When sports cars are mentioned, Honda is not who comes to mind. The company is very well-regarded for some of the most reliable vehicles around and always garners high safety ratings. But the majority of their offerings are for sedans, the occasional luxury/executive cars, SUVs, and other practical automobiles. Sports cars generally aren’t the company’s speed.
Yet Honda has surprised by putting out several good offerings, cars that can boast some fine speeds alongside the company’s usual terrific reliability. Some of these offerings can seem slow by sports car standards but make up for it in how well they run. Here’s how ten of the best Honda sports cars rank to show they can do well in this regard.
10 2017 Accord EX-L Coupe (138 MPH)
Normally, an Accord Coupe isn’t really a speed machine. But the 2017 EX-L version sparks it up, adding an iVTEC 3.5-liter V-6 for 278 hp with either six-speed automatic or manual transmission.
Yes, a manual transmission for a coupe boasting this terrific engine, which also handles well and boasts some excellent interior tech. It transforms a standard sedan into a sports machine that deserves more respect.
9 1991-1995 Prelude Si VTEC (148 MPH)
In the ‘90s, car companies tried to make their models look ‘Futuristic” to pull in customers. The Prelude SI VTEC was an excellent choice that boasted a fancy wrap-around dash display and cool electro-luminescent dials.
The 2.2L VTEC could produce 197 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque and zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds. It may be overlooked today, but this truly was a Prelude to Honda’s better offerings in the 2000s.
8 Integra Type-R (148 MPH)
A cult classic among Honda fans, the Integra Type R was produced between 1995 and 2001 but still among the company’s best cars. The 1.8-liter DOHC VTEC four-cylinder could produce just under 200 hp, and some optional models pushed it more.
A zero to 60 speed of 6.5 seconds was good and married to a frame only held back by a lack of color options. In many ways, this set a standard for future Honda sports cars to be more than a “car of the ‘90s” entry.
7 S2000 Standard (149 MPH)
The S2000 is a classic “no-frills” practical tourer that still makes for a fun ride. The 2.2-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine produces 237 horsepower and can reach 0-60 in 5.4 seconds. The car got several upgrades through its life, with later models boasting softer suspension but tighter controls.
The drawbacks are it guzzles gas and oil faster and requires some upkeep. But if an owner has the patience to handle that, then they’re in for a great ride.
6 S2000 CR (160 MPH)
A regular S2000 is a decent tourer, not flashy but a fun ride for an afternoon drive. The CR (“Club Racer”) option is much better, lighter, and thus faster on the road.
A 2.2L 4-cylinder may seem low, but it can still generate 237 hp and zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds. A convertible option helps it stand out with a fun style for an underrated racing machine that delivers a nice bang for the buck.
5 Civic Type R (168 MPH)
The Civic Type R may not be the superstar machine Honda hoped for, but it’s still an impressive outing. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder can get nearly 300 hp and a zero-to-60 speed of 5.4 seconds.
The transmission options are top-notch, and it also looks just cool in its fun design to be an impressive presence on the road. While it surprisingly doesn’t get as fast as other Honda offerings, the Type R is a top-notch ride.
4 1990-2005 NSX (170 MPH)
When the NSX hit the streets in 1990, it was a marvel for sports car buffs. It was amazingly reliable, either as Honda or Acura, and that aided its reputation. Said reputation was already great thanks to the 3.0-liter V-6, with a reported output of 270 hp.
It felt much faster, zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds, which was very impressive for the time. It helped that it looked gorgeous, the style of an Italian car at half the price but more than worth it on the road.
3 NSX Type R (174 MPH)
The Type R takes the basic idea of what makes an NSX work but does away with some of the trimmings. The 3.2L can get to 290 hp, which seems lower compared to an NSX. But being over 200 pounds lighter helps the performance as it can go zero to 60 in 4.4 seconds.
Having sound deadening aids in the performance and makes the car seem even smoother in its superb handling. The Type R shows even a “lesser” NSX is a genius sports car.
2 HSV-010 GT500 Super GT (186 MPH)
It may seem cheating to count a pure race car, but the HSV_010 GT500 Super GT has to rank as one of Honda’s best sports offerings as it is street legal. It was going to be a new NSX line but got canceled at the last minute, which is a shame.
The 3.4L V8 could produce an ample 500 hp, and the body fit the GT racing circuit well. This could have been a hit had Honda managed to make it work right for a terrific ride.
1 Honda NSX (191 MPH)
Debuting in 2017, the latest NSX is one of the best cars Honda has ever put out. The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 works with multiple motors and nine-speed transmission for 573 hp. The design is a bit more complicated, but it works, lending the NSX an exotic air and helping it stand out nicely.
It currently ranks as the fastest Honda car on the market and proof the company can do sports cars as well as the competition.
Sources: jalopnik.com, autowise.com, motor1.com, hemmings.com