Best Sports Cars | 2026 New Sports Car Model Rankings | CarBuzz

Sports carts have always been what many of us enthusiasts aspire for. They play a big role not only in pop culture and movies (think Fast and Furious and the Toyota Supra), but also as things to aspire to. Whether it's for you to remember what the thrill of driving means, or the car you're aiming for after working hard, sporty cars are some of the most desirable things on wheels. Luckily, in the US, there's a good selection. On our list of the best high-performance cars, we've got everything from small Japanese coupes to outlandish German four-door weapons. To find the one for your needs, use this handy list that's ranked by our BuzzScores.

Vehicles are assigned a BuzzScore in relation to their direct segment competitors, and as such, vehicles in this list, while similarly scored, do not necessarily compete directly against one another. Find out more about how the BuzzScore ratings work here. These lists are continuously updated with the latest BuzzScores and vehicles as they become available.

Our definition of 'sports car' is a vehicle that has been built from the ground up to be a performance vehicle, not just a high-performance version of an existing mainstream car.

1 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

A list of sports cars isn't complete without the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. After reaching the end of the line with front-engined designs, the Corvette now has a mid-engined 6.2L V8 that gives it better balance through the corners while retaining a properly cool exterior design. If you go for the Z51 performance pack (which we'd recommend getting for the full experience), you have 495 horsepower at your disposal and a sub-three second 0-60 time.

2 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante

The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante not only has a great-sounding name, but also a great-sounding twin-turbo V12 engine. It produces a massive 824 horsepower and features a system called 'boost hold', which can reserve some turbo pressure until you press the gas, almost eliminating any turbo lag. This car may cost half a million dollars, but it's a testament to Aston's new era and much-improved interior and exterior designs. With the long bonnet and comfortable seats, we'd pick this car on our list of sports cars to drive across continents.

"For those who want a more relaxed experience than a Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider or forthcoming Lamborghini Revuelto droptop can offer, the Vanquish is the only game in town. Plus, who doesn't want to say they drive the, ahem, most powerful front-engine rear-drive V12 sports car in the world?"

- Justin Westbrook, Senior Road Tester, CarBuzz

3 Porsche 911 Carrera

There's a reason the Porsche 911 Carrera has endured for so long. It's annoyingly good at everything, and there's about a thousand versions for every buyer. The base model now sets you back $135,500, which is a lot for any car, but for that you find 388 horsepower, classic looks, and a 4.8 cubic feet frunk that's bigger than you'd expect. Yes, there are back seats in the 911,but we'd only give those to people we don't like and/or have no legs. New sports cars don't always have much space in the back, and the 911 is one of them.

4 Porsche 911 GT3

The Porsche 911 GT3 is what happens when a regular 911 Carrera has caffeine injected into it. The 4.0L flat-six engine revs all the way to 9,000 rpm and while it may 'only' have 500 horsepower, it's about the way it makes you feel through the corners. The body has been sculpted for aerodynamics, and if you pick the brilliant six-speed manual, you'll love knowing that you're driving the fastest manual car around the Nürburgring. Whatever transmission tunnel furniture you pick, though, this is the best sports car for most people.

5 Mercedes-AMG GT 63

As the only four-door sports car on this list, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 has a lot to say. Starting at over $158k, it's powered by a handcrafted 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine producing 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. While it's not the most powerful in the GT lineup (the GT 63 adds hybrid assistance for 831 horses), it'll still thrill you. With four seats and a 16.1 cubic feet cargo capacity, this cool sports car is easy to use on the daily.

6 Aston Martin Vanquish Coupe

If you're not a fan of convertibles, the Vanquish Coupe is a stellar-looking GT car that shows just how many types of sports cars there are. This is one of the most expensive options on our list at almost half a million dollars, but it'll be comfortable for long distances and has a completely different ethos to cars like the Nissan Z. Aston tries to make performance effortless, which is easy when you have 824 horsepower. It'll keep pushing until a top speed of 214 miles per hour, too.

