2021 Porsche 718 Cayman

Moving to the interiors you get seating for two and a generous trunk but the cabin lacks nifty cubby holes to put stuff inside. The other thing that this Porsche lacks is more standard safety features. For a sports coupe that can do silly speeds in no time the list isn’t confidence-inspiring and with no crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS makes things even more uncertain. That said, with a starting price of $61,250, the Porsche 718 Cayman takes on the rivals sports coupes like Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, BMW M2 Competition, and Toyota GR Supra.

The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman has renewed its trim lineup. The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman comes in five trims that include base, 718 Cayman T, 718 Cayman S, 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, and 718 Cayman GT4 RS. For this review, we will focus on the base and the 718 Cayman T trim while the 718 Cayman S, 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, and 718 Cayman GT4 RS will be covered by us separately. The prices of the Porsche 718 Cayman start at $61,250 for the base trim and goes up to $101,550 for the topmost Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS trim. 

Other than the replacement of the GTS with the GTS 4.0 trim, Porsche has also made changes to the standard features list. And the standard features now include 18-inch alloy wheels, 2-way power-adjustable sports seats, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, 4.6-inch TFT driver’s display, 7.0-inch Porsche Communication Management, wireless Apple CarPlay, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights, LED tail lights, power-adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, sport exhaust system, Porsche Side Impact Protection System, etc.

Porsche 718 Cayman in the base model comes with a lot of optional features and two package options. The Premium Package costs $4,050 and adds features like LED headlights, Bose surrounds sound system, ventilated seats, lane change assist, heated steering wheel, etc. All the package inclusive features can also opt for individual features. Speaking of individual features, you can have a 7-speed PDK transmission for $3,210, adaptive cruise control for $1,670, sports Chrono package for $2,090, extended fuel tank (16.9-gallon) for $140, etc.

We Recommend:

Considering that the Porsche 718 Cayman in the base form is already pricier than the competition, and the base and 718 Cayman T trim share the same engine, we recommend sticking to the base model and individually adding the required features that are not part of the standard package. In this way, you can keep the prices in check and also get what you actually need.

Being a Porsche you get a lot of engine choices but the trim of concern for this review gets the 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-4 engine as standard. The turbo-four puts out 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque that is channeled to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. A 7-speed PDK automatic transmission is also available but you have to pay extra dollars for it. Now let us assure you that both the transmissions are very competent and choosing one over the other is only a matter of personal preference. 

The only advantage the 7-speed PDK transmission has over the 6-speed manual is that it lets you shave off two-tenths of a second in the 0-60 mph run. The 6-speed manual-equipped 718 Cayman does 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds while the 7-speed PDK transmission-equipped 718 Cayman does the same in 4.7 seconds. Slap in the sports Chrono package and the 7-speed PDK does 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds while the 6-speed manual sees no change in time. That said, the 718 Cayman does a quarter-mile in 12.7 seconds and hits a top speed of 170 mph. 

The rivals are not only less expensive but also offer bigger and more powerful engines compared to the Porsche 718 Cayman. The Chevrolet Corvette has the biggest 6.2-liter V8 that puts out 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. The setup helps the Corvette dash from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds that is 2 seconds quicker than what 718 Cayman takes.

The BMW M2 Competition gets a turbo-six that produces 405 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque and helps it do 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, which is one second slower than the Corvette and one second quicker than the 718 Cayman. The Toyota GR Supra also gets a turbo-six and does 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds which is one-tenth of a second quicker than the M2 Competition.

2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Ride and Handling:

Even in the stock form, this mid-engine Porsche has an enviable ride and handling. The chassis is responsive and the laser-sharp steering instills a lot of confidence even when you are pushing the 718 Cayman to its limits. While on the positive side the noteworthy handling doesn’t come at the expense of ride quality. The Porsche 718 Cayman offers a comfortable ride and soaks up bumps with minor protest. 

If you are unsatisfied with this setup Porsche has got you covered. The available Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) which costs $1,790 extra can be had to further improve your ride quality. Compared to the rivals though they may beat the Porsche in 0-60 mph none can even come close to offering the level of ride and handling that you get in the Porsche.

2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Braking:

Porsche has been known to intentionally quote lesser power and performance than actual figures. So when you see that the rivals are beating the Porsche in performance, don't get carried away. The Porsche 718 Cayman, if equipped well, is capable of giving a tough fight to its rivals out there. So if whatever we said above makes sense then Cayman warrants a solid braking system and Porsche has given it one. The Porsche 718 Cayman comes with a 4-piston aluminum monobloc fixed caliper both at the front as well as the rear. The front rotors measure 13.0-inches in diameter while the rear rotor is 11.8-inches in size. All this helps the Porsche 718 Cayman drop anchors from 70-0 mph in 146 feet.

