Compare the2023 Porsche 718 CaymanVS 2023 Nissan Z

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Porsche 718 Cayman has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Z doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the 718 Cayman and the Z have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes and blind spot warning systems.

Warranty

The 718 Cayman comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Z’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 718 Cayman’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Z’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

Engine

The 718 Cayman GT4’s standard 4.0 GT3 6-cylinder produces 14 more horsepower (414 vs. 400) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6. The 718 Cayman GT4 RS’ standard 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder produces 93 more horsepower (493 vs. 400) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche 718 Cayman is faster than the Nissan Z (manual transmissions tested):

	718 Cayman 2.0	718 Cayman S	Z
Zero to 60 MPH	4.3 sec	4.1 sec	4.5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.7 sec	12.4 sec	13 sec

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 718 Cayman lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The Z doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 718 Cayman gets better mileage than the Z:

			MPG
718 Cayman
	Manual	T 2.0 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo flat-4	20 city/25 hwy
		2.5 turbo flat-4	19 city/24 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo flat-4	21 city/27 hwy
Z
	Manual	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/24 hwy
	Auto	3.0 turbo V6	19 city/28 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the 718 Cayman GT4/GTS 4.0’s fuel efficiency. The Z doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the 718 Cayman’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Z doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 718 Cayman’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Z doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

The 718 Cayman offers an optional sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Z doesn’t offer an SMG.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the 718 Cayman has a standard up-shift light to indicate when to shift, based on a value pre-entered by the driver. The Z doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 718 Cayman’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Z:

	718 Cayman	718 Cayman GT4 CCB	Z Sport	Z Performance
Front Rotors	13 inches	16.1 inches	12.6 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	15.4 inches	12.1 inches	13.8 inches

The 718 Cayman GT4 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Z doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 718 Cayman stops much shorter than the Z:

	718 Cayman	Z
70 to 0 MPH	132 feet	166 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	97 feet	110 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the 718 Cayman has larger standard rear tires than the Z (265/45R18 vs. 245/45R18). The 718 Cayman GT4’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the Z (295/30R20 vs. 275/35R19).

The 718 Cayman GT4’s 245/35R20 front and 295/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Z Performance Coupe’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 718 Cayman offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Z’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The 718 Cayman has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Z’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 718 Cayman offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Z’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The 718 Cayman GT4 RS handles at 1.11 G’s, while the Z Performance Coupe pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 718 Cayman GT4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Z Performance Coupe (23.1 seconds @ .87 average G’s vs. 25.3 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

Chassis

The Porsche 718 Cayman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Nissan Z.

Cargo Capacity

The 718 Cayman has a much larger trunk than the Z Coupe (14.9 vs. 6.9 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 718 Cayman’s available trunk can be opened just by holding your hand near the emblem on the trunk, leaving your hands completely free. The Z doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The 718 Cayman uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Z uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 30% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the 718 Cayman, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings. The Z doesn’t offer a memory system.

The 718 Cayman’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Z doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The 718 Cayman’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch. The Z has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The 718 Cayman’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Z’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 718 Cayman offers an optional rear wiper. The Z doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The 718 Cayman has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Z doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 718 Cayman has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Z doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 718 Cayman’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Z Performance.

When the 718 Cayman with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Z’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The 718 Cayman’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Z has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the 718 Cayman keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Z doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the 718 Cayman’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Z doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The 718 Cayman’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Z doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Model Availability

The Porsche 718 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Nissan Z isn’t available as a convertible.

Recommendations

The 718 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 18 of the last 19 years. The Z has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The 718 Cayman was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 3 of the last 10 years. The Z has never been an “All Star.”

The Porsche 718 outsold the Nissan Z by over 9 to one during 2022.