2020 Porsche Cayman S: MPG and fuel economy
The 2020 Porsche Cayman S is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 22 combined MPG, with 19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Two Seaters class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2020 Porsche Cayman S. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 2 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 2020 model year is the Fiat 124 Spider at 29 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $5,000 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2020 Porsche Cayman S. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 2 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
| City MPG | 19 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 25 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,150 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 410 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2020 Porsche Cayman S compares
The 2020 Porsche Cayman S returns 22 combined MPG. Cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year average 18.9 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 16%.
The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 2020 model year is the Fiat 124 Spider at 29 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Porsche Cayman S alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2020 model year (across all classes) returns 27.2 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2020 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 2020
The EPA rates 2 separate variants of the 2020 Porsche Cayman S. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L, 4-cyl, turbo, Automatic (AM-S7) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 MPG | 19 MPG | 25 MPG | $3,150 |
| 2.5L, 4-cyl, turbo, Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 19 MPG | 24 MPG | $3,300 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 681.8 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,575 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,150 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,250 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Porsche Cayman S
The EPA has rated the Porsche Cayman S across 14 model years, from 2006 Porsche Cayman S through 2020 Porsche Cayman S. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run. The peak rating came with the 2014 Porsche Cayman S at 24 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 22 MPG | this page |
| 2019 | 24 MPG | 2019 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2018 | 24 MPG | 2018 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2017 | 24 MPG | 2017 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2016 | 24 MPG | 2016 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2015 | 24 MPG | 2015 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2014 | 24 MPG | 2014 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2012 | 23 MPG | 2012 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2011 | 23 MPG | 2011 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2010 | 23 MPG | 2010 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2009 | 23 MPG | 2009 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2008 | 21 MPG | 2008 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2007 | 21 MPG | 2007 Porsche Cayman S |
| 2006 | 21 MPG | 2006 Porsche Cayman S |
Compare against other Two Seaters for 2020
If you are cross-shopping the 2020 Porsche Cayman S, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Fiat 124 Spider leads this group at 30 MPG, 8 MPG ahead of the 2020 Porsche Cayman S.
Specifications
The 2020 Porsche Cayman S runs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (am-s7), sending power through rear-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Two Seaters
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (AM-S7)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 13.5 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2020 Porsche Cayman S
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2020 Porsche Cayman S.
-
Is the 2020 Porsche Cayman S fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2020 Porsche Cayman S returns 22 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Two Seaters class for the same model year by about 16%. -
What MPG does the 2020 Porsche Cayman S get?
The EPA rates the 2020 Porsche Cayman S at 22 combined MPG, 19 MPG in city driving, and 25 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Porsche Cayman S per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,150 for the 2020 Porsche Cayman S. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2020 Porsche Cayman S require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2020 Porsche Cayman S as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the Porsche Cayman S become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2006 Porsche Cayman S, 21 MPG) and most recent (2020 Porsche Cayman S, 22 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2020 Porsche Cayman S emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 410 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,150 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2020 Porsche Cayman S?
City driving returns 19 MPG and highway driving returns 25 MPG, a gap of 6 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2020 Porsche Cayman S?
The 2020 Porsche Cayman S has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI). Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2020 Porsche Cayman S have?
The 2020 Porsche Cayman S comes with a automatic (am-s7) transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How does the 2020 Porsche Cayman S compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 2020 model year is the Fiat 124 Spider at 29 combined MPG. The Porsche Cayman S returns 22 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.