In many ways, it’s a golden age of automotive performance. A 2020 Honda Accord 2.0T can hit 60 mph from a standstill faster than a Plymouth Barracuda and outhandle the storied Alfa-Romeos of yore. 2021’s performance cars are similarly better than ever, but there are fewer of them. In 1979 Nissan (er, Datsun) sold more than 86,000 300ZXs. In 2019, they moved just 2,380 370Zs. Performance cars make up less than 2% of the new vehicle market, but manufacturers keep investing. A fresh Z-car is due in 2021, Chevrolet dropped a new Corvette for 2020 and Toyota resurrected the Supra in 2019. That’s because performance cars have a cultural impact far beyond their sales, inspiring legions of fans and helping shift loads of more humble vehicles. Those who do buy are looking for fun, speed and style–perfect for showcasing a manufacturer’s capability. There are two time-honored approaches to building performance cars: the traditional sports car dedicated to speed and handling and the mainstream model with improved engineering and power upgrades (usually the lower-cost option). The Forbes Wheels 5 Best Performance and Sports Cars for 2021 list showcases some of the best examples of both.
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
- 2021 Lexus LC
- 2021 Hyundai Veloster N
- 2021 Ford Mustang
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Four-Door Coupe
- 2021 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2021 Dodge Charger
- 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- 2021 Dodge Challenger
- 2021 Honda Civic Type R
- 2021 Porsche Taycan
- 2021 Porsche 718
- 2021 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2021 Infiniti Q60
- 2021 Lexus RC
Methodology
The nominees and winners were selected by the 2020 Forbes Wheels Car of the Year panel, comprising four staff editors and six contributors. Our criteria included performance, safety, technology, comfort and convenience, fuel economy, design and functionality. Because each category spans the full spectrum of pricing, we selected vehicles that stand out among their peers. Vehicles eligible for nomination include any car or truck for sale or in production during 2020; some debuted prior to 2020. For the purposes of performance cars, we did not look at high-end and exotic sports cars with prices much more than three times the price of the typical new car sold, or about $125,000.
Forbes Wheels Car of the Year Panelists
Sam Abuelsamid (contributor) is principal research analyst at consulting firm Guidehouse Insights (formerly Navigant Research) and is a frequent contributor to Forbes.com, covering innovation in the transportation sector.
Brian Armstead (contributor) is president emeritus of the Washington Automotive Press Association and a North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) Juror.
Bill Howard (Forbes Wheels Staff) is editor of Forbes Wheels. He is the past president of the International Motor Press Association and was previously executive editor and contributing editor for Ziff-Davis’ PC Magazine and ExtremeTech.
Alex Kalogiannis (contributor) has been an automotive writer for over 10 years and in addition to bylines at outlets such as Gear Patrol, Trucks.com and SlashGear, he was previously Car section editor at Digital Trends.
Alex Kwanten (Forbes Wheels Staff) has worked in automotive, marine and aviation for over a decade and reported on buying, selling and servicing cars for multiple industry publications, including Automotive News.
Carly Schaffner (Forbes Wheels Staff) has worked in the automotive industry for over a decade in both editorial and communication roles. Before joining Forbes Wheels, she was managing editor of Trucks.com.
Chris Teague (contributor) is a freelance automotive writer focused on new vehicle reviews, industry trends and breaking news, and has an MBA with a focus on data analysis that gives him insight into some of the auto industry’s biggest companies.
Lawrence Ulrich (contributor) is an award-winning auto writer, and former chief auto critic for The New York Times, Detroit Free Press and The Drive.
John Voelcker (contributor) was editor of Green Car Reports for nine years. He now is a reporter and analyst covering advanced auto technologies and energy policy, and a North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) Juror.
Andrew Wendler (Forbes Staff) grew up immersed in automotive, marine and aviation culture and spent a decade at Car and Driver as a writer and editor before joining Forbes Wheels.