American sports cars and European sports cars are phenomenal in many different ways. Generally speaking, American sports cars have a lot of brawn, with muscular sounding motors and great straight-line performance. They usually don't have top-tier interiors, but the performance and value for money more than make up for that. As time goes on, interior quality and handling are beginning to improve while still maintaining a relatively affordable price.
However, European cars have their own allure, as they generally boast incredible interiors crafted with high-quality materials with all the performance that is expected. Parts may be more expensive, and they may have some reliability issues, but they have a lot of personality with some prestige to match.
10 American: Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most obvious choices as an American sports car. The C8 Corvette especially is bound to be an instant classic. The majority of American sports cars are not mid-engine, and the Corvette adapted to beat the best of the best. It improved the handling substantially and this generation came with lots of new changes.
The C8 Corvette also comes with a dual-clutch transmission that shifts lightning quick, a bummer for manual-transmission enthusiasts, but optimal for performance. It also replaces the terrible automatic transmission found in previous generations. It is paired with the LT2 engine and can reach a 0-60 time in under 3 seconds. Also, the interior looks much more upscale, with attractive interior materials and better technology. It's the closest to a supercar it gets.
9 European: Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is one of the best cars on the road. It's a well-crafted sports-car that has very few flaws. The newest generation has a beautiful interior, super-car-like handling, excellent build quality, and a great engine lineup. It also has a fairly smooth ride, and if you can afford the higher ownership costs, it's one of the few sports cars that can be driven on a daily basis. The only real demerit is that the higher production makes it a bit common.
The 911 is powered by four engine options ranging from a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six all the way to a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six. The ideal powertrain will depend on your budget. Handling is excellent, with great steering feel and excellent responsiveness. While it's not raw like older Porsches, it's a well-balanced vehicle.
8 American: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
The Shelby GT500 is no joke and a gamechanger for the mustang. This not an ordinary Mustang. With the Challenger going berserk with power in the Hellcat trims, Ford's answer was the GT350R, and then they topped it with the GT500.
It has a supercharged 5.2-liter cross-plane crank V8 that makes 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. Also, it has several performance features like a serious track-tuned suspension, MagneRide, improved cooling, a limited-slip differential, summer tires, Recaro sport seats, and Brembo brakes. It has all the elements of a performance car. The interior isn't refined like European rivals, but it definitely puts previous mustang generations to shame.
7 European: BMW M2 Competition
The BMW M2 Competition is a special sports car. Unlike all the other sports cars in the modern age, it calls back BMW's motto of the "Ultimate Driving Machine." It was crafted to excel at the track with an energetic powertrain, excellent handling, and a small chassis.
The M2 Competition is powered by the S55 twin-turbocharged engine that makes 444 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. It has passive shocks that lead to a stiff suspension, which is perfect for the track. It's an excellent vehicle that more people need to consider. The interior, while a bit basic for the price, still looks clean and luxurious.
6 American: Dodge Viper ACR
The fifth generation of the Dodge Viper, while it's no longer in production, is lethal. Every generation of the Viper is known for being a muscular, rumbling monster. But this generation specifically retained the power and specialized on downforce for superior track performance. Like most Vipers, it's not a car for beginner drivers.
A V10 powers every Viper, and the fifth-generation has a powerful aluminum advanced variant. 645 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque is breathtakingly powerful and requires a lot of skill to control. Like most track vehicles, it has great brakes, tires, and suspension that make it perfect for performance. It's a very raw car, and it doesn't depreciate heavily.
5 European: Jaguar F-Type R
The Jaguar F-Type is a new popular choice that has been gaining interest in the past few years. While it isn't a front-runner yet, it has some interesting benefits. In terms of a performer, it really delivers. The new facelift, while controversial and derivative, looks relatively handsome.
The 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that previously came in the SVR now comes in the R trim. It's a great powertrain, and it has impressive handling to match. There are definitely pitfalls like so-so interior materials, a poor user interface, and terrible reliability. But Jaguar's looks are irresistible to some.
4 American: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
The Camaro ZL1 1LE is a track-tuned machine that is well-known among enthusiasts for its power and value. It's certainly not a daily driver vehicle, as it's for serious horsepower-hungry enthusiasts. The stiff suspension and ridiculous power are best for the track.
The ZL1 is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 found in the Z06 Corvette. The 10-speed automatic and 6-speed manual are phenomenal choices. The manual is great for those that the classic V8 manual sports car combo, while the 10-speed automatic is quick-shifting. And like most American sports cars, it has an interior that's less than beautiful but with an unbeatable performance for the price.
3 European: Alfa Romeo 4C
The Alfa Romeo 4C is a different type of European sports car. It's a very lightweight sports car that has more race-car like qualities than luxury car qualities. It doesn't have much in terms of technology or features and is a driver's car. It exclusively comes in rear-wheel-drive, only has two seats, no power steering, and the center stack faces the driver.
The 1.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, which isn't much for most cars but works well for the lightweight chassis of the 4C. Handling is where this car really shines, with a suspension that makes the 4C very tossable and lively. This is for a specific breed of enthusiasts who only take this car for spirited drives or track.
2 American: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
It might be a stretch to call the Cadillac CTS-V a sports car. But it does have major performance accolades to back it up. It's powerful, handles well, has excellent braking, and rear-wheel drive. It's a chunkier vehicle with a decent amount of weight but is able to move quickly.
The CTS-V has a lot of grunt with the LSA supercharged V8 making 556 horsepower and 551 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued since 2014, but there are plenty of them to be found as preowned models. It misses the mark as a luxury car with subpar interior materials and poor infotainment interface but excels as a sports car with great performance. It's an older vehicle, but it's also demanding a price premium as a pre-owned vehicle for a reason.
1 European: Porsche 718 Boxster
The Boxster used to be known as the poor man's Porsche, with an affordable cost and quick depreciation. However, the newest Boxster is something different and signifies the classic sports car.
The handling of the Boxster is excellent, and the powertrain is excellent. There are quite a few powertrains available, with anywhere from 350 horsepower to 414 horsepower. They are all quite powerful and work well with a six-speed manual transmission. The Boxster is a great vehicle all-around and merits consideration if you have the money.