Compare the2024 Porsche 718 CaymanVS 2024 Aston Martin Vantage

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 Vantage doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 718 Cayman Auto offers optional Porsche Active Safety, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Vantage doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The 718 Cayman has standard Porsche Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Vantage doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the 718 Cayman and the Vantage 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, front and rear parking sensors and available blind spot warning systems.

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 Vantage’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The 718 Cayman’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Vantage’s (12 vs. 10 years).

There are almost 6 times as many Porsche dealers as there are Aston Martin dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 718 Cayman’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 718 Cayman third among compact premium sporty cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Vantage isn’t in the top three in its category.

As tested in Motor Trend the 718 Cayman S 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Aston Martin Vantage turbo V8 (automatics tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the 718 Cayman GT4 RS 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder is faster than the Vantage F1 4.0 turbo V8 (automatics tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the 718 Cayman GT4 RS 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder is faster than the Aston Martin Vantage 4.0 (automatics tested):

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

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

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

The 718 Cayman offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Vantage doesn’t offer a manual 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 Vantage doesn’t offer an SMG.

The 718 Cayman PDK’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Vantage doesn’t offer launch control.

The 718 Cayman stops much shorter than the Vantage:

The 718 Cayman GT4 RS handles at 1.11 G’s, while the Vantage Coupe pulls only .99 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 718 Cayman executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Vantage Coupe (23.1 seconds @ .87 average G’s vs. 24 seconds @ .83 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the 718 Cayman’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Vantage’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The 718 Cayman GT4 RS’ turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Vantage’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Porsche 718 Cayman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 850 pounds less than the Aston Martin Vantage.

The 718 Cayman is 3.4 inches shorter than the Vantage, making the 718 Cayman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 718 Cayman is 5.4 inches narrower on average than the Vantage, making the 718 Cayman easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the 718 Cayman is quieter than the Vantage Coupe:

The 718 Cayman has a much larger trunk than the Vantage Coupe (14.9 vs. 12.2 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the 718 Cayman. The Vantage doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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 Vantage doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The 718 Cayman’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Vantage does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The 718 Cayman’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Vantage’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the 718 Cayman detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Vantage doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

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 Vantage doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 718 Cayman’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Vantage’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

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 Vantage has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the 718 Cayman (except Manual) offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Vantage doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The 718 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 18 more times in the last 20 years. The Vantage has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.