Porsche Cayman Model Review
The Porsche Cayman (also known as the 718 Cayman) is a rear-wheel-drive coupe with seating for two. It’s the hardtop version of the Boxster convertible. The current Cayman was redesigned for the 2017 model year, with recent models costing between $50,559 and $116,147.
Porsche Cayman Pros
- Beautifully designed inside and out
- Fantastic blend of style, comfort, and performance
- Compared to most sports cars, it’s comfortable for taller occupants
Porsche Cayman
Cons
- Base four-cylinder engine’s power and exhaust note are adequate at best
- High price gets higher quickly with available options
- Fuel economy is not its strong suit
Will the Porsche Cayman Increase in Value?
While the Porsche Cayman won’t increase in value, it will hold its value well. Much of its initial depreciation, as with any car, happens as soon as you drive off the lot, but its desirability among performance enthusiasts helps it retain value over time. Recent Porsche Caymans are consistently rated highly for retaining more value than competitors in the class.
Does the Porsche Cayman Have Rear Seats?
The Cayman has room for two people with no rear seats. The same is true of the convertible Boxster. If you’re looking for a sporty, performance car from Porsche that has rear seats, consider the 911, which has room for four.
How Fast Does a Porsche Cayman Go?
There are a wide range of engines available for the Porsche Cayman, creating a wide range of performance figures. Regardless of which Cayman you choose, it’s a sports car designed for speed. The 718 Cayman GT4 is the fastest to date, with a top speed of 187 mph.
Are Porsche Caymans Expensive to Maintain?
Although the Porsche Cayman is a high-priced sports car, it’s not exceptionally expensive to maintain compared to other sports cars. The key is regular maintenance. Take care of any issues promptly rather than ignoring them until small problems become large and potentially expensive.
Current Porsche Cayman – 2017-Present:
The full redesign of the 2017 Porsche Cayman included a rename to the Porsche 718 Cayman. It introduced a smaller, turbocharged four-cylinder offering more horsepower than the previous base six cylinder.
The base Cayman has a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 300 horsepower paired to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It achieves 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway (automatic) or 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway (manual). The Cayman S gets a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 350 horsepower paired to the same transmissions. Its fuel economy is 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway (automatic) or 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway (manual). The 2017-2020 Cayman GTS has a revised version of this powertrain with 365 horsepower that achieves 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway (automatic) or 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway (manual). For 2021, the Cayman GTS benefitted from Porsche’s 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine, making 394 horsepower and offering 17/24 mpg with the six-speed manual or 19/24 mpg with the PDK automatic. The GT4 sits at the top of the Cayman lineup, featuring that same 4.0-liter engine but making an impressive 414 horsepower. It was paired only to a six-speed manual transmission, achieving 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, until 2021, when the PDK automatic became available offering 19 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.
The base Cayman has 18-inch aluminum wheels, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, heated side mirrors, leather/leatherette seat trims, selectable ride control, adaptive sport suspension, automatic HID headlights, daytime running lights, sport seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and front and rear parking sensors. The Cayman T adds 20-inch gray aluminum wheels, leather/Sport-Tex cloth seats, limited-slip differential, sport exhaust, and a Sport Chrono package. The Cayman S adds 19-inch silver aluminum wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. The GTS adds a unique front apron, dark-tinted headlights and taillights, 20-inch black Carrera S wheels, black tailpipes, Alcantara interior trim, Porsche Torque Vectoring, and a Sport Chrono Package. The trim-topping GT4 adds 20-inch gray aluminum wheels, rear wing, Alcantara suede and leather seats, and ParkAssist. Shop for the 2017-current Porsche Cayman.
2017-Current Porsche Cayman Trim Levels:
Porsche Cayman (Base):
18-inch aluminum wheels, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, heated side mirrors, leather/leatherette seats, selectable ride control, adaptive sport suspension, automatic HID headlights, daytime running lights, sport seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, 300 hp, 22/29 mpg city/highway (automatic), 21/28 mpg city/highway (manual)
Porsche Cayman T: adds 20-inch gray aluminum wheels, leather/Sport-Tex cloth seats, limited-slip differential, sport exhaust, Sport Chrono package
Porsche Cayman S: adds 19-inch silver aluminum wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management, 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, 350 hp, 21/28 mpg city/highway (automatic), 20/26 mpg city highway (manual).
