2023 Porsche Cayman Style Edition new car review

This in demand luxury brand has revealed a limited edition version of its ferocious two-door coupe that is sure to turn heads.

2023 Porsche 718 Cayman Style Edition.

This is one of the cheapest tickets into a Porsche sports car, but don’t expect headline-grabbing performance.

Here are five things to know about the special edition Porsche Cayman Style Edition.

Porsche has launched a special edition of its Cayman sports car.

THIS IS THE BABY PORSCHE

The 718 Cayman is Porsche’s entry-level sports car and this Style Edition is based on the least powerful version. Forget about relatively large 4.0-litre engines with 9000rpm redlines – this one has a humble 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo with 220kW and 380Nm.

The engine has more charm than your average four, though, as it uses a horizontally opposed “boxer” layout to deliver a throaty growl similar to a 1990s Subaru WRX.

Straight-line thrust is closer in nature to hot hatches than two-door supercars, with the 0-100km/h sprint dispatched in 5.1 seconds.

That’s not super quick these days.

It is based on the cheapest and least powerful version.

MORE THAN STYLE

The current Cayman coupe and Boxster convertible are nearing the end of their production run, so Porsche introduced a new Style Edition to help keep customers interested in the car. Essentially the same as a regular Cayman, save for a new sports exhaust and slightly larger fuel tank, the Style Edition delivers cosmetic upgrades for about $5000 more than the regular car – or about $155,000 drive-away.

Racing stripes and painted wheels are part of the deal, as is a leather-clad cabin with light grey top stitching, ambient lighting and electronically adjustable sports seats with the Porsche crest embossed in the headrests.

It’s not worlds away from a regular Cayman, though it does shape up as decent value compared to adding those features as individual options to a standard car.

It has a mid-engined layout.

THE FUNDAMENTALS ARE SOUND

The Cayman is in elite company as a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe. Only a handful of models share that layout – most are supercars such as the Ferrari 296GTB or new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. The layout lends outstanding balance, imbuing the Cayman with a rare agility that helps the car feel like an extension of yourself, rather than a mechanical tool. Sweet steering, magnificent brakes and a snappy dual-clutch auto combine to deliver satisfaction on every drive – and pure elation when you dig deeper into its potential.

Though it’s not particularly quick in a straight line, the Cayman carves up corners unlike just about anything else on sale.

IT’S SURPRISINGLY PRACTICAL

The cabin is cosy but surprisingly practical.

The Cayman’s mid-engine layout also reaps rewards in the car park, where it has surprisingly generous cargo space. The lack of mechanical hardware up front allows for a truly enormous “frunk” capable of swallowing all but the largest suitcases.

Lift the rear hatch and there’s room behind the engine, as well as a parcel shelf of sorts behind the driver and passenger seats.

Add in a handful of interior hidey-holes, plus an easy touchscreen with sat nav and smartphone mirroring, and the Cayman represents one of the most practical sports cars on sale.

Petrol power could soon be phased out in favour of electric thrust.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT UNTIL IT’S GONE

Porsche hasn’t announced an end date for the petrol-powered Cayman, but it’s not far away.

Car spies have photographed its electric replacement on more than a few occasions, suggesting Porsche might have a battery-powered two-seater on sale in the near future. One theory is that the battery Boxster and Cayman will replace entry-level models – such as the one shown here – and that premium versions such as the GTS and GT4 versions will retain powerful six-cylinder engines derived from the larger Porsche 911.

In any case, you shouldn’t count on being able to buy a pure petrol Porsche forever.

Originally published as 2023 Porsche Cayman Style Edition new car review