Best cheap sports cars

Best for: driving thrills

For the simplest, purest expression of a sports car - and one that’s genuinely affordable - look no further than the iconic Mazda MX-5. It's fun to drive, lightweight and surprisingly easy to live with for such a small car.

The MX-5 looks great, and though it’s lost the cutesy appearance of previous models it still retains all of its charm. A manually folding soft-top roof, long bonnet and dinky rear end all scream ‘classic sports car’ - though unlike a classic sports car the MX-5 is put together very solidly.

That applies to the interior too, which feels high quality and manages to be minimalistic without feeling barren. You get a proper speedometer and rev counter - no digital display here - and a chunky three-spoke steering wheel which feels great to hold. An 8.8-inch infotainment system brings the MX-5 bang up to date, as do the pleasant-to-use buttons and switches.

Practicality is where the MX-5 falls short, but that’s to be expected from a diminutive little convertible. There’s little in the way of cabin storage, but you do get a lockable cubby behind the seats, not that this does much to offset the tiny boot.

You don’t need boot space to enjoy a B-road blast on a sunny day though, and for that the MX-5 is pretty much the perfect car. On good roads the little Mazda proves its worth again and again, with its suspension seemingly tuned for bumpy country lanes and a gear shift that’s as satisfying to operate as popping bubble wrap or a crisp high-five.

The 1.5-litre engine feels a little weedy, but the 2.0-litre unit has more grunt and is the pick of the pair. Don’t mistake ‘sports car’ for ‘rapid performer’ though - the MX-5 will get left behind by most hot hatchbacks.

But for a sports car that’s rewarding to drive the little Mazda is about the best you can get. That it’s the cheapest new sports car on sale just makes it all the better, and you can even get a hard-top ‘RF’ model if you so wish - though the soft top is better.

Best for: posh high performance

It may not be a fully fledged ‘M’ car, but for day-to-day use the ‘M-lite’ M240i is all the sports car you’ll ever need. Sure you’re paying a premium for it, but considering it’s three-quarters of the price of a full-fat M2 but with 90% of the performance, it’s almost a bargain.

The M240i looks properly beefy too, with swollen wheel arches and an aggressive front end. The roofline isn’t as rakish as some alternatives and it’s hard to differentiate the M240i from an entry-level 2 Series - but it has a lot of road presence for a compact coupe.

Inside is much the same as any other 2 Series; a handsome dashboard featuring angular aluminium-look trims across the leading edge and BMW’s slick dual-screen iDrive infotainment and driver display combo.

It’s fairly practical, with a comfortable pair of leather sports seats and good storage at the front. The rear seats are somewhat usable, though adults will feel cramped on anything more than a short drive and it’s rather dark back there. The boot is well sized, bigger than most of its alternatives.

The M240i’s calling card is its thunderous 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine. It’s quiet on a motorway cruise, but with 374hp and loads of torque the sporty BMW feels darty around town. The suspension is comfortable, especially when equipped with the optional adaptive setup, soaking up bumps well and gliding over motorways.

Country lanes are where the M240i really shines, with effortless power and a lightning fast gearchange. The four-wheel drive system means it feels surefooted in fast corners, and the well-judged suspension stops the car from feeling unsettled on bumpy country lanes.

It’s just a shame that all of this performance comes with such a high price tag, as the M240i is the most expensive car on this list. If you’re after an out-and-out sports car then there are better options for less money, but as a comfortable, rapid, posh all-rounder the M240i is very hard to beat.

Best for: simple sportiness

It may be a bit cheeky to include a used car on this list, but the fact of the matter is the Toyota GR86 is a better sports car than most of the new options on sale today. It may be rare, but the GR86 is readily available on the second hand market - and it makes an excellent buy.

It looks properly sporty, with big bulging arches and a swoopy silhouette bookended by a pointy front bumper lip and a small ducktail spoiler at the back. You can have one in a