2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Review and Test Drive
With proper sports-car looks and performance to match, the 718 Boxster is pure Porsche.
Perry Stern
When I think about a proper sports car, I think of a two-seat convertible with perfect balance, excellent handling, and robust performance. Niceties such as high-tech infotainment systems, convenient storage cubbies, and even cupholders are secondary to the driving experience. The 2014 Porsche 718 Boxster is precisely that sort of car.
Porsche introduced the Boxster 25 years ago, paying homage to the small, agile sports cars of the 1950s. While there have been many changes since that first model came out, the 718 Boxster continues using the same exciting formula, including a mid-engine layout and rear-wheel drive.
As a relatively affordable alternative to the iconic Porsche 911, the 718 Boxster — along with its hard-top 718 Cayman sibling — delivers all the sports car enjoyment one expects from a car wearing the Porsche badge. And there aren't many alternatives to this Porsche, either.
The only other mid-engine sports car costing less than $100,000 is the Chevrolet Corvette. The front-engine BMW Z4 and Jaguar F-Type are also worthy competitors. There's also the Mazda MX-5 Miata, an affordable and enjoyable pure sports car in its own right. However, the Mazda can't match the Porsche's outright performance.
Last year, Porsche added some flashiness to the 718 lineup by introducing the Style Edition, the Boxster I drove. Granted, a Porsche Boxster is already something special, but with bright colors, contrasting trim, and unique wheel options, the Style Edition stands out. It certainly got attention while driving around southeast Michigan.
Perry Stern
Any Flavor of the 718 Boxster Is Pricey
The 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster comes in base, Style Edition, S, and GTS 4.0 model series. Prices range from the high $70,000s to the low $100,000s, including the destination charge to ship the sports car from the Zuffenhausen, Germany, factory that builds it to your local dealership.
For this 718 Boxster review, I test-drove the Style Edition in southeast Michigan. The test car had a long list of options, and the performance-enhancing highlights included the Sport Chrono package, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a locking rear differential, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Those options and more brought the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $96,165, including the $1,995 destination charge. Porsche provided the vehicle for this 718 Boxster review.
Perry Stern
Unsurprisingly, the Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition Has Style
When Porsche last redesigned the Boxster in 2017, it added the 718 designation to the car's name. Following a minor update in 2019, the 718 Boxster hasn't changed much in appearance, but the Style Edition has some unique design elements.
The Style Edition features a stripe down the middle of the hood and Porsche lettering along the bottom of the doors. Buyers can choose white or black for these elements. On my test vehicle, they were white, standing in sharp contrast to the Gentian Blue Metallic paint. The exclusive white-painted 20-inch wheels and the white 718 Boxster badge below the rear spoiler complete the Style Edition's bold exterior.
It may be a small, two-seat roadster, but I didn't find the Boxster's cabin cramped. Even with the top in place, there's good headroom. Legroom will likely be fine for most people, too, though taller occupants may wish the seat could move back just a bit more.
High-quality materials are evident throughout, with leather trim on the seats, doors, dashboard, and center console. Contrasting stitching adds to the cabin's premium vibe. Floor mats embossed with the Porsche logo and doorsills with illuminated Boxster script are appealing additions.
Controls are within easy reach of the driver, and unlike many new vehicles, the Boxster continues to use physical buttons and knobs for climate functions, infotainment shortcuts, and stereo volume and radio tuning controls. The 7.0-inch touchscreen display is on the small side but fits well into the cabin's overall design.
Sticking with tradition, the 718 Boxster has its start button on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. Porsche used this ignition placement in its early race cars so drivers could use their left hand to start the engine while using their right to shift into gear, shaving precious time off their start. While there isn't a physical key anymore, the electronic engine start switch looks like a key and turns the same way.
Perry Stern
The Sport Seats Are Stylish and Comfortable
My 718 Boxster featured the optional Sport Seats Plus trimmed in soft Chalk leather, and there are added bolsters on the bottom cushion and backrest. The Porsche crest is embossed on the head restraints. Overall, I thought they looked sharp.
Power adjustment is available for the backrest angle, but seat height and forward/backward movement have manual controls. I found they provided excellent support and remained comfortable, even after a lengthy drive.
As they should be in a sports car, the controls are simple and intuitive, and I liked the feel and grip of the wheel, which features a dial on the lower right to change the driving modes.
Given it was summertime in Michigan, I kept the Boxster's convertible top down for most of my driving time. The soft top opens (or closes) in just 10 seconds with the push of a button on the center console, and it can operate at speeds up to 31 mph.
Perry Stern
There's a Surprising Amount of Cargo Space
With one look at the 718 Boxster, you might expect there's room for an overnight bag and not much more. Finding decent cargo space in the trunk and the frunk — an added benefit of the car's mid-engine layout — was a surprise. With 5.3 cubic-feet up front and an additional 4.4 cu-ft in the rear, the Boxster can easily handle a couple of suitcases and backpacks, making it perfectly sufficient for two people on a road trip.
While the cargo space is more than adequate, there isn't much storage room in the cabin. The only area to stash stuff is the center console under the armrest, which is relatively shallow and suitable only for a smartphone.
Small water bottles can fit in the door pockets. Two cup holders extend from behind a panel in front of the passenger seat but don't look sturdy. I wouldn't want to sit in the passenger seat if there's a hot beverage in one of those cupholders.
