2023 Porsche 718 Cayman Performance

There genuinely isn't a Cayman that can be termed slow, with performance ranging from energetic to breathtaking in the case of the GTS 4.0. The base version with the manual gearbox and the Sport Chrono Package takes 4.9 seconds to reach 60 mph and has a top speed of 170 mph, but it can complete the benchmark sprint in as little as 4.5 seconds with both the Sport Chrono Package and the PDK transmission. With neither the PDK nor the Sport Chrono upgrades, the base Cayman isn't much slower. With another 50 horsepower, the Cayman S can go from 0 to 60 in as little as four seconds with the PDK 'box and the Sport Chrono Package.

The range-topping GTS 4.0 is the powerhouse in the lineup, serving up 394 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque from its naturally aspirated 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine, enough for a top speed of 182 mph. However, with the six-speed manual, it's slower to 60 than the PDK-equipped Cayman S, reaching that mark in 4.3 seconds. Tick the box for the PDK gearbox on the GTS and it not only gets an increase in torque to 317 lb-ft, but it becomes the quickest Cayman of them all (disregarding the GT4 which we review separately), dispatching the benchmark sprint in just 3.8 seconds. If it's straight-line performance you're after, theAudi TT RSis even quicker to 60 mph, thanks in part to its quattro all-wheel-drive system. All Caymans direct their power to the rear axle.

The base Cayman and the Cayman T employ a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer-four engine delivering 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Like the rest of the range, it comes paired with a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. Moving up to the Cayman S increases displacement to 2.5-liters and sees the outputs increase to 350 hp and 309 lb-ft. Remove the uninspiring acoustics from the equation, and there isn't much to criticize. The turbocharged Caymans feel rapid, responsive, and pair well with both gearboxes. Although the PDK is quicker and one of the best dual-clutch setups available in any car, the crisp six-speed manual is a joy to use, too.

If you can stretch to the GTS 4.0, you won't be disappointed. Its 4.0-liter naturally aspirated mill unleashes 394 hp and 309 lb-ft. With the available PDK gearbox, torque increases to 317 lb-ft. While not much faster than the Cayman S in manual guise, the GTS offers a much more exciting driving experience and sounds wonderful when pushed to its 7,800 rpm redline.

There isn't a big difference in consumption between the various four-cylinder configurations of the Cayman. The most fuel-efficient version is the base Cayman with the PDK gearbox, which returns figures of 21/27/24 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. With the manual gearbox, those numbers drop to 20/25/22 mpg. The Cayman T will do 21/27/23 mpg with the PDK and 20/26/22 mpg with the manual, while the Cayman S with its larger 2.5-liter four-pot manages 19/25/22 mph in PDK guise and 19/24/21 mpg with the manual.

The six-cylinder GTS 4.0 has EPA numbers of 19/24/21 mpg for the PDK and 17/24/19 mpg for the manual. With the base Cayman, an available 16.9-gallon gas tank equates to a best combined cruising range of around 405 miles. The standard Cayman T has a smaller 14.2-gallon tank (the larger tank is optional, as on the base Cayman) and, with best figures for the manual, its range is limited to about 326 miles.