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Forget supercars, the best sports cars are the ones you can drive every day of the week. These cars perfectly balance performance and livability.
Quick Commuters
When it comes to sports cars, livability is a subjective term. Some are willing to sacrifice visibility, contend with bad seats, and suffer a punishing suspension tune all for a more exciting driving experience. For others, sportiness needs to be balanced with overall roominess, comfort, and ride quality. Balancing the level of excitement a car can deliver and its daily drivability isn’t always easy. Carmakers frequently skew a car one way or the other, making concessions on livability or performance, each in the name of the other.
But there are a few cars that manage to split the difference well, delivering consistent thrills while still being more than a weekend/track car. Below we highlight some of the very best new and late model sports cars in terms of daily drivability for at or less than $50,000. Of course, your definition of what’s livable may vary based on your preferences and needs. Do you need a back seat? Do you plan on taking long road trips with car? Whatever your use case, we’ve got a sports car that it’ll fit.
C7 Chevrolet Corvette
Finding a balance requires identifying the edge cases. To wit, the C7 (seventh generation) Chevrolet Corvette. The Corvette and other two-seat sports cars may concede rear seats, but then the rear seats of most 2+2 sports cars are laughably small and uncomfortable, best suited for luggage, pets, and your least favorite friends. The Corvette does have a 15 cu.-ft. trunk (10 cu.-ft. for the convertible) which is generous for a sports car. Any deficiencies in spaciousness are more than compensated for with the Corvette’s spirited driving dynamics and powerful standard 6.2L V8. When equipped with the performance exhaust, the base 6.2L makes a full 460 horsepower, enough to rocket the Vette from zero to sixty in 3.7 seconds. The C7 Corvette manages the mean feat of being a comfortable road car and a wild and woolly track car at its happiest when pushed. You can find a C7, model years 2014 through 2019, for under $50,000. If you’re interested in spending more, there’s always the Z06 (650 horsepower) and the ZR1 (755 horsepower).
Mazda Miata
The adage that the Miata is “always the answer,” to questions of sports cars rings true here as well. Its reputation for playfulness is well earned. Buyers have the option of either the 1.5L DOHC four-cylinder making 125 horsepower or the more powerful 2.0L with 158 horsepower (181 horse for those 2.0L Miata built from 2018 onwards). The current ND-generation (fourth) offers an RF version that comes with a retractable targa-style top rather than the traditional cloth top for those who don’t live in the Sun Belt. Of the two-seaters on this list, the Miata is certainly the most spartan when it comes to cargo space with a comical 4.6 cu.-ft. to its glorified glove box of a trunk. Even so, the Miata’s case for daily drivability rests on its nimble handling and a lightness that makes dancing the car around corners a breeze.
Porsche Cayman/Boxster
The third-generation Porsche Boxster/Cayman (2012-2016) is another potent mix of handling prowess and raw power. You’ll find cars with either the 2.7L flat-six making 260 horsepower or the more potent 3.4L flat-six with 310 horsepower and a choice of either a six-speed manual or seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic. Even as the 911’s little brother, the Boxster/Cayman is a legit Porsche. It runs the same steering system as the 911 with a similar suspension set up, a slightly longer wheelbase, and a wider track. The Boxster/Cayman offers a luxury-level experience, adding to the car’s daily drivability. Just make sure to closely peruse the option sheet to see what the original buyer optioned on the highly configurable Porsche.
Toyota Supra
The revived fifth-generation Toyota Supra shares its underpinnings with the BMW Z4, which might have also made its way on our list but for its luxury price premium. And while the current Supra can exceed $50,000, it’s not too hard to find examples from 2021 and earlier that skirt under that price threshold. What makes the Supra a good daily sports car? Style, power, athleticism are all in high supply. The 2.0L four-cylinder isn’t the worst engine in the world, but really if we’re here, go for the 3.0L straight-six. It makes 382 horsepower, which feels right around perfect for the Supra. Standard performance features of the 3.0L include a limited-slip differential, upgrade brakes, and an adaptive suspension. That suspension is tuned at a Goldilocks zone between sporty stiffness and a comfort-friendly compliance. Add a pleasant, high-quality interior and the Supra makes for an excellent daily sports car.
Ford Mustang GT
American muscle cars built their reputations on the back of a balance of practicality and sportiness and the Ford Mustang continues to deliver both in spades. The sixth-generation Mustang can be had with a perfectly respectable 2.3L EcoBoost (turbocharged) four-cylinder making an impressive 310 horsepower. But if we’re being honest, why buy a Mustang with anything less than a V8 (at least while we still can)? The Mustang GT of roughly 2022 or earlier can be had for less than $50,000 and comes equipped with a 5.0L V8 making 460 horsepower, while the Mach 1 version is good for 480 horsepower, though more expensive as a result. Both versions can be had with a six-speed manual over the 10-speed automatic. The Mustang GT offers quickness, crisp handling, and a comfortable ride. It’s a 2+2, so the Mustang can accommodate more than one passenger, if need be, and it offers up to 13.5 cu.-ft. of trunk space. The Mustang made its name as a daily driving sports car; it’s easy to see why.
Dodge Challenger
Like the Mustang, the Dodge Challenger offers a good deal of spaciousness, comfort to go with its blistering speed and heaps of attitude. The Challenger’s base 305-horsepower V6, like the Mustang’s turbo-four, is okay but not why you buy a Dodge muscle car. We suggest no less than the R/T’s 6.4L Hemi V8 with its 375 horsepower or the Scat Pack version of the same engine with a thunderous 483 horsepower. The Challenger comes with a host of packages and options, from the Alcantara Appearance pack to the 1320 Package that adds drag mode and an adaptive suspension. The Hellcat, Redeye, and SRT Super Stock, with their supercharged 6.2L Hemi V8s, but all these greatly exceed our $50,000 price ceiling. Besides, the R/T and Scat Pack’s suspension and chassis tuning offer the best balance of sporty stiffness and ride comfort.
Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ
The current (and prior) generation(s) of the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are a badge swap of extremely similar, extremely fun sports cars. Both cars share the same basic naturally-aspirated 2.4L flat-four engine making 228 horsepower and a snappy, available six-speed manual transmission. The GR86 and BRZ differ in their suspension tunes, with the Toyota a bit more tail happy and the Subie a bit more settled. Both are 2+2s, so a back seat is there to augment the 6.3 cu.-ft. of trunk space. The interiors of both cars are nearly identical, comfortable with good ergonomics and pleasant designs, but certainly a step down from what you find in the Porche Boxter/Cayman. The GR86 and BRZ have the virtue of being affordable as the current 2024 models top out in the mid-to-upper $30,000 range. Fun, practical, and affordable, the BRZ and GR86 make a persuasive case as some of the absolute best daily driving sports cars you can buy today.
