Make even the most mundane journey magnificent with this selection of sporty coupes and convertibles.
If you're lucky enough not to have to factor in practicality in your car search – or if you're lucky enough to enjoy a second car – a sports car is the perfect treat. These 10 cars provide thrills and serotonin on even the dreariest commute to work, and make driving along a winding country road one of the best experiences you can have.
What's surprising is the variety of different characters these cars possess – some are dainty and delicate, while others are like sledgehammers coated in razor wire. Some are easier to live with everyday, while some might be better suited to more visceral experiences on a less frequent basis. Here are our picks for the best sports cars to buy now.
1. Alpine A110
Most sports cars now are chasing big power figures that make them feel a bit wasted on public roads. The Alpine A110’s 250hp output – from a humble-sounding 1.8-litre Renault engine – might sound a bit weedy next to its rivals, but the French car is all about plastering a Cheshire Cat grin on your face. The focus is on a light weight and driver engagement, with the result being a car that could probably turn quicker than a skilfully piloted drone.
Inside, it may not be Porsche levels of luxury, but there are some nice materials here and there. The touchscreen might look like it came from the Early Learning Centre, but it won’t ruin your visibility when you’re carving a line through sweeping bends. And anyway, since 2021, it’s come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The GT trim includes leather-trimmed comfort seats and carbon fibre interior trim, while the S and R versions are sportier with uprated Brembo brakes and sticky tyres.
2. Audi TT
The current Audi TT has now been killed off – it will eventually be replaced by a bigger, heavier electric crossover. Luckily for you, we have several tasty TTs in stock, all blending sharp handling with effortless style, bank-vault build quality and digital drivers’ displays that were cutting edge when they first appeared in 2014, and still look fresh today.
Like the BMW 2 Series, the TT is available in hardtop and convertible forms, and with a range of potent petrol engines. The regular TT gets a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 230 or 245hp, while the TTS sports 306hp and a four-wheel-drive system for a thrilling 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds – that’s as fast as a 1990s Ferrari!
The top spot on the TT charts goes to the rip-roaring TT RS, which somehow fits a 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine under its bonnet, which not only sounds phenomenal (your neighbours may not approve), but gets from 0-62mph in a stomach-churning 3.7 seconds. If that doesn’t spell ‘summer fun’ then we’re not sure what does. Bring on the hot weather and some warm, twisty roads.
Shop used Audi TT cars for sale or read our Audi TT review
3. BMW 2 Series
Despite its SUVs chalking up a strong proportion of BMW’s sales, the German brand is still focused on sports cars that live up to its performance heritage. The 2 Series is the smallest and most affordable option and, until recently, was based on the 1 Series. It came with rear-wheel drive and the choice of sensible or exhilarating power outputs – and that’s before you get to the astonishing BMW M2.
While the latest 1 Series has gone front-wheel drive – along with the 2 Series Gran Coupe, confusingly – the new 2 Series coupe sticks with rear-wheel drive to appease the sports car gods. The 2 Series coupe is brilliant to drive, with balanced, grippy handling and accurate steering, and both the manual and automatic gearboxes are great. What’s more, all that applies whether you pick the lowest-powered car or the highest.
Shop used BMW 2 Series coupes for sale or read our BMW 2 Series review
4. BMW 4 Series
Available in convertible or hardtop coupe forms, the BMW 4 Series is a sublime all-round package that makes warm-weather motoring more satisfying than writing on a banana skin with a biro (try it and thank us later).
For a start, it’s a slinky looking thing that reeks of premium appeal, but it’s also pretty practical for a two-door coupe. The back seats are actually usable and the boot isn't tiny either, so you can go on a big European roadtrip in it. We love the fact that the convertible is so well insulated so, when you need to crank out some Autobahn miles you can whip it up and sit in silence, or with some serious tunes pumping out of the excellent stereo. Factor in its sharp handling and powerful engines and you’ve got a winner.
Shop used BMW 4 Series cars for sale or read our BMW 4 Series review
5. Ford Mustang
If the Mazda MX-5 below is a lightweight thing that zips down a road like a delicate, effortless butterfly, the Ford Mustang is a charging bull that’s had a few too many pies. It’s big. It’s heavy. It’s loud. But it makes up for all of that with an oversized 5.0-litre V8 engine that sounds as though it’s come straight from a NASCAR race.
