Porsche’s iconic 911 has been a flagship of the German car brand for decades. However, the rear-engine sports car is not the only coupe Porsche offers. Since its debut in 1996, the Boxster has been a more affordable and mid-engine roadster alternative to the 911. A lower price tag does not mean lower quality; the Boxster’s been one of the top-rated sports cars on the market. Since the 2017 model year, the Boxster has been renamed the Porsche 718 Boxster. The 718 Boxster remains a mid-engine roadster that can provide much of the same handling and performance as the 911. Here’s what you can expect on a fully-loaded 2022 Porsche 718 Boxster:

2022 Porsche 718 Boxster specs

The 718 Boxster is the convertible option of the two-seater 718 models. The hardtop option is the 718 Cayman.

The 718 Boxster comes in six trim levels: the base, T, S, GTS 4.0, 25 Years, and Spyder. The most expensive trim – the 718 Boxster 25 Years – has a flat-six engine pushing out 394 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque. That’s the same engine as in the GTS 4.0 and Spyder, with the latter tuned up to 414 horsepower.

The Porsche 718 Boxster 25 Years is offered with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic system. The flat-six gets a combined 19 mpg (17 city, 23 highway). The sport suspension is lowered 20 millimeters from the base model and has 20-inch wheels. 

That setup with the powerful engine gives you thrills behind the wheel. MotorTrend says the throttle, braking, and steering are responsive. Reviewers say the Porsche 718 Boxster is a “delightfully balanced driving machine with enough power to put a smile on most driver’s faces.”

Car and Driver reviewers agree, saying the “handling and steering prowess inspire deep affection.” Cornering is balanced and stable with the mid-engine layout and responsive reactions to driver inputs.

The flat-six is powerful and isn’t afraid to tell you about it. MotorTrend notes the engine noise can get tiresome on longer drives, as well as the noise from the road.

What features are included in the 718 Boxster?

All Porsche 718 Boxster models come with amenities inside like heated seats, partial leather upholstery, a  10-speaker audio system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a leather steering wheel. However, bumping up to the 718 Boxster 25 Years trim gets even more comfortable inside with sports seats that are power-adjustable and fully leather. 

Performance-wise, the Boxster 25 Years takes the same upgrades from the GTS 4.0 trim. There are 20-inch wheels, an active suspension, a limited-slip differential, and torque vectoring. Driver aids include brake assist, a backup camera, rear parking sensors, traction and stability control, and an optional blind-spot system.

How much is a fully upgraded Porsche 718 Boxster?

There are plenty of optional extras you can get inside with the Porsche 718 Boxster. The premium package upgrades the audio system to a Bose surround sound system and adds a luggage net into the passenger footwell. Leather sun visors, ventilated seats, a smartphone compartment, aluminum pedals and footrests, and a leather center console and climate control panel can also upgrade the interior.

Sport suspension, power steering plus, and adaptive cruise control can also bump up the driving experience.   

All of these can take the Porsche 718 Boxster much higher than the base model’s $62,600 MSRP. The cost with all optional upgrades included gets you close to $130,000. That’s thousands of dollars more than a new 911 model. Neither Car and Driver nor MotorTrend recommends the high-end trim, opting instead for lower trim models that are more worth the money. 

Which 718 Boxster model is best?

Car and Driver recommend the Porsche 718 Boxster S trim. It’s not too much more than the base model and gives you a larger turbocharged engine. The site’s reviewers name the 718 Boxster third among the best sports cars and give it a 10Best award. 

MotorTrend recommends the T trim instead. It keeps the same 2.0-liter engine as the base model but gets a few extra performance features, including a sport suspension and a limited-slip differential. The Porsche 718 Boxster comes in third on MotorTrend’s ranking of the best premium performance convertibles of 2022, behind only the 911.