Porsche 718 Boxster review, test drive

Unlike most mid-life facelifts that are just cosmetic, the new Boxster comes with a major change – an all-new engine.

Published on May 23, 2016 12:15:00 PM

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What’s it like to drive?

First things first, that engine. In the Boxster, it’s a 2.0-litre turbocharged flat-four that produces 300hp and 380Nm. If you’re a number nerd, you’ll know that that comfortably eclipses the old Boxster’s 2.7-litre flat-six by 35hp and an incredible 100Nm. That’s the power of turbocharging, and the other benefit is that all that twist comes in at just 1,950rpm! 100kph is done with in 5.5sec, which is 0.8sec quicker, and that’s before you get to the vastly improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions. On paper then, it’s a hundred percent positive, but in a sportscar as highly regarded as this, the sensations are just as important. And this, sadly, is where the new 718 Boxster doesn’t quite hold up.

Out on the streets of Abu Dhabi, stuck in an unexpected traffic jam, the downsizing becomes very apparent. The 1,988cc motor feels distinctly turbocharged as it labours off the line each time and there’s that ‘cushion’ of resistance when you push the accelerator pedal before the power comes on in earnest. It feels and sounds strained at low revs and that’s a huge disappointment. That brilliant linearity and predictability of the old naturally aspirated six is missing. When the traffic clears, the chance to open the engine up a little reveals a much better experience, with the PDK gearbox masking a lot of the motor’s hesitation low down with its smooth and timely shifts. Then there’s the sound – it’s nice in a boomy, rorty, rally car way, and call me nostalgic, but it’s just not the same as a screaming, normally aspirated flat-six.

The good news is that it’s much, much better on the race track. Here the car tends to be in the thick of its powerband more of the time, so you barely notice the weak bottom end. The sound too is nowhere near as bad when it’s constantly banging off the redline, with an entertaining series of pops and bangs following you as you lift off. Yes, you will feel differences in power delivery, especially pulling out of corners, but on the limit, it feels just fine. The chassis brilliance is as good as ever, with razor-sharp and super quick steering, utterly predictable cornering and an all-round playful nature. Trouble is, here in India, owners don’t drive on race tracks much. The 718 Boxster experience, for them, will be on the road, and though it’s by no means a bad car, the motor is just not as fluid or evocative as before.