7 Nissan Z

The Nissan Z has a lot to live up with when featuring one of the most iconic sports cars' names. As standard, the $43k performance car has a twin-turbo V6 that produces 400 horsepower, making it one of the deals of the decade right now. In fact, it has the same basic underpinnings as the Nissan 350Z, which came out all the way in 2002. It might not be as hardcore as some peopel want, with the suspension not up to the stiffnesss of other cars, but that'll simply make it easier to live with.

"It may seem like a copout to say the Z is "great for the price", but we applaud Nissan for analyzing the market, being smart with its recourses, and producing a product that slots right in the sweet spot between entry-level sports cars and the more expensive premium options. If you're currently looking in the $40,000-$50,000 price range, the new Z is a great option."

- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-at-Large, CarBuzz

8 Subaru BRZ

One of the most accessible new sports cars coming out of Japan is the Subaru BRZ. Its 2.4L boxer four-cylinder means power is only rated at 228 horsepower, but the careful balance of a front-engined rear-drive car mated to a manual transmission can't be beaten. If you're serious about sports driving, we'd look at the tS version, which has sharpened suspension and high-performance Brembo brakes. Whatever trim you get, this car features a limited-slip differential, perfect for getting out of corners quickly (or big drifts on track).

9 Mercedes-AMG SL55

The Mercedes SL series has always been what other automakers seek to achieve with their own sports cars. The latest coupe from Stuttgart has four models, and we'd call the SL 55 the right middle ground of features and price point. It comes with a 4.0L V8 engine that produces 469 horsepower for $145k, but the creature comforts are where this car shines the most. Massaging, heated, and ventilated seats are standard, as well as ambient lighting and a neck-level heating system for cold days with the roof down.

10 Aston Martin Vantage

The Aston Martin Vantage is the troublesome youngest child of the Aston Martin range. That's not because it's the newest, but it's because it's the smallest yet and has almost as much energy as the other cars. The Mercedes-sourced 4.0L twin-turbo V8 has 670 horsepower and the shorter wheels means it's more agile than you'd expect. The Bilstein adaptive dampers mean the car is just as stiff as you want it when you're pushing, but slackens off during a commute.

Characteristics Of Fast Sports Cars

The top-rated sports cars are more than just fast. In fact, there are a variety of different classifications within the segment, each with its own defining characteristics. However, there is a common thread that runs through them all. These are the qualities that are essential in even the most basic of sports cars on our list:

• Performance: Of course, speed comes first, but you need good handling, too, and the overall driving experience should be enjoyable. You aren’t going fast just for the sake of it or to get from point A to point B in record time; you are doing it to have a good time, and how your car reacts to your inputs should reflect this.
• Appeal: While some sports cars let the driving do the talking, others make a louder statement with their looks. Sensuous curves and bright colors are common, ensuring that all eyes are riveted to your car as you go whizzing by. They say to feel good, you should try to look good, and these beauties will definitely deliver on both fronts.
• Practicality: This is more a quality that stands out for its nonexistence. The majority of sports cars are two-seaters and those that try to squeeze in a rear bench usually do so to the detriment of the poor passengers that have to use them. And even those that can support more than two people can almost never handle their luggage.
• Price: Yes, it is an undeniable fact that these vehicles cost more than your average sedan. There are some comparatively affordable options, but even these will cost you a lot once you start clocking the miles and the fuel bill comes a’knocking. Even smaller models with a turbocharged engine have only mediocre mpg ratings.

What To Consider Before Buying A New Sports Car

There are plenty of sports car brands in the US, each offering its own unique flavor to the popular segment. However, none are perfect, as much as they may claim otherwise. And genuine sports car models might not even be for you when an athletic executive or SUV would better suit your needs. But if you have your heart set on one, here are the pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• A multitude of choices to suit every taste
• Powerful motors and stimulating dynamics
• Many are manufactured in the USA and are relatively cheap
• Aggressive and stylish
• Customization potential

Cons

• Some have lofty price tags
• Many score low on mpg
• Practicality comes second

Sources: Aston Martin, Porsche, Nissan, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet