Compare the2024 Porsche 718 CaymanVS 2024 Nissan GT-R

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
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 GT-R 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 GT-R doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The 718 Cayman’s optional blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The GT-R doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

Both the 718 Cayman and the GT-R 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 and rearview cameras.

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 GT-R’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 GT-R’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The battery on the 718 Cayman is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the 718 Cayman’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The GT-R’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is rated lower.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 9 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

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

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 718 Cayman gets better mileage than the GT-R:

			MPG
718 Cayman
RWD	Manual	2.0 turbo flat-4	20 city/25 hwy
		2.5 turbo flat-4	19 city/24 hwy
		GTS 4.0 DOHC flat-6	17 city/24 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo flat-4	21 city/27 hwy
		2.5 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
		GTS 4.0 DOHC flat-6	19 city/24 hwy
GT-R
AWD	Auto	3.8 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
		NISMO 3.8 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the 718 Cayman GT4 RS/GTS 4.0’s fuel efficiency. The GT-R 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 GT-R 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 GT-R doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is available on the Porsche 718 Cayman, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GT-R.

Brakes and Stopping

The 718 Cayman stops shorter than the GT-R:

	718 Cayman	GT-R
60 to 0 MPH	97 feet	104 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The 718 Cayman GT4 RS’ 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 GT-R’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

Chassis

The Porsche 718 Cayman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 850 pounds less than the Nissan GT-R.

The 718 Cayman is 1 foot shorter than the GT-R Premium/T-Spec, making the 718 Cayman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

The 718 Cayman has a much larger trunk than the GT-R (14.9 vs. 8.8 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 GT-R 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 GT-R 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.

The 718 Cayman has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The GT-R doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

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 GT-R 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 GT-R doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The 718 Cayman’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch. The GT-R 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 GT-R’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 GT-R 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 GT-R doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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 GT-R 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 GT-R doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 718 Cayman’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GT-R’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

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 GT-R’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 GT-R 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 GT-R 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 GT-R doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 GT-R doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Model Availability

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

Recommendations

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its November 2017 issue and they ranked the Porsche 718 Cayman S nine places higher than the Nissan GT-R NISMO.

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

The Porsche 718 outsold the Nissan GT-R by almost 12 to one during 2023.