Sports cars are some of the most desirable vehicles a petrolhead can own.
First developed to bring some of the speed and excitement of motorsport machines to the regular driver on the road, the sports car genre is almost as old as the car itself.
Nowadays, the best sports cars are more mature and can be driven every day. What’s best is there’s still a host of options on the market and the sports car is still going strong, despite the automotive industry’s gradual switch to electric power.
Several car makers – such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Alpine – are still heavily invested in the sports car world, using their expertise to produce some seriously capable models.
Thankfully, sports cars are still a traditional offering, with petrol power and high performance. Even as many other segments undergo rapid change, this one still deals with big power, lightweight engineering, high-revving combustion engines and outstanding handling dynamism.
But which sports cars are truly the best? We’ve listed our top picks in the full-sized sports car world right here, each with deep-chested acceleration and uplifting handling, and just as at home on the open road as they are on track.
We think the best sports car on sale today is the Alpine A110, but you will have to read on to find out why. Read on as we list the best sports cars still on sale in 2025.
Best for: Handling
From its characterful turbocharged engine to its seriously impressive handling, the Alpine A110 is all about fun.
On paper, the A110 has all of the characteristics to mould the ideal all-round sports car. It features a lightweight aluminium body, a mid-mounted engine and double-wishbone suspension, mostly reserved for the most powerful supercars.
The A110 arrived in 2017 with 248bhp, followed by the A110 S with 288bhp, larger brakes and firmer suspension. Several special editions later, such as the Légende GT, the range is now topped by the hardcore A110 R Ultime.
We think the standard A110 is the pick of the lot, though, devoted to sublime driver involvement, with excellent grip, body control and poise on the road.
It's also reasonably priced, costing just under £55,000 in entry-level form.
Read our Alpine A110 review
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France’s revered sports car brand is back and chasing some heavyweight scalps
Best for: All-round ability
It's fair to say that the Porsche 911 is the most versatile sports car on the planet. Hold your breath, as we have quite a few to get through.
The 911 comes in Carrera, Carrera T, Carrera S and Carrera GTS specifications, all powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six engine with differing power outputs. It also comes as a coupé, a cloth-top Cabriolet and a folding fixed-head Targa.
You can choose between rear- or four-wheel drive and between an eight-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic or a seven-speed manual gearbox.
There are also the extra-rapid Turbo, Turbo S, GT3 and GT3 RS versions higher up, not to mention extra-special limited-run versions like the Dakar and S/T. There's not much to dislike about any of them.
Porsche introduced hybrid power in 2024, as part of the '992.2' mid-life facelift. Many were curious about how it would affect the way the 911 drives, but it's still a terrific, refined daily driver, with outstanding driving dynamics.
In 2025, the GT3 was given the '992.2' treatment (mainly suspension tweaks), while the flagship Turbo S got a heavily revised version of the GTS's hybridised 3.6-litre that delivers an alarming 701bhp.
For a car that remains without equal among direct contemporary rivals for usability, rounded sporting credibility and especially for the accessible, everyday-use, any-occasion brilliance of its driver appeal, the evergreen 911 stands head and shoulders above most of its peers.
Read our Porsche 911 review
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Best for: Affordability
The fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 is shorter, lighter, more spacious and better laid out than any of its predecessors. Sharper-looking, too, but still disarming and not at all ostentatious. It's also faster, more frugal and even more vibrant and engaging to drive.
In 2018, Mazda facelifted its iconic roadster, with the headline change being a 23bhp power hike for its feisty 2.0-litre engine. A steering column that also adjusts for reach was also introduced, addressing one of the MX-5's only ergonomic drawbacks.
More minor tweaks have been executed since, the latest being for the 2023 model year. As part of it, Mazda UK changed the standard soft-top car’s model name convention from MX-5 Convertible to MX-5 Roadster and renamed its derivative trim levels (in place of SE-L, Sport and GT, now Prime-Line, Exclusive-Line and Homura).