The Mustang is available in hardtop or convertible forms and, although it grips well and feels a lot more connected to the road than previous versions, you still feel its substantial weight in corners… before hammering it down the next straight in a roar of beautiful noise. It’s a proper event of a car, from the moment the summer sun catches the lurid paintwork to the second you fire up that engine and feel it rock the whole car from side-to-side as you blip the throttle.
It’s the perfect summer recipe – those looks, that engine and that noise. Heaven. Just try to ignore the fact you’ll struggle to get more than 25mpg... it's all about the smiles per gallon, right?
Read our Ford Mustang review
6. Lotus Emira
There's a lot of noise about Lotus' slow-selling electric cars, so you might not have realised that Lotus still sells a proper petrol sports car. The Emira looks like a supercar but packs a choice of normal engines that aren't made of unobtainium and beeswax. Because it's light, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is plenty. Lotus' special handling magic is present and correct, and even the four-pot will launch you from 0-62mph in under five seconds.
Or, if you fancy something a bit fruitier, there's the choice of a 3.5-litre V6 engine with a more sonorous exhaust note.
Impressively, the Emira rides well over craggy road surfaces, and it's quieter at speed than a Porsche Cayman.
7. Mazda MX-5
Think of a two-seater sports car and you’ll probably think of a Mazda MX-5. The Hiroshima-based brand’s lightweight sports car first came out in 1989, and the latest generation – called the ND – appeared in 2015. Despite the generational changes, it still shares the original’s cheap-to-run and fun-to-drive approach to life.
Not only does the MX-5 look like a barrel of fun from 50 yards away, it has a properly fun personality. You can get it with either a 1.5 or 2.0-litre petrol engine and both love to be revved hard – plus, the manual gearbox is so satisfying you’ll wish every other car had the same setup.
Sure, it’s not the fastest kid on the block but, once you’ve sampled the MX-5’s dainty lightweight chassis and simple-to-use convertible roof, you’ll wonder why other sports cars exist. If there’s a single vehicle that epitomises the sheer fun of driving on a hot summer’s day, it’s the MX-5. It’s also the least expensive car on this list by some margin, so why not give one a go…
Shop used Mazda MX-5 cars for sale or read our Mazda MX-5 review
8. Toyota GR86
Toyota is back in its hot sports car era, and the GR86 is one of a GRowing number of surprisingly potent halo models. The GR86 may be the least powerful of the lot, with 235hp and a 6.3-second 0-62mph time, but this thing is more about tight and twisty corners rather than drag strips. It’s very similar to the GT86 – the car it replaces – but with more power, which was always what the GT86 could do with.
The Toyota GR86 is set to be a bona fide modern classic. It’ll probably be the last rear-wheel drive, solely petrol powered sports car that Toyota makes. Oh, and the UK got a very small allocation, so seeing one will be a rare event.
9. Toyota GR Yaris
It might share its name with a small, sensible hybrid supermini, but the GR Yaris is a proper sports car. For one thing, it's completely impractical with cramped back seats and a tiny boot – just like the other cars on this list! But, more importantly, it has oodles of power and a more engaging driving experience than a Eurofighter Typhoon… probably.
Using some sort of wizardry, Toyota has extracted 276hp from a humble-sounding 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine. With four-wheel drive as standard – a nod to the GR Yaris' rally origins – performance is certainly sports car fast. The 0-62mph sprint takes just 5.5 seconds.
But it's the handling that will make you yearn for a never-ending B-road. With the grippy four-wheel drive, a short wheelbase and delightfully quick steering, the GR Yaris is tenacious, agile and utterly addictive.
Shop used Toyota GR Yaris cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Toyota GR Yaris review
10. Porsche 718 Boxster
Porsche’s junior sports car offers about nine-tenths of the performance of the bigger 911 for just five-tenths of the cost. There are very few cars that offer a more distilled, more exciting driving experience than the Porsche Boxster or Cayman. Your preference will come down to whether you want the folding-roof Boxster or the fixed-roof Cayman.
Some people will tell you the Cayman and Boxster aren’t very good with a 2.0-litre engine. We’d disagree, as the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol is plenty fast enough and still sounds naughty when you floor it. Plus, it keeps the car lighter than the 3.0-litre engine – which, admittedly, feels a teensy bit more special.
