission because it's more fun to operate than the auto, and there's always the chance that it could be put out to pasture any year now. Plus, every GTS comes with desirable performance equipment, including the adjustable and nicely bolstered Sport Seats Plus, a snorty exhaust system, an adaptive sport-tuned suspension, and black 20-inch wheels. It also boasts the Sport Chrono package, which brings a limited-slip differential, brake-based torque vectoring, and the obligatory clock on top of the dashboard.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Porsche offers an assortment of potent engines on the Cayman. The entry-level version is a 300-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four. The S variant is motivated by a turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four that generates 350 horses. While the four-cylinders provide quick acceleration, we take issue with the coarse sounds they produce. Thankfully, the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six fixes the Cayman's auditory issues. In addition to the intoxicating noises it makes, the six-cylinder generates 394 ponies in the GTS 4.0 and 414 in the mighty GT4 RS. Regardless of which engine you choose, every Cayman comes standard with a slick six-speed manual transmission—perhaps the best one on the market. If you're not into that, you can get a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. The Cayman's willful chassis and telepathic steering transcend perfection. Credit the Cayman's mid-engine layout and sticky summer tires, which work together to provide the sports coupe with stunning balance and stability on twisty two-lane roads. This car is a sublime mix of heady handling and a relatively relaxed ride.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates the base Cayman will achieve up to 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The more powerful S model is rated at 19 mpg city and 25 highway with the automatic, and a manual-equipped GT4 RS is rated at 16 mpg city and 23 highway. We tested the base car and a Cayman S on our 200-mile highway route, and both delivered a thrifty 32 mpg in the real world.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Easy-to-understand gauges, comfortable seats, and well-placed controls give the Cayman's cabin a form-fitting feeling, not unlike a superhero's suit. Still, a plethora of hard buttons and a number of cheap plastic pieces keep the interior from standing out in this class. Fortunately, Porsche will cover just about any surface in leather—at a cost, of course. A compact front trunk complements the Cayman's rear cargo area, providing the small sports car with cargo space that rivals the best of its competitive set. We fit two carry-on suitcases in the truck and two in the frunk. A steep rear-hatch angle, however, means owners will need to use soft duffel bags to make the most of the available space.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

The Cayman's standard touchscreen infotainment system is straightforward and offers generally quick response times to user inputs. While Porsche nickels and dimes its customers by charging extra for some features, such as built-in navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot, every model now has Apple CarPlay compatibility. Android Auto isn't available, though. The audio system can be upgraded to either a Bose stereo or a high-end Burmester unit that has 12 speakers and a total output of 821 watts.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The 2021 Cayman hasn't been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, it is available with a handful of driver-assistance technologies and comes standard with front and rear parking sensors. Key safety features include:

Available adaptive cruise control
Available blind-spot monitoring

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Porsche's warranty coverage lacks the complimentary scheduled maintenance offered by most of its rivals, but it is otherwise comparable.

Limited warranty covers four years or 50,00 miles
Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 10,000 miles

Specifications

Specifications

2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS

VEHICLE TYPE
mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED
$85,170 (base price: $81,750)

ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
152 in³, 2497 cm³
Power
365 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque
309 lb-ft @ 1900 rpm

TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.0-in vented, cross-drilled disc/11.8-in vented, cross-drilled disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, F: 235/35ZR-20 (92Y) N0 R: 265/35ZR-20 (99Y) N0

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 97.4 in
Length: 173.0 in
Width: 70.9 in
Height: 50.6 in
Passenger volume: 49 ft³
Cargo volume: 15 ft³
Curb weight: 3114 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.1 sec
100 mph: 9.2 sec
130 mph: 15.7 sec
150 mph: 22.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.3 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 8.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.6 sec
¼-mile: 12.4 sec @ 116 mph
Top speed (drag limited, mfr's claim): 180 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 143 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 1.05 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 20 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 21/19/25 mpg

2021 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 PDK

VEHICLE TYPE
mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED
$127,120 (base price: $104,760)

ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 24-valve flat-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
244 in³, 3996 cm³
Power
414 hp @ 7600 rpm
Torque
317 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 16.1-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc, 15.4-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, F: 245/35ZR-20 (95Y) N1 R: 295/30ZR-20 (101Y) N1

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 97.8 in
Length: 175.5 in
Width: 71.9 in
Height: 50.0 in
Passenger volume: 49 ft³
Cargo volume, F/R: 5/10 ft³
Curb weight: 3251 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.3 sec
100 mph: 7.8 sec
130 mph: 13.7 sec
150 mph: 20.3 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.1 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.4 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 2.5 sec
1/4 mile: 11.6 sec @ 121 mph
Top speed (mfr's claim): 188 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 146 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 288 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 1.07 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 20/18/24 mpg

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2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Starting at $61,250

Overview

What's New for 2021?

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Infotainment and Connectivity

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Specifications

Shopping Tools

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