Best Sports Cars for 2023
The best used and new sports cars based on a data-driven analysis of each vehicle's reliability, resale value and safety.
The best sports car is the Ford Mustang (coupe) based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. Its overall rating of 8.3 out of 10 reflects the Mustang’s reliability, value retention and safety scores. A new Ford Mustang (coupe) costs between $30,920 and $57,970 while a used version costs between $22,887 and $83,985. This sports car can seat up to 4 people and is EPA rated to deliver up to 26 miles per gallon in mixed city/highway driving.
The Sports Car category consists of 15 models priced between $25,390 and $86,645 for new vehicles and between $19,614 and $83,985 for used vehicles. iSeeCars has sufficient vehicle data to rate and rank 9 of these 15 models based on their reliability, value retention and safety scores.
Why Should I Buy a Sports Car?
A sports car is a vehicle designed to provide an engaging driving experience on twisty road or at high speeds. Typical attributes of a sports car include strong horsepower, responsive handling, and easy maneuverability. While all sports cars are bound by their thrilling driving performance, there is diversity among the sports car segment. This guide not only lists the best sports cars, but will help you decide which sports car will best suit your needs.
What are the Best Sports Cars?
The sports cars on our list come in multiple body styles, including coupes, convertibles, or sporty hatchbacks with two doors, and are either two-seaters or have both front and rear seats. They also have a wide range of engine choices including four-cylinders, six-cylinders, or V8s. Some sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster have one available engine choice, a peppy 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while other sports cars like the Ford Mustang have a diverse lineup ranging from a turbo four-cylinder to a range-topping supercharged V8.
In the past, sports cars typically included a fairly basic powertrain: a normally-aspirated six-cylinder or V8 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a rear-wheel-drive layout. But many of today's sports have automatic transmissions, and some like the Dodge Challenger have available all-wheel drive. These sports cars also have the latest infotainment features to bolster their pleasurable driving experience.
In the past, sports cars typically included a fairly basic powertrain: a normally-aspirated six-cylinder or V8 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a rear-wheel-drive layout. But many of today's sports have automatic transmissions, and some like the Dodge Challenger have available all-wheel drive. These sports cars also have the latest infotainment features to bolster their pleasurable driving experience.
While they all thrive on the open road, the best sports cars vary in terms of practicality and function. Some, like the Chevrolet Camaro SS and the Dodge Challenger, have muscle car characteristics, while the smaller Subaru BRZ is a worthy daily driver thanks to its comfortable front seats and spacious cargo area. And not all sports cars are gas-guzzlers, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata which gets fuel economy ratings of 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Drivers don’t have to sacrifice safety for performance, as sports cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger have an available suite of driver safety features like forward collision warning and blind spot monitoring.
What Other Vehicles Should I Consider?
Keep in mind that this list only includes mainstream sports cars, with the most affordable sports cars on the list costing well under $30,000. For more luxurious sports cars that blend supercar performance with luxury sedan appointments, check out our Best Luxury Sports Cars guide that includes vehicles like the Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911, Porsche Cayman, Audi TT, BMW Z4, Nissan GT-R, and Mercedes-AMG GT. And be sure to check out our list of Best Convertibles if you are interested in either a hardtop or softtop convertible.
Why Should I Buy a Sports Car?
A sports car is a vehicle designed to provide an engaging driving experience on twisty road or at high speeds. Typical attributes of a sports car include strong horsepower, responsive handling, and easy maneuverability. While all sports cars are bound by their thrilling driving performance, there is diversity among the sports car segment. This guide not only lists the best sports cars, but will help you decide which sports car will best suit your needs.
What are the Best Sports Cars?
The sports cars on our list come in multiple body styles, including coupes, convertibles, or sporty hatchbacks with two doors, and are either two-seaters or have both front and rear seats. They also have a wide range of engine choices including four-cylinders, six-cylinders, or V8s. Some sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster have one available engine choice, a peppy 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while other sports cars like the Ford Mustang have a diverse lineup ranging from a turbo four-cylinder to a range-topping supercharged V8.
In the past, sports cars typically included a fairly basic powertrain: a normally-aspirated six-cylinder or V8 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a rear-wheel-drive layout. But many of today's sports have automatic transmissions, and some like the Dodge Challenger have available all-wheel drive. These sports cars also have the latest infotainment features to bolster their pleasurable driving experience.
In the past, sports cars typically included a fairly basic powertrain: a normally-aspirated six-cylinder or V8 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a rear-wheel-drive layout. But many of today's sports have automatic transmissions, and some like the Dodge Challenger have available all-wheel drive. These sports cars also have the latest infotainment features to bolster their pleasurable driving experience.
While they all thrive on the open road, the best sports cars vary in terms of practicality and function. Some, like the Chevrolet Camaro SS and the Dodge Challenger, have muscle car characteristics, while the smaller Subaru BRZ is a worthy daily driver thanks to its comfortable front seats and spacious cargo area. And not all sports cars are gas-guzzlers, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata which gets fuel economy ratings of 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Drivers don’t have to sacrifice safety for performance, as sports cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger have an available suite of driver safety features like forward collision warning and blind spot monitoring.
What Other Vehicles Should I Consider?
Keep in mind that this list only includes mainstream sports cars, with the most affordable sports cars on the list costing well under $30,000. For more luxurious sports cars that blend supercar performance with luxury sedan appointments, check out our Best Luxury Sports Cars guide that includes vehicles like the Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911, Porsche Cayman, Audi TT, BMW Z4, Nissan GT-R, and Mercedes-AMG GT. And be sure to check out our list of Best Convertibles if you are interested in either a hardtop or softtop convertible.
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.4
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.2
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.0
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.9
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.9
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.0
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.9
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.6
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.2
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.3
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.9
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
7. Nissan 370Z (coupe)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.3
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.9
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.0
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.3
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.1
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
7.9
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
Toyota 86
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
7.8
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
Nissan 370Z (convertible)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.9
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
FIAT 124 Spider
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.8
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.5
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
Coming soon
-
Safety
Not Available
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How We Rank These Cars
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on the latest research by our data science team and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
After being evaluated, vehicles with the highest average scores earn a spot in the iSeeCars Best Car Rankings. (No final score is given to vehicles missing a score in any of the categories, but scores for other categories are still shown.)
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability | 33.3%
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention | 33.3%
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety | 33.3%
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).