Everyone loves the latest and best sports cars, even if they cost an arm and leg, as opposed to family haulers and sedans. And if the sports cars are the best-handling ones, then that’s the cherry on the top. Because some handle worse than a Mustang.
A sports car is all about speed. And if you talk about the fastest sports cars in the market, they need to have one important feature. They have to be the best-handling sports cars, to lend the driver confidence that is needed at high speeds.
With the advance in technologies in 2021, there are plenty of best-handling sports cars to choose from. There’s the all-American Ford and General Motors, the German automakers like Porsche and BMW, and finally the Japanese excellence of Mazda and Toyota to choose from. If you like your cars fast, these are the best-handling sports cars of 2021. Which one are you batting for to get in your garage?
10 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: The Maniacal Muscle Car
It has an insane power to weight-to-ratio and is one of the cars that made Ford a giant in the world of cars. The 2021 Shelby GT500 may have a monstrous V8 under its hood worth a whopping 760 horses, but it also has all the agility of an extreme sports car. It is Ford’s most powerful production car ever and the output duties are handled by Shelby's supercharged 5.2-liter V8 mill.
While its bazooka-like exhaust pipes create an electrifying soundtrack for your ears, its smooth seven-speed dual-clutch automatic handles near telepathically. This rear-drive-only coupé is a delight when it comes to handling and is a phenomenal sports car.
9 Porsche 911: An Iconic Sports Car
From day one, the iconic Porsche 911 has left an indelible image in the buyer’s minds. Thanks to its evolutionary, powerful flat-six engine and on-road performance. The immaculate position of the driver’s seat, clairvoyant steering, and the melodic flat-six tied to an awesome transmission make it one of the perfect sports cars.
With unmatched performance, the Porsche 911 shines in every department, especially the handling. It may be a bit pricey for some buyers but considering the amenities that come with this legendary 2+2-seater coupé, it is worth having one in your garage.
8 Chevy Corvette C8: Mid-Mounted Wonder
The eighth-generation Vette moved from a front-mounted engine to a mid-mounted one and many eyebrows were raised in the auto fraternity. It was a big gamble for General Motors but the Corvette C8 passed with flying colors.
GM’s reason for this shift was to improve the car’s weight distribution and eventually, its handling prowess. And it worked well, for both buyers and GM. The 2021 C8 Corvette outshines its rivals in all departments and proudly carries the legacy of its forebearers into the future.
7 Mazda MX-5 Miata: Affordable Best-Handling
The Mazda Miata is an automotive icon and a very affordable one at that. The heritage stretches back to some three decades and has always stood for cheap and affordable fun. The MX-5 Miata may scrimp on storage, space, and amenities but it’s still one of the best-handling sports cars out there.
The four-cylinder engine gives spunky power to the small car, and its handling is so cool that even curvy roads cannot deter it. Driving it on mountainous roads is fun. It’s the cheapest way into sports cars and never disappoints.
6 Toyota Supra: The F&F Sports Car
The Toyota Supra powertrain and chassis is the same as the BMW Z4, but the good thing is that it has a very different and distinct personality, be it on the inline-four or the inline-six. Sadly, the manual is out but the eight-speed automatic transmission still translates to making it one of the best-handling sports cars of 2021.
It's snug and not the most comfortable but with the Supra, no one is looking for plush. Also if you want the wind in your hair, you will have to go for the BMW Z4. The Supra, perhaps for safety, is a coupé only.
5 Chevy Camaro ZL1: Fire-Breathing Sports Car
The Chevy Camaro bears a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that belches out 650 ready-to-race horses making it quite the monstrous super sports car. The front-engine rear-wheel-drive formula has always worked for the Camaro and now, in its coupé and convertible form, it's one of the best-handling sports cars you could opt for.
For race track performance you can opt for the 1LE track package that comes with a suspension stiffer than ice. The only flaw is the somewhat shabby interior.
4 Jaguar F-Type: The Jag Is Back
Jaguar has had a rough couple of years with reliability and a general malaise in its cars, but the new F-Type seems to be a breath of fresh air. With a strong, near unshakeable chassis, the F-Type is certainly one of the best-handling sports cars in the market today.
So sure, it is still not Porsche level, but it does come with precise handling and steering and is one of the best-looking sports cars as well. The V8 engine manages to sound almost hotrod when pushed and it only adds to the charm of the Jaguar F-Type.
3 BMW Z4: The Alternative Supra
For the current generation, the Toyota Supra and BMW Z4 are brothers from another mother. The Supra only comes as a coupé so for all those who want one of the best-handling sports cars and the wind in their hair, the BMW Z4 is what you need to go for.
And with a 0-60 MPH sprint of 3.8 seconds, you would not feel disappointed as well. Especially since the eight-speed automatic transmission knows what you want even before you know you want it.
2 Mercedes-AMG GT: Super Athletic Sports Car
The Mercedes-AMG GT is Merc’s answer to its compatriot, the Porsche 911. With a hand-built twin-turbocharged engine, the GT comes low and wide and is an extremely able high-performance sports car with great handling.
And it comes in more than just one trim to appeal to every kind of buyer, from the ones who want 523 horses or the ones that demand 577 horsepower. Then there’s the track-focused hardtop-only black series, decimating roads with 720 horses.
1 Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster GTS 4.0: Sports Car Supremacy
The convertible Porsche 718 Boxster and its coupé sibling, the Cayman come with Porsche’s honed mid-engine design and an excellent sports-tuned chassis for the best handling in sports cars today. The four- and six-cylinder options add to the fun (and the cost) and are smooth as silk to drive.
Plus, the key here is affordability. While the 911 is undoubtedly superior, if you just want some Porsche fun, the Boxster and the Cayman suffice. And they sail through all sorts of drives with flying colors.
Sources: CarandDriver, MotorTrend, Cars.USNews