To most gearheads, passenger and ride comfort are not exactly a priority when searching for the perfect sports car. We’re talking about a segment where automakers had to delete creature comforts like air conditioning, radio, and even floor carpets just to make the car lighter and faster. So, a climate where it seems that the need for speed trumps everything else makes the suggestion of ‘comfortable sports cars’ sound like missing the point of a sports car.
The traditionalists want you to imagine driving a sports car like hitting the gym. The rush you get from driving the car should take all of you – your absolute, spine-breaking engagement - man and machine as one. What does comfort have to do with it?
We get it – completely. But that's so '60s. Technology has grown in leaps and bounds, allowing automakers to return the deleted creature comforts to performance cars that now perform even better than they did a few decades ago. Most times, Money is the only thing between people and their dream cars. So, we take pleasure in revealing ten cheap sports cars for performance and comfort everyone can afford.
10 2018 Jaguar F-Type – Used Car Price: From $36,106
Upon its release in 2018, the Jaguar F-Type totted a $60,895 starting price for the base model, $82,195 for the R-Dynamic trim, and $90,495 for the top-tier 400 Sport. Today, the 2-seat luxury sports car cost as low as $36,000 on TrueCar. Make haste while the sun still shines.
The F-Type is a beautiful mix of comeliness and performance. The suspension and precise steering enhances the delight of driving the car. Jaguar did a commendable job of how the F-Type handles on the road and then cemented the package with adjustable high-performance seats and a leather interior.
9 2020 Nissan 370Z – Used Car Price: From $34,715
The 370Z is a proud member of a powerful family of sports cars, including the iconic Nissan 240Z, the Z32 300ZX, and the tuner favorite Nissan 350Z. Among the family of ‘Z’ cars, the 350Z is easily the most popular, thanks to over a decade-long proven performance.
For 2022, its motivation comes from a 3.7-liter naturally breathing V6 engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional 7-speed A/T. It makes 332 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm.
8 2018 BMW M4 – Used Car Price: From $34,520
If you wish to fully understand where the M4 is coming from, look at the original M3, designed from the drawing board to meet the DTM German touring car racing regulations.
Compared to the M3's 192 horsepower, advanced technology has allowed the M4 to deliver 425 horsepower sweetened up with user-selectable driving modes that adjust the settings for the suspension, throttle responses, and gearshift points. Keeping to the BMW tradition of comfort, the automaker added Comfort driving mode to the mix. According to Kelley Blue Book's Brand Watch, BMW is America’s “most considered” luxury car.
7 2022 Dodge Challenger – Starting MSRP: $30,075
Last year, Dodge threw the order book open for its “Last Call” Challenger and Charger models. Sadly, 2023 marks the end of multiple eras for the beloved American coupe and sedan. However, we don’t subscribe to any suggestion that the Challenger is a holdover from bygone times.
How many so-called modern coupes can boast of a V8 engine producing 807 horsepower? Of course, the Challenger relies on a variety of powertrains, ranging from a V6 to incredibly powerful V8 mills. With its spacious cabin, fantastic ride, and a starting price of just $30,000, the 2022 Dodge Challenger is a performance bargain.
6 2022 Ford Mustang (EcoBoost Turbo 4) – Starting MSRP: $28,845
Just in case you didn’t know, the Mustang is the only surviving car in Ford’s portfolio that isn’t an SUV, C-SUV, or truck. Remarkably, the Mustang is also one of the last affordable sports cars left on the market.
The cheapest V8-powered Mustang producing 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque starts at around $37,000. However, you can get the EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder model for under $30,000. It also comes with a 6-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip diff. That's a performance bargain right there.
5 2022 Subaru BRZ – Starting MSRP: $27,995
The choice is yours; the BRZ or the Toyota GR86? The difference between the two Japanese sports cars boils down to cosmetic differences, brand prejudice, and some suspension changes.
Subaru redesigned the BRZ and upped the power for the 2022 model year. The 2022 BRZ uses a 2.4-liter flat-4 producing 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque delivered to the wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. It also received more tech features and an updated interior but remains the affordable RWD coupe it’s always been.
4 2022 Toyota GR86 – Starting MSRP: $27,700
Pricing for the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 are near-identical, and both cars are essentially the same underneath. Both models also got a redesign for 2022, including an updated interior with high-quality materials and more tech features, power, and performance.
The 2022 Toyota GR86 uses the same 2.4-liter engine as the Subaru BRZ but pairs it with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 6-speed A/T. The power output is the same as the BRZ – 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
3 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata – Starting MSRP: 27,300
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has never been the epitome of performance from the factory, but it’s on this list because you can never go wrong with the MX-5 Miata. If you were ever at an impasse and didn’t know which sports car to buy, you can always retrace your steps to the Miata.
The little coupe has served the racing needs of grassroots racers on a budget for more than three decades. It uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual gearbox to produce 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. Performance is not Miata's only calling card, though. Mazda nailed the ergonomics: the distance and position of the shifter to the driver's seat, the feel of the brake and clutch pedals when you lean on them, the shape of the driver's seat, and more.
2 2022 Chevrolet Camaro – Starting MSRP: $26,195
You may accuse it of belonging to a dying breed of sports cars, but you can't deny the Chevrolet Camaro offers some of the most fun you can ever get under $30,000. The Camaro benefits from Chevy’s expertise in developing fantastically balanced chassis.
Like the Mustang, don’t expect to get behind the wheel of a V8-powered Camaro with the price above, but that money can get you the 275-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at up to 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. It also comes with a standard 6-speed manual transmission, with optional 8- or 10-speed A/T.
1 2018 Fiat 124 Spider – Used Car Price: From $19,985
If you suspected it, you’re right; the Fiat 124 Spider has the Mazda MX-5 underneath its costume. Apparently, the marriage between Japanese engineering and Italian styling is a recipe for an attractive and affordable performance sports coupe.
The car is reportedly nimble and lively and got offered with an Abarth trim for a more enhanced sporty experience. Where the MX-5 relied on a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower, the 124 Spider got motivation from a 160-hp turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-4 mated to a 6-speed A/T and RWD. The Spider now costs as low as $19,985 on the used car market.