2013 Porsche Boxster - Quality Review

With the 2013 redesign, the Porsche Boxster gains some much-needed luxury, quietness, and modern looks--all executed with high-quality materials, comfortable seats, and a remarkably capable soft top.

Unlike the competition, which has switched to folding hard tops, the Boxster's soft top is both lighter and smaller, taking up no trunk space at all. It's also able to open or close at speeds just over 30 mph with the push of a button.

The cabin itself is well laid out, with controls easily within reach of either seat. The design is somewhat busy on the center stack, but with a few days' familiarity, it all makes sense enough.

The seats themselves are quite comfortable, with more room than you'd expect in a small two-seater. The materials lining the seats and the rest of the cabin feel and look like they should in a $45,000-$60,000 car: very nice. An optional leather package adds even more hide to take the look and feel further upscale.

Reducing the complexity of last year's Boxster somewhat on the infotainment front is Porsche Communication Management, accessed through a 7-inch high-res touchscreen. Audio and navigation controls are all accessed through this interface, and it's far more intuitive than the button-laden system of yore. It's even capable of recognizing voice input for certain functions.

Noise level, one of the main problems with the last-generation Boxster, is still somewhat high (it is a mid-engine sports car, after all) but on the whole, is reduced noticeably. Wind and road noise are minimal at typical cruising speeds, and the engine only speaks up to make its presence heard (and felt) when pressed hard.