2016 Porsche Boxster Review

The 2016 Porsche Boxster adds the Black Edition and Spyder variants to the Boxster family. The Black Edition is based on the base Boxster with popular equipment as standard. Within the Spyder beats the heart of a 911 Carrera S, making it the most powerful Boxster ever.

Stylish, luxurious and thrilling to drive, the 2016 Porsche Boxster comes up aces. Sports cars don't get much better than this.

As a general rule, convertibles are a little softer and heavier than their fixed-roof siblings. They often trade out some performance for the opportunity to transform into a suntan bed at a moment's notice. But the 2016 Porsche Boxster is not that kind of convertible.

As with all cars adorned with the Porsche crest, the Boxster is less concerned with simply getting from A to B than it is making the journey an experience. Blessed with a balanced midengine layout, stellar handling, communicative steering and an intoxicating engine soundtrack, the Boxster is simply a blast to drive. That's especially true of this year's new Spyder variant, which gets a 375-horsepower 3.8-liter engine pulled from the Porsche 911 to make it the most powerful Boxster yet.

Few cars at any price engage the driver like the 2016 Porsche Boxster.

The Boxster does have a few negatives, though. Without add-ons, the Boxster is rather light on features no matter which engine is ordered. You'll need to upgrade right out of the gate so as not to be saddled with the Boxster's sad four-speaker sound system, for example. On a practical front, neither of the Boxster's trunks is big enough for a set of golf clubs. And while the base Boxster isn't slow, necessarily, most of the cars in this price range are quicker.

The Jaguar F-Type certainly gives the Boxster a run for its money, with more powerful engines than the Boxster's (including a 550-hp V8) and available all-wheel drive. Also in contention is the Chevrolet Corvette with blistering speed, outlandish grip and an attractive price. You could also check out the BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLK if you want greater comfort, or the Alfa Romeo 4C to get an exceptionally raw driving experience. As luxury convertible sports cars go, though, the Boxster still sets the standard for delivering the most rewarding driving experience.

All 2016 Porsche Boxsters utilize a midengine rear-wheel-drive layout and a standard six-speed manual transmission. An optional seven-speed automated manual transmission known as PDK is available on every non-Spyder Boxster. Except for the Spyder, a standard (and fully defeatable) auto stop-start system conserves fuel when the car is stationary.

The base Boxster and Black Edition roll with a 2.7-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine (flat-6) rated at 265 hp and 207 pound-feet of torque. The stick shift gets the base Boxster to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, according to Porsche, while PDK is 0.1 second quicker by default and 0.3 second quicker with the Sport Chrono package's launch control. EPA fuel economy estimates are 24 mpg combined (20 city/30 highway) with the manual and an even more impressive 26 mpg combined (22/32) with PDK.

The Boxster S steps up to a 3.4-liter flat-6 that churns out 315 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. In Edmunds testing, an S model with the manual transmission accelerated from zero to 60 in a swift 4.9 seconds; expect the PDK with launch control to drop that time to 4.5 seconds. Fuel economy remains strong at 23 mpg combined (20/28) with the manual and 24 mpg combined (21/30) with PDK.

The Boxster GTS gets an upgraded version of the 3.4-liter flat-6 with 330 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Porsche estimates 0-60-mph acceleration at 4.7 seconds with the manual transmission. Our testing of a GTS equipped with the PDK transmission and launch control yielded an impressive 4.2-second 0-60 mph performance. EPA-estimated fuel economy comes in at 22 mpg combined (19/26) with the manual and an astoundingly good 25 mpg combined (22/31) with PDK.

Packing a 375-hp engine borrowed from the 911, the 2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder is more than just a styling exercise.

The Boxster Spyder is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-6 that it shares with the Porsche 911 Carrera S. The engine is good for 375 hp and 309 lb-ft and is available only with a manual transmission. According to Porsche, the range-topping Boxster Spyder makes the 0-60-mph sprint in 4.3 seconds. Estimated fuel economy takes a slight hit, but is still respectable at 20 mpg combined (18/24).

Standard safety features for the 2016 Porsche Boxster include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, head- and chest-protecting side airbags and integrated rollover safety hoops above the headrests.

In Edmunds brake testing, both a Boxster S and a GTS with the standard (non-ceramic) brakes came to a stop from 60 mph in a short 103 feet.

Options include a rearview camera and front and/or rear parking sensors. The optional adaptive cruise control also includes a frontal collision warning system that includes automatic braking for frontal collision mitigation.

As can be expected of a car bearing the Porsche badge, the 2016 Boxster is a joy to pilot no matter the driving conditions. The Boxster is quick to respond to steering inputs, and the extremely capable chassis changes direction without a hint of body roll. The ride is firm, but not so much that you need to have your chiropractor on speed dial. Simply put, driving the Boxster never fails to delight.

In a straight line, the Boxster S and GTS can run neck and neck with a base 911, while the Spyder is the car that Porsche enthusiasts have clamored for, for years: a Boxster with the soul of a 911. More sane people, on the other hand, will find the base Boxster's modestly powered engine to still be a willing companion, with the larger engines delightful but perhaps not altogether necessary indulgences. Pick an engine, any engine, and be prepared for one of the best driving experiences money can buy.

The Boxster's cabin is almost as striking as its exterior styling, boasting top-shelf materials and a dramatic (if button-heavy) center console that it borrows directly from the iconic 911. There's nary a sign of cost-cutting anywhere you look or touch; this is an environment that's fully commensurate with Porsche prices. While it looks a bit dated, the Boxster's infotainment system (controlled by a combination of fixed buttons and a touchscreen) is impressively easy to use.

Further refinement is found in the convertible top itself, which is one of the quietest enclosed rides of any soft-top roadster we've driven. The Boxster's notorious blind spots remain, however. So if you've got 10 seconds to spare and aren't exceeding 31 mph, it's generally best to put the top down.

The 2016 Boxster's interior is at once sporty and straightforward. It's a no-nonsense environment for spirited driving.

There's a respectable amount of passenger space, and the Boxster can accommodate taller passengers without issue. But the two trunks -- one front, one rear -- remain too small to swallow a golf bag or even a large piece of luggage, so their respectable 10 cubic feet of combined cargo space doesn't tell the whole story. On the bright side, rear trunk space is unaffected when the top's down, a distinct advantage relative to retractable-hardtop rivals like the Z4 and SLK.