- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 2 seats
- Engine
2.5T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
257kW, 420Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 7.4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2017 Porsche 718 Cayman S new car review
Porsche's baby sports car has grown up. Originally intended as an entree of sorts to the 911 range, the Cayman coupe and Boxster convertible have matured to find their place in the world, stepping out of their big brother's shadow as the new-generation 718 duo.
A fresh four-cylinder engine brings turbocharged wallop to the lineup as part of a growth spurt that lends a surprising amount of muscle to the models while shifting their vocal range from boy soprano to bellowing baritone.
The resulting cars are mature and efficient, vehicles more certain of where they sit within Porsche's lineup and the new car market as a whole. Even if they lost a little innocence along the way.
What do you get
It's difficult to think of a $100,000-plus car as an "entry-level" model, but Porsche is hardly an everyday brand. While the Boxster used to be the cheapest sports car offered by the iconic brand, that badge is now worn by the Cayman as part of the transformation from the six-cylinder-powered 981-generation to the new 718 lineup, one named in honour of a classic four-cylinder race car.
We tested the car in premium Cayman S form, where the coupe is priced from $140,300 plus on-road costs, though our model was priced just a little higher than that, with more than $40,000 in optional extras fitted to Porsche's press demonstrator.
While the basic equipment list includes 19-inch wheels, sat nav, leather seats and so on, Porsche's list of optional extras is far more illuminating.
Our example had more than a dozen additional items including a dual-clutch automatic transmission ($4990), Sports Chrono timer and performance mode ($4990), a sports exhaust ($4330), a locking rear differential with torque vectoring ($3190), active suspension ($2710) and a Bose stereo ($2650). That doesn't include big-ticket items such as carbon ceramic brakes, active cruise control or a sumptuously appointed full-leather interior that can contribute greatly to the bottom line.
Yes, value is subjective and tailoring a car to your own requirements is part of the prestige experience. But asking customers to pay an extra $1690 for a reversing camera and parking sensors is just mean, particularly when you look at the immense standard equipment list of similarly priced performance car rivals such as BMW's M4 Competition coupe.
And Porsche's prices seem a little steep - consider the extra $5390 asked for Lava Orange paint, or $2710 for 20-inch Carrera S wheels - and the further $2890 you need to pony up to have those rims painted black.
Customers keen on a Cayman with more should consider holding out for the upcoming Cayman GTS - a model likely to bundle sports exhaust and suspension elements with better seats, black wheels and more in a package that could cost less than a heavily-personalised example of the standard car.
What's inside
The 718 continues Porsche's trend of constructing logical, feature-laden and well-built cabins that feel luxurious without being ostentatious. As usual for the brand, the Cayman's driving position is outstanding with an impressive range of adjustability, and its instrumentation is clear and concise. A cleverly integrated colour digital screen in the instrument binnacle can display everything from tyre pressures to navigation services and music information, while Porsche's satin-finished touchscreen with Apple CarPlay is one of the best on the road.
Our example felt particularly purposeful, though it did benefit from a sports steering wheel ($660) and carbon fibre trim ($2890) that contribute to the cause.
As you might expect from a two-seat sports car, interior storage is at a premium with precious few places to stash personal goods. The 718 retains Porsche's flip-out cup holders, though it is short on places to put sunglasses, smartphones and other items.
That said, I picked up the keys to the Cayman on the way home from the airport and had no problem slotting a decent-sized clamshell suitcase in the front boot- something that won't work in rival midship sports cars such as the Lotus Elise or Alfa Romeo 4C.
Under the bonnet
While the Cayman is without doubt an impressive sight to behold, you won't impress your mates by giving them a look at the new engine as it's hidden under a carpeted bulkhead behind the seats.
While the standard car uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre flat four to muster up 220kW and 380Nm, our Cayman S benefits from a larger 2.5-litre motor and clever variable geometry turbocharger to muster up 257kW and 420Nm - the latter across a wider rev range than its little brother.
Customers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or Porsche's outstanding seven-speed dual-clutch "PDK" automatic unit that is faster and more convenient, if ultimately less engaging that a traditional manual. The manufacturer says a good driver can hit 100km/h in 4.6 seconds at the wheel of its six-speed version, and that a fully-loaded Cayman S with PDK and sport chrono can use launch control to reach the same mark in 4.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 285km/h.
That's properly quick, and there's no doubt that the new car's additional 18kW and 50Nm transform its straight-line acceleration. This doesn't feel like a junior sports car any more.
But it also doesn't feel like a Porsche.
The Cayman starts up with a throaty roar before setting king into a chunky, mechanical sounding idle that divided our team. That new engine sounds like a modified Subaru WRX, which isn't surprising as it has same engine layout. It lacks the crisp response and soaring voice of the previous model, feeling stressed as it approaches redline.
Porsche worked hard to lend the 718 a touch of aural character, though I'm not sure they nailed the result. That new engine sounds a little too eager to impress, like it always has something to say. While the old motor was a harmonious element of a finely tuned instrument, the new four feels like it's trying too hard.
Trickier still, the new engine was brought about in the name of emissions and fuel economy. While more efficient than its predecessor on paper, the Cayman's 7.3L/100km claimed fuel economy ran much closer to 12L/100km during our time with the car that included 650 kilometres of mixed driving taking in a mix of motorways, stop-start traffic and spirited back-country running.
No doubt more efficient on the test bench, the 718's addictive punch makes it easy to use more fuel than you should in the real world.
How it drives
Then again, conservationists are unlikely to gravitate toward this car. Going for long drive just for the sake of it is hardly an efficient use of resources, yet that is exactly what this car compels you to do.
Like the 918-generation car that shares its underpinnings, the 718's intrinsic balance feels spot-on, its steering, brakes and throttle working in harmony to deliver an unforgettable driving experience. Light it up on a favourite stretch of road, work those shift paddles and be amazed at the car's poise and punch. Not far short of Ferrari's discontinued 458 Italia, the Cayman starts to feel like good value as you press deeper into its breadth of ability.
Turbo power lends the Cayman bite to match its bark, helping you extract the best from a chassis that remains one of the most impressively composed cars on the road. Our test example's multi-mode suspension offered a fine blend of ride comfort on rough roads and determined roadholding when pushed.
It's brakes are a personal highlight, progressive, reassuring and easy to modulate whether you're trapped in stop-start traffic or exploring the car's ultimate capabilities.
Verdict
Breaking away from the 911's classic six-cylinder engine family came at a cost to the purity of response and sound offered by the previous-generation Cayman. While the new car is more powerful and capable than before, it also feels more responsible and less playful than its predecessor.
But it's not as though Porsche had a choice in the matter, as emissions requirements are becoming increasingly strict around the world.
This new model offers an excellent compromise. Better in day-to-day traffic jams and ultimately faster than the old model, it has more bandwidth than before. Porsche has done an excellent job of helping its entry-level sports car find its place for the next few years.
Growing up isn't easy, but you've got to do it.
2017 Porsche 718 Cayman S pricing and specifications
Price: From $140,300 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 257kW at 6500rpm
Torque: 420Nm at 1900-4500 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual or seven-speed auto, rear-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 7.3L/100km