Compare the best cheap sports cars
High-quality affordable sports cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Best affordable sports cars of 2024
Sports cars can be great fun, but most tend to be rather expensive. That’s why we’ve selected some of the best affordable sports cars out there – from hatchbacks to mid-engined coupes – for you to pick from.
Sure, one or two choices here may be pushing the definition of a cheap sports car, but car makers have increasingly moved away from designing these vehicles in recent years, instead focussing on models that will sell like hotcakes.
There are, nonetheless, a fair few sporty numbers that are still available; here, we detail 10 of the best.
What's good
What’s not so good
Yes, it’s a four-door hatchback, but underneath that practical bodyshell the i20 N is a genuinely exciting little sporty car. It is quicker than most of its direct alternatives and is awesome fun along a twisty road. The extrovert styling may not suit everyone, though.
What's good
What’s not so good
No affordable sports cars list would be complete without the evergreen Mazda MX-5. Its naturally aspirated engine, rear-wheel-drive, manual gearbox recipe hasn’t changed since it first arrived in 1989. That’s why it remains so much fun to drive. You won’t win any traffic light races against the turbocharged opposition though, and the boot really is very small.
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What's good
What’s not so good
This rear-wheel-drive, mid-engined sports car offers up one of the best driving experiences around. The base model may miss out on the six-cylinder wail of the pricier versions, but aside from the uninspiring four-cylinder noise and expensive options, the Cayman is all the sports car you will ever need.
What's good
What’s not so good
Stylish and well-built, the Audi TT is a great daily driver alternative to a humdrum saloon. In Sport Edition trim it’s affordable, quick and comes with plenty of kit. The rear seats are miniscule, so fold them down and you get a two-seater coupe with a big boot.
The latest 2 Series retains a rear-wheel-drive layout which contributes to a sporty and engaging drive. It looks great and even the base engines feel quick and responsive. The rear seats are tight but usable, although the optional extras can get pricey.
The Toyota GT86 looks like a proper sports car and drives like one too. In many ways it’s like an MX-5 with a roof and two (very small) rear seats. The interior feels a bit dated though, and it’s not very refined on the motorway.
We should also highlight that the GT86 was recently replaced by the GR86 but that car, unfortunately, is being produced in small numbers and the UK allocation sold out in just 90 minutes, so we've highlighted used GT86 deals below.
We should also highlight that the GT86 was recently replaced by the GR86 but that car, unfortunately, is being produced in small numbers and the UK allocation sold out in just 90 minutes, so we've highlighted used GT86 deals below.
What's good
What’s not so good
The original hot hatch remains the benchmark in its class and one of the most practical cheap sports cars around. It comes with plenty of kit to make your daily commute a pleasure, while still being great fun down a twisty road. The infotainment system has fussy controls, though, and the exhaust note may be a bit too subdued for some.
What's good
What’s not so good
The Alpine A110 may be stretching the ‘affordable sports cars’ tag, but few sports cars deliver such an immersive driving experience at twice the price. It looks stunning, too, just make sure you pack light for that weekend away because the boot is tiny.
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The Alfa Romeo Giulia is the only saloon to make it on our cheap sports cars list. That should tell you all you need to know about how much fun it is to drive. Especially if you pick the 280bhp Veloce trim. It trumps most alternatives in driving enjoyment, if not in interior quality and high-tech features.
What's good
What’s not so good
This little hot hatch is all about driving enjoyment. It has a punchy 165bhp turbocharged engine (there’s also a pricier 180bhp 695 model), and comes with a rorty exhaust, bucket seats and guaranteed smiles after every drive. Just don’t try to fit anyone in the back seats.
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