Porsche 718 Cayman GTS review

So, it’s easy to justify a Cayman on the practical side of life. It’s roomy and easy to park. It’s also economical. Yes, even with 4.0-litre engine in the middle. Porsche claims 25.9mpg, but in nearly a week of everyday use, including plenty of life-affirming trips to 7,500rpm and beyond, we averaged almost 28mpg. It might interest you to know that Top Gear once ran a 718 Cayman 2.0-litre as a long-term test car. Over six months, it averaged 28-30mpg. 

On a 200-mile motorway and A-road trip, the GTS sauntered without effort to an indicated 35mpg. Well, that long gearing has to count for something… Put it this way: brim the generous 64-litre tank and you’ve got at least 450 miles of range to enjoy. There are very few family hot hatches that can manage such endurance – and very little that’s also good for 400bhp and 182mph flat out. 

Caymans continue to hold their money well of late – the ones with six-cylinder engines in particular. A GTS 4.0 should maintain blue-chip values. Yes, it’s pricey to maintain the fabled full Porsche main dealer service history, but this pays dividends if you do come to sell up, when you can get the car dealt with as ‘Porsche Approved’. 

Spec-wise, a GTS is basically a greatest hits of all the best bits – we’d steer clear of pricey extras like ceramic brakes (the standard steels have great pedal feel, huge power and you get fetching red calipers), and implore anyone to shun the safety-first monochrome paintwork and go for a Lava Orange or Python Green example. Sports cars this good deserve a bright colour, especially if it’s nodding to Stuttgart’s rich heritage at the same time.