The 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster is a rare creature. It’s an open-air 2-seat sports car with a boxer engine behind the seats and a manual transmission. Like most Porsche vehicles, the 718 Boxster offers a wide range of models that get more powerful with each trim. The numerous optional upgrades allow for one-of-a-kind customization, which is cool if you can swing the added cost.
In this small universe of 2-seat convertibles, the 718 Boxster competes with the BMW Z4, Audi TT Roadster, Jaguar F-Type convertible, and to a lesser degree, the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster (starting at $65,500)
The entry-level Porsche 718 Boxster derives performance from a 300-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-4 engine routing power to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. Those uninterested in rowing gears can upgrade to a 7-speed dual-clutch PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) automatic with manual shift mode via steering wheel paddle shifters.
Performance enhancements include variable-ratio power steering, 4-piston brake calipers with cross-drilled and ventilated rotors, a sport exhaust, and a Sport button for when you want more aggressive throttle input and automatic gear changes.
Together, these features help the 718 Boxster carve curves without breaking a sweat, deliver a sprint to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds (4.7 with the automatic), and achieve a 170-mph top speed.
The convertible 718 Boxster features a power soft top with a heated glass rear window. The top can be opened or closed at speeds up to 31 mph. An electronic rear wing automatically extends at speeds above 75 mph.
The 718 Boxster features heated and auto-dimming power side mirrors, rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights with washers, and remote keyless entry.
Safety systems are limited to front, side, and knee airbag protection, electronic traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, seatbelt pre-tensioners, and load limiters. Front and rear parking sensors and a rear backup camera help avoid bumping into stationary objects.
A blind-spot monitor is available, but other than that, the 718 Boxster offers no advanced driver-assists systems.
The cabin includes a tilt/telescoping sport steering wheel, a central tachometer, a 4.6-inch digital driver information display, and full gauges, including oil temperature, oil pressure, fuel, and coolant temp.
Standard amenities include cruise control, 2-zone automatic climate control, power windows with one-touch operation, and heated leather sport seats with power recline and manual fore/aft/height adjustment.
A 7-inch touchscreen gives access to the 718 Boxster’s audio and infotainment systems. They include a 150-watt 6-speaker AM/FM/HD Radio head unit, wired Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Porsche Car Connect apps. Also included are a CD/DVD player, 11-gigabyte internal jukebox storage, two SD card slots, and two USB slots.
While the 718 Boxster’s standard equipment may seem sparse, Porsche offers an impressive catalog of optional upgrades.
In addition to numerous paint, top color, interior trim, and wheel options, Porsche offers an $11,430 Paint-to-Sample option that includes several historic Porsche paint colors.
Among the more notable 718 Boxster upgrades are sport seats with additional bolstering, 14-way power sport seats with memory, and 18-way adaptive sport seats with memory.
Opting for the Premium Package brings several otherwise standalone options conveniently bundled together. They include Porsche Entry and Drive proximity key with push-button start, ventilated seats, a blind-spot monitor (Lane Change Assist), power-folding side mirrors, a heated steering wheel, additional interior lighting, and a storage net in the passenger footwell.
The 718 Boxster offers several available exterior visual and performance enhancements, including SportDesign front fascias, front and rear spoilers, painted air intakes, and more.
On the performance front, buyers can opt for PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) suspension, which lowers the car by 10 millimeters. You can also get Porsche Active Torque Vectoring with a mechanically locking differential, speed-sensitive power steering, and a 16.9-gallon extended range fuel tank.
The popular Sport Chrono Package adds a digital/analog stopwatch where the clock typically sits. It also includes a steering-wheel-mounted Sport button with settings for Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, Individual, and on automatic transmission cars, Sport Response.
The package also features launch control, active driveline mounts offering varying degrees of stiffness, and PSM (Porsche Stability Management) Sport mode that allows the driver to briefly push the car’s protective mechanical limits for a quick burst of speed.
Optional audio upgrades include adding voice control and navigation to the infotainment system and an 821-watt 12-speaker Burmester Surround Sound audio system.
Finally, buyers can choose the delivery spot of choice.
Pick up your 718 Boxster at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and you’ll get lunch at Restaurant 356 overlooking the Porsche test track and a 90-minute instructed track session.
Or, you can go directly to one of two factories in Germany to retrieve your car. The package includes help with hotel reservations, transportation, and a factory tour.
With the $1,450 destination fee, the 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster costs $66,950. On a 60-month loan at 3% financing and zero down, the monthly payment comes to about $1,203. See 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster models for sale
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster includes:
- Power soft top – Offered in various colors, this insulated soft top helps keep you warm and dry when in place and can be lowered even while driving at speeds up to 31 mph.
- Heated sport seats – These seats, partially covered in leather, provide good lateral support for spirited drives, with multiple-level heat settings so you can drive top down on cold days.
- Wired Apple CarPlay – This allows the infotainment system access to your iPhone’s apps, maps, music, and messages.
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster T (starting at $74,600)
The 718 Boxster T has the same engine and transmission as the base Boxster but adds more visual and visceral upgrades.
Building on the 718 Boxster, the 718 Boxster T adds a PASM Sport Suspension lowered 20 millimeters, 20-inch Carrera S alloy wheels, active driveline mounts, the Sport Chrono Package, and Porsche Torque Vectoring.
Interior upgrades include leather sport seats with Sport-Tex fabric centers, a GTS Sport steering wheel, and a gear lever pattern in red.