Porsche Cayman GTS (2017-2020): adds unique front apron, dark-tinted headlights and taillights, 20-inch black Carrera S wheels, black tailpipes, Alcantara interior trim, Porsche Torque Vectoring, Sport Chrono Package, revised powertrain with 365 hp, 20/26 mpg city/highway (automatic), 19/25 mpg city/highway (manual)
Porsche Cayman GTS (2021-current): 4.0-liter naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine, 394 hp, 19/24 city/highway (automatic), 17/24 mpg city/highway (manual)
Porsche Cayman GT4: adds 20-inch gray aluminum wheels, rear wing, Alcantara suede and leather seat trims, ParkAssist, 4.0-liter naturally aspirated six-cylinder, 414 hp, six-speed manual, 16/23 mpg city/highway, seven-speed PDK, 19/20 mpg city/highway
Running Changes to the 2017-Current Porsche Cayman
2017:
Fully redesigned with new powertrains and renamed to 718 Cayman
2018: GTS trim joins the lineup
2019: Standard sport-exhaust, CarConnect services expanded
2020: GT4 and T trims join the lineup
2021: Apple CarPlay, heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control now standard, GTS gets the 4.0-liter engine, GT4 adds available PDK seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
Porsche Cayman – 2014-2016:
A complete redesign of the 2014 Porsche Cayman made it longer, lower, and wider. It also received a more luxurious interior, a slight weight reduction, and more powerful engines.
The base Cayman powertrain was a 2.7-liter six-cylinder with 275 horsepower paired to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It delivered 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway (automatic) or 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway (manual). There was also a 3.4-liter six-cylinder with 325 horsepower and the same transmission options for the Cayman S. It delivered 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway (automatic) or 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway (manual). The same engine received a boost to 340 horsepower for the Cayman GTS and delivered 21 mpg city, 30 mpg highway (automatic) or 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway (manual). The Cayman GT4 featured a 3.8-liter six-cylinder with 385 horsepower paired to a six-speed manual that achieved 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
The Cayman included 18-inch silver aluminum wheels, air conditioning, front and rear fog lights, heated side mirrors, remote keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, suede and leatherette seating trims, leather-trimmed steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM radio, in-dash CD player, infotainment touchscreen, auxiliary jack, 4-speaker audio, and heated 2-way power seats. The S added 19-inch silver aluminum wheels and the more powerful engine. The GTS gained an extra 15 horsepower from its 3.4-liter engine, 20-inch wheels, a Sport Chrono package, lowered suspension, sport exhaust, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and Porsche Dynamic Light System. The GT4 was the most performance-focused of the Cayman line with a unique front splitter, rear diffuser, sport suspension, and Alcantara steering wheel.
2014-2016 Porsche Cayman Trim Levels:
Porsche Cayman (Base):
18-inch silver aluminum wheels, air conditioning, front and rear fog lights, heated side mirrors, remote keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, suede and leatherette seating trims, leather-trimmed steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM radio, in-dash CD player, infotainment touchscreen, auxiliary jack, 4-speaker audio, heated 2-way power seats, 2.7-liter six-cylinder, 275 hp, 22/31 mpg city/highway (manual) 20/29 mpg city/highway (automatic)
Porsche Cayman S: adds 19-inch aluminum wheels, 3.4-liter six-cylinder, 325 hp, 20/27 mpg city/highway (manual), 21/29 mpg city/highway (automatic)
Porsche Cayman GTS: adds 20-inch wheels, Sport Chrono package, lowered suspension, sport exhaust, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and Porsche Dynamic Light System, gains 15 hp, 21/30 mpg city/highway (automatic), 19/26 mpg city/highway (manual)
Porsche Cayman GT4: adds a unique front splitter, rear diffuser, sport suspension, Alcantara steering wheel, 3.8-liter six-cylinder, 385 hp, six-speed manual, 18/23 mpg city/highway
Running Changes to the 2014-2016 Porsche Cayman
2014:
Fully redesigned with new powertrains, new features, and new styling
2015: Cayman GTS introduced
2016: Cayman GT4 introduced
Porsche Cayman - 2006-2012:
The Porsche Cayman was introduced for the 2006 model year as a hardtop version of the Boxster convertible, offering closed-roof security and refinement with a bit more cargo room. This rear-wheel-drive, two-seater was focused on performance, with powerful engines and standard features that improved overall handling.