Perry Stern
The Infotainment in the 718 Boxster Feels Bare Bones
The Porsche 718 Boxster is, first and foremost, a sports car, so luxury amenities are not always a priority. That was my thinking when I found that the standard Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system offered little beyond AM/FM/XM satellite radio and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Android Auto is unavailable on the Boxster.
Nevertheless, I connected my Samsung Galaxy S23+ via Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, and the basic six-speaker sound system provided reasonable sound quality. Porsche does offer a navigation option for the Boxster, but my test car didn't have this feature.
Perry Stern
The 718 Boxster Has Limited Driver-Assistance Features
Matching the stripped-down infotainment system, my Porsche 718 Boxster test car lacked advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). As a modern tribute to the early two-seat sports cars of the 1950s, the Boxster's primary accident avoidance system is the driver — just like its predecessors.
Still, my Style Edition had rear parking sensors and an optional blind-spot monitoring system. I found them especially helpful when driving the car with the roof raised. Buyers can also opt for adaptive cruise control (not available with the manual gearbox), but my test car wasn't equipped with it.
Just as it has few ADAS to discuss, the 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster lacks crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Perry Stern
Style Editions Have the Base Engine but Are Still a Thrill to Drive
The 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 300 horsepower. It lives directly behind the front seats, nestled into the car forward of the rear axle. Its compact, horizontally opposed layout, also known as a boxer engine, helps it fit.
My test vehicle also had the optional seven-speed PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) dual-clutch transmission. With the PDK and optional Sport Chrono package, Porsche says the Boxster will sprint to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 171 mph.
Perry Stern
The Driving Experience Doesn't Disappoint
Walking up to the Porsche 718 Boxster brings expectations of a sporty, fun-to-drive experience, and the car certainly doesn't disappoint. Sliding into the stylish interior and hearing that lovely exhaust note upon starting the engine, I was already smiling. A few seconds later, the top was down, and I was ready to roll.
I would have preferred the manual gearbox's added driver engagement, but the PDK transmission works well and cuts the sprint to 60 mph by a couple of ticks. While driving through my town, the Boxster's throttle proved easy to modulate, and the transmission shifts were almost imperceptible. It may be a high-performance machine, but it feels perfectly happy to slowly cruise along — almost as if it knows how good it looks and wants to show off.
As I headed towards my favorite twisty roads, I put the car in Sport mode. It quickens the throttle response, firms up the suspension, and changes the exhaust note, delivering a louder, slightly angrier sound. Porsche offers more powerful engine options in the Boxster, but my test vehicle proved plenty quick with its 300 horses.
As expected, the Boxster shines when the road gets twisty. I found the steering response is instant and precise, and the Boxster hugs the road, staying perfectly flat through the corners with excellent grip. In addition, the brakes supply impressive stopping power, making it possible to wait until the last second to apply them when approaching a corner.
Everything about this car makes you want to drive it faster, and it is happy to comply. While the suspension and chassis work well to keep the Boxster stable on rough surfaces and in tight turns, the ride remains composed.
Perry Stern
Porsche didn't design the Boxster to go off the pavement, but in Michigan, where many roads are dirt or gravel, sometimes there's no choice when trying to reach a particular destination. That said, Porsche's sports car handled the loose surfaces with no issues, even letting me have a little fun sliding the rear end around corners. The stability and traction control allow a little leeway without being too intrusive, adding to the experience.
Not every drive will be on a winding back road, but luckily the Boxster works perfectly well at cruising on the freeway at 70 mph. That's nothing for a vehicle capable of hitting 170 mph, and the Boxster smoothly eats up the miles.
With the top down, the cabin can get blustery at highway speeds. However, the Boxster comes with a windscreen located between the two headrests. That, combined with raising the windows, cuts the noise and interior buffeting considerably, making it possible to hear the audio system or carry on a conversation without yelling.
The Boxster even delivers reasonable fuel economy. According to the EPA, the 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster with the PDK transmission achieves 21/27/24 mpg in city/highway/combined driving. During my time in the Boxster, the trip computer indicated 24.1 mpg, which aligns perfectly with the EPA estimates and is quite reasonable for a sports car.
Perry Stern
The Boxster Is a Pure Porsche Sports Car
For the driving enthusiast, it's hard to beat a two-seat roadster — especially one with the famous Porsche crest on the hood. The 718 Boxster delivers a pure sports car experience with a balanced chassis, good power, excellent handling, and a lovely sound. The memory of being behind the wheel of this fun-to-drive Porsche continues to bring a smile to my face.
Cars such as the BMW Z4 and Mazda MX-5 Miata can deliver a similar experience; both are great cars to drive. The Mazda can't match the power of the BMW and Porsche, but it is considerably less expensive. As good as the BMW is, I think the Porsche delivers the best overall driving experience.
It'd be difficult to give up my own Miata, but if I had the means, owning a 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster would make me happy every day I got to drive it.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Perry SternI have loved cars and trucks since childhood, and that fascination with anything that drives is just as strong today. As a teenager, I knew I wanted to become an automotive journalist, and during the past three decades, I have driven, written about, and photographed all manner of automobiles ranging from affordable econocars to exotic supercars. With the idea that there is a perfect car, truck, or SUV for everyone, my goal is to help consumers determine the right one for their wants and needs.
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