Mechanically, no changes were made, so the 1.5-litre MX-5 still develops 130bhp, while the 2.0-litre model makes 181bhp but also gets a front strut brace, a limited-slip differential and uprated Bilstein dampers as standard.
It's not the best-selling roadster in the world for nothing. Whichever you choose, rear-driven chassis poise and lots of driver involvement is guaranteed. That’s because the MX-5 is still every inch the same zesty and inimitable car that it always has been. Its character hasn't really changed at all in three decades, and nothing on this list offers a better pounds-per-smile rating.
Read our Mazda MX-5 review
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Best for: Hardcore driving
When BMW's M division decided to wrap M4 mechanicals in a shorter, slightly lighter shell and then retune what resulted to suit even keener enthusiast tastes, it hit on a winning recipe for the second-generation M2.
The sense of technical inferiority that hung around previous iterations of this car was banished, and while the M2 grew (and grew heavier) as a result, it gained a sense of integrity, maturity and completeness as a modern M car that earns it a very high ranking in this chart.
The M2 now uses a slightly detuned version of the same 'S58' turbocharged straight-six that powers the M4 and has a healthy 473bhp to send straight to the rear-wheels. There's also the option of a six-speed manual gearbox.
This car is a simpler, purer driver's car than bigger M cars, and it retains just enough compactness to appeal in a way that the company's bigger saloon and estate cars can't.
It's fast, balanced, involving and communicative yet also versatile, capable and very instantly driver-configurable, as characterises modern M cars so uniquely.
Read our BMW M2 review
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Best for: Daily driving
Yes, there are two Porsches towards the top of this chart – and quite rightly so. The German firm really knows what it's doing when it comes to screwing together a sensational sports car.
Production of all standard 718 models has come to an end, but you can still buy one from stock, so until Porsche definitively pull the plug on the old-stager it stays in the mix here.
While the more affordable four-cylinder, sub-£50,000 derivatives of the 718 continue to present themselves to buyers with less to spend (and are ranked in our best affordable sports car top 10), the higher-end models have absolutely progressed among the bigger fish of the sports car class.
Not that they struggle in such treacherous water. Porsche's latest naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine is an utter joy, offering as much outright performance as any road-going sports car really needs but also wonderful smoothness and response and an 8000rpm operating range.
Unusually long-feeling gearing makes the six-speed manual versions slightly less appealing to drive in some ways than the seven-speed paddle-shift automatics, but for pure driver interaction, the three-pedal versions are hard to beat.
The 718's beautifully poised handling, incredibly linear handling response and effortless body control at speed are now widely celebrated. This is the kind of sports car that can seem word-perfect in how it takes apart a cross-country road tough enough to expose a lesser machine.
If you like a sports car with more power than its chassis can easily deploy or whose dynamic quirks and flaws present something of a challenge to be 'driven around', you might even think a GTS 4.0 too good. Only kidding: it's flippin' brilliant.
Compared with some cars on this list, there's also perhaps a slight lack of desirability for this car. But its usability is first-rate – and its powertrain can be considered every bit as stellar as its ride and handling. Quite simply, it's one of the most complete driver's cars there has ever been.
Read our Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman review
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Best for: Old-school Brit charm
The Aston Martin Vantage is technically the brand's entry-level model, but you wouldn't think so when looking at its on-paper performance figures.
Powered by a sumptuous 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8, the Vantage pumps out 656bhp and 590lb ft and will sprint from 0-62mph in just 3.4sec. It will also go on to a top speed of 202mph.
The Vantage boasts a 50:50 weight distribution, which supports a seriously measured driving experience. Its handling inspires confidence and it certainly has a playful side. There's also a drop-top Roadster version for those who want wind-in-the-hair thrills and a chance to get closer to that bombastic V8.
Downsides? Well, even for a sports car the ride verges on the uncomfortable over the worst road surfaces (which is most of them here in the UK). It's also the most expensive car on our list by some margin. Prices start at around £165,000, and that's before you even add any options. Given the previous Vantage cost around £40,000 less and many of their mechanical parts are shared, that's not the easiest pill to swallow.
Read our Aston Martin Vantage review
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Best for: Driver involvement
As the last hurrah for combustion power at Lotus, the Emira certainly has a lot resting on its shoulders.
And the good news is that it gets so much right, from its junior exotic looks through to a chassis that maintains the decades-long tradition of Hethel handling greatness.
There are some novelties for a Lotus, too, such as an interior that delivers previously unheard of levels of luxury and quality, plus all the latest gadgets and gizmos.
It's decently practical too, proving easier to get into and out of than the old Evora and packing handy storage. This is an everyday-usable sports car.
However, this extra usability and refinement comes at a cost, with the Emira weighing in at a very un-Lotus 1446kg, which is heavier even than the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0.
When it first arrived, the Emira had the choice of either a supercharged Toyota 3.5-litre V6 or Mercedes-AMG turbocharged 2.0-litre four. However, earlier this year the brand trimmed the line-up to just one model, the Turbo SE.
Using a massaged version of the German four-banger, it's not short of power or pace, packing 400bhp and a 0-62mph time of 4.0 seconds. It's not the most charismatic of engines, but it goes hard and is mated to a slick eigh-speed automatic (the six-speed manual option died with the V6).
More importantly, the Emira drives like a Lotus where it matters: in the corners. The extra mass means it doesn't feel quite as lithe as the old Elise, but it's beautifully balanced and damped, helping it breathe with the surface where others attempt to pummel it into submission.
The steering is quick and feelsome, and as a result the Emira dives through bends with quick-witted agility, its ability to shrug off unsettling bumps further boosting your confidence.
Read our Lotus Emira review
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Best for: V8 power
The Ford Mustang with a 440bhp V8 engine can still be yours for just under £56,000, and we liked it so much we named it our Best Dream Car at the annual Autocar Awards last year.
That said, the Mustang ownership experience has a few drawbacks in the UK. The car’s sheer size means you have to think twice about where to park it in town and what kinds of country lanes you might seek out with it.
With its dipsomaniac 5.0-litre V8, meanwhile, you will need to factor in more frequent visits to the pumps than your peers in their German sports cars.
The Mustang is a throwback of a sports car yet few direct rivals have such obvious likability. Its powertrain brings with it an appeal that engines with fewer cylinders simply don't muster, and its rear-drive chassis balance is pretty peachy too.
Read our Ford Mustang review
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Best for: Manual gearbox
The Z4 isn't quite as hardcore as many of the other options on this list, but it's still one of the better sports cars on sale in the UK today.
The sports car, which is only available as a soft-top convertible, comes in two specifications: the entry-level sDrive20i, which uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four, and the more powerful M40i, which uses BMW's brilliant 'B58' 3.0-litre straight six.
In its most powerful specification, the Z4 pumps out 335bhp and 369lb ft of torque, hitting 0-62mph in 4.6sec.
While an eight-speed automatic is standard, a six-speed manual was also introduced in 2024, which we thought gave the Z4's already excellent engine even greater appeal.
Admittedly, the Z4 lacks the dynamic ability of several of its rivals, but its stable and comfortable chassis offers something different.
It's more of a cruiser that can excel when pushed, with a stunning engine, a great manual gearbox and, of course, that drop-top thrill.
Read our BMW Z4 review
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Best for: Interior luxury
Over the years, the Mercedes-Benz SL has swung between an out-and-out sports car and a sunshine-seeking cruiser. This latest iteration has aimed to be more of the former and less of the latter.
Underpinned by an all-new aluminium platform, the 'R232' has been engineered exclusively by the performance-enhancing engineers at AMG, which gives you the clearest indication of its intent.
The entry-level engine is the 470bhp twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 in the SL 55, which results in a claimed 0-62mph sprint of 3.9sec and 183mph top speed. If that's a bit tame for you, the SL 63 offers a 577bhp version of the same unit.
