2023 Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder

　　

2023 Porsche 718 Boxster Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Looking to have some fun and cast practicality to the wind? There's perhaps no better way to enjoy the freedom of the open road than behind the wheel of a two-seat convertible, and one of our favorites is the 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster. Since the mid-1990s, this entry-level drop-top has served as an appetizer to lure new shoppers into Porsche dealerships, with the iconic 911 representing the main course. This year, a new Style Edition trim allows shoppers to choose from a more vivid palette of paints and the high-performance Spyder adds Apple CarPlay. Otherwise the 2023 718 Boxster returns largely unchanged.

　　The 718 Boxster is delightfully fun to drive, with potent power from every model, impressive handling, and precise steering that makes you feel as though the car is reading your mind rather than reacting to your inputs. It is a Porsche, though, which means you'll be spending more than you would for any of its few rivals. To compound matters, we suggest stepping up to the GTS 4.0 trim, which costs almost $27,000 more than the base Boxster.

　　With a price above $90,000, the Boxster GTS 4.0 is tens of thousands of dollars more than a base Chevrolet Corvette, BMW Z4 or Jaguar F-Type. Porsche justifies that price with a more well-rounded vehicle that delivers thrilling performance and keeps things adequately comfortable with a dash of refined luxury. There's a lot to like about the 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster and only a few drawbacks, which we cover in our Expert Rating below. So go on, live a little and get that dream roadster you've always wanted.

　　

Which 718 Boxster does zzdcar recommend?

As superficial as it may sound, the coarse-sounding four-cylinder engine is a deal-breaker for us. That's why we recommend stepping up to the GTS 4.0 that comes with a much more inspiring six-cylinder engine. On top of that, you also get upgraded sport seats and the performance-enhancing Sport Chrono package.

　　

Porsche 718 Boxster models

The 2023 718 Boxster roadster is available in six trim levels: the base Boxster, Boxster Style Edition, Boxster T, Boxster S, Boxster GTS 4.0 and top-of-the-line Boxster Spyder. All come standard with a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (Porsche calls it PDK) is offered as an option. Feature highlights include:

　　718 Boxster

　　The base Boxster comes reasonably well equipped with:

　　Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (300 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque) 18-inch alloy wheels with summer performance tires Power-operated fabric convertible top Xenon headlights Front and rear parking sensors Dual-zone automatic climate control Heated front seats with power backrest adjustment Partial leather upholstery 7-inch touchscreen Six-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay smartphone integration718 Boxster Style Edition

　　This new trim level increases the choice of paint colors and adds:

　　20-inch alloy wheels from the Spyder Unique exterior trim and badging Contrasting interior trim and stitching Heated steering wheel Illuminated doorsill guards718 Boxster T

　　The Boxster T is a slightly sharper performance coupe and includes all of the base Boxster's features as well as:

　　20-inch alloy wheels Variable-damping sport suspension lowered 20 millimeters Limited-slip differential and torque vectoring (can enhance traction and agility when accelerating or cornering) Sport Chrono package Lightweight nylon door handles718 Boxster S

　　The Boxster S is similar to the base model but increases the performance quotient with:

　　Turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (350 hp, 309 lb-ft) 19-inch alloy wheels718 Boxster GTS 4.0

　　The GTS 4.0 gets a similar array of performance upgrades as the Boxster T. It also has:

　　Naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six-cylinder engine (394 hp, 309 lb-ft of torque or 317 lb-ft with the PDK) 20-inch wheels GTS-specific trim details Upgraded sport seats718 Boxster Spyder

　　The Spyder goes all in with:

　　Slight power bump for the flat-six engine (414 hp, 309 lb-ft or 317 lb-ft with the PDK) Adjustable sport suspension lowered 30 mm High-performance summer tires Spyder-specific trim and styling details Manually operated lightweight convertible topPorsche also offers a long list of appearance, performance and technology options, making it easy to personalize your 718 Boxster. Significant upgrades to consider include:

　　LED headlights Ventilated seats Upgraded Bose or Burmester sound system Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Boxster and the car in front) Blind-spot warning (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)

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