New Toyota GR Supra vs Porsche 718 Cayman: interiors
If power corrupts, having less of it isn’t a bad thing, right? To find out, we're pitting the new four-cylinder Toyota Supra against its main sports car rival from Porsche...
Behind the wheel
Driving position, visibility, build quality
You sit a little lower in the Supra and its manually adjustable seat has more side support than the Cayman’s. It also has adjustable lumbar support, plus you can alter the angle of the seat base under your thighs. Such features cost extra in the Cayman – they come with the optional 14-way electric seats (£1599) – but it does give you get height adjustment and electric backrest angle adjustment as standard.
Both cars’ steering wheels have plenty of adjustment to get them ‘just so’, and once you’ve optimised your driving position, both not only feel like proper sports cars from behind the wheel but are also ergonomically sound. Each has simple controls for all the important functions, too; some of the Cayman’s buttons are a bit smaller and more fiddly to find, but that’s nit-picking, really.
It’s a bit easier to see out of the Cayman, partly because you sit higher relative to the window line, but also because the front pillars are slightly thinner and there’s a bit more glass at the back to see what’s going on when reversing. The Supra comes with a rear-view camera, but you can’t add front or rear parking sensors. Porsche demands £362 for rear sensors, £623 for sensors at both ends of the car and £1086 if you want a camera added as well.
It's also worth noting that the Cayman misses out on the LED headlights that are standard on the Supra, although the Cayman’s xenon headlights are very nearly as good. Adaptive LED headlights are available for an extra £1397.
Despite being the entry points to their respective ranges, these are both expensive cars, and they justify their price tags by surrounding you with smart materials and solid construction. The Cayman has the edge, though – and that’s without any of the many upgrades you can add, such as a leather-trimmed dashboard. The gearshift paddles typify the differences between the two cars: you’d be quite happy with the Supra’s robust, plastic affairs, right up until you swapped to the Cayman and felt the well-damped action of its beautifully billeted aluminium paddles.
Infotainment systems
Toyota GR Supra
If you own a BMW, this infotainment setup will look familiar; it’s the brand’s iDrive system. Its large rotary controller and shortcut buttons, located conveniently between the seats, help to make searching for and operating features less distracting while you’re driving. The 8.8in screen can also be controlled by touch for when you’re parked or if the passenger wants to change a setting. The four-speaker stereo is a bit flat, though, and there’s no upgrade available.
Porsche 718 Cayman
The Cayman’s infotainment uses a responsive 7.0in touchscreen with decent graphics. It’s generally straightforward to operate, with physical shortcut buttons (although these are quite small and tucked behind the gear lever) to hop between menus, plus a traditional volume knob and another to scroll with. It’s not as easy to operate as the Supra’s, though. The £834 Bose stereo upgrade sounds rich and punchy and is well worth considering.
