Europe is synonymous with some of the world’s best performance cars. Nowadays, the performance cars section has turned into an all-out arms race to see who can squeeze more power into their existing models. Europeans have offered some stylish, luxurious, and fast examples to prove their case.
It's no surprise that some enthusiasts might cringe at underpowered cars. Most are fun, however, even with their muted horsepower figures. Yes, they might feel underpowered, but they are rewarding when pushed to the limits. Here are some of the best underpowered European cars that will have you grinning uncontrollably in seconds.
10 Smart Fortwo
The Fortwo was born from the unlikely collaboration between Mercedes and Swatch. The Smart Fortwo is one of the smallest cars you can find on sale today, but it's crammed full of personality. It features a small three-cylinder engine that produces excellent noise while thrumming away below the cargo area.
The latest generation Fortwo is available with a manual transmission which is light years better than the jerky semi-automatic of the older variants. The Fortwo is easy to park and a blast to drive, as long as you don’t corner too enthusiastically.
9 Mini Cooper
The old and lovely Mini won races without being quick. It was fun to drive fast on windy roads and tracks. The Mini has been a resounding success ever since the launch of the first variant. After BMW acquired the Mini brand, they added a modern twist helping start the front-wheel-drive revolution.
Over the past two decades, there have been different variations of the Mini, including a wagon. The Mini easily maintains the original’s fun factor even with the less powerful base variant. The fun thing about these variants is that they are more fun than their larger BMW siblings.
8 Fiat Panda
Fiat’s Panda is undeniably one of the most exciting and unique subcompact cars of all time. Even though it has a tiny exterior, the Panda is quite spacious and practical inside. In addition, the Panda is reliable, efficient, and easy to fix and maintain.
The 100HP variant is a unique Panda that offers decent straight-line performance. According to Fiat, this iteration can speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds. This jazzed-up hot hatch has a 1.4-liter engine under the hood, helping it create around 100 hp.
7 Caterham Seven 170
Caterham is among the most notable names in the unhinged track day sports car industry. The brand is synonymous with building modernized versions of the Lotus Seven. Most of them have a Ford Duratec engine under the hood; that’s surprisingly quick.
However, the base version in Caterham’s lineup is the Seven 170. It features a turbocharged 660 cc Suzuki engine producing 83 hp. This might seem like little power, but it's enough to propel the Seven to a 6.9 second 0 to 60 mph time. As the entry-level Caterham, it offers excellent handling and enough power to have fun on some twisty roads.
6 Fiat 500
Just like the Mini, the original Fiat 500 was a seismic shift in the world of small cars. Some enthusiasts often consider it one of the first purpose-built city cars. This original Fiat 500 was unique compared to the Mini because of its rear engine placement and rear-wheel-drive setup.
The earlier models of the 500 made around 20 hp. However, they were extremely light, and despite their tiny proportions, they were spacious and practical. The Fiat 500 is still a fun-to-drive car, even with its archaic engine and chassis.
5 Volvo 240
Volvo’s 240 was a heavy family car, built like a tank. This overengineered vehicle had an instantly recognizable design that helped make it a true timeless classic car. The 240 had ridiculous levels of reliability and was available in multiple variations, including wagon, coupe, and sedan.
Even though Volvo never intended their cars to go fast, the 240 was available with a choice of diesel and gasoline engines. In addition, it was a slow drift car allowing drivers to throw the rear end sideways, especially when there was snow.
4 Peugeot 106 Rallye
Even though Peugeot seems to be returning to its old hot hatch building form, we’re yet to see the resurrection of the celebrated Rallye. It was one of the brand’s most accessible models when it launched in 1994 and 1998. The Rallye was based on a small economical city car, making it a feasible alternative for many enthusiasts.
Peugeot fitted the Rallye with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 99 hp. Unlike the predecessor, the 205 Rallye, which had a pair of carburetors, the 106 Rallye had Magnetti Marelli fuel injection. It also had beefed-up suspension and thicker anti-roll bars for a more aggressive setup.
3 Volkswagen Scirocco
The Scirocco is a beautifully styled sports car that shares some qualities with the Volkswagen Golf. Unlike the Golf, the Scirocco has better sporting flair, and we love it for its stunning styling and performance. The Scirocco has been around since 1974 as a successor to the Karmann Ghia coupe.
Over the years, the Scirocco has been available with multiple engine options. One of their strongest engines was the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 197 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. This might not be a lot, but the Scirocco has excellent aftermarket support allowing tuners to get over 300 hp easily.
2 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
The Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is automotive teamwork and production art at its finest. It’s a cute little roadster designed by Fiat, tuned by Abarth, and built by Mazda. The Spider is based extensively on the Miata, prompting some enthusiasts to call it a Fiata.
However, the Spider has a different soul. Performance-wise, it’s a joyous ride that handles crisply, accelerates smoothly, and makes driving more adventurous and fun. Its 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged inline-four engine is a significant contributing factor with its 164 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.
1 Porsche Boxster
The driving experience from a Porsche is everything you would expect, even if that’s from their slightly underpowered Boxster lineup. Porsche’s Boxster makes for one of the best entry-level sports cars on the market. They are reliable, easy to maintain, and fun cars to drive.
The base Porsche Boxster is surprisingly short on horsepower; however, it’s an excellent offering for enthusiasts who love a challenge behind the wheel. The earlier generations had Porsche’s 2.7-liter flat-six engine producing 217 hp, capable of a 6.8 seconds 0 to 60 mph run.