2021 Porsche 718

The car is also available as a coupe, which as we know is known as the Cayman but that is reviewed separately. Starting at an MSRP of $98,250, it is priced at a somewhat premium price point. Competition is in the form of the BMW Z4, Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic Convertible, and Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 Convertible. Read on to find out how Porsche holds up in the competition against its rivals in this detailed review.

The 2021 Porsche 718 Boxster is available in six trim levels. Five trim levels are the same as the previous model year - starting from the base and being followed by the T, S, GTS, Spyder, and the ‘25 Years’ special edition trim joins for the 2021 models. Out of these, all other cars are reviewed separately and this review is restricted only to the Spyder trim. As we have mentioned, this is quite inexpensive trim which is the most expensive and hence comes with the choicest features suggest adjustable sport suspension, high-performance tires, 20-inch wheels, upgraded sport seats, and so on.

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Since there is only one trim level on offer, we don’t have to worry much about being confused. The price range of your car can however vary by a lot because the Porsche options list is quite expensive. Porsche also offers a lot of packages including LED headlights, ventilated seats, upgraded Bose or Burmester sound system, adaptive cruise control, and a blind-spot monitor. We recommend that you choose the ventilated seats and the adaptive cruise control among the options. There is also an incredibly large list of paint finishes and interior personalization that is offered. 

Porsche has made it a point to provide its hotter version of the Boxster with a good engine. The Spyder comes with a 4 L naturally aspirated flat-six engine that produces 394 hp & 309 lb-ft of torque. Transmission duties are handled by a six-speed manual but there is also a seven-speed automatic available starting this year. The car is turned into a musical instrument due to just how good the engine sounds and is also incredibly quick.

The drivetrain is rear-wheel-drive only to stay true to its driving dynamics. Speaking about outright acceleration, the convertible does really well, stomp on the pedal and it goes from 0 to 60 in just 4.3 seconds and goes on to complete the quarter-mile in 12.3 seconds. It is also an incredibly characterful powertrain and is set to entertain anybody who wants to drive it. It has a very high rev limiter at 9000 RPM and is one of the most rev-happy engines that you will find.

In this comparison, the Mercedes is the most powerful car and it also has the best acceleration among all the cars we have here. However, it is the Porsche that feels the most like a sports car due to its engaging engine that is perfect. But what we feel the Mercedes is a really excellent value for money by the Porsche does cost a lot extra. The BMW fails to provide the kind of performance that is offered by most of the rivals in this category. The Jaguar F-Type is also very impressive in terms of both - performance as well as pricing.

How well does the 2021 Porsche 718 Spyder handle?

The Porsche 718 has very capable handling due to the better-balanced chassis and the mid-engined layout that makes it nimble as well as incredibly stable. We feel that the chassis tuning has also been perfected to the extent that one can be at the limit of grip with this car. It often makes you forget that one is on a public road and you find yourself doing illegal speeds unless you’re careful. The car is just that enjoyable.

Steering is also very communicative and quick even if the inputs are very small. Porsche has also perfected the amount of feedback from the electronic power steering unit more than any other manufacturer. The ride gets a little stiff when you equip the larger wheels but it still is very much bearable. The car also comes with high-performance tires so as to handle its capabilities.

2021 Porsche 718 Spyder Braking Performance

Just like its handling, the Porsche 5 has very capable braking and feels very confident and precise. It has decently sized hardware measuring 13.8 inches both front and rear. It does not put your body to a lot of strain by coming to a stop but still gives you adequate bite to maneuver emergency situations. We do not know the exact stopping distances but the car is very light at 3206 pounds and hence the brakes feel very good.

We find that we do not have 60-0 mph stopping distances for any car in this category and that stops us from saying anything conclusive about the braking performance of either car. The Porsche has the smallest brake rotors in this category but is also the lightest car in the segment by a fair amount. The car with the largest rotors in the segment is the Jaguar but Mercedes-Benz can use the larger-sized rotors because it is heavier than the Jag.

The Porsche has a 4 L naturally aspirated engine, which is not exactly the best recipe for fuel efficiency. However, it manages to strike a good balance between performance and efficiency. Thanks to modern technology as well as the expertise of the Volkswagen group in terms of performance engines, the car manages to churn out a very decent fuel efficiency of 23 MPG combined. The city fuel efficiency is also quite impressive at 20 MPG. The tank size is decent at 14.2 gallons and can take you for 368 miles on the highway between fuel stops.

The BMW manages to better the fuel efficiency ratings of its competitors by a very fair amount, almost 4 MPG in every single aspect. This makes it the most frugal car of the bunch. The Jaguar and the Mercedes-AMG have fuel efficiency when you compare them with its rivals but they make up in terms of overall range with large fuel tanks. Courtesy of its 18.5-gallon tank, the Jaguar can go for 444 miles on the highway on a single tank. The Porsche has very much decent fuel efficiency and returns a comparable range even with a smaller fuel tank. 