To keep the T trim simple, the number of paint colors, wheels, and some upholstery choices narrow significantly.
The Boxster T doesn’t offer the Paint-to-Sample option, and it has only two wheel choices. The 18-way adaptive sport seats are available, or buyers can opt for a set of Full Bucket Seats in carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (deletes heated seats).
The Boxster T’s bucket seats offer further customization with the 3D Printed Bodyform Full Bucket seats with soft, medium, or hard cushions.
Exterior, performance, trim, and audio upgrades are the same as on the base car.
With the $1,450 destination fee, the 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster T costs $76,050. On a 60-month loan at 3% financing and zero down, the monthly payment comes to about $1,367. See 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster T models for sale
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster T includes:
- PASM sport suspension – Improves handling with a 20-millimeter lower chassis. Features electronically controlled dampers and stiffer anti-roll bars.
- Porsche Torque Vectoring – Uses the brakes to route torque to the outside rear wheel during aggressive cornering, helping improve stability and traction.
- Available full bucket seats – Offering excellent lateral support, these race-inspired seats are great for hardcore enthusiasts but can’t accommodate child safety seats.
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster S (starting at $77,500)
Although not much more expensive than the 718 Boxster T, the S trim brings more power to the table, with a 350-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-4 engine. The 6-speed manual remains standard, with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic optional.
The sprint to 60 mph drops to 4.4 seconds (or 4.2 with the PDK transmission), and the top speed rises to 177 mph.
The 718 Boxster S builds off the base 718 Boxster, with the same suspension, brakes, and standard amenities, but with 19-inch Boxster S alloy wheels.
Additional optional equipment beyond the base 718 Boxster includes the PASM Sport Suspension lowered 20 millimeters.
With the $1,450 destination fee, the 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster S costs $78,950. On a 60-month loan at 3% financing and zero down, the monthly payment comes to about $1,419. See 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster S models for sale
2023 Porsche Boxster GTS 4.0 (starting at $92,400)
The GTS 4.0 takes the 718 Boxster to another level, with a 4.0-liter flat-6 boxer engine producing a rowdy 394 hp. As with the other Boxster trims, a 6-speed manual comes standard, with an optional 7-speed PDK automatic transmission.
The GTS 4.0 reaches 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 182 mph.
The Boxster GTS 4.0 includes the PASM Sport Suspension lowered 20 millimeters, 20-inch 718 Sport wheels in Satin Black, 6-piston front brake calipers, active transmission mounts, Porsche Torque Vectoring, and the Sport Chrono Package.
Also standard: a Sport Exhaust and GTS-specific SportDesign front-end styling.
The GTS 4.0 gains 2-way Sport Seats Plus heated front seats with additional bolsters, Race-Tex fabric seat centers, and a GT Sport Steering wheel covered in Race-Tex. You also get Sport pedals and a Sport footrest.
Options include Full Bucket Seats, adaptive cruise control, the GTS Interior Package, ventilated seats, and a 505-watt 10-speaker Bose Surround Sound system.
With the $1,450 destination fee, the 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 costs $93,850. On a 60-month loan at 3% financing and zero down, the monthly payment comes to approximately $1,686. See 2023 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 models for sale
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 includes:
- 4.0-liter flat-6 engine – With no help from turbochargers, this impressive boxer engine produces 394 hp and 309 lb-ft of torque at a low 5,000 rpm.
- Available adaptive cruise control – This advanced cruise control system maintains a safe distance between the 718 Boxster and the vehicle ahead, slowing or speeding as needed to stay with the traffic flow.
- Available Bose Surround Sound audio – The Bose system is a nice upgrade from the stock speakers at about a fourth the price of the Burmester upgrade.
2023 Porsche 718 Spyder (starting at $103,400)
The 718 Spyder takes the 718 Boxster concept to its extreme, with a more powerful 414-hp version of the GTS 4.0 engine, a lightweight manual folding top, and unique styling cues, such as the aluminum rear engine cover with streamers.
Upgrades over the GTS 4.0 include a sport suspension lowered 30 millimeters, a shortened gear lever, Dynamic Gearbox Mounts, and an Adjustable Chassis (toe, camber, and anti-roll bars).
The 718 Spyder includes the Chrono Package and Auto-blip button that automatically blips the throttle for added smoothness when using the manual transmission to downshift.
Additional 2023 Porsche 718 Spyder features include automatic headlight activation with “Welcome Home” lighting and 2-way Sport Seats Plus seats with Race-Tex centers.
Oddly, many of the 718 Boxster’s standard features are optional upgrades on the 718 Spyder, such as auto-dimming side mirrors with rain sensors, 2-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats.
Unique options for the 718 Spyder include ceramic-composite rotors, adaptive cornering headlights, and the Spyder Classic Interior Package.
With the $1,450 destination fee, the 2023 Porsche 718 Spyder costs $104,850. On a 60-month loan at 3% financing and zero down, the monthly payment comes to about $1,884. See 2023 Porsche 718 Spyder models for sale
2023 Porsche 718 Spyder includes:
- PASM Sport Suspension – Lowers the Spyder by 30 millimeters for road-hugging performance in the curves. It features active dampers.
- Available ceramic-composite brakes – These hardened brake discs improve stopping ability, resist brake fade, and limit brake dust buildup on the wheels.
- Available adaptive headlights – The headlight beams point in the direction of the front wheels, illuminating curves at night.
Talking about Boxster variants, yet they start the article with a picture of a Cayman variant. Hmmm… Does one really want to learn from someone who didn’t realize that?