10 Affordable Sports Cars To Buy In 2023
The world’s latest and greatest sports cars serve up the perfect balance of performance, technology, and space – everything you’d need for 21st-century motoring. Arguably, the cream of the crop at present is the Porsche 718 Boxster – a serious racer and a perfect daily rolled into one efficient package.
But the problem with the 718, and quite a few other sports cars for that matter of fact, is the price. Take the new Mercedes-AMG SL63, a car that has more power than you’ll ever really need on the road, and all the fancy gadgets and tricks that its bigger siblings offer. It’s clearly a very good car, but it starts at, wait for it … $178,100.
Updated April 2023: Buying a sports car needn’t be expensive if you look in the right place. Why fork out a huge amount if you can find yourself a brand-new alternative elsewhere, with minimal compromise but just as much fun? With that in mind, we’ve updated the content of this list to keep you informed of the very best choices out there for you.
The flip side of the coin is that there is a huge market open for cheaper, softer sports cars to make their mark, and some manufacturers have taken that opportunity with aplomb. Certain models even offer more behind-the-wheel excitement than their pricier peers, combining track-ready performance with generous fuel consumption. Here are 10 of our favorites.
10 Chevrolet Camaro 1LS (Starts From $26,400)
The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro sports a bold retro profile that muscle car enthusiasts will appreciate. Its fistful of power means the Camaro glides across roads with the sort of encouragement that you expect from a big, archetypal American sports car. It’s so refined, and that’s why we love the Chevy Camaro 1LS as much as we do.
The base 1LS is surprisingly quick, too, with its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder motor providing an output of 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. A starting price of just $26,400 makes it cheap, but you do feel that penny-pinching in areas of the car, with its major downsides being poor rear visibility and the tortuously small back seats.
9 Ford Mustang (Starts At $27,770)
The 2023 Ford Mustang is great to look at with its 1960s-inspired styling, but the real deal is under the hood. The base Mustang EcoBoost has a 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder that delivers 310 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. An all-new generation is coming next year, but it’s arguable that the 2015-2023 Ford Mustang (S550) still has a few years left before an update is due.
With its impressive performance and better visibility than the Camaro, you can still get one for under $30,000. Despite being a performance car, the Mustang offers a generous amount of cargo space, accommodating up to 12 carry-on bags. That’s one of the best volume amounts in its class, but what else would you expect from a car that has been doing the same thing for years? We also think the forthcoming Ford Mustang Dark Horse is a worthy successor to the 2023 Mach 1, and will be a big hit when it arrives.
8 Mazda MX-5 Miata (Starts At $28,050)
Call it the boring, obvious option if you must, but the MX-5 is the world’s best-selling convertible ever for good reason. Just one of the lineage’s famous supporters is Christian Von Koenigsegg, who loves his 1992 Mazda Miata MX-5. The current fourth-gen has lost none of the gorgeous styling, with the sleek lines of Mazda’s Kodo design an instant hit.
A sports car should make driving more fun and less of a chore, and Mazda achieves this with precise handling and improved control in the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata over its predecessors. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine also delivers 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, and for a car that weighs just over 2,300 lbs, the 6.4-second 0-60 mph time feels quicker than it sounds.
7 Toyota GR86 (Starts At $28,400)
With its thrilling performance and street-ready appearance, the 2023 Toyota GR86 is one of the very best options to go for right now. Despite the fact that its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine puts out just 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, we’d argue that those numbers become obsolete when you get behind the wheel.
It’s sharp and gives you all the response you need, with the option of a six-speed manual also on offer. We’ve even tried making a case for and against an automatic 2023 Toyota GR86, given the high demand for the manuals right now. For improved performance, the new GR86 comes with a multi-link rear suspension and Torsen limited-slip differential, so you’ve got everything you need to go for a back road thrash.
