2017 Porsche 718 Cayman Road Test and Review

Porsche718CaymanMain ・ Photo by Porsche

Day off. I’m driving a red 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman. I flick it down a few gears and enjoy the upper rpm pull of its turbocharged engine and its raspy exhaust note, which echoes off the Santa Monica Mountains and momentarily drowns out the roar of the crashing surf. My wife is riding shotgun. We’re northbound on LA’s Pacific Coast Highway. Malibu’s Country Kitchen awaits where we will sit outside in the warm California sun, enjoy the ocean breeze and share our favorite sandwich -- the one with the melted Brie on the pretzel baguette.  

Is this heaven?

No, but it’s close enough. A great two-seat sports car makes everything better, and the new Porsche 718 Cayman is one of the very best. For 2017, Porsche has extensively redesigned the Cayman, giving it a freshened look and, for the first time, a turbocharged engine. The result is the most refined and best performing Cayman since the model was first introduced in 2006.

Models and Pricing

The 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman comes in two flavors: Cayman; and the more powerful Cayman S. Both are two-seat coupes. If a soft-top convertible is what you want, shop the Cayman’s twin, the 718 Boxster. These cars share everything except their rooflines and their names.

Both Cayman versions are rear-wheel drive and each is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder backed by a 7-speed automatic transmission or, like our test vehicle, a 6-speed manual transmission.

The price for the standard Cayman is $56,350, including a $1,050 destination and handling fee. Standard equipment includes massive four-wheel disc brakes, 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth, power front seats, a Sport button for additional response and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. With many options, including a navigation system and heated seats, the price of our Cayman test vehicle jumped to over $73,000.

If you want more performance, step up to the Cayman S for $68,750, including a $1,050 destination and handling fee. It’s stacked with an additional 50 hp and other upgrades such as 19-inch wheels. Load up a Cayman S with options and Porsche’s endless list of available accessories and the price could easily top $100,000.

On both models, the optional and excellent PDK automatic transmission costs additional $3,210.

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Under the Hood -- Sort of

Unlike every other car on the market, looking under the hood of a Porsche Cayman (or Boxster) is impossible. There is no hood. The sports car’s engine is mounted 12-inches behind the driver in the middle of the car for optimum weight distribution and greater handling capability. But unlike other mid-engine cars, Porsche does not provide an opening hood. The engine compartment is completely sealed off.

The engine itself is a smooth, powerful and sophisticated all-aluminum double overhead cam turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that replaces the normally aspirated flat six-cylinder that has powered the Cayman since 2006. Some purists have squawked at the change, but a few miles behind the wheel is all it takes to fall in line. This new engine is more powerful and more fuel efficient, and Porsche has made it sound just as sweet as the old six. Redline is 6,500 rpm.

In the Cayman the engine is rated at 300 hp -- more than enough for this light, little coupe. Porsche says 0-60 mph takes just 4.9 seconds with the 6-speed manual transmission. The automatic is a half-second quicker. Low-end power is sufficient, but the boost comes on strong around 3,000 rpm. Max out the tachometer in a few gears and you’ll get the adrenaline rush you’re looking for. Top speed is 170 mph.

In the Cayman S the engine makes 350 hp and shaves another half second from those acceleration times. Top speed jumps to 177 mph.

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Sexy Bod

Porsche’s design philosophy is to evolve what already works, and despite nearly all-new body panels, the new Cayman looks a lot like the old one. This is a good thing. Much like the Porsche 911, this car doesn’t seem to age. It’s still striking from any angle, and it looks like nothing else on the road. Everyone knows this is a Porsche and they notice it when you drive by. Especially young men.

My favorite view is from the rear. This is a small car with a low, wide stance and perfect proportions. Its aggressively raked roofline and center-mounted exhaust are signature Cayman features, and it still looks right, even after ten years on the road.

I particularly like the new larger side scoops which give the Cayman a bit more exotic flair.  And the integrated rear spoiler, which raises itself at speed for added stability, is just cool.

Photo by Porsche

Interior Pros and Cons

Inside the Cayman, there’s a surprising amount of room considering the car's purpose and slight dimensions. Build quality is extremely high, and the materials used are proper for the Porsche’s lofty price point.

