15 Best Sports Cars

The Mercedes-AMG GT is a top-shelf virtual exotic that transcends stereotypes, offering supercar performance in a package the be configured as track animal or a posh cruiser. Either can tickle your checkbook well past $200,000 with options, or upwards of $325,000 in the ultra-performance Black Series. Still, the Ferrari 488 GTB and Lamborghini Huracan Evo command a minimum of $260,000 plus. Viewed from that standpoint, the GT and GT Roadster are high-value bargains.

Lexus’ stunning flagship coupe births a convertible offshoot, and the cloth-topped LC 500 delivers the same blue-chip, old-school pleasures: lusty V8 power and sound, a velvety ride and the royal treatment inside. 

The Hyundai Veloster N’s MSRP climbs nearly $4,660 for 2021, but don’t let the price hike discourage you: upgraded standard features including more performance gear, a new infotainment system, and added driver-assist features only enhance the car. Its sporty demeanor makes it a performance bargain like no other, at home at the track or commuting to work. While most drivers will find lesser Veloster models perfectly adequate, the Veloster N’s focused dynamics make this upstart a distinctly compelling hot hatch choice.

The Mustang is more than half a decade into its current incarnation, but it’s aged like a fine wine. Even in base-model, rental car counter spec the Mustang is a fun and capable machine with plenty of power and sports car handling, and its bend of retro and contemporary lines look great from any angle. The interior is functional and attractive too, even if some of the materials seem a little low rent. All but the most extreme Shelby GT500 make good daily drivers and are just as talented on track days. As a practical but dedicated performance car, it’s hard to beat.

The Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door Coupe’s expanded lineup now includes a sub-$100,000 entry with the GT 43 model, but this car’s maximum potential is found in the pricey GT 63 and GT 63 S versions, which offer true supercar performance for 4 lucky passengers. Though not the most spacious or comfy way to get from A to B, Mercedes-AMG’s hyper-focused GT Four-Door Coupe is arguably one of the most exciting. It’s a sedan many can live with that can also hold its own on a race track against many top-tier super sedans.

The latest iteration of the Chevrolet Corvette may be a departure from what longtime fans have been used to, but it still delivers a fantastic, joyful experience behind the wheel that’s hard to ignore. Apart from minor gripes, the ‘Vette is a solid sports car that can contend with its contemporaries with ease, and it won’t break the bank.

The Charger is an old stager now, but it’s as big, lively and cool as ever. Every version is huge inside, with comfy seats and plenty of room even for tall adults, but the cabin is dated and plasticky. Even the entry-level V6 models are fun to drive, and they can be had with all-wheel drive. From there things get progressively wilder, with a quartet of V8 versions offering up to 797 horsepower and an aggressive, widebody look on the top-spec cars. On the negative side, the Charger lacks standard driver-assist tech, and its many options can inflate the price.

Mazda’s MX-5 Miata has a devoted fan base for a reason. On a twisty road, the featherweight, sharp-handling roadster responds to drivers as if connected to their thoughts. It entertains and encourages in a low-stakes, controllable, and accessible package almost any enthusiastic driver can appreciate and many can afford. Singularly focused on driving enjoyment, it turns even mundane grocery runs into fun drives but also gives little consideration to cargo room or luxury, so you’ll have to pack light and enjoy it’s back-to-basics feel.

How can we fault the Dodge Challenger? Even at age 13, by which time most designs have been sent to the glue factory, buyers love the muscle car enough to help it post some of its best-ever sales numbers. The Challenger offers old-fashioned style and speed with no pretense or apology: Dodge gives better colors, louder pipes and damn near limitless power to buyers who just don’t care about fancy-stitched interiors, active safety aids or track-ready handling. It’s also big and comfy inside, if not very sophisticated. Owners seem to know this purpose-built class is likely the last of its breed.

The Civic Type-R is a special vehicle but a polarizing one. It’s fast and fun without sacrificing practicality, but is extroverted enough to be visible from space. Like a flavor of non-dairy coffee creamer that’s only available during a holiday it may not suit everyone, but if you’ve tasted it you’re already seeking it out.

Despite being Porsche’s first foray into electric vehicles, the Taycan 4S is an exceptionally well-executed and thrilling sedan. What it lacks in affordability, space and range, it more than makes up for in style, handling comfort and amenities. It does proud the gilded crest on its hood and it stands as a worthy option for deep-pocketed driving fans.

Drivers longing for the Porsche experience may dream about 911 ownership, but the 718 is a lineup of daily use sports cars that are stellar in their own right. They deliver superb handling and plenty of usable power to go along with it. Having the option to drop the top in the Boxster is a great bonus and sets a high bar for the luxury convertible set while the Cayman sets a similar pace for sporty mid-engine coupes.

Chevrolet has packed its familiar muscle car with a sparkling array of powerplants and serious handling ability. The Camaro is a looker to behold from the outside, too, but the driving office is a dark and plasticky place with a useless back seat, and the car is bereft of many active safety features. The Camaro is faster and handles better than many versions of the aging Dodge Challenger, but Ford’s Mustang is nearly as sharp as the Camaro and offers a very similar experience. Both Challenger and Mustang offer more room, nicer interiors and more technology, particularly in the area of driver assistance gear.

It’s rare to find such dramatic styling, performance and power with an entry price of $42,725 (including destination) these days. In some ways, it’s a modern interpretation of the “personal luxury” coupes that were so popular in the 1970s; It’s got sleek and shapely bodywork, an interior crafted to pamper a driver and passenger—although there are two tiny rear seats—and a capable chassis and powertrain for when the urge to cut and run strikes. Sure, there may be sportier coupes, but Q60 isn’t targeting track hounds. It’s for buyers who shun the sensible sedan and wish to elevate their daily drive with the style and craftsmanship the Q60 offers. 

The Lexus RC’s aggressive styling shouts performance from the rooftops, but stepping behind the wheel reveals a split personality. It may be wild on the outside, but it’s mild underneath, a cool and collected cruiser but not one that’s particularly fast or passion-stirring, even in top RC350 form. It’s also held back by a teeny-tiny back seat and clunky infotainment systems. That said, it’s stylish, comes with lots of standard safety gear and feels quiet and refined. It’s a hard sell, however, against rivals like the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe.