10 Best Small Sports Cars for 2019

While recognizing that everything is always in a state of change and vehicles are moving closer to driving themselves, closer to all-electric propulsion and closer to everything becoming a crossover, there are still a few machines that appeal to people who love driving. That’s these 10 best small sports cars, and thanks goodness they exist.

Our definition of “sports car” is deliberately a little loose. Some choices have unquestionable motorsport pedigrees, others are just plain fun. And “small” is almost a prerequisite, because big cars are heavy and therefore less sporty. There should also be something for most budgets among this selection. Even if it has to be a second car, go out and buy one of these, and savor the thrill while it’s still possible.

For starters, show us an ugly Alfa Romeo and we’ll point you to an optometrist. This lightweight two-seater also has a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout that’s perfect for twisting canyon roads and tight tracks alike. Engine output of 237 horsepower from a turbocharged 1.75-liter engine might not sound like a lot for a car that starts at about $68,000, but the lightweight carbon fiber construction compensates for and complements that output.

The 4C doesn’t have power steering, the gear changes of its automated transmission are not exactly smooth, and the cabin isn’t particularly quiet. These things might be inconvenient around town, but get some speed up and the levels of involvement are wonderful. Which is exactly what this car is about.

This is the highest-performance variant of the premium compact Audi TT. It comes in coupe form only and is refreshed for 2019. There have been styling updates, but it still looks like a TT, so most minds will have already been made up in regard to styling.

Where those minds might be blown is when firing up the turbocharged inline-five engine. Yes, five cylinders. Highly unusual, but it’s a 394-hp nod to Audi’s sporting heritage. This drives all four wheels as standard, through a seven-speed automated transmission. Some cool tech is included in the price of approximately $68,000, like the Virtual Cockpit — a high-resolution configurable driver information display that enhances the cabin’s stylish minimalism.

This is possibly our current favorite BMW, and one of the 10 best small sports cars. Derived from the company’s smallest car, the 2 Series, the M2 coupe is powerful (405 hp from a turbocharged inline-six) and incredibly agile. Any BMW M car is exciting, since they have plenty of extra tweaks to accompany the muscle, such as excellent suspensions, strong brakes, and sport seats.

Those elements are all in evidence here, as they should be for a price of about $60,000. It’s the way all these things come together that really marks the rear-drive M2 as not only a true sports car, but also one of the most desirable. Enthusiasts owe it to themselves to drive this thing. And it might well become a collectible, like the original M3.

In the Corvette, we can go with the smallest price and the smallest amount of power, and still get a fabulous two-seat sports car. The Stingray version has a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 developing 455 hp. That would be awesome in a car made of metal, but the Corvette deploys a lightweight composite body construction.

Factor in rear-wheel drive and the best suspension that’s ever been under a Corvette body, and the price of just under $58,000 seems like an absolute steal. Even the most powerful model is a bargain compared with the competition. Previous generations of Corvette might have been mid-life crisis purchases, but there’s no such stigma attached to this C7. Here is a well-executed sports machine.

Including the affordable MX-5 (it’s priced from around $26,000) in our 10 best small sports cars illustrates that a great drive doesn’t have to be powerful or expensive. Updated for 2019, this tiny two-seat roadster does receive a boost to 181 hp, admittedly, but that’s not the point. Other changes include revisions to the suspension and manual transmission.

It’s these little details that add up to an appreciable difference. The MX-5 has always been fun, providing the thrills of rear-wheel drive without the “uh-oh” aspect of too much power. The gearbox, meanwhile, is reason enough to learn how to drive a stick shift. The MX-5 engages a driver without ever being intimidating. Yet even the experienced still enjoy it.

The regular SLC 300 is pretty nice, but since we’re talking best small sports cars, the 385-hp SLC 43 has to be our choice. And although this generation is winding down, there’s still plenty of thrilling mileage to be had from a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 driving the rear wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

For around $65,000, the SLC 43 comes with a lot of standard equipment, including blind-spot monitoring, neck-heating air vents set into heated seats, Harmon Kardon audio, lots of AMG-tuned hardware, and the power-retractable hardtop that makes the SLC so distinct. This car is seriously quick and entertainingly nimble, yet with an ability to be utterly civilized. It’s a superbly accomplished, well-rounded package.

John Cooper used to prepare the old 1960s Minis when they went rallying. The current (larger) Mini range has a spiritual successor in the JCW version. This model employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 228 hp and, it has to be said, a really stiff suspension. But that’s the uncompromising appeal right there.

In spite of having to receive all the drive, the front wheels are also wonderfully grippy, while the steering is fantastically informative and responsive. There’s hardly any understeer, and the rear end follows faithfully on whatever trail the front end blazes. At about $33,000, this is a hefty sum for a compact hatchback with a six-speed manual transmission, but the fun is never far away.

There’s a giant-killing aspect to the rear-drive/mid-engined 718 Cayman coupe, and it doesn’t have to be in its most powerful form to make owners of muscle cars uneasy. On twisting tarmac, the base version with 300 hp (courtesy of a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four engine) and 280 lb-ft of torque, will flow around corners with precision and speed, and every foot traveled will be an absolute pleasure. The other cars here are great, the 718 Cayman is sublime.

We could also mention the Porsche 718 Boxster roadster in our 10 best small sports cars list. But the Cayman is the less expensive of the two, starting in the region of $58,000.

As a sports machine for all seasons, the WRX is hard to beat. This compact sedan comes with all-wheel drive as standard equipment, plus a 268-hp turbocharged flat-four engine, for a starting price in the region of $28,000.

There’s also a 310-hp WRX STI version, but that’s perhaps a bit too specialized. The regular WRX gets most of the way for less money. Go for the six-speed manual transmission, though, because a continually variable automatic transmission has no place in one of the 10 best small sports cars. The WRX is a master of grip and zip, talents honed from Subaru’s highly successful rallying exploits. During the week, it can be a reassuring family car. On solo drives, let the mischief begin.

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the end of our 10 best small sports cars run-down without mentioning the word “balance” before now. This is, after all, a major ingredient in driving fun. It’s also a principal talent in the compact Toyota 86 coupe, where the weight feels distributed evenly from nose to tail, and the center of gravity is nice and low.

This balance is why the 86 doesn’t need more than its relatively meager 205 hp to make the most of its front-engine, rear-drive layout. The standard manual transmission is more engaging and therefore more fun. Like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the 86 invites its drivers to explore the delights of rear-wheel drive without biting them if they make a small mistake. It’s priced from $27,435.