2025 Porsche 718 Cayman

Drive it every day, drive it around a track, enjoy even the most mundane of trips. The 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman is engineered to provide an exceptional experience whenever it’s fired up. The vast majority of our owner reviews echo our observations. Despite being the least expensive new sports car from Porsche, the 718 Cayman is not only worthy of the badge, it also adds to the overall Porsche aura.

This generation of Cayman launched for the 2017 model year. Although automotive technology has advanced considerably since then, this Porsche coupe continues to delight owners with its more timeless qualities.

The Porsche 718 Boxster convertible, sister car to the 718 Cayman coupe, is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury sports cars and high-horsepower coupes, including the Porsche 718 Cayman.

The 7-speed automated transmission (Porsche calls it PDK) becomes standard across the 2025 718 Cayman lineup, while the 6-speed manual transmission is now offered as a no-cost option that includes the Sport Chrono package — except in the GT4 RS, which comes with the PDK exclusively. Porsche has also added 11 new exterior paint colors, while discontinuing a couple. On a sad note, production of the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman is set to end October 2025. If you’ve been procrastinating over buying a new 718 Cayman, don’t hit that snooze button again.

We like the idea of the base 718 Cayman, as it’s the most affordable new Porsche sports car. Then again, the 718 Cayman S is fantastic. Beyond that, the thrills build in relation to the money spent. Once you get into six figures, you might also want to check out the much-revered Porsche 911.

A modest alternative might be the Toyota GR Supra, as it’s essentially a BMW that costs considerably less than a 718 Cayman — it doesn’t have anything like the same kind of prestige, however. For similar money to the Porsche, the Chevrolet Corvette has supercar looks and handling, plus a remarkable power-to-weight ratio.

Before buying a new 718 Cayman premium sports car, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

Strong Resale Values

Porsche makes highly desirable, high-quality vehicles and this is reflected in their values on the used market. The 718 Cayman retains its worth exceptionally well. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

Although the 300-horsepower engine in the base 718 Cayman is good, we would recommend stretching to the 350-horsepower S model. It isn’t just because the latter is half a second faster in the dash from standstill to 60 mph, stopping the clock at 4.2 seconds. The rest of the car is so capable and involving that we think it’s a shame not to exploit it with extra muscle.

Just FYI, the 382-horsepower Toyota GR Supra with an automatic transmission is even quicker, hitting 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. It may seem odd to mention a Porsche and a Toyota in the same breath, but the GR Supra is essentially a BMW Z4 in coupe form — both the GR and the Z4 are made in the same Austrian factory.

Enthusiast machines are often just plain firm, a constant reminder of sportiness that can become tiresome if you’re not in the right mood or on the right roads. The 718 Cayman isn’t like that. It’s composed, for sure. But there’s a fluidity to the chassis, the way it flows gracefully around corners with a fine balance from its mid-engined configuration.

The brakes feel decisive, easy to modulate. The steering is responsive, with feel and feedback most other cars don’t have. And we’ve found that the well-engineered manual transmission clicks sweetly from one gear to the next, requiring only minimal effort. The now-standard automatic with shift paddles beneath the steering wheel has a similarly precise action.

The GT4 RS is its own animal. Its 493-horsepower engine comes from the 911 GT3, one of the most fearsome 911 models, with a much sportier (yes, firmer) suspension to match. Buy one if you want to win on track days.

Fuel Economy

The base 718 Cayman with the automatic transmission achieves a perfectly reasonable 24 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The GR Supra manages up to 26 mpg combined. The rest of the 718 Cayman lineup run to slightly lower figures according to engines and transmissions.

This is a 2-seater, with its engine mounted behind those seats. We’ve found that there’s enough space and comfort for people of most shapes and sizes, as long as they’re happy to bend a bit getting in and out.

The seats are supportive, holding their occupants through quick corners yet cushioned to make long trips more than bearable. Achieving the ideal driving position is easy, and we think the steering wheel has just the right amount of chunkiness to it. Porsche always offers plenty of choices for color schemes.

The company keeps infotainment technology at an understated level. And no designer went to town on the interior. This car is more about driving than anything else, yet the materials and build quality are exemplary.

Most versions of the 718 Cayman have a trunk area of 9.7 cubic feet, plus a 5.2-cubic foot space under the hood. So that’s useful in some ways, but not great for larger items. Oh well, who buys a sports car for hauling anyway?

On the other side of the 718 coin is the soft-top Boxster. On this side is the coupe-bodied Cayman. Looks-wise, there’s nothing too wild going on and previous iterations are already standing the test of time. Aspects of the Style Edition include black exhaust tailpipes and the same 20-inch alloy wheels as the cool 718 Spyder RS. The GT4 RS has a fixed rear wing.

This year there are 11 new exterior paint colors added to the palette, while Porsche has discontinued two. We won’t name them all here, but there should be sufficient choice to please most people.

Manual transmission
This is one of the few occasions where we wouldn’t deter potential buyers from choosing the manual. It’s slick and quick, and enhances driver engagement. It becomes a no-cost option for 2025.

Burmester audio
For a non-driving-related optional indulgence in the 2025 718 Cayman, we suggest this wonderful 12-speaker/821-watt surround-sound system.

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)
Optional in the less expensive 718 Cayman models, standard at the more specialized levels, this is tuned for extra sportiness and a lower ride height than the regular car.

Porsche Torque Vectoring
Another feature that’s optional in the more affordable 718 Cayman models and standard higher up. A mechanical locking differential adjusts the amount of torque going to each rear wheel to help keep a tight line through quick corners. It comes in tandem with PASM.

Flat-6 engine
A classic Porsche configuration and (in our opinion) comes with a special, thrilling exhaust sound. Both GT models have one.

Porsche Experience Center Delivery
Available in Atlanta and Los Angeles, taking delivery of your new 718 Cayman in this way also includes high-performance driving instruction on a track, plus lunch. It costs $2,000.

The base 2025 718 Cayman has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making an ample 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. In the Cayman S, displacement increases to 2.5 liters, enabling 350 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque.

Going up another level, we’re looking at a naturally aspirated (no turbos or superchargers) 6-cylinder engine. As its name suggests, the GTS 4.0 has a 4.0-liter engine. It develops 394 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque. Not so different from the 718 Cayman S, but achieves its greatest thrust at higher revs, allowing the driver to fine-tune power delivery with the accelerator.

A different 4.0-liter 6-cylinder engine goes into the GT4 RS. The crucial numbers here are 493 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. This much power in a small, light and nimble car is fantastic.

All versions of the 2025 718 Cayman have a 7-speed automated transmission as standard. All models except the GT4 RS offer a 6-speed manual as an option. Every variant deploys rear-wheel drive.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Porsche’s new-car and drivetrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical among European luxury car companies. This includes roadside assistance. The first scheduled maintenance visit is also part of the deal.

Safety Ratings

The 718 Cayman hasn’t been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States. Standard safety equipment doesn’t go much beyond airbags, a reversing camera, and parking sensors at both ends. Given Porsche’s unassailable engineering reputation, however, we have no misgivings regarding the car’s crashworthiness. We do recommend opting for Lane Change Assist — it’s blind-spot monitoring by another name and always good to have.