2025 Porsche 718 Boxster

Engaging and exceptionally enjoyable, the 718 Boxster is yet another desirable and talented car from Porsche. There are no bargains wearing Porsche badges, although the 718 Boxster is just as capable of providing thrills as the rightly revered and more expensive 911. Also like the 911, the 718 Boxster can be an everyday car. Another similarity is their strong resale values.

Every one of our owner reviews gave it top scores. Not just most — every single one. That’s an extremely rare occurrence, showing how good the 718 Boxster is. This generation made its debut for the 2017 model year, which is a long time ago in car years. Even so, the kind of driving experience the 718 Boxster convertible provides transcends trends.

The 718 Boxster’s metal-roofed counterpart, the Porsche 718 Cayman coupe, is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury convertibles, including the Porsche 718 Boxster.

The 7-speed automated transmission (known along Porsche’s corridors as PDK) becomes standard across the 2025 718 Boxster lineup, while the 6-speed manual transmission is offered as a no-cost option that includes the Sport Chrono package — except in the 718 Spyder RS, which comes with the automatic exclusively. Porsche has also added 11 new exterior paint colors, while discontinuing a couple. On a more somber note, production of the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman is expected to end in October 2025. If you’ve been holding off on buying a new 718 Boxster, it’s time for action.

We’d say that any Porsche 718 Boxster is a good choice. We do, however, have a particular fondness for the 350-horsepower 718 Boxster S.

Rivals include the BMW Z4 and the Chevrolet Corvette, the former starting considerably lower than the 718 Boxster — the latter similar in price to the Porsche, yet much more powerful.

Before buying a new 718 Boxster premium sports car, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

Excellent Resale Values

Even though its sticker price is substantial, the 718 Boxster provides a little parting gift of robust resale values should you ever want to sell it. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The much pricier Porsche 911 is usually considered the true enthusiast’s choice. But for drivers who never really liked the idea of an engine in the trunk and insufficient weight over the front wheels, the balletic balance of a 718 Boxster or Spyder is a thing of kinetic beauty.

Our opinion is that a mid-engined format like this doesn’t require a lot of power to be thrilling. Just the way the 718 Boxster changes direction, responding to steering inputs with an immediacy that has to be felt to be fully appreciated, is so much a part of this sports car’s appeal. One advantage of placing the engine behind the front seats is that it acts as a structural member, to help keep the convertible body from flexing, so Porsche’s engineers could tune the ride to a finer degree.

The suspension — whether it’s the standard setup, the lowered/stiffer version in the Spyder, or with the optional active shock absorbers — doesn’t settle for firm and feisty, where lesser cars would. There’s no twitchiness, but a fluidity over bumps and from one corner to the next. The 718 Boxster also offers a limited-slip differential and brake-based torque vectoring for even greater effectiveness through the turns.

Even if a 2025 718 Boxster doesn’t need a lot of muscle, we still think Porsche hasn’t short-changed anyone with a turbocharged 300 horsepower in the base model. Or 350 horses in the Boxster S. If we were going to make a minor complaint, it’s that these 4-cylinder engines don’t make the same kind of neck-hair-raising, pupil-dilating, spine-fluttering sound as a traditional naturally aspirated Porsche flat-6.

No such problem in the GTS 4.0 or the 718 Spyder. The latter also has a more extreme sport exhaust to really set the senses a-quiver. This is accompanied by glorious acceleration. Porsche says the 718 Spyder RS can rush from standstill to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. The entry-level 718 Boxster does it in 4.7 seconds, by the way. Compare that with a base BMW Z4 sDrive30i, using 255 horsepower to reach 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.

Fuel Economy

The most economical 718 Boxster is the entry-level version with the automatic transmission, achieving 24 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Subtract 2 or 3 mpg for most other variants — except for the Spyder RS, which runs to 16 mpg combined. For reference, the entry-level BMW Z4 sDrive30i returns 28 mpg combined.

The instrument display has the rev counter right in its center, because drivers are expected to be concentrating on the gearshift point before hitting the redline. It’s one of several typical Porsche traits in the 2025 718 Boxster and 718 Spyder RS.

Overall, the 2-seater cabin is more about business than affectation. There’s some flair, but not at the expense of ergonomics. The seats are comfortable enough for long trips and the driving position feels suitably sporty. The bucket seats in the 718 Spyder RS are made of lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

Although cabin materials are of luxury-car quality, we’ve found noise levels on the freeway to be not quite so soothing. Better than a Mazda MX-5 Miata, but we would have preferred more sound insulation.

The options list includes various leathers and color schemes, including seat belts of different hues. Plus aluminum or carbon fiber accents, and a key painted the same color as the car.

Trunk space measures 4.4 cubic feet and there’s extra under-hood storage of 5.2 cubic feet. A couple of weekend bags should fit in one way or the other.

Because of its mid-engined configuration, the 2025 718 Boxster doesn’t have a conventional grille, which adds to the special Porsche aura that also applies to the more expensive and powerful 911 range.

The power-operated fabric top is offered in black, brown, dark blue, or dark red. The 718 Boxster Style Edition comes with 20-inch alloy wheels from the Spyder RS, black tailpipes, and the Boxster name embossed in the fabric roof above the side windows. The 718 Spyder RS adds small “flying buttress” features behind each headrest, plus a lowered suspension, and a ducktail spoiler.

Porsche offers bespoke decals for the sides, where buyers can choose up to three numbers — the most obvious being 718, perhaps. Other touches for the range include 20-inch alloy wheels, black tailpipes, and the aforementioned Boxster name embossed in the fabric roof.

This year there are 11 new exterior paint colors added to the palette, while Porsche has discontinued two. We won’t name them all here, but we’re pretty sure you can find a hue that will do.

Porsche styling
Porsche would be the first company to say that function is paramount, looks are secondary. But there’s still a certain visual flair to Porsche cars (and SUVs) that’s arguably stirring. Right down to the typeface used in model names and numbers.

Manual transmission
This is one of the few occasions where we wouldn’t deter potential buyers from choosing the manual. It’s slick and quick, and enhances the driver engagement. It becomes a no-cost option for 2025.

Sport Chrono package
As well as a digital/analog stopwatch in the center console, this feature adds a launch mode to the automatic transmission or an automatic rev-matching feature to the manual gearbox. Active driveline mounts are also included — think of these as little adaptive shock absorbers where various mechanical parts are bolted to the body.

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)
In other words, an adaptive suspension. It’s lower than the regular setup by just under half an inch. That doesn’t sound like much, but we’ve found that it does have an effect. And although it’s tuned for sportiness, it also adds to the way the 718 Boxster flows. Available as either an option or standard equipment, depending on the variant.

718 Spyder RS
This car is lighter than its Boxster brethren as well as being more powerful. It’s also something of a collector’s piece. Driving thrills and strong resale values seem like a win-win to us.

Porsche Experience Center Delivery
Available in Atlanta and Los Angeles, taking delivery of your new 718 Boxster in this way also includes high-performance driving instruction on a track, plus lunch. It costs $2,000.

At its entry level, the 2025 718 Boxster employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder mid-mounted engine. Output is 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The S comes with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, as well, but with a displacement of 2.5 liters, making 350 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque.

Music to the ears of Porsche lovers, a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated 6-cylinder engine propels the GTS 4.0 with 394 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque — or 317 lb-ft with the automated transmission. The most extreme Boxster variant is the 718 Spyder RS, also with a 4.0-liter flat-6, yet packing 493 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. That’s 79 more horses than the previous, non-RS Spyder.

All versions of the 2025 718 Boxster have a 7-speed automated transmission as standard. With the exception of the 718 Spyder RS, the rest of the lineup offers a 6-speed manual transmission as a no-cost option. Rear-wheel drive is the only configuration.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Porsche’s new-car and drivetrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical among European luxury car companies. This includes roadside assistance. The first scheduled maintenance visit is also part of the deal.

Safety Ratings

The 718 Boxster hasn’t been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States. Standard safety equipment doesn’t go much beyond airbags, rollover protection, a reversing camera, and parking sensors at both ends. Given Porsche’s unassailable engineering reputation, however, we have no misgivings regarding the car’s crashworthiness.