Porsche 718 Cayman Review – Iconic, fast and fun! Everything for less than Rs 1 crore

When you think about sports cars, it's a certainty that the Porsche 911 will be at the top of the minds of most people around the world. That's because the 911 pretty much defines what an ideal sports car should look like and that it's one of the most iconic sports cars of all time. That said, the 911 is not an easy car to buy and also needs more than average driving skills. The cheapest Porsche sports car then in India is the 718 Cayman. Now, just because it is the least expensive Porsche car, it does not compromise the features that are expected of a Porsche. It's a real sports car, it goes fast, it sounds good, it's comfortable and in the end it's a real Porsche! We spent a day recently with the Porsche 718 Cayman and here is why we were struck by this little Porsche.

A real Porsche in the eyes

718 Cayman retains the typical Porsche silhouette

The third generation Porsche 718 Cayman maintains the Porsche brand silhouette. A sloping roofline and pronounced wheel arches give it an authentic Porsche look from every angle. The sloped hood, LED headlamps and low grille give Porsche the look that almost everyone read in this article. The tapered roofline, pronounced side air intakes and short overhangs are elements that make 718 Cayman a visual delight.

Porsche 718 Cayman: Alloy Sports Rims

Some might think that there is not much change in this model compared to that before or before that or the some even earlier. Well, that's right and that's precisely why Porsche sports cars are so special. Very few car manufacturers around the world today can boast of a timeless design like Porsche can!

How to drive well? Incredible we would say!

Porsche Cayenne 718 gets a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine

The powertrain is the biggest change in the new Cayman 718 as the current model ditches the six-cylinder engine in favor of a four – turbocharged cylinder (of course!) unit that moves only 2 liters! Just a 2-liter engine in a Porsche sports car! How can this be fun, you would ask at this moment, but that's where Porsche's technical prowess comes in. Using a turbocharger, a powerful injection system and a friction and a combustion optimized, the engine produces 300 hp and 380 Nm of torque, the two figures being higher than older and larger engines.

PDK dual clutch automatic transmission on Porsche Cayman 718

Our test car was equipped with Porsche's dual-clutch PDK automatic gearbox, which meant that the changes were quick like lightning . The engine itself starts with a moderately loud roar, settling into a pleasant burble. Off the line, the engine turbo is minimal and well hidden by the gearbox, but try to leave on a dazzling start and a time lag is noticeable. On top of that, everything is going up while the engine is running at about 7000 rpm, which is the best point to change if you use pedals

Porsche 718 Cayman sounds absolutely fantastic

I n & # I have not known the old flat- six engines so can not comment on his sound but I can tell you that the four-cylinder engine is a feast sound. Once Sports Mode is activated, the optional Sport Exhaust System is also activated, which creates a bliss for an enthusiast. The engine does not look pissed off, but it looks useful and makes enough impact to make it clear that this car was made for fun.

We did 0 to 100 kmph on Porsche 718 Cayman in 4.9 seconds

did our 0-100 kmph in a respectable 4.9 seconds, measured on a portable GPS device. The acceleration through the gears is brisk and makes the acceleration of the throttle really fun as long as the tachometer needle stays above 2200 rpm. Since we only had the car for a few hours, the energy efficiency is not among the data we recorded, but I can badure you that despite a more generous use of the throttle and frequent redlining , the gauge needle is moving slower than expectations. The system said the best figure was 10.1 kmpl and the lowest we realized was 3.6 kmpl.

Cabin Experience – Sporty, comfortable or both?

Porsche 718 Cayman seats look sporty in red leather and black

Step into the Porsche Cayman 718 and its sporty-looking seats are dressed in black and red leather to help you get some rest. The seats provide excellent support all around, which is convenient when you push the machine into the corners. Black is the color that dominates the cabin, but the cleverly placed metal accents break the monotony and give the cabin a high-end look. That said, the cabin does not feel as special as the car looks like outside or as special as one could expect at a Porsche. The color touch screen is easy to use and has a decent visual presence. The layout of the buttons on the center console is also nice, but does not stand out from any setting, except that everything is very easy to find without having to look down. The group of color instruments offers a digital-badog combination, which is the best visual piece for me in the booth. In line with the theme of a proper sports car, the tachometer takes center stage with a small digital speedometer. This unit is flanked by an badog speedo with a digital odometer on the left and the multi-information display on the right. The steering wheel offers volume, radio and phone control at the front and throttle controls as well as the cruise control lever at the rear.

Porsche 718 Cayman boots up front and back

The boot of the Cayman, both front and rear, could prove to be restrictive. The car is made solely for the pleasure of driving and that, it delivers in bucket loads. But who buys a Porsche Cayman for comfort and luxury features ?!

Dynamics

Porsche 718 Cayman is a head turner while maintaining the iconic design language.

While the engine and gearbox of the Cayman 718 Be worthy to wear Porsche heritage, it was time to test how this little car can dance in the corners. I started with long turns, where the Cayman 718 felt like it was boring to take three digit turns. I took the car through a series of tight turns next door and not much changed. The 718 Cayman seems to have claws that dig into the surface and the electronics further improves its handling. There is a particular bend near Noida that I have crossed into more powerful and expensive cars than the Cayman 718. However, I scored one of my fastest speeds in this bend in this car. The Porsche 718 Cayman is clearly a baby version of the great Daddy 911 and it does not falter on any of the steps that she tries to follow.

The Porsche 718 Cayman has a genuine Porsche design everywhere.

provides excellent feedback and it's easy to decipher what's going on with the front wheels, making it easier to overtake your comfort envelope

Round-Up

The Porsche 718 Cayman is really fun to drive car

The Porsche 718 Cayman has proven to be a real Porsche sports car with very little compromise. Yes, there is a bit of turbo-lag first and the interior does not feel special but it's not the point to buy a sporty two-door Porsche sporty. If I wanted to buy this car (maybe never afford it!), I would like a fast engine that sounds good, a brilliant road holding and a design that looks like a Porsche! The Cayman 718 delivers well on these parameters and has more in reserve to be explored.

Porsche 718 Cayman sells for Rs 85.95 lakh (ex-showroom) in India.

I ended up having a good time in the few hours that I drove the Porsche Cayman 718 and it is precisely the point of this car. The Porsche 718 Cayman is priced at Rs 85.95 lakh, ex-showroom, India and for that money, the car makes a great decision to purchase.

Photos: Ronak Shah