Compare the2024 Maserati GranCabrioVS 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics

Safety

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

The GranCabrio has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The 718 Boxster doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The GranCabrio’s optional 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 Boxster doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The GranCabrio offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 718 Boxster only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

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

The GranCabrio’s optional 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 Boxster doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GranCabrio and the 718 Boxster 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 and available blind spot warning systems.

The Maserati GranCabrio weighs 1093 to 1297 pounds more than the Porsche 718 Boxster. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Engine

The GranCabrio’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 242 more horsepower (542 vs. 300) and 207 lbs.-ft. more torque (487 vs. 280) than the 718 Boxster’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The GranCabrio’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 192 more horsepower (542 vs. 350) and 178 lbs.-ft. more torque (487 vs. 309) than the 718 Boxster S’ standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The GranCabrio’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 148 more horsepower (542 vs. 394) and 178 lbs.-ft. more torque (487 vs. 309) than the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0’s standard 4.0 GT3 6-cylinder. The GranCabrio’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 49 more horsepower (542 vs. 493) and 156 lbs.-ft. more torque (487 vs. 331) than the 718 Spyder RS’ standard 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The GranCabrio has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the 718 Boxster’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GranCabrio has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the 718 Boxster’s optional fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.9 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Maserati GranCabrio higher (5 out of 10) than the Porsche 718 Boxster (1 to 5). This means the GranCabrio produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 718 Boxster every 15,000 miles.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The Maserati GranCabrio comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the 718 Boxster.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Maserati GranCabrio, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the 718 Boxster.

All wheel drive, available in the GranCabrio, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Porsche 718 Boxster is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GranCabrio’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the 718 Boxster:

	GranCabrio	718 Boxster
Front Rotors	15 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	11.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GranCabrio has larger tires than the 718 Boxster (F:265/30R20 & R:295/30R21 vs. F:235/45R18 & R:265/45R18). The GranCabrio’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 718 Boxster (F:265/30R20 & R:295/30R21 vs. F:245/35R20 & R:295/30R20).

The GranCabrio’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 718 Boxster’s standard 45 series tires. The GranCabrio’s tires are lower profile than the 718 Spyder RS’ 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GranCabrio has standard 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the 718 Boxster. The 718 Boxster’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the GranCabrio uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the 718 Boxster, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GranCabrio has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GranCabrio’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The 718 Boxster doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GranCabrio’s wheelbase is 17.9 inches longer than on the 718 Boxster (115.3 inches vs. 97.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GranCabrio is 4.8 inches wider in the front and 5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 718 Boxster.

The GranCabrio’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the 718 Boxster’s (45.5% to 54.5%). This gives the GranCabrio more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The front grille of the GranCabrio uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 718 Boxster doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The GranCabrio has standard seating for 4 passengers; the 718 Boxster can only carry 2.

The GranCabrio has 40 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 718 Boxster (89 vs. 49).

Ergonomics

The GranCabrio 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 Boxster doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the 718 Boxster, the GranCabrio has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GranCabrio offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 718 Boxster doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The GranCabrio has standard Extended Keyless Go that allows you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Porsche Entry and Drive costs extra on the 718 Boxster.

The GranCabrio’s cruise control switch is lit from behind, making it plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The 718 Boxster’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the GranCabrio to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 718 Boxster doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The GranCabrio’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the 718 Boxster’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.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GranCabrio has standard extendable sun visors. The 718 Boxster doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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

The GranCabrio has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the 718 Boxster.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Maserati GranCabrio has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the glovebox. The 718 Boxster doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.