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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 2 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Sports |
| Base Price | $53,628–$66,598 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman at 7.8/10 overall, which translates to a Recommended rating for this sports. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 9.2/10, while Value at 6.8/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. We score reliability at 7.7/10 — better than most direct rivals, if short of the segment's best. The safety score of 7.3/10 is solid mid-pack territory. If advanced driver aids matter to you, compare standard equipment carefully and verify ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance is a genuine highlight at 9.2/10. The Porsche 718 Cayman delivers engaging driving dynamics — responsive handling, meaningful power delivery, and a drivetrain that rewards spirited driving without sacrificing daily usability. The cabin tech earns 8.3/10 — infotainment, smartphone integration, and driver-assistance are all close to the best this class offers.
Priced from $53,628–$66,598, 18 MPG, seating 2, the Porsche 718 Cayman sits in the premium tier of the sports category. The value score of 6.8/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 8 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Our take: The 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman is a solid, well-rounded sports that covers the essentials without obvious deal-breakers. The main caveat is value — worth checking if those dimensions are priorities for you. For most buyers in this segment, it's a safe, dependable choice.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman ranks #121 of 316 sportss in the Carivo database — better than 62% of the segment. Its 7.8/10 overall score is 0.1 points above the segment average of 7.7/10. Its $53,628 starting price is about 16% above the segment's median of $46,090.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Sports ranking →
Across the 718 Cayman model years we've scored, the 2018 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8.2/10 | $67,362 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 8.1/10 | $65,400 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 8.0/10 | $63,438 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 8.0/10 | $61,476 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 8.0/10 | $59,514 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.9/10 | $57,552 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.9/10 | $55,590 | Read review → |
| 2018 (this review) | 7.8/10 | $53,628 | |
| 2017 | 7.8/10 | $51,666 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Air bags 06/03/2019 · 19V179000 | Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2018 718 Boxster, Boxster S and Boxster GTS, 718 Cayman, Cayman S and Cayman GTS, 911 Carrera, Carrera T, Targa 4 GTS, Carrera 4, Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Carrera GTS, Carrera 4 GTS, Carrera… |
|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasoline 20/02/2019 · 19V113000 | Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2019 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S vehicles and 2018-2019 718 Boxster GTS and 2018-2019 718 Cayman GTS vehicles. In the event of a crash, a crossmember may… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
We rate the 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman's reliability 7.7/10 — above the middle of the pack for this class. It has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
2 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.8/10 overall, ranking #121 of 316 sportss in our database (better than 62% of the segment). A solid choice for most buyers — compare it against the segment leaders before deciding.
The 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman starts at $53,628 and ranges up to $66,598 across trims (MSRP when new). At 18 MPG, expect roughly $2,917/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Porsche models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.