Porsche Boxster

The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined two-seat roadster manufactured by Porsche. The first generation was released in 1996. The name comes from the word “roadster”, which refers to the vehicle’s convertible top and two-seat capacity, and the word “boxer”, referencing the vehicle’s boxer engine. The Porsche Boxster received a 9.1 rating from U.S. News, and ranked 1^st in both the Luxury Sports Cars and Luxury Convertibles categories. Reviewers say the new exterior styling, upscale cabin, and stellar performance make it one of the best vehicles available.

Performance

The Porsche Boxster offers an excellent performance, and although it was redesigned, it is still worthy of its name. U.S. News gives the Boxster an excellent 8.7 performance rating. The base Boxster comes with a 2.7 liter flat 6 cylinder engine that produces 265 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, while the Boxster S model gets a larger 3.4 liter flat 6 engine that generates 315 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, while buyers have the option of adding an automated manual transmission. The Boxster can reach 164 mph (its top speed), and needs just 5.5 seconds to go from 0 to 60. Although it is slightly larger than the previous model, it still handles exceptionally well, and has terrific brakes.

Interior

The Porsche Boxster sets the bar for interior quality among luxury sports cars with comfortable, supportive seats and a redesigned cabin. U.S. News gives the Boxster an excellent 8.7 interior rating. The redesigned cabin is one of the nicest interiors in its class (even the plastic parts are well-built), and a new customizable multi-function display allows the traditional three-gauge instrument panel to display a myriad of vehicle information. The new convertible top can be lowered and raised at speeds up to 31 mph. The  Boxster also has two cargo holds: it offers 5.3 cubic feet of space up front and 4.6 cubic feet of space in the back. While this is not a significant amount of room, it is impressive for a luxury sports car.

Pros/Cons

When it comes to the Porsche Boxster, the pros list is significantly longer than the cons list. Reviewers absolutely love the refined powertrain and athletic handling. The Boxster also has a better fuel economy than the previous model. Although it is not as nimble as the previous model (because it is slightly larger), it still handles exceptionally well. Some critics have complained that the new steering system lacks the feel of the old model, and the low seating position makes looking out the rear window difficult. These complaints are few and far between, however. The Boxster also has solid cargo room, especially for a luxury sports car (although bulky items like golf clubs will need to be stored in the passenger seat). Still, if you need to transfer larger items, the Boxster may not be for you. The exceptional performance and beautiful interior come at a price, however, as the Porsche Boxster can run you up to over $50 000, which is a significant amount of money to spend on a car.

Other Features

The Porsche website lists the base price for the Boxster at $50 400. According to U.S. News, buyers paid on average somewhere between $50 000 and $60 000. Although neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS have crash-tested the Porsche Boxster (and thus U.S. News has not given it a safety rating), the strong and light chassis is as tough as any compact roadster. While there are no backup camera available for the Boxster, the standard safety equipment list is comprehensive, and rear parking sensors are available. Other features include a 7-inch touchscreen navigation and infotainment system, a USB port, cruise control, heated exterior mirrors, and rain-sensing wipers.