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Porsche 718 Boxster

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Expert Rating

Porsche 718 Boxster

(2016 - present)

    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 November 2022, 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 convertible
    Engine: petrol
    Price: From £47,090 on-road

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


    Media reviews


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

    Auto Express

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    Auto Trader

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    Autocar

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    Car

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    Carbuyer

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    Daily Mail

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    Evo

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    Honest John

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    Parkers

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    The Sunday Times

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    The Telegraph

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    Top Gear

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    What Car?

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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…

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

    All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

    The Porsche 718 Boxster has a reliability score that’s lower than average, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy.

    The majority of all reported problems with the Boxster relate to its engine, with an average repair bill of about £600. The other area to look out for is the suspension, although the average bills for these are fairly low. Finally, be aware of gearbox problems – although rare, they are expensive with an average repair bill of more than £1,500.

    If you’re looking at a used Porsche 718 Boxster, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.

    Awards


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

    2017

    • World Car Awards – World Performance Car

    Similar cars


    If you’re looking at the Porsche 718 Boxster, you might also be interested in these alternatives

    Alpine A110 | Audi TT | BMW Z4 | Jaguar F-Type | Lotus Elise | Mercedes-Benz SLC | Porsche 718 Cayman | Toyota GT86


    More news, reviews and information about the Porsche 718 Boxster at The Car Expert

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    The Porsche 718 Boxster has received very good media reviews, with praise for its driving dynamics but criticism for its new four-cylinder engines.Porsche 718 Boxster