Skip advert
Advertisement

Porsche 718 Boxster – performance and 0-60

Even the meekest Boxster posts a respectable 5.1sec 0-62mph time, with the GTS dipping into the mid-4s

Evo rating
RRP
from £55,800
  • Precision and poise that don’t require huge speeds to enjoy
  • Once you've tried the GTS, there's no going back to the four-pots

Objectively, both the 2-litre and 2.5-litre engines perform better than the low-output flat sixes they replaced. It's their uplift in torque that makes the difference, so while peak power of both engines is hit at 6500rpm, peak torque is available at just 1950rpm, giving you a sense of how the engines feel on the road. Combined with kerb weights as low as 1335kg, no Boxster feels undernourished in performance terms, where previous low-specification six-cylinder Boxsters could.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The respective performance figures reflect this as the standard Boxster will hit 62mph in just 5.1sec (4.9 with PDK), while the S will complete the same feat in just 4.6sec (4.4 PDK). Sport Chrono-equipped PDK cars drop these figures by a further 0.2 of a second thanks to an included launch function.

> Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 2025 review – six-cylinder drop-top is best in class

Flat-six models aren’t actually that much more well endowed than the four-pots, as while they have 394bhp, torque is no stronger than in the standard S, and when combined with a peakier delivery and extra weight, it makes the GTS only 0.2sec quicker when equipped with the equivalent transmission.

The contrast between them is all in the delivery, though, because as mentioned, while no Boxster feels sluggish the crescendo of the GTS’s 4-litre makes it by far the more dynamic engine. The flat-four by comparison feels asthmatic, as while torque is strong from low in the rev range, the throttle still needs to be wide open for quite a stretch of time before the turbos give their all. Until then turbo lag is an issue, leaving you with only flat-four flatulence, which is more air-cooled Beetle than Subaru EJ20.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Renault 5 Turbo 3E: Why the French firm is confident about its £140k hatchback
Renault 5 Turbo 3E
News

Renault 5 Turbo 3E: Why the French firm is confident about its £140k hatchback

£140k for a Renault 5 is a huge ask. Here’s why the firm is confident in its unconventional supercar’s appeal and purpose
4 Nov 2026
TVR Cerbera (1996-2004) review – the British bargain supercar
TVR Cerbera
Reviews

TVR Cerbera (1996-2004) review – the British bargain supercar

The singular, spectacular Cerbera is a genuine supercar that’s often overlooked – and, arguably, underpriced
2 Nov 2026
Audi RS4 (B9, 2018-2024) review – why the last RS4 lacked C63 AMG-beating magic
Audi RS4 B9
In-depth reviews

Audi RS4 (B9, 2018-2024) review – why the last RS4 lacked C63 AMG-beating magic

The B9 RS4 will be the last RS4 for now, as well as the last Audi of its type to utilise a combustion engine alone.
3 Nov 2026