The Porsche Cayman 718 has been in the long shadow of its iconic sibling, the 911, since it arrived around 20 years ago, but to degrade it as merely the entry-level Porsche is to do the car a disservice. With its light-weight design principle and mid-engine layout, it has a more conventional sports car feel than a 911. It’s also lighter and better balanced, but whether that translates to a better driving experience is in the hands of the beholder. 

Previously known as just the Cayman, it became the 718 Cayman when it and the convertible Boxster were updated in 2016 to come fitted with four-cylinder engines instead of more traditional six-cylinder ones. Practically everyone on the internet complained about the lack of a big engine, so Porsche now offers models with a 4.0-litre six-cylinder unit too.

As the 718 Cayman covers such a broad spectrum of abilities performance-wise, rivals range from the higher end of the Audi TT range to the Jaguar F-Type and Alpine A110.

When it was first launched in 2016, it came in two forms: 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S. Easy. Since then, the range has expanded to include the T, GTS 4.0, GT4 and GT4 RS.

As is the case with most Porsches, a lot of equipment that you’d expect to be fitted as standard costs extra. While the basics are there, things like parking sensors, automatic wipers and cruise control all cost extra. If it’s a car you’ll be using everyday, you could end up adding the price significantly.

And while the interior is high-quality and impressive ergonomically, it now looks and feels a little dated next to latest versions of the 911 and Macan with their big screens and touch-sensitive areas on the centre console.

Keep reading to find out what we make of the Cayman. Our judging criteria includes the driving experience, interior quality, practicality, and what it’ll cost to run. Then in the verdict you can read if we recommend one or not. To find out how we put the Cayman 718 through its paces to reach our verdict, head over to our how we test cars page for everything you need to know.