Porsche's Best-Rated 2026 Model Is The One It's About To Kill Off

Porsche regularly tops comparative performance tests, and every one of its models sits at or near the top of its class. But how do they compare against each other? Comparing vehicles across different segments is always tricky, but when you take into account factors like reliability, road test behavior, owner satisfaction and overall safety, then one stands out above all the others.

And that model is the 718 Boxster, a car that has been in production since 2017 and has come perilously close to being discontinued over the past few years until its final demise at the end of 2025. So how is it still the best model for 2026?

Thanks to the uncertainty surrounding EVs in general, Porsche's decision to push back the roll-out of its all-electric Boxster replacement means that the current generation got to live on a little longer than expected. And those wanting a box fresh example can still approach their nearest dealer for the last remaining examples still in stock.

The 718 Boxster is our best Porsche model for 2026 not because of some misplaced nostalgia for this mid-engined marvel, but because it outscored every other Porsche currently in production in Consumer Report's latest product ratings assessments. We will go through its individual scores to see where it excelled and will also compare it to its stablemates, but first, let's take a quick look at the genesis of the 718 Boxster.

The 718 Boxster

When they were released in 2017, the 718 Boxster and Cayman duo caused the kind of upset that hadn't been seen since Porsche introduced the water-cooled 996 Carrera. This time the issue was also with the engine layout, as the base models featured newly developed turbocharged flat-four power. Promising more performance with improved fuel efficiency, these new engines were technically impressive but all Porsche fans were fixated on was the lackluster engine note.

And yes, the turbo flat-four was a little, um flat when it came to its engine sound and exhaust note, but it certainly made enough power even if fuel consumption was no better in the real world. Engine aside, this new 718 platform was simply superb, and it continued to offer a sharper driving experience than the tail-heavy rear-engined 911 models.

All 718 Boxsters were available with either a six-speed manual or PDK automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels. At first, the new Boxster was content to fulfill its role as the new entry-level Porsche, and the introduction of the driver-focused Boxster T was a popular move, but the demand for the return of a six-cylinder variant remained strong, and in 2020 Porsche released what was to become one of the best daily driver Boxsters ever made.

The Six-Cylinder 718 Models

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Three years into production, Porsche decided to introduce a six-cylinder model to the Boxster and Cayman range again. And, unlike the turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six that was now the staple powerplant of the new 911, this engine was a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter that silenced the critics after one stab of the throttle.

The traditional six-cylinder howl was back, and aside from very long gearing that dampened acceleration slightly, and a rather steep price tag, the Boxster 4.0 GTS was about as perfect a sports car as anyone could wish for. These GTS models were also joined by the even more hardcore Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder, these cars had stiffer suspensions, slightly more power, and aerodynamic add-ons tuned for the track.

This in turn led to the most extreme variants of the 718 range, the Spyder RS and Cayman GT4 RS. Despite their similar names, the RS suffix indicated that these models had the 4.0-liter flat-six engine from the Porsche 911 GT3, which meant a 9,000-rpm red line and 493-hp of power (slightly lower than the GT3 to preserve the pecking order). These cars were intended predominantly for track use, but most have seen little time on or off the track thanks to their high values and comparative rarity.

How Does the 718 Boxster Compare to its stablemates?

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Now to the scoring. The Consumer Reports overall score you see above is determined after a comprehensive set of independent tests covering road-test performance, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety data from the IIHS and NHTSA. The 718 Boxster narrowly outperformed the Cayenne overall, and this is partly due to its superb 95/100 road test performance score.

The compact Macan SUV was not far behind, and it scored very well in predicted reliability (84/100) while the Taycan EV managed an impressive 86/100 road test score. The move towards electrification may have hit a speed bump, but the Macan is due for replacement with a pure EV model (although a gas-powered version may arrive in 2028), and the gas-only 718 Boxster is essentially a dealer stock special.

Only time will tell how much EV legislations and consumer demand will influence Porsche's future model line-up, but for now we can celebrate the fact that one of its best models ever is still topping the charts.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 8:00 AM.