2022 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 is the 911 of the elite

Just in the past two years, we car and driver The test team looked at many flavors of Porsche, 34 to be exact. Of the stock from Stuttgart, 11 were GTS models, four of those 718s, but this Python Green ($2580) 718 is the first. BoxsterGTS we tested with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Average launch speed to 60 mph for all those Porsches, from the base taycan arrive 911 Turbo S Light Weight, is an insane 3.1 seconds. This improved Boxster is just 0.3 seconds slower than that average and not far off the 911 performance feat.

The 718 is available as a hardtop Cayman coupe or a convertible Boxster. In their base form, they’re powered by the same 300-hp turbocharged flat-four as the Subaru, but the GTS ushers in the glory of a 394-hp flat-six. This engine is a detuned version of Cayman GT4’s 414 hp engine, and you don’t have to crank the 4.0 liter engine to the 7800 rpm red line to enjoy it. The GTS’s standard sports exhaust system is a good set of exhausts and in our sound level tests the difference between the Boxster (with the roof closed) and the hardtop Cayman in the open and in cruising speed of 70 mph is negligible.

Boxster is about 5 seconds faster than 670 hp corvette Z06—ie, in terms of roof performance, perform a powered ceiling dance for about 10 seconds. In terms of acceleration, our 718 Boxster GTS’ 3.4 seconds to 60 mph is 0.4 seconds faster than the 718 Boxster GTS . 6-speed manual transmission and resembles its hardtop counterpart 718 Cayman GTS PDK. It is also only 0.2 seconds slower than base 911 Carrerasprinting to 60 mph. More impressively, its 8.2-second run to 100 mph puts it just a few tenths of a second behind more powerful and expensive convertibles like $284,150 911 Speed and 540 hp Audi R8 V10 Spyder.

This PDK-equipped Boxster 718 GTS covered the quarter mile in 11.7 seconds at 119 mph. Use similar tires with wheels of the same size, 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 equipped with PDK, which is about 20 pounds lighter than the Boxster, narrowly beat it in a quarter mile by 0.1 second at 121 mph. The braking performance of the two cars is the same as their appearance below the ring road. The Boxster stops from 70 mph in 145 feet and from 100 mph in 294 feet, while the Cayman does so at 149 feet and 301 feet, respectively.

While the GTS’ sharp-shifting six-speed manual transmission offers a more intuitive experience, the PDK’s quicker acceleration and responsive reflexes make it not a bad choice. Instead of acting like it’s wired to the EPA’s test cycle, the PDK changes as we please. If you find yourself messing around with gearshift paddles despite PDK’s early gear selection, you should probably order a manual transmission in the first place. (The dual-clutch’s $3730 penalty probably won’t affect buyers in either direction.)

A packed cabin comes with the territory of any two-seater, and the 718s don’t have much storage area. They have cup holders—slim details that pop out from the passenger side of the dashboard. Filling a cup with a large Mountain Dew Baja Blast from Taco Bell can mean getting an empty cup and a mess when you get home. A 70-pound Great Pyrenees fits perfectly into the passenger seat but will now only eat New Zealand-caught salmon and kibble that has been carefully massaged into pate. Is it from riding in a luxury Porsche or a symptom of a newly discovered food allergy? The dog simply won’t speak.

The test price of our 718 Boxster hovered around $110,540. That’s $19,690 off the original GTS figure. Its most expensive option (besides the PDK) is the Premium package ($3,500), which adds Bose speakers surround sound systems, LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System, heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start. The aforementioned Python Green paintwork and 20-inch 911 Turbo wheels ($2450) wrapped in Pirelli P Zero PZ4s are the next most expensive extras.

It’s not the options that make the GTS a great car, it’s what’s available. Boxster/Cayman made us crave List of 10 Best Cars 23 times amazing. The addition of a smooth flat-six and wickedly smart PDK to an already excellent sports car is something to celebrate—though we’d be happy to double-check to make sure .