Porsche 718 Boxster review – MPG and running costs
The flat-four’s efficiency varies a lot depending on use; sixes are more consistent
Porsche’s quoted economy figures are pretty impressive for a sports car offering the sort of thrills that the 718 can muster, but the reality is unfortunately a little different.
On-paper figures of between 34.9mpg for a manual Boxster S and 40.9mpg for the PDK-equipped Boxster bookend the range, although our experience suggests that these numbers are almost impossible to replicate in the real world.
With an average improvement of around 5mpg over the previous naturally aspirated flat-six Boxsters, it means that all this compromise when it comes to the engine response and aural pleasure is largely pointless for buyers.
Six-cylinder models quote much more stark numbers, but they are at least very achievable, floating between 25 and 30mpg depending on how often you find yourself at the top of second gear. Tyres and brakes are also very resilient, as they’re generally pretty over-specified for a car of this weight and performance. This is good news, as a set of 20-inch Pirelli P Zeros aren’t inexpensive, though the brakes do need to be kept in top-notch condition to retain their wonderful precision.