It was available with a choice of two six-cylinder engines. The base Cayman engine was a 2.7-liter with 245 horsepower paired to either a five-speed manual, six-speed manual, or five-speed automatic with available manual shift. This delivered 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway (five-speed manual), 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway (six-speed manual), or 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway (automatic). A more powerful 3.4-liter with 295 horsepower was paired to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic with available manual shift for the Cayman S. It delivered 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway (manual) or 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway (automatic). 2009 saw major changes with the discontinuation of the base powertrain. It was replaced by a 2.9-liter six-cylinder with 265 horsepower paired to either a six-speed manual or a new PDK seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It delivered 19/27 mpg city/highway (manual) or 20/29 mpg city/highway (automatic). The same year, the 3.4-liter powertrain saw an increase to 320 horsepower (330 horsepower for the Cayman R and Cayman S Black Edition) with fuel economy of 19/26 mpg city/highway (manual) or 20/29 mpg city/highway (automatic).
The base Cayman had 17-inch wheels, power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, a carbon-fiber ventilation system, power leather seats, heated sideview mirrors, digital AM/FM radio, 8-speaker audio, and an in-dash CD player. The Cayman S had 18-inch silver aluminum alloy wheels, 12.52-inch front brakes, and a 9-speaker Bose audio system. The Cayman R offered performance enhancements including an extra 10 horsepower, 19-inch wheels, no air conditioning or sound system, standard Porsche Active Suspension Management, limited-slip rear differential, and lighter sport seats. The Cayman S Black Edition had the same horsepower boost with an all-black color scheme that included the wheels and exhaust pipes and was produced in a limited run of 500 units.
2006-2012 Porsche Cayman Trim Levels:
Porsche Cayman (Base):
17-inch wheels, power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, carbon-fiber ventilation system, power leather seats, heated sideview mirrors, digital AM/FM radio, 8-speaker audio, in-dash CD player, 2.7-liter six-cylinder engine, 245 hp, 20/29 mpg city/highway (five-speed automatic), 19/28 mpg city/highway (six-speed manual), 19/26 mpg city/highway (PDK seven-speed automatic)
Porsche Cayman S: adds 18-inch wheels, larger brakes, 9-speaker Bose audio, 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine, 295 hp, 18/26 city/highway mpg (manual), 18/25 mpg city/highway (automatic)
Porsche Cayman R: (2009 model year) 3.4-liter engine increased to 330 hp, 19-inch wheels, no air conditioning or sound system, standard Porsche Active Suspension Management, limited-slip rear differential, lighter sport seats,
Porsche Cayman S Black Edition: (2012 model year) adds an all-black color scheme, black-painted wheels, black exhaust pipes, limited to 500 units
Running Changes to the Porsche Cayman 2006-2012
2006:
An all-new model introduced as the hardtop version of the Porsche Boxster convertible. Initially available only in the Cayman S trim
2007: The Cayman base trim was added to the lineup
2008: No major changes
2009: Updated design exterior, new powertrains included a 2.9-liter six-cylinder with 265 hp that replaced the 2.7-liter engine and an increase to 320 hp for the 3.4-liter engine, new PDK dual-clutch automatic, new 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen
2010: No major changes
2011: No major changes
2012: Cayman R and Cayman S Black Edition introduced
2013: There was no 2013 model year Cayman
Porsche Cayman versus the Competition
Porsche Cayman versus 911
While the Porsche Cayman offers a wide range of engines with impressive horsepower figures, the 911 Carrera has the most powerful engine of the two. The biggest difference, however, is seating. The 911 has rear seats so you can bring a couple of (small) friends along for the ride. The 911 also costs considerably more than a Cayman.
Porsche Cayman versus Boxster
Think of the Porsche Cayman and Boxster as siblings. The Boxster is the older of the two and is offered only as a two-seater convertible. The Cayman was introduced later and is essentially a hardtop version of the Boxster.
Porsche Cayman versus Cayman S
The Porsche Cayman is the base trim of this coupe. It has the most modest powertrain and the lowest number of interior features. The Cayman S is one step up from the base and offers a more powerful engine and a wider range of standard interior amenities.
Porsche Cayman versus Jaguar F Type
The Porsche Cayman and Jaguar F Type are both two-seat sports cars and competitors based on price and performance. There’s a range of powerful engines for both models, but the Jaguar is, generally speaking, a little slower and less nimble thanks to its heavier weight. The biggest choice here is rear-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive. The former is the only option on the Cayman, while the F-Type has available all-wheel drive.
