718 Cayman

With a howling flat-six engine, manual transmission, and an athletic chassis, the Porsche 718 Cayman is made for drivers who pine for the pure, visceral experience that built the brand. To be fair, the 718 Cayman can also be equipped with a choice of two less soul-stirring turbocharged four-cylinder engines rated at 300 and 350 horsepower, along with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While the four-bangers lack the siren song of the flat-sixes in the 394-hp GTS 4.0 and 493-hp GT4RS, and the automatic sidesteps the joy of rev-matching downshifts and snicking gears off manually, there isn’t a bad choice in the bunch. Regardless of powertrain, telepathic steering and precise handling remain in full effect across the Cayman lineup thanks in part to the inherent balance of the mid-engine layout and the chassis magic that Porsche engineers know how to wield better than almost anyone else. A cozy cabin perfectly places the tools of the trade—the shifter, steering wheel, and pedals—in the ideal locations, adding to the driver's involvement. A smattering of modern convenience features makes a showing too, with a standard infotainment touchscreen, cruise control, heated seats, an 8-speaker audio system, and Apple CarPlay. The 718 Cayman and its Boxster soft-top brethren (which we review separately) have been perpetual 10Best winners and remain so for 2025; for a more in-depth look at why check out our recent 718 Cayman long-term test. As one of our favorites in its segment, the Porsche 718 Cayman has also earned a spot on our Editors’ Choice list for 2025.