2016 Porsche Boxster review

1. Sports car looks

The 2016 Porsche Boxster is styled to be an out-and-out roadster in its traditional form. That means a powered soft-top canvas roof and low-slung lines. It absolutely looks every inch the sports car it is, turning heads wherever you drive it. Whether you're cruising down a tree-lined boulevard or tearing up a canyon road, the 2016 Porsche Boxster looks stunning in any location.

2. Powerful engine options

Fitted with a range of six-cylinder engines, any 2016 Porsche Boxster provides a decent pace combined with an aural soundtrack best enjoyed with the roof down. The 2.8L base model has 265 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, but if that's not enough, the more powerful 3.4L engine options offer 315 hp and 330 hp. If you still feel short of firepower, the crowning glory is the 3.8L engine with 375 hp. Only available in the special edition Spyder model, this gives the Boxster true sports car performance—zero to 60 mph takes only 4.5 seconds and the way the engine howls is as spine-tingling as it gathers speed.

3. Sporting drive

The 2016 Porsche Boxster has its engine in the middle of the car, which gives a very dynamic driving experience. A low ­center ­of ­gravity combined with an equal front and rear weight distribution give some of the best-balanced handling characteristics of any sports car, regardless of price. Optional ­Porsche ­Active ­Suspension Management (PASM), ­Porsche ­Torque­ Vectoring (PTV), and Porsche­ Ceramic­ Composite­ Brake­ (PCCB)­ systems dial up the engagement further.

4. Choice of models

If you're after a stylish open-top sports car, the 2016 Porsche Boxster family has you covered. There are five models to choose from, beginning with the entry-level Boxster trim, escalating through Boxster S, Boxster GTS, as well as the new-for-2016 Boxster Spyder and Boxster Black Edition special editions. Standard equipment is high on all 2016 Porsche Boxsters, but the Boxster Spyder and Boxster Black Edition stand out even more with their more individual styling details and equipment.

5. Luxurious trim

Every 2016 Boxster interior gives off an air of luxury with features you'd expect of a Porsche sports car. The power-adjustable seats are covered in leather, with GTS models particularly distinctive with additional Alcantara finishes. The driver-focused cockpit includes cruise control and a seven-inch color touchscreen with a CD player. Porsche also offered 14 additional paint and interior ­colors—including the bright Carmine­ Red or ­Rhodium­ Silver colorways—as well as four hood shades, so there should be a Boxster to suit your tastes.