6 Dodge Challenger SXT (Starts At $30,545)
Dodge is discontinuing the Challenger at the end of 2023, to the disappointment of anyone who identifies as a gearhead, which is one of the reasons why people are paying $100,000 dealer markups for the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. As the model prepares for its electrified future, you have the opportunity to grab the final ‘standard’ Challenger for just $30,545, without the worry of massively overpaying.
The base SXT trim pours out 303 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque from its 3.6-liter V6. But if those numbers don’t satisfy you, you can opt for one of the naturally aspirated V8 Challengers for a few extra dollars. Choose the latter option, and you’ll have one of the last hurrahs of a car that’s as equally at home on the street as it is on the drag strip. We even think the 2023 Challenger Black Ghost will be a future classic.
5 Subaru WRX (Starts At $30,605)
Yet another car that has a huge fan following, thanks to its bulletproof reliability, endless tuning options, and affordable pricing. There are a few things that we now know about the 2023 Subaru WRX that is soon to arrive, and given the evidence, the WRX has everything in its artillery to continue to be a huge success in the sports car segment.
Under the hood, the 2.4-liter four-cylinder will remain, and is set to pump out 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. We also like the body cladding that Subaru has adopted to signal towards the WRX’s rallying heritage. With prices set to start at just over $30,000, there are plenty of things we love about the 2023 Subaru WRX.
4 Hyundai Veloster N (Starts At $33,595)
Hyundai is at the top of its game right now, and the impressive 275 hp Hyundai Veloster N is one of the best subcompact hatchbacks in 2023, that’s equally good to drive as the other cars on this list – if not better. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which catapults it to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds thanks to its output. Accompanying that force is an unruly exhaust note that really does bring out the juvenile in you.
It’s no longer made, but we believe the discontinued Hyundai Veloster hot hatch deserves more recognition because it is a fantastically versatile but no-compromise car. It’s an example of what happens when a manufacturer puts as much time and passion into the values of its customer base as it does the science behind the machine. There’s nothing to hate, but everything to love, and that’s why this rowdy, affordable rocket is still a winner in 2023.
3 Nissan Z (Starts At $40,990)
Let’s face the truth here, Nissan could’ve, and should’ve, put more effort into the Z’s styling. It’s a pretty lazy attempt for a car that sports a badge as iconic as anything else to come from Japan. But the other side to the argument is its twin-turbo V6, which develops 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. That alone forms a big argument as to why you should buy a Nissan Z.
Factor in the well-equipped interior, and the array of styling quirks that remind you of the iconic Z moniker’s history, and the 2023 model begins to prove just why it could be worth the price. Even if it’s a little on the high side, it’s still considerably cheaper than two of its main rivals in the Audi TT and BMW Z4. There’s also a very strong case as to why it’s worth waiting for the upcoming 2024 Nissan Z Nismo.
2 Toyota GR Supra (Starts At $43,540)
The jury was out when Toyota released the A90 Supra, partially because it looked like a much mellower version of the Toyota FT-1 Concept Car that the Japanese automaker promised, but mostly because it had big shoes to fill. It’s also slightly more expensive than its closest rival in the Z, and that’s before you even get to the range-topping version.
But Toyota listened to customers’ demand for a manual transmission, as all previous Supra models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base Supra 2.0 gets its motivation from a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that churns out 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It’s safe to say, the 2023 Toyota GR Supra has firmly put critics in their place, and is proving to be an excellently engineered sports car.
1 Acura Integra Type S (Estimated $49,000)
Not a soul on planet gearhead would try to hide their excitement at the return of a truly biblical badge. The new Integra Type S picks up where the Acura Type R left off, thanks to its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine. With 320 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, the front-wheel drive layout and six-speed manual transmission will make for a truly fantastic driver’s car.
It all sounds lovely, but we’ve still got some waiting to do before it’s officially released. However, you can order a standard 2023 Acura Integra Premium Sport Compact with a 1.5-liter VTEC turbo engine today if you want. It still offers a bagful of fun with 200 hp, all for just $31,300. Acura is also offering 36-month lease deals at $399 per month right now. Tempted?
