Skip advert
Advertisement

Porsche 718 Boxster – design

The basic design is familiar; looks tight and compact compared to more modern rivals

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

The Boxster’s fundamental proportions haven’t changed at all over the years, with a mid-engined layout that does without the desire to shorten overhangs or have the engine on display. From a packaging perspective, this has been a very wise move as both front and rear boots are huge by sports car standards, making the Boxster much more versatile than something like an Alpine A110.

Advertisement - Article continues below

This has also meant the design has remained largely familiar, but thanks to that almost 911-like evolution it somehow hasn’t really dated despite lacking some of the glitzy detailing Porsche has been integrating into designs for the 911 and Taycan.

> Used Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder (2019 - 2025) review – the drop-top Cayman GT4

Original 986 and 987 Boxsters had the additional complication of needing to share external door skins with their contemporary 911 derivatives, which not only limited the designer's freedom, but also made the side intakes feel like something of an afterthought as their shaping had condensed to just the rear three-quarter panel.

This all changed with the 981 in 2012 when Porsche decided to give it its own door skins, which totally transformed the Boxster from an odd quasi-911 jumble into something more individual. The 718, however, did muddy the waters slightly with a less attractive front and rear, and lighting units that didn’t, and still don’t, look as slick or integrated as the ones on a 981.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI
Cheap sports cars
Best cars

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI

With the sun shining and fuel prices palatable, now is the time to indulge your used sports car desires
1 Jul 2025
Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?
Lotus factory
Opinion

Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?

Lotus’s latest troubles are grabbing headlines, but the writing’s been on the wall for some time.
28 Jun 2025
New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement
Ferrari Amalfi front
News

New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement

The Ferrari Amalfi picks up where the Roma left off, as a more capable, debugged super GT that’s finally brought back buttons
1 Jul 2025