Porsche Boxster 25 Years swans into fourth at MOTOR’s Performance Car of the Year 2022

A quarter century of polish sees the Porsche Boxster 25 Years take fourth place at MOTOR’s 2022 Performance Car of the Year award

Porsche’s Boxster 25 Years was something of a dark horse in this year’s running, rarely mentioned in rally point debriefs but silently sliding up the ranks through sheer talent and finesse.

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While it wasn’t always front of mind in conversation, the mid-engined convertible barely put a foot wrong all week, resulting in a worthy fourth place finish.

We knew it would be good. That much is expected of Porsche’s ubiquitous Boxster. In terms of overall package cohesion, however, the Boxster 25 Years is arguably the most compelling car here. Yet, many judges also commented on a certain lack of drama, with both Luffy and Bernie wishing for just a little more top-end fizz to really get the blood racing.

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As a road car, it’s an effortlessly capable and competent machine. The 294kW/430Nm 4.0-litre flat-six has deep reserves of exploitable power and torque, and pulls cleanly from down low.

The seven-speed PDK transmission complements the Boxster’s fast fluidity while providing a marginally more satisfying solution to the notoriously tall gearing. The mid-engined layout yields impressive levels of mechanical grip, earning high praise from Luffy, who says: “some of the bigger supercars here could take a lesson or two in grip from this car”.

Yet, after the road loops, its friendly supportive nature left something to be desired in the X-Factor department with Enright noting that “it might be a little too polished. I prefer something with a bit more mongrel in it”.

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A tale of two halves saw the Boxster come into its own during track testing, eventually winning over its biggest sceptic in Bernie who admits that “by the end of the week I really loved that car”.

On the circuit, that charisma finally revealed itself. Suddenly, what was denigrated as a capable if not characterful engine becomes infectious, taking on a sonorous tenor that reverberates through the cabin as the tacho winds past six grand. It’s a hugely confidence-inspiring package that gels instantly with the driver. It may not boast the white-knuckle thrill of some of the other cars in the PCOTY field, but it scores high on liveability as a satisfying and beautifully resolved sports car that you can truly drive every day, in any weather.

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Questions nevertheless linger about this particular model’s value proposition. Its 25 Year-specific bronze elements and swathes of red upholstery divided opinion (Luffy was quick to make the Simmons FR1 comparison with the wheels), and command an almost $20k premium as-tested over the mechanically identical Boxster GTS 4.0-litre.

It’s a sharp dynamic package, but one that isn’t materially elevated by its anniversary elements.

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The judges’ comments

Alex Affat

“Hard to fault as an everyday sports car yet its charisma doesn’t always come to the fore”

Ranking: 3rd

Andy Enright

“I’m not the biggest fan of the engine/gearing combo on road but the dynamics rock for a car on four struts”

Ranking: 3rd

Trent Giunco

“It feels like there’s a lot of GT product in this Boxster. Its lap time was impressive but very believable”

Ranking: 3rd

Cameron Kirby

“The Boxster’s a fantastic sports car. The steering feels so alive. It’s beautiful and delicate on turn-in”

Ranking: 5th

Bernie Quinn

“Engine feels unburstable although it could use more character and perhaps a bigger kick in the top end”

Ranking: 4th

Luffy's view

“The Boxster’s one of those cars where you just kept giving it more and more and it would always take it”

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Key figures