2021 Porsche 718 Spyder
The 2021 Porsche 718 is a rear-wheel-drive, two-seat sports car offered in Cayman coupe and Boxster roadster body styles. It has lovely looks, with a choice of either a turbo-4 or flat-6 engine, and two smooth transmissions, a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. We can't think of a car that's more fun to drive than the Porsche 718, with its ready power, mid-engine balance, quick steering, masterful handling, and fabulous grip.
For 2021, it adds more standard equipment, including heated seats, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, and Apple CarPlay compatibility. There are two new GTS 4.0 models, both powered by the 4.0-liter flat-6 that makes 394 hp. There's also a new limited-edition Boxster 25 model with styling cues from the original concept car.
The Boxster and Cayman carry the rounded curves of the legendary Porsche 911, but create their own style, with unique headlights, character lines that lead into large rear cooling ducts. Overall the 718 is smaller and sprightlier.
Inside, the 718 recalls the 911 with an excess of buttons on a wide center console, with a smaller screen.
The 2.0-liter turbo-4 in the least powerful 718 still makes 300 hp, while the most powerful flat-6 makes 414 hp, with 0-60 mph times running from 4.9 seconds down to 4.2 seconds.
The mid-engine layout and low curb weight results in beautiful balance and astounding agility. The tires offer tremendous grip, the steering has great response and feedback, the brakes are strong, and the smiles are unlimited. The 718 can be turned into a track-day athlete with many optional performance goodies, including adaptive dampers, carbon-ceramic brakes, additional drive modes, and lower ride heights.
The base 718, with the 2.0-liter turbo-4 and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, is EPA rated at 21 mpg city, 27 highway, 24 combined. With the 6-speed manual transmission it gets 20/26/22 mpg.
There's a larger turbo-4 engine, 2.5 liters, and it gets 19/25/23 mpg with the twin-clutch transmission, and 19/24/21 mpg with the manual.
The 4.0-liter flat-6 GTS models get the same 21 mpg combined with the twin-clutch, and 19 mpg combined with the manual. GT4 and Spyder models get 18/4/20 mpg with the automatic and 17/23/19 mpg with the manual.
The Porsche 718 hasn't been crash-tested, and won't be because of the low number of 718s made.
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Full Review
We can't think of a car that's more fun to drive than the Porsche 718, with its ready power, mid-engine balance, quick steering, masterful handling, and fabulous grip.
For 2021, it adds more standard equipment, including heated seats, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, and Apple CarPlay compatibility. There are two new GTS 4.0 models, both powered by the 4.0-liter flat-6 that makes 394 hp. There's also a new limited-edition Boxster 25 model with styling cues from the original concept car.
The Boxster and Cayman carry the rounded curves of the legendary Porsche 911, but create their own style, with unique headlights, character lines that lead into large rear cooling ducts. Overall the 718 is smaller and sprightlier.
Inside, the 718 recalls the 911 with an excess of buttons on a wide center console, with a smaller screen.
The 2.0-liter turbo-4 in the least powerful 718 still makes 300 hp, while the most powerful flat-6 makes 414 hp, with 0-60 mph times running from 4.9 seconds down to 4.2 seconds.
The mid-engine layout and low curb weight results in beautiful balance and astounding agility. The tires offer tremendous grip, the steering has great response and feedback, the brakes are strong, and the smiles are unlimited. The 718 can be turned into a track-day athlete with many optional performance goodies, including adaptive dampers, carbon-ceramic brakes, additional drive modes, and lower ride heights.
The base 718, with the 2.0-liter turbo-4 and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, is EPA rated at 21 mpg city, 27 highway, 24 combined. With the 6-speed manual transmission it gets 20/26/22 mpg.
There's a larger turbo-4 engine, 2.5 liters, and it gets 19/25/23 mpg with the twin-clutch transmission, and 19/24/21 mpg with the manual.
The 4.0-liter flat-6 GTS models get the same 21 mpg combined with the twin-clutch, and 19 mpg combined with the manual. GT4 and Spyder models get 18/4/20 mpg with the automatic and 17/23/19 mpg with the manual.
The Porsche 718 hasn't been crash-tested, and won't be because of the low number of 718s made.
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Retail Price
| Engine | 4.0L H-6 |
| MPG | Up to 17 city / 23 highway |
| Seating | 2 Passengers |
| Transmission | 6-spd man w/OD |
| Power | 414 @ 7600 rpm |
| Drivetrain | rear-wheel |
| Curb Weight | 3,206 lbs |
