Though the 911 has always taken the lion’s share of attention in Porsche’s lineup, one cannot underestimate what the Boxster has achieved. After its appearance in the carmaker’s lineup in the late 1990s, it enabled Porsche to rediscover the magic of a mid-engined sportscar. Through gradual development and enlargement in both power and engine capacity over three generations (986, 987, and 981) it closed the gap ever so dangerously close to the venerable 911. And now, there’s the 718 Boxster. Designated internally as the 982, it enters the market with an engine almost half the size of the previous top-of-the-line Boxster. Normally, this would be unthinkable in the sportscar horsepower race, but in this case, less is more.

In terms of styling, the 2017 718 Boxster is decidedly evolutionary, a design that can actually trace its origins all the way to the 1950s 550 Spyder. The curvaceous ends, bulging wheel arches, low-slung driving position, high side windows, and center exhaust pipes all nod back to its famous ancestor. Yet, it sprinkles in modern Porsche cues like the larger air intakes (something shared with the other turbocharged cars in the lineup), new doors, standard 19-inch wheels, and a rear end that’s visually widened thanks to a dark hued accent strip.





The seats themselves are comfortable and wide enough, offering ample support even for long stints behind the wheel. There isn’t a single button, dial, or knob on the steering wheel—a polar opposite of the 718 Boxster’s button-filled dashboard. It may make overall operation confusing at first, but it’s easily adjusted for. Some controls though, such as the climate control and the infotainment’s main knobs, remain obscured by the shift knob’s position. Still, kudos to Porsche’s touchscreen interface which is navigable and crisp. It also offers Bluetooth hands-free and a decent enough sound through its standard 110-watt 6-speaker system.





Not being able to pay homage to the engine is a shame because this is the 718 Boxster’s raison d'être. Just like racing Porsches of the 1960s of the same numerical identity, it uses a horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder engine. With 2.0-liters of displacement, it generates a healthy 300 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque.





The 7-speed dual clutch automatic (PDK) is equally up to the task, however, when left in city traffic, it might lurch forward unexpectedly. The slow speed ride could use some improvements though as it tends to chop through pothole ridden roads. Overall, driving the 718 Boxster in traffic feels like taming a caged animal, a constant reminder that it’s best enjoyed on the open road.





In the end, by going small, Porsche has managed to make the 718 Boxster shine even more. Though going for a 4-cylinder layout may not inspire confidence in some people when it comes to performance, a short drive is enough to erase any of that doubt. It remains an awe-inspiring machine that’s now faster, more efficient, and better handling than ever before. More than anything, it closes the gap to the base 911, especially for those who’re looking for a serious sportscar fix.