Sports cars


Sports cars

Sports car buying guide

Last updated: September 2015
Getting started

Getting started



Key things to consider

With a wide range of body styles, performance, and price, it can be tough to choose a sports car. Because many sports cars are not driven every day or very far, fuel economy is not a primary factor for many shoppers, though there are models that provide relatively good mileage; even muscle cars, defined by their large, powerful engines, are making notable gains. For a daily driver, you'll probably want to consider a sedan or coupe: a sedan for its four doors, or a coupe for sportier styling and performance-oriented model selection. But for a pure sports car, the type many owners reserve for sunny Saturdays, a small roadster, such as a BMW Z4, Mazda Miata, or Porsche Boxster, epitomizes the genre. Many would include coupes with a tiny rear seat, such as the Audi TT and Porsche 911, in that category, as well.

For any sports car you consider, it's important to check out the view. Coupe designs tend to severely restrict rear visibility, and other styling considerations could compromise the view to the sides or even straight ahead. If you plan to drive briskly on twisty roads, the ability to see other traffic or obstacles clearly is important.

What you'll spend

Prices start in the low $20s for cars such as the Honda Civic Si and Mini Cooper and Scion tC, and they reach past $80,000 or more for cars such as the Porsche 911. But many of the sporty cars we recommend are priced in the $30,000-$50,000 range.



Sports sedans

These are agile cars made for high-performance handling, often with powerful engines, strong brakes, and dressed-up exteriors. A major benefit to choosing a sports sedan is that the four-door configuration allows transport for four or five passengers and provides cargo space in the trunk. It is a wolf in sheep's clothing. BMW helped popularize the concept, but there are many appealing alternatives, from Audi, Cadillac, Infiniti, and Mercedes-Benz, to name a few. Sizes vary widely, from small models such as the Subaru WRX to larger cars such as the BMW M5, Cadillac CTS-V, and Chevrolet SS.


Two-door coupes often have swept-back rear styling and a lower ride height than some equivalent sedans. The coupe group ranges from fixed-roof two- and four-seaters to two-door versions of cars that also exist as sports sedans (like the Cadillac ATS and CTS coupes) or two-door convertibles. It includes such iconic cars as the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang. Due to short wheelbases and sweeping body lines, sporty coupes often provide compromised rear accommodations, if they have any at all.


By definition, a roadster is a two-seat sports car with a removable, retractable, or convertible top. These are often highly entertaining to drive, but rife with compromises for daily and year-round use. Some convertibles have "2+2" seating, providing a back seat that at best is suited for occasional use by small children (and at worst is unfit for human occupancy).


The hatchback body design brings built-in practicality, with a large rear liftgate and folding rear seatback to provide cargo-toting versatility. Sporty hatchbacks are often on the less-expensive end of the spectrum. "Hot hatches" have long been a favorite in Europe, where the combination of flexibility, entertaining driving dynamics, and miserly fuel economy has special appeal. The Mini Cooper S and Volkswagen GTI are good examples.




Engines and fuel economy

The powertrain (the combination of engine and transmission) is a major consideration with sporty cars, as power delivery is a big part of the fun-to-drive equation. Remember, however, that a sports car need not have a big engine to produce big fun: A small, light sports car such as the Ford Focus ST can provide similar acceleration from a modestly-sized engine as a larger, heavier car with a big V8. Cars with smaller engines often offer better handling, as there is less weight over the front wheels.

Enthusiasts often prefer a manual transmission, because a stick shift gives the driver more control and involvement. But modern-day automatic transmissions have become more engaging, often with "sport" modes, the provision manual gear selection via the shifter or paddles, and more aggressive shifting under heavy acceleration. Some sports cars use a type of automatic transmission called a dual-clutch, which uses internals similar to a manual transmission and provides the same directly-connected feel. Sports cars with dual-clutch transmissions are usually faster and often more fuel efficient than those with manuals thanks to their ability to provide near-instant gear changes. These transmissions usually accelerate the engine to the proper speed during downshifts, eliminating sudden fore/aft weight transfer which can cause a loss of traction. Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen make extensive use of dual-clutch transmissions in their sports cars.

Many sports cars have a high-revving engine that may get a horsepower boost from a turbocharger or supercharger that forces more air into the engine than a "naturally aspirated" engine can draw in by itself. The more air that's available to mix with the fuel, the more power the engine can produce. Four- and six-cylinder force-fed engines are proliferating, offering a balance of thrilling power and better fuel economy when power demands are low. Even the Ford Mustang is available (again) with a turbo Four.

Larger sports cars and sports sedans usually offer a six-cylinder engine, either a V6 or the smoother-running inline (straight) six. On the whole, six-cylinder engines have a larger displacement (cylinder volume) than four-cylinder engines, so it's easier for the automaker to endow them with more horsepower and more especially torque. While sixes are bigger and heavier, they are also inherently smoother-running than four-cylinder engines.

The largest sporty cars and American-style muscle cars, such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Mustang, are offered with big-displacement, high-horsepower V8 engines. Acceleration tends to be effortless, and a brutally quick launch from a standing start goes with the territory, as does a very high top speed. Historically known more for cruising and straight-line thrills, modern-day muscle cars have seen ride, handling, and even fuel economy improvements. Keep in mind, however, that having more power doesn't mean it can be put to use. Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat models use a supercharged V8 that puts out a staggering 707 horsepower, but it's nearly impossible to floor the accelerator at low speeds without breaking the tires loose.


Beyond the power delivery and sound qualities, a key to a fun car is its handling: how it reacts to the road and the driver. Minimal body lean, quick steering response, and communicative steering feedback are the ingredients that separate poseurs from real sports cars. These qualities cannot be taken for granted and have nothing to do with style, number of doors, or engine size. It takes more than a simple test drive around the block to assess if the handling meets your expectations.

Drive wheels

Conventional wisdom says that the best sporty cars must have rear-wheel drive. There is some logic to this; rear-wheel-drive cars tend to have better weight distribution and superior directional response. A powerful rear-drive car can be finessed in the turns using the throttle, enabling a skilled driver to rotate the back end of the car in a controlled, and entertaining, fashion..

Front-wheel drive has its limitations in a sporty car; when accelerating out of a corner, front-wheel-drive cars tend to shift weight off the inside front wheel, causing it to spin. This tendency can be controlled by a mechanical limited-slip differential (though some use electronic systems). Despite the limitations, there are plenty of front-wheel-drive sporty cars that are good fun to drive, such as the Mini Cooper S and Volkswagen GTI. Keep in mind that the distinction between front- and rear-wheel drive is minimal during mild driving.

Many sporty cars, such as the Audi S4 and Subaru Impreza WRX, are configured with all-wheel drive. These cars offer superior traction to front- and rear-drive cars, and in spirited driving on curvy roads, their grip on the road is impressive. They have the added bonus of providing better traction in adverse weather conditions, though this also depends largely on the type of tires fitted.


Low-slung sports cars, especially roadsters, can be challenging to enter and exit. Low, heavily bolstered seats, short doors, and arched rooflines favor youthful, athletic drivers. It can be a challenge to access the rear seat, if there is one. Some models have a convenient one-hand-operation for scooting the front seats far forward. With all body styles, consider access issues. Generally, sedans are more accommodating, but even then roof design, door size, and seat can still bring compromises over a traditional family sedan. The trunk may be very small, too. Some hatchbacks have a high lift-over lip and the space may be compromised with a side-to-side brace added for rigidity.


Some sporty cars come with ultra-high-performance "summer" tires instead of the all-season tires found on most cars. These tires dramatically increase a car's grip and handling response on both wet and dry roads. As their name implies, they aren't designed for winter use, and they provide little traction on snow and ice. These tires also wear quickly and can be expensive to replace. That said, these tires will allow you to extract the best possible handling and grip from your sporty car. If your car comes with all-seasons, a set of good-quality summer tires is a (relatively) inexpensive way to improve your car's handling even further.

If your car does come with summer tires”and if you plan to drive when the weather gets cold”you will need a set of winter tires (or, at the very least, all-seasons) to install when the weather gets cold. (Winter tires aren't just about snow; along with a more aggressive tread pattern, they use different rubber compounds that stay pliable in cold weather.) The good news is that performance-oriented winter tires are also available. Many manufacturers now offer high-performance all-season tires that approach the performance of summer tires while providing year-round traction. (See our tire buying guide and Ratings.)

Safety features

Some sports cars beg to be driven fast, but as speeds increase, the severity of any crash rises exponentially. Consequently, it makes sense to take all possible precautions to protect yourself and your passengers, and to practice good judgment and restraint. Just in case, it is important to have good brakes, and braking performance is one of the measurements we take on every car we test. Antilock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) are standard on all new cars. To further elevate safety, consider advanced safety features that can help increase situational awareness and even avoid accidents. Outward visibility in most sports cars is compromised, making features like blind-spot monitoring and a rearview camera particularly welcomed. Of course, be sure to confer with available crash-test results.

All new cars also have standard left and right front airbags, and lap-and-shoulder belts. Chest-level side airbags are common for front-seat passengers. Head-protecting side airbags, usually in the form of a side curtain that covers front and rear side windows, are common and we recommend them. Many cars offer knee airbags for one or both front passengers, protecting legs against injury from sharp bits underneath the dashboard.

It can be very difficult to install a child seat in the rear of a sporty coupe or convertible, and even sport sedans have present challenges due to the seat shape. (Check our road tests for an assessment of child seat compatibility.)


Advanced safety technologies

The latest automotive safety advances include telematics systems that alert emergency personnel if an air bag deploys, lane-departure warning systems that sound an alert if you change lanes without signaling, rearview cameras to prevent back-over accidents, and blind-spot warning systems that indicate when hard-to-see vehicles are driving to the side and rear of you. Automatic-braking systems are also spreading. These collision-avoidance systems apply the brakes if you're approaching the car ahead too quickly and ignore an audible warning that sounds to alert you to the situation. Another advanced technology is lane-keeping assist, which centers your car in the lane if you start to drift. Often, all these features can be had in a single options package. (Learn more about car safety.)

Entertainment and convenience


Audio system



Satellite and HD radio



Navigation systems and connectivity






New vs. Used



Used cars can be a welcome alternative. The used-car market is about three times the size of the new-car market, so there are plenty of cars from which to choose. One of the best strategies is to find a car you like that's only two to three years old. Such a car has already taken its biggest depreciation hit and should have the majority of its useful life ahead of it. Modern cars, if soundly maintained, can stay on the road 200,000 miles or longer. Rust isn't nearly as big a problem as it was years ago, and solid-state electronics have eliminated the need for frequent tune-ups. If you're looking at a used soft-top, you'll want to inspect the top carefully for rips, holes, and other damage. For retractable hardtops, check the operation of the top carefully, as the mechanisms are extraordinarily complex.

When buying a used sports car...

When buying a used sports car, one must be extra vigilant, as these cars are often the subject of abuse that can lead to costly repairs down the road. Check carefully for signs of extreme wear, such as excessive wear to the clutch, brakes and tires (brand-new tires on one axle only may be an attempt to cover up abuse) or signs of collision damage repair. Many signs of mistreatment will not be readily apparent, so having the car inspected by a qualified mechanic is a smart investment of time and money.

Modifications such as power-enhancing computer chips, bolt-on superchargers or turbochargers, lowered suspension components, or different wheels and tires, all can enhance a car's performance if they are installed properly “ but they can also cause big problems, particularly with emissions testing. Even if you plan to customize the car, it's always best to buy an unmodified example. (Leave the modified cars to the experienced mechanics.)


CR's reliability scores are no guarantee, of course, but they do carry the weight of probability. If you shop for cars with top-notch reliability scores, the odds are on your side. At the same time, every used car is unique. A careful pre-purchase inspection remains a vital part of the process. If you do research and take care in the car selection, a used car can save you significant money in the long run.d


Learn more in our new car and used car buying guides.


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