Compare the2023 Subaru BRZVS 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman

The BRZ has standard Whiplash Protection Seats, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Protection Seats system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The BRZ Auto has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The BRZ Auto’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the BRZ Limited’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The BRZ Auto’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the BRZ and the 718 Cayman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the BRZ its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 718 Cayman has not been tested, yet.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the BRZ 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the 718 Cayman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 718 Cayman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the BRZ’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Porsche vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Porsche.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the BRZ’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the 718 Cayman (101.4 inches vs. 97.4 inches).

For better maneuverability, the BRZ’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the 718 Cayman’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The BRZ’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the 718 Cayman GT4’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.5 feet).

The Subaru BRZ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 400 pounds less than the Porsche 718 Cayman.

The BRZ is 4.5 inches shorter than the 718 Cayman, making the BRZ easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the BRZ Limited is quieter than the 718 Cayman GT4 RS:

The BRZ has standard seating for 4 passengers; the 718 Cayman can only carry 2.

The BRZ has 29.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 718 Cayman (77.2 vs. 48).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the BRZ easier. The BRZ’s trunk lift-over height is 27.1 inches, while the 718 Cayman’s liftover is 32.7 inches.

The BRZ Limited Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The BRZ’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. Porsche does not offer a locking feature on the 718 Cayman’s standard power windows.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the BRZ’s exterior PIN entry system. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Porsche Connect can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The BRZ’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the 718 Cayman’s standard xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

Insurance will cost less for the BRZ owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the BRZ will cost $905 less than the 718 Cayman over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru BRZ will be $18988 to $66238 less than for the Porsche 718 Cayman.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru BRZ, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru BRZ outsold the Porsche 718 by 38% during 2022.