If you happen to look at the size of the brakes that rivals get then the Porsche 718 Cayman has the smallest rotors among all. But compare the 70-0 mph braking distance and Porsche 718 Cayman stops in the least distance of 146 feet. The Toyota GR Supra takes two feet more to stop from 70-0 mph while the Chevrolet Corvette takes three feet more for the same compared to the Porsche 718 Cayman.

The Porsche 718 Cayman gets the smallest engine in the base trim among its peers and that does help it return better fuel economy figures. The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. The 718 Cayman comes with a 14.2-gallon fuel tank which helps it cover a range of 284 miles in the city and 369 miles on the highway. Opting for the optional extended fuel tank for $140 you get a bigger 16.9-gallon fuel tank. The extended fuel tank increases the range by 54 miles in the city and 70 miles on the highway compared to the range from the standard fuel tank.

The Toyota GR Supra even with the bigger engine strikes a fine balance between power and fuel economy that helps it to beat the 718 Cayman in this comparison. The GR Supra returns an EPA estimated 22/30/25 mpg of gas mileage in city/highway/combined respectively. The Chevrolet Corvette returns the lowest gas mileage of 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg combined while the BMW M2 Competition returns the lowest gas mileage of 25 mpg on the highway.

The Porsche 718 Cayman is a two-seater coupe with a driver-centric cabin. Everything on the inside is there to make sure you enjoy driving. The driver’s gauge cluster has a big tachometer in the center with a smaller side gauge displaying various other parameters. The manually adjustable steering wheel has nifty shortcut buttons so that you don’t need to lift your hands off the wheel for frequently used functions. The top of the dash has a clean layout and has only AC vents and a sports Chrono lap timer. The result is an undistracted view of the road ahead. The fit and finish level of the overall cabin is of high quality and if you are ready to splurge then Porsche can cover every part of the cabin in high-quality leather. 

As stated earlier the Porsche 718 Cayman is a two-seater, unlike its bigger siblings which get four seats. The seats are wide and comfortable and you have enough headroom and knee room to comfortably fit in taller passengers. The standard sports seats offer only 2-way power adjustment with heating function. If you want, Porsche offers two more seating options. The first one is a 14-way power-adjustable sports seat with memory function while the other one is an 18-way power-adjustable adaptive sports seat with memory function. While dual-zone automatic climate control is part of the standard features list but if you want ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel then you have to look at the paid options list.

The Porsche 718 Cayman, even being a two-seater, packs in a lot of practicality in the form of 14.9 cubic feet of trunk space. The trunk is divided into two, one at the rear and one at the front. The front trunk offers 5.2 cubic feet and the rear trunk offers 9.7 cubic feet of space. We suggest going for duffel bags instead of a hardshell suitcase to make the best use of the available space. If you have a few dollars to spare then you can also look at the custom bags available from Porsche that have been specially designed keeping in mind the boot space.

Except for the BMW M2 Competition, all the other coupes are offered in two-seater configurations. As Porsche never shares the cabin dimension we can’t make an on-paper comparison of the 718 Cayman with the rivals here. That said, the BMW M2 Competition happens to be the more spacious and practical sports coupe overall and has the second-largest cargo area of 13.8 cubic feet. The Toyota GR Supra with 10.2 cubic feet of cargo space has the smallest trunk among its peers here. Highlights of the interior features include:

• Heated front seats
• 2-way power-adjustable sports seat
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Rearview Camera
• An auto-dimming inner rearview camera
• 14-way power-adjustable sports seats w/ memory function (available)
• 18-way power-adjustable adaptive sports seats w/ memory function (available)
• Ventilated seats (available)
• Heated steering wheel (available)
• Alcantara trimmed seats and steering wheel (available)

2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Infotainment System:

Being a driver-focused car the Porsche doesn’t get those big and fancy touchscreen units. Instead, it gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen unit dubbed Porsche Communication Management (PCM). The system is fairly simple to navigate and offers a lag-free response. For some, the screen size might be small but we feel it is perfect to keep you from getting distracted when the main focus should be on driving and enjoying this car. 

That said, standard features that come with the infotainment system include an 8-speaker sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, USB slots, etc. Optional features include a 10-speaker Bose surround sound system, a 12-speaker Burmester high-end surround system, and navigation with Porsche Connect. Highlights of the infotainment system include:

• 7-inch touchscreen w/ Porsche Communication Management 
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• SiriusXM Radio w/ 3-month all-access trial
• HD Radio
• 8-speaker audio system
• Porsche Car Connect w/ Porsche Vehicle Tracking System
• 10-speaker Bose surround sound system (available)
• 12-speaker Burmester high-end surround sound system w/ 300-watt amplifier (available)
• Navigation w/ Porsche Connect (available)

The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman hasn’t undergone any radical changes in its exterior looks and design. The front has an indistinguishable Porsche look with four-point LED daytime running lights and Bi-Xenon headlights. The headlights can be upgraded to the available LED headlights setup. Being a two-seater coupe the side-profile is tight and clean with a sharp beltline that merges into the side air intakes. The rear has a pronounced haunch and gives the 718 Cayman a squatted look. The rear taillights are full-LED with integrated LED brake lights. The base 718 Cayman gets 18-inch alloy wheels with brake calipers painted in black. At the rear, you get a single centrally-mounted sports exhaust with a stainless steel pipe. 

When it comes to dimensions the Chevrolet Corvette is the largest, widest, and has the longest wheelbase. The BMW M2 Competition measuring 55.5-inches is the tallest coupe in this comparison and has a 1.2-inches smaller wheelbase compared to Corvette’s 107.2-inches wheelbase. As for the Porsche 718 Cayman, it is 9.9-inches smaller and 5.2-inches less wide compared to the Corvette. While the 718 Cayman is 4.5-inches shorter than the M2 Competition. The wheelbase of the 718 Cayman is 9.8-inches smaller than the Corvette's wheelbase. Highlights of the exterior features include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Bi-Xenon headlights w/ Porsche Dynamic Light System
• Front and Rear parking sensors
• LED taillights
• Sports exhaust w/ stainless steel pipes
• LED headlights w/ Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (available)

Luxury sports cars are rarely crash-tested by the NHTSA and IIHS and especially when it's a Porsche there is a very high chance that it hasn’t been crash-tested. Even though neither of the agencies has crash-tested the Porsche but keeping in mind the amount of power and performance it packs in you can’t afford to do without a strong shell and host of safety features. 

The Porsche 718 Cayman has an aluminum-steel composite chassis that is light yet strong. It also gets a front and rear crumple zone to absorb the majority of the crash force without filtering much inside the cabin. The 718 Cayman also comes with a Porsche Side Impact Protection System that cocoons the occupants in case of a crash. Apart from this standard safety features include six airbags, stability control, brake assist, parking sensors, etc. Highlights of the safety features include:

• Porsche Side Impact Protection System
• Porsche Stability Management (PSM) System
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Rearview Camera
• Adaptive cruise control (available)
• Blind-spot monitoring (available)
• Lane change assist (available)

2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Vs 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the cheapest sports car that comes with a big V8. The V8 has its own inherent advantage of gargantuan power and torque that results in under 3 seconds 0-60 mph runs. The Corvette Stingray also is bigger in size compared to the 718 Cayman and comes with a spacious yet practical cabin. The only downside the Corvette Stingray has in front of the 718 Cayman is its lower fuel economy figures. If you keep that last bit aside the Corvette Stingray can easily give the Porsche 718 Cayman a run for its money.

2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Vs 2021 BMW M2 Competition

The most compact sports coupe from BMW packs in lots of performance and practicality under its shell. The BMW M2 offers two more seats compared to the Porsche 718 Cayman. It is more powerful and quicker in the 0-60 mph run. Although the Porsche 718 Cayman leads ahead when it comes to fuel economy figures and cargo space. But put the features list of both the cars side-by-side with their MSRP and the BMW M2 Competition appears to be the better choice between the two. 

2021 Porsche 718 Cayman Vs 2021 Toyota GR Supra

The Toyota GR Supra with the T-badge has a lot of virtues shared by its sibling BMW Z4. Thus the GR Supra is faster, handles well, and has better fuel economy figures compared to the Porsche 718 Cayman. Except for the bragging rights of a Porsche, there is little the 718 Cayman can offer to counter the deal Toyota has in the form of GR Supra for you.

The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman is more of a bargain for someone who aspires for a Porsche badge but can’t afford the 911. The Porsche 718 Cayman except for the segment-best handling under its belt has very little to offer at $60,000. For the same kind of money you can either get a much more pocket-friendly and practical BMW M2 Competition or if you want a proper sporty-looking coupe with a big V8 under its hood then the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray it is. Heck even the Toyota GR Supra appears to offer more than the Porsche 718 Cayman.