Whichever way you cut it, the SL is a more dynamic and capable car than its predecessor, with quick steering, strong grip and taut body control. It's aided by four-wheel drive to help deploy that V8's considerable firepower, too.
That said, anyone expecting Porsche 911 levels of driver interaction and agility will be disappointed, as the SL still feels a little too big and bloated in this company.
Read our Mercedes-AMG SL review
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When choosing the best sports car for your own personal needs, you need to consider factors beyond just range and price.
Here’s what to look for:
Engine location
Why it matters: Sports cars are all about driving fun, but where the engine is located can make them can feel very different.
• Front: Traditional sports cars have a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout. This usually offers the most natural feel and predictable handling at the limit.
• Mid: The mid-engined layout offers outstanding balance and agility, but there are practicality downsides and sometimes twitchier responses when the car moves from grip to slip.
• Rear: There's really only one car with this layout (Porsche 911), and it makes for a unique driving experience. For driver challenge and satisfaction, there's not much to beat it.
Powertrain
Why it matters: Most sports cars are ICE-powered, but they come in various different shapes and sizes.
• Small capacity four-cylinder turbos: These often more efficient in day-to-day driving but lack the spine-tingling soundtrack you want from a sports car.
• Multi-cylinder engines: V6, V8 and flat-six configurations offer the most rewarding exhaust notes and plenty of performance, but there's a price to pay at the pumps.
• Gearbox: Increasingly sports cars come with automatic gearboxes that provide fast shifts and ease of use. A manual still offers the greatest driver involvement, though.
Technology
Why it matters: A car is your second most expensive purchase and you will likely have it for at least three years, so you will want to make sure you've got enough equipment and technology to keep your car feeling modern.
• Navigation: Look for built-in route planners that include live traffic information.
• Assistance: Features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, blindspot monitoring and a 360deg camera make large cars easier to handle.
• Dynamic driver modes: Switchable traction control and the ability to adjust steering weight, suspension compliance and throttle response.
How to decide if you actually need an sports car
In reality, it's hard to make a rational case for a sports car, but…
• You love driving and regularly get behind the wheel just for fun.
• You rarely travel with more than one passenger.
• You're happy to put up with a little less comfort and higher running costs.
This article brings together learnings from our highly experienced team of road testers. Their expertise informs this list of the best sports cars on sale today, all of which offer a desirable blend of performance, driver engagement and comfort.
Reviewing estates is largely the same as any other type of car, but with particular attention given to certain characteristics. Our highly experienced team of road testers judge estate cars based on space, versatility, long-range comfort and practicality. Here’s what we assessed…
1. Interior space
We measured head room, leg room and cabin width across all rows, plus boot capacity with seats up and folded flat.
2. Performance and driving dynamics
These are the metrics that matter most with a sports car. We evaluate steering response, grip and body control on mixed roads and test acceleration and throttle response through all driver modes to mimic real use. We also examine ride quality, which is important to most buyers.
3. Technology
All the driver modes are tested, including chassis calibration and switchable stability control systems. Also checked are infotainment responsiveness, navigation (with live charging route planning) and smartphone integration. We tested advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, blindspot monitoring and automated parking.
4. Comfort
All the cars in this list have been subjected to thousands of miles of testing. We measured seat comfort in each one and took this into account. We also measured cabin noise at motorway speeds and suspension comfort on rough roads.
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James is a special correspondent for Autocar, which means he turns his hand to pretty much anything, including delivering first drive verdicts, gathering together group tests, formulating features and keeping Autocar.co.uk topped-up with the latest news and reviews. He also co-hosts the odd podcast and occasional video with Autocar’s esteemed Editor-at-large, Matt Prior.
For more than a decade and a half James has been writing about cars, in which time he has driven pretty much everything from humble hatchbacks to the highest of high performance machines. Having started his automotive career on, ahem, another weekly automotive magazine, he rose through the ranks and spent many years running that title’s road test desk. This was followed by a stint doing the same job for monthly title, evo, before starting a freelance career in 2019. The less said about his wilderness, post-university years selling mobile phones and insurance, the better.
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