The Porsche Boxster has an incredibly enticing interior that has a very interesting design. They also have a reputation for making extremely high-quality and expensive feeling interiors. The interior of the 2021 718 Boxster is a slight exception to this rule. For something that costs nearly $100,000, this car has some parts that are covered in plastic. However, Porsche also makes it a point to provide extremely nice customization options which can improve this for a very small amount. 

The layout is very ergonomic and user-friendly but however, there is a slight deficit in terms of rear-seat as the mid-engined layout eats into the packaging of the passengers. The switchgear is easy to access and the buttons are large. The seats are also built extremely well and support you when carving corners. The overall fit and finish are also excellent even in the category with very competitive rivals. Cargo space is a little on the lower side at 9.7 ft.³.

As we have mentioned, the cargo capacity in the Porsche is on the lower side at 9.7 ft.³ but the Jaguar manages to lower this bar a little more with its meager 4.6 ft.³ cargo capacity. The leader in terms of cargo space is the Mercedes as we have expected. The Mercedes is also the only car in the segment that can seat four passengers. All the other cars seat two passengers while not offering incredible space in the interior. Let’s see some of the interior highlights: 

• Heated and Ventilated Seats
• Alcantara wrapped steering wheel
• Sports seats Plus with 2-way electric adjust
• Sports seats with 14-way and Adaptive Sports Seats Plus with 18-way adjust
• Two-zone automatic climate control
• Sports Chrono stopwatch
• Pop-out cup holders

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Porsche provides decent infotainment systems in all its cars with its current generation touchscreen interfaces. The Boxster is fitted with the latest that is available from the brand. That is a 7-inch touch screen infotainment screen that gets Apple CarPlay as standard but no Android Auto. The system has graphics that are crisp and vibrant and that is a good mix of digital and analog displays inside the car. The sound system is decent and provides very crisp audio but if you are a true audiophile, you need to upgrade to the optional Bose or Burmester audio systems. The navigation system is very simple to use and the controls are very straightforward and user-friendly. Some of the standard features of the infotainment system are:

• 7-inch infotainment screen
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• CD player
• Navigation system
• Premium audio setup

The 718 Boxster Spyder is a true work of art when it comes to design. It has very understated styling which still evokes a lot of emotion due to the right proportions. We’re sure that the design is going to age very well and might even look good 15 years later. It sticks to the typical Porsche design language of tight lines and incorporates a lot of curves and a lot of other shapes that give it a sense of dynamism. It certainly looks the part and should attract buyers from a mile away. 

The Mercedes AMG is the heaviest car in the segment because it also has a lot more space and practicality. By dimensions, the Jaguar is the widest, while the Mercedes is the longest, tallest, and the one with the most wheelbase. The Porsche is much lighter but has some practical compromises in terms of passenger and cargo capacity. None of the cars have any good ground clearance, all having close to only 4 inches of it. Some of the exterior highlights include:

• LED headlights
• Manual roof with lining, automatic roll-over protection
• Black grille
• Body-colored door handles
• Turn signal indicator mirrors
• Convertible roof wind blocker
• Rocker panel extensions

As a brand, Porsche has always been conscious of safety. However, being a low-volume vehicle, it has not been crash-tested by either IIHS or NHTSA. However, we can determine its safety quotient from the amount of driver assistance features that have been offered in it. The structural integrity of the car is excellent while it offers features such as standard front and rear parking sensors, automated emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Some standard safety features include:

• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• ParkAssist Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag
• Back-Up Camera

2021 Porsche 718 Spyder vs 2021 BMW Z4

The Porsche Boxster is a very different car from the BMW Z4 and has much better driving dynamics. While the Z4 is very enjoyable and oftentimes cute, the Boxster is much more serious and focused. One will also find that its interiors are a little more cramped and the cargo space is slow. It also costs a significant bit extra and hence will not appeal to somebody who is on a budget. However, at the end of the day, the Porsche remains more desirable. 

2021 Porsche 718 Spyder vs 2021 Mercedes-AMG C 63 Convertible

The Mercedes-AMG C 63 convertible does not have a lot of takers because its sedan sibling is better looking and more focused on performance. However, the Mercedes manages to undercut the Porsche in its price and still provide nearly the same amount of equipment. The Mercedes offers much better cargo space and scores a lot higher in terms of practicality. However, the Porsche is much more capable in terms of performance and is one of the best sports cars around.

2021 Porsche 718 Spyder vs 2021 Jaguar F-Type Convertible

The Jaguar F-Type is one of the benchmarks in this category. The Porsche is a better performing, feature-rich, and relatively newer car. However, the Jaguar has drop-dead gorgeous looks and heritage like no other. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Porsche scores very excellent results and also has excellent interiors and infotainment features. Picking between these two is hard but we would pick the Porsche for its capability.

The 2021 Porsche 718 Spyder is one of the most expensive cars in its category but is quite an excellent deal even at that price. Where else can you find such a characterful engine in such a capable platform? It also has amazing interiors and convenience features despite being a little low on space. It has the top-notch build quality and comes in a package that looks absolutely beautiful from every single angle. It also comes with a manual transmission which is one of the best we have ever driven. We would definitely recommend that you buy it.