Our test car had the optional navigation system, as well as Porsche Connect Plus, which adds functionality including Apple CarPlay, real-time traffic and WiFi. The 7-inch touch screen is large enough and its functions are intuitive to use.

Seat comfort is exceptional and the seat heaters are properly toasty and heat up quickly. The shifter is right where you want it and the thick, leather wrapped steering wheel is the perfect girth and diameter.

We were, however, disappointed in the Cayman’s lack of an automatic climate control system and seriously limited interior storage.

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How it Drives

You sit low in the Cayman and look out over its sensual front fenders. It feels like a sports car -- small, light and responsive, with just the right amount of visceral feedback -- but it never beats you up or feels crude.

This is a refined machine with a compliant ride and a very comfortable interior. Its structure feels bank-vault-tight, like it was carved from solid billet, and its steering and clutch efforts are light and livable day-in and day-out. It’s an easy car to drive. And it’s a car that does everything well. It’s at home in the thick of rush hour as it is being hustled through a series of switchbacks on your favorite two-lane.

Drive it hard and it really comes alive. The turbocharged engine sounds good and it likes to rev. The transmission is geared perfectly and its shifter clicks through its H-pattern with precision. And boy-oh-boy, can it dance.

For 2017, Porsche quickened the steering and retuned the suspension. Its grip on the road now seems limitless and its perfectly balanced chassis makes mere mortals like me feel like Mario Andretti. The Cayman’s brakes feel like they could slow the rotation of the earth. If you want to smile, drive a Cayman through the mountains. It’s one of the best handling cars available.

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Two Trunks

Because of its unique mid-engine layout and crafty packaging, the 2017 Cayman actually has two trunks -- one in the front and one in the back. The traditional trunk in the rear offers 9.7 cubic feet of space, while the coupe’s deep frunk (front trunk) offers an additional 5.3 cubic feet. That’s about three times the cargo space offered in Porsche’s 911.

If you pack properly and maximize the space it’s more than plenty for a weeklong road trip for two. It also makes the Cayman very supermarket friendly.

The Cayman’s two cupholders, however, are not the best. They deploy and retract from inside the dashboard to save space, which is clever, but they don’t handle large drinks very well. And they place the beverage precariously above the car’s console. Spills coat everything.

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Surprising Fuel Economy

Although few people buy a car like this for its fuel economy, the Cayman is surprisingly fuel-efficient considering its high horsepower. And its economy numbers are strong for its class.

With the six-speed manual, the 300-hp Cayman is rated by the EPA at 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. With the available automatic, those numbers jump to 22 mpg city and 30 mpg on the highway. The more powerful Cayman S achieves 20 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway with the manual and 21 mpg city and 28 mpg on the highway with the automatic. Both models require premium fuel.

During our week in our manual Cayman test vehicle, we averaged 23 mpg in mixed driving.

Photo by Porsche

Cayman vs. Everbody

Mid-engine two-seat sports cars are rare birds. Mid-engine two-seat sports cars that cost less than $100,000 are unicorns. There are only four: Porsche’s Cayman and Boxster twins; the beautiful but crude Alfa Romeo 4C; and the homely Toyota-powered Lotus Evora. Don’t even think about it. It’s an easy choice. If this is the type of machine you desire, go directly to your Porsche dealer.

Additional competition comes from Porsche’s own 911 flagship, which offers a small back seat and available all-wheel drive. Prices start at about $90,000 for a standard coupe with 370 hp.

Jaguar’s two-seat F-type is worth checking out. It’s also available with all-wheel drive. And then there’s the Chevrolet Corvette, which offers significantly more power and features for less money than the Cayman.

Photo by Porsche

Final Thoughts

This car is something special. It’s more than the sum of its parts, more than its specs suggest. It’s packed with personality, and the Cayman’s refined driving experience is outstanding. Although its interior storage and beverage security are disappointments, this sports car is comfortable enough to be driven every day, and it’s one of the coolest, fastest and best performing cars you can buy.  

For those in the market for a sexy high-performance coupe, the 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman is a very desirable overall choice.

Now if you’ll excuse me, my sandwich is getting cold.

Photo by Porsche