Every Gas-Powered Porsche Cayman Ranked

As with its sibling, the Boxster, there are no truly bad Caymans, but something has to come in last in a comprehensive ranking. The first base-level Cayman—which was, strangely, the second version to hit the market—launched in 2006 with a 2.7-liter flat-six that made 242 hp, though that mill would be replaced by a 2.9-liter mill that kicked in an additional 19 hp with a mid-cycle refresh in 2009. It’s a solid sports car through and through, but really just a rough draft of what the Cayman would become.

The Porsche Design Edition 1 is really more of an appearance package than a full-fledged variant. Based on the first-generation Cayman S, the variant paired a glossy black paint job with matte black Porsche Design graphics. The coupe also came with a matching briefcase containing products designed by the studio, including sunglasses, a watch, and a pocket knife. It was also somewhat rare, with just 777 examples leaving the factory between 2007 and 2008.

The differences between the first and second Boxster may have been subtle, but the same can’t be said about the Cayman. The second Cayman arrived in early 2013, as a 2014 model, with a new body, longer wheelbase, and redesigned interior that was closer to that of the 991-series 911. It again came with a 2.7-liter flat-six, which made 271 hp, which was 10 hp more than its predecessor.

The base model 718 Cayman may be the least capable—a truly relative phrase in this case—member of the car’s third generation, but it’s still an excellent car anyway you look at it. The biggest change between it and its predecessor—besides 718 being added to its name at the time of its 2018 debut—is its new 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four. The mill may be smaller than any of the six-cylinders that came before it, but it still makes a more than respectable 296 hp and 280 ft lbs of torque.

In 2009, Porsche decided that it was time for the Cayman S to get a variant of its very own. The S Sport launched as part of the Cayman’s first-generation mid-cycle refresh and offered more power than the earliest version of the coupe, with its 3.4-liter flat-six making 315 hp. It was also available in two colors that had been previously reserved for the 911 GT3 RS, Bright Orange and Signal Green, along with the usual array of Cayman hues. It was in production for a single model year, during which time just 700 examples were built.

The second-gen Cayman S, like the standard version of the car, debuted in early 2011 as part of Porsche’s 2012 model class. The big difference between it and the entry-level coupe is a mid-mounted 3.4-liter flat-six that makes 321 hp, or 6 hp more than the refreshed version of its predecessor. This is also the point where critics and sports car lovers really started to fall for the Cayman’s trademark driving dynamics.

The latest 718 Cayman S was introduced in the spring of 2016. As with past generations, the difference between it and the third generation’s base model was found in the engine bay. Whereas the base model is powered by a 2.0-liter flat-four, the more potent S variant features a 2.4-liter four-pot that makes an extra 49 hp, bringing the total to 345 hp. It’s far from the most powerful or fastest third-gen Cayman, but when equipped with a seven-speed PDK gearbox and the Sport Chrono package, it can still sprint from zero to 62 mph in just four seconds flat.

The third-generation 718 Cayman T, like the 987 R, is a model specifically marketed at the purists. It features the same 2.0-liter flat-four as the base car but comes with several performance upgrades standard. These include a retuned suspension, a limited-slip differential, and the Sports Chrono package that is normally a premium add-on. Cosmetic changes include a special decal package, the short shifter from a GT4, and door pull straps instead of handles.

The 987 Cayman S Black Edition’s name is as apt as it is misleading. Yes, the variant is an exclusive all-black variant, but it’s also not your typical first-gen Cayman S. That’s because the car was powered by the 3.4-liter flat-six from the Cayman R, a mill that boosted output to to 325 hp. It’s also the rarest Cayman of them all, not including one-offs, with just 500 examples leaving the factory in 2011.

The first Cayman generation has its fair share of variants, but it wasn’t until the second that they really started to feel distinct from one another. The generation’s first truly high-performance model was the GTS, which was introduced in 2014. In addition to a more aerodynamic body, it featured a more potent flat-six and a passive sport suspension that dropped its ride height by three-fourths of an inch. Thanks to these changes, the car could accelerate from zero to 62 mph in as little as 4.6 seconds, making it the quickest Cayman up until that point.

There was plenty of grumbling about Porsche’s decision to swap out the Cayman’s flat-six for a flat-four at the beginning of its third generation. But that mill was still plenty potent, and never more so than in the second iteration of the GTS. Launched in late 2017, the high-performance variant came with a 2.5-liter turbocharged six-cylinder mill that made 360 hp, which was 15 hp more than the S variant. Thanks to the added grunt, the model was the first Cayman to reach 60 mph in under four seconds.

See Also

These Bespoke Aston Martins Take Design Cues From a Luxe Superyacht

The Cayman has been one for the enthusiasts since the very beginning, and the R was the most hardcore variant from its first generation. Not only was this version of the coupe 121 pounds lighter than the Cayman S, but it also featured a lower suspension and a tuned 3.4-liter flat-six that made an era-high 325 hp. Rounding things out was a subtly revised aero kit and a graphics package that included “Porsche” logotype decals along the bottom of the doors.

The first-generation Cayman S is far from the best iteration of the car, but it is the most important. That’s because the model, which launched in 2005 as part of the brand’s 2006 model year lineup, was the very first Cayman. Slotting in above its sibling, the Boxster S, the hard-top arrived with a 3.4-liter flat-six that made 291 hp, though that number was bumped up to 315 hp following a mid-cycle refresh. For the first three years it was on the market, it was also only available with a manual gearbox.

It only took four years for Porsche to finally equip the third-generation Cayman with a flat-six again, which made its return in 2019 with the 992 GT4. One year later, the marque unveiled a refreshed (and third) version of the GTS, which, as its name may have given away, features a 4.0-liter six-cylinder mill. Available mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the engine makes a robust 395 hp, thanks to which the car can sprint from zero to 60 mph in as little as 3.8 seconds.

The RS was the second-gen Cayman at its very best. The variant, which debuted in 2015, was the first track-oriented (but street-legal) version of the coupe. It wore a more exaggerated aero package, had a lower ride height, and tipped the scales at less than 3,000 pounds. It’s most significant performance upgrade was a detuned version of the 3.8-liter flat-six from the 911 Carrera S. That mill, which was the most potent in Cayman until that point, was mated, exclusively, to a six-speed manual gearbox and capable of pushing the car to a top speed of 183 mph (an even more hardcore Cayman RS Clubsport would see release before the end of the generation, but it wasn’t road legal).

Porsche took its time in unveiling the follow-up to the second-generation’s beloved GT4 variant. The high-performance model wouldn’t reappear until 2019, three years into the coupe’s third generation debuted, but it made quite the entrance when it did. The track-oriented (but still street-legal) model swapped out the standard version’s peppy four-cylinder for a 4.0-liter flat-six identical to that found in the open-top 718 Spyder. The naturally aspirated mill makes 414 hp, which comfortably made it the most powerful Cayman ever at the time of its release. It wouldn’t hold that record for long, though.

In 2021, two years after the third-generation GTR debuted, Porsche decided that it was finally time to give the Cayman the RS treatment. Not only is the 718 Cayman GTR RS the best Cayman, it’s also one of the best sports cars of this century. Its naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat six makes 493 hp, 332 ft lbs of torque, and redlines at 9,000 rpm. Add in an aero kit that increased downforce by 25 percent, and you have yourself a car that can lap the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife 23 seconds faster than its predecessor.