2019 Porsche 718 Boxster Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

The 2019 Porsche 718 Boxster's sublime driving dynamics, punchy turbocharged flat-four engines, classic styling, and quickly folding soft top make it one heck of a sports car—one that we regularly add to our annual 10Best Cars list. Its low center of gravity and brilliant suspension give it tenacious grip in cornering and unflappable handling that together make even novice drivers feel like Steve McQueen. Most versions ride almost gracefully, enough to make the Boxster a comfortable daily commuter. It's not great for grocery runs, however—what with a small rear trunk situated atop the engine compartment and another tiny cargo box in the front trunk. But that's no different than most sports cars, and if you pack lightly, the Boxster can work for weekend getaways. It's certainly a head turner—that is, if you can slow down for long enough to give passersby a chance to gawk.

What's New for 2019?

Not much. Last year's optional sport-exhaust system is now standard across the 2019 Boxster range. Porsche's Car Connect system—which provides remote vehicle-status updates, remote services, and vehicle tracking—is also now included as standard. The famed Boxster Spyder returns for 2020 with a 414-hp flat-six engine.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Although we enjoyed having a Boxster S in our long-term test fleet, it carried an $81,630 price tag, and to be quite honest, it was loaded up with goodies we could live without. We'd still go with the more powerful S model for the extra performance and equipment, such as bixenon headlamps, LED taillights, two USB ports, and cross-drilled brake rotors with red calipers. We'd be careful with options, as Porsche's long list of extras can balloon the price of the Boxster to astronomical levels—or at least to levels rivaling a base 911. We find much performance value in the adaptive suspension and the torque-vectoring, mechanically locking rear differential; heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control all seem like reasonable additions and should help extend top-down motoring into the crisp fall months.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Perfectly balanced handling, communicative steering, strong braking performance.
Dislikes: Gruff engine noises.

The Boxster is available with either a 300-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four-cylinder engine (base model), a 350-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four (S model), or a 365-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four (GTS model). All three engines come standard with an excellent, satisfying six-speed manual gearbox, but can also be equipped with Porsche's clairvoyant seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Unsurprisingly, the highest-powered GTS model with the automatic transmission managed a brisk 3.6-second run from zero to 60 mph in our testing. The base and S models are certainly no slouches at our test track, though, with 4.4- and 4.3-second results in that same test, respectively; both of those models were tested with the six-speed manual.

The Boxster's handling and steering prowess are the characteristics that most inspire our affections. The mid-engine layout helps the Boxster feel balanced and stable through corners, while the brilliantly communicative, firm steering reacts quickly and accurately to even small inputs. Both Boxster models corner as if the tires were smeared with Gorilla Glue. Extras such as Porsche's adaptive damper system and an available torque-vectoring rear differential may help improve handling even further, but even base-spec Boxsters behave precisely the way we want them to, even (perhaps especially) when pushed hard.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The turbo 2.0-liter flat-four and six-speed manual that make up the Boxster's entry-level powertrain are rated by the EPA to earn 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Stepping up to the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic earns buyers 1 mpg extra in each category but ordering the S or GTS model slightly reduces fuel-efficiency ratings. We've tested both a base Boxster and a Boxster S on the highway, and both models outperformed their respective EPA ratings by an impressive 4 mpg.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Perfect driving position, performance-oriented gauges, intuitive infotainment.
Dislikes: Noisy cabin at cruising speed, interior cubby storage is very limited, all the niceties cost extra—a lot extra.

The Boxster's interior has a little more plastic than we'd typically expect in a car that costs nearly $60,000, but more leather is available at the relatively reasonable price of $500 for an instrument-cluster cover, center-console lid, and door-panel trim pieces. The Boxster's two flimsy, dash-mounted pop-out cupholders reveal their Teutonic disdain for driving with beverages—Germans don't drink their Nachmittagskaffee while they drive, after all—and won't be helpful if a full venti latte is onboard.

We'd usually complain about a mere two USB ports, but with only two seats in the car, the Boxster gets a pass. There's also a standard CD player for drivers who prefer their audio in high fidelity. Navigation, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, and Apple CarPlay are all available, but Android Auto is still not available in any Porsche.

The Chevrolet Corvette is the only car in this class that comes close to having a truly useful cargo hold, but the Boxster and the fixed-roof Porsche Cayman at least offer the flexibility of both front and rear cargo compartments. One carry-on suitcase fits in the trunk and two fit in the front-trunk (frunk). In-cabin storage is seriously lacking, though.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Without ratings from crash-test agencies, we can't judge how safe the Boxster would be in a crash. Some driver-assistance features are absent, but we're at least glad of the standard backup camera and parking sensors. Key safety features include:

• Standard front- and rear-parking sensors
• Available automated emergency braking
• Available blind-spot monitoring

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Porsche offers a warranty package that is slightly above average for the class and provides longer bumper-to-bumper coverage than the Corvette. The Jaguar F-type's warranty offerings beat out all challengers with the longest terms and a generous five years or 60,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles