10 Best Sports Cars for the Money

Manufacturers have always used performance vehicles as a way of casting a glow on their brand. Even Henry Ford himself raced to prove that his cars could perform. Today, sports cars continue to inspire designers and engineers to push the boundaries of performance.

A sports car is engineered to be fun to drive fast. Roadsters, coupes, sedans and even crossover vehicles deserve consideration. We know a sports car when we drive one—it’s the one that puts a big grin across our mugs, and begs to be driven more. And although some of the cars on our list are pricey, we believe that each of these sports cars are full of value for the money - relative to the price range you're currently shopping. 

BMW treats their “M” lineup like racecars you can drive every day. The M2 is the point of entry for M, and it’s a beautiful compact coupe with great balance, crisp steering, impressive power-to-weight ratio (the real secret to a fast car), and a blistering 4.1 second time from a stop to 60 mph. While the M3 has been the icon for BMW performance, many drivers are discovering that the smaller, lighter M2 fulfills all of their desires—for at least $10,000 less, making it a great sports car for the money.

Now in its seventh generation, the Chevrolet Corvette has finally come of age. Corvette has often been dismissed by sports car snobs, but this latest design combines striking exterior design with world-class performance, rivaling supercars that cost twice as much (or more). A base Corvette can zoom from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, and sticks like glue around the curves and starting at $55,400, it may be downright affordable for some. The high-zoot Z06 model ($79,400) is even faster. at an amazing 2.95 seconds thanks to its supercharged 650-horsepower engine. Look out.

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat steals all the headlines with its best-in-class 707 horsepower, but the real bargain in the lineup is the Challenger R/T Scat Pack. Loaded with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that produces “only” 485 hp, the R/T Scat Pack is still plenty fast and plenty fun, and can save you $25,200 versus the Hellcat. The coupe Challenger is way sportier than the sedan Charger, but both share mechanical underpinnings and similar pricing, along with great straight line acceleration and muscle car mojo for the price.

Ford made the Mustang. Carroll Shelby made it great. Carroll is no longer with us, but his spirit lives on in the new Shelby GT350. Ford’s engineers massaged every part of the already capable Mustang in making this high-performance version, taking full advantage of the new independent rear suspension to make it the best handling pony car yet for the money. An available MagneRide suspension makes it even better, validating the $6,500 Track Package. The full race version, the GT350R ($61,295), is too punishing to drive every day, unless you live at the track.

Just press the “START/STOP” button on the center console, and you’re treated to the distinctively British exhaust note that can only come from a Jaguar. The sound promises motoring excitement, and the F-Type delivers with standard rear-wheel drive, perfect balance, great handling, and a lusty engine that loves to romp at a starting price of $61,400 MSRP. For the money, you get exquisite interior design, materials selection, and a sports car built to surround you in luxury. There’s a reason those Bond villains drive F-Types—because they’re smart with their money, and because they can.

For many, the search for a sports car that’s worth the money starts and ends with the Mazda MX-5 Miata. A complete redesign for 2016 resulted in the best Miata yet, and that’s saying something. Miata’s strongest attribute is not speed—it only makes 155 horsepower—but balance. There’s a reason the MX-5 is so popular on the amateur and grassroots driving circuits: It’s easier to drive at the limits than almost any other car on the market, and it is so affordable that you may want more than one.

Two hundred thousand dollars sounds like a lot of money, even for a sports car, but one drive in the McLaren 570GT will have you raiding your retirement fund for the opportunity to live with this amazing vehicle. Unlike many supercars, the 570GT is actually civilized and easy to drive and live with, with standard air conditioning, navigation, audio and phone connectivity operated through a center-mounted touchscreen. There’s even 13 cubic feet of storage space onboard, between the front trunk and behind the seats, for those Costco runs.

As the least expensive point of entry into the Porsche universe, the Boxster sometimes gets dismissed as a toy Porsche. But that’s a mistake. The Boxster is an exciting mid-engine roadster with razor-sharp handling, swift performance and all-day comfort. Without the extra weight, complexity and six-figure price tag of a 911, the Boxster is a flickable, lively companion that will have you looking for the twisty way home. Toss in another $14,300 for a Boxster S ($68,400), and you can shave a half-second off of your 0-60 scoot.

Co-developed by Toyota and Subaru, the FR-S and BRZ are mechanical doubles with minor cosmetic differences. The front-engine/rear-wheel drive two-seater borrows from the Miata formula, with modest power in a beautifully balanced chassis. Handling is this sports car’s strength, and it comes standard with a silky-smooth, 6-speed manual transmission. A raft of go-fast, bolt-on accessories will keep you and your budget engaged. FR-S will survive the demise of Scion to be reborn as the Toyota 86 for 2017, which means there will still be two excellent versions of this sports car available.

Volkswagen birthed the hot hatch with the 1976 GTI, and there’s a very good GTI in the lineup for 2016. But there’s a great Golf R in the same lineup, a sports car that outdoes the GTI’s front-wheel drive, turbocharged 210-horsepower 4-cylinder engine with a 292-hp turbo, 4MOTION all-wheel drive, and a 6-speed DSG automatic transmission. Volkswagen entices drivers to “unleash the monster inside,” and the Golf R responds with rip-snorting performance and fly-paper grip. Premium features assure that this is no econobox. The Golf R is a genuine sports car.