2020 Porsche 718 Cayman

The 718 Cayman is also available as the 718 Cayman S which upgrades the coupe to bigger 19-inch rims, a larger turbocharger and amps up the power figures to 350hp from 300hp.

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The 718 Cayman S is the best trim to go for as it adds some much needed features to the sports coupe and makes it worth the money. The bigger tyres improve not only the handling characteristics as well as the grip through the corners.

“It's more than the layout or the tires alone; it's the fine-tuning magic that Porsche's engineers conjure during the development process. The Cayman is a sublime mix of heady handling and a relatively relaxed ride.” - Car and Driver

The baby Porsche with a turbocharged 2.0L flat-4 engine making 300 hp and 280 lb-ft torque, engine replaces a flat-6 you’d find in the Porsche 911s. The Cayman S gets a larger displacement turbocharger mated to a 2.5L engine, which takes the horsepower to 350, while the Cayman GTS utilizes a variable geometry turbocharger to churn out 365 hp.

Although the flat-4 is an efficient and balanced engine, the grating noise it makes doesn’t meet the refinement you expect from a Porsche. The 6-speed manual is quick and precise, however, not as sharp as the 911. The optional 7-speed dual clutch transmission on the Cayman S gets you steering mounted shift paddles along with the bump in acceleration times.

However, the tiny 2.0L flat-4 engine compared to the 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder engines you can find in the rivals at the similar price point make 400+ horsepower. The Cayman’s arch nemesis the BMW M2 Competition with the twin turbo 3.0L inline-6 engine makes 405 hp and sounds monumental.

Acceleration

The 300 hp engine gets your coupe to 60 in 4.9 seconds from a standstill and through the quarter mile in 12.4 seconds. The Cayman S is much faster taking just 4.1 seconds to 60 mph. The Cayman GTS takes that number down to 3.9 seconds in the mile-a-minute sprint.

The Corvette with its massive V8 makes it to 60 in a blistering 3.7 seconds, followed by another V8 powered beast, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack taking 3.8 seconds. The Camaro SS ties with the Cayman GTS taking 3.9 seconds, while the Porsche’s arch-nemesis, the M2 Competition takes 4.2 seconds.

Ride and Handling

The stunning stability and virtually zero body roll through twisty mountain roads, kudos to the low centre of mass from the flat-4 engine and massive grip from the tires, puts the Cayman far ahead of the competition in terms of driving dynamics. The electromechanical steering lifted from the 911 turbo, has been fine tuned to forge a telepathic connection with the driver..

In the city the ride is relatively relaxed and controlled, the throttle response is predictable yet precise. However, if you’re looking forward to test the limits, you’d want to spec your ride with the multi-mode Porsche Active Suspension Management system on the Cayman S and GTS, which offers a low-riding Sport-spec mode, as well as a revised Sport Chrono Package and Porsche Torque Vectoring.

Braking

The brakes are larger than ever before, with 11.8-inch discs on both the front and rear, they deliver powerful stopping force. Weighing less than 3000 lbs, the Porsche’s work like a charm not only on tracks but also city streets. The brake pedal is extremely precise and direct, much like the steering.

The M2 Competition has huge 15.7-inch brakes up front and 15s at the back, but the curb weight is also much more than the Cayman. The Corvette Stingray also is one of the lighter coupes but still gets bigger brakes to go along with the V8. The Dodge Challenger is one of the heaviest coupes and needs the huge brakes it gets.

With a thrifty 2.0L 4-cylinder engine inside, the Porsche give excellent fuel economy, at least considering the competition. The PDK automatic transmission enhances the economy as compared to the manual transmission.

The rivals with V8s have very low fuel economy as you would’ve expected. With the motto of “no replacement for displacement” the 6.2L V8 Corvette barely manages a combined mpg of 19 whereas, the Porsche takes those numbers to 24 mpg, while the BMW M2 Competition gives you 21 combined mpg.

“Easy-to-understand gauges, comfortable seats, and well-placed controls give the Cayman's cabin a form-fitting feeling, not unlike a superhero's suit. Still, a plethora of hard buttons and a number of cheap-plastic pieces prevent the interior from standing out in this class.” - Car and Driver

Seating and Comfort

The driver-oriented cockpit makes the ride even more engaging for the driver, with a sport steering wheel with column mounted shift paddles and controls for the audio and cruise control. The seats, as expected of a sports coupe have excellent bolstering and support to keep you in place through the corners. With enough headroom for the tallest occupants, the low roofline doesn’t hinder practicality.

The 4-seater coupes not only have better space for the occupants but also get more interior storage, however, the rear seats aren’t as useful as you’d hope to have with most of them not being able to accommodate tall adults. The M2 Competition coupe and the Challenger R/T Scat Pack have some of the best passenger capacity in the segment.

Infotainment System

The sport steering connected to a tilt/telescopic column, automatic climate control, 6-speaker audio with CD, SiriusXM and HD Radio, Porsche Communications Management system and front/rear Park Assist. You get Apple CarPlay as standard however, the system lacks Android Auto support. Optionally you can replace the speaker system with a Bose or Burmester surround sound system.

• 6.5-inch touchscreen display
• SiriusXM and HD Radio
• Satellite navigation
• Apple CarPlay but with a subscription

Cargo Capacity

Complementing the front cargo bay is more storage options at the back. The mid-engined sports coupe keeps plenty of space open for storing cargo. The front storage is pretty decent but the rake angle of the rear eats up the cargo bay quite a bit.

“Sharp edges, bold lighting elements and prominent side air intakes -- the better to feed and cool turbocharged powerplants -- give the 718 a more intense visual presence set off by an aggressive rear-quarter treatment featuring an auto-extending spoiler and single or dual exhaust outlets.” - KBB

Design and Dimensions

The 718 Cayman, a 2-door mid-engined coupe is small and sleek with the most perfect proportions ever seen. The 2020 Cayman gets sharper lines, a revised front bumper and bigger side intakes. The Cayman also comes with an auto-extending spoiler at the back, to go with the sport-exhaust system. The huge 18-inch wheels get replaced with 19s on the Cayman S and give the coupe a low and wide stance.

The Cayman is extremely lightweight compared to the rivals, with the Corvette coming the closet to its weight class. The Porsche is also the shortest being strictly a 2-seater, but in terms of width it surpasses the rest by quite a margin, enhancing its stability.

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Pretensioners
• Back-Up Camera

Porsche 718 Cayman vs BMW M2 Competition

The BMW; a 4-seater performance coupe has not only more interior capacity but also higher cargo capacity for your luggage making it more versatile. The BMW’s 3.0L inline-6 engine makes the M2 Competition one of the best M cars and an absolute bliss to drive, while the Porsche’s tiny Cayman is much more stable and composed through fast corners. The steering, throttle and brakes are fined tuned for the performance convertible and much more precise than the BMW.

Porsche 718 Cayman vs Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

With a massive V8 nestled under the hood and a displacement of 6.2L, the power figures are off the charts. Comparatively, the 718 comes with a flat-4 2.0L engine making 300 hp. The power gap really shows when you take these on the drag strip, however, on the tracks, the Porsche’s superior handling gives the Cayman the upper hand.

Porsche 718 Cayman vs Jaguar F-Type

Although underpowered compared to the 718, the Jaguar comes with better interiors than the plastic components used in the Cayman, however it may feel a tad bit cramped once you’ve sat in the Porsche. The ride is stiffened to improve handling, but the Cayman gets you much more refined handling and grip through the corners. The infotainment is more intuitive and advanced in the Cayman and it even pulls ahead in terms of practicality.

The baby Porsche is the perfect sports car for your garage which gets you a combination of precise handling, immense grip and great practicality. The Porsche comes with a high price tag, but for that price, you get a list that justifies the price. Compared to the BMW, Corvette and the Jag, the Cayman takes the upper hand.