Porsche Cayman coupe (2013-2016) - Engines, drive & performance

The Porsche Cayman is one of the best handling cars money can buy and will be lots of fun down your favourite twisting road

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4.6 out of 5

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Engines, drive & performance Rating

5.0 out of 5

The engine is one of the best parts of the Cayman – no matter which model you choose – managing to sound raucous and sporty when you want it to, but staying quiet and refined when cruising. The standard Cayman has a 271bhp 2.7-litre petrol engine, while the Cayman S uses a 321bhp 3.4-litre engine. The same engine is fitted in the Cayman GTS but has been tweaked to provide 336bhp. The extremely quick GT4 has a 380bhp 3.8-litre engine taken from the Porsche 911.

All four models are quick, with even the standard Cayman getting from 0-60mph in just 5.7 seconds, while the GTS does the same in 4.9 seconds and the GT4 manages it in only 4.4 seconds. The PDK automatic gearbox makes the Cayman marginally quicker, while also being handy for driving in town by doing away with the clutch pedal.

The optional sports suspension on the Cayman GTS makes it one of the best handling cars on the road bar none, and while the extra 15bhp isn't particularly noticeable, the engine pulls consistently hard.

The GT4 is the ultimate incarnation of the Cayman, engineered to be razor-sharp on a race track. If you’re in the market for a raw, pure driving experience, then there’s little to rival this model on the road today. It actually has the potential to be even quicker in a straight line, but as with other Cayman models, the gearing is slightly too long. Nevertheless, there is little else for driving enthusiasts to worry about; the GT4's steering and body control is impeccable, the ride, while firm, gives the car terrific poise. The excellent manual gearbox, which blips gear changes when you move down the gearbox in Sport mode, helps to make the car incredibly involving to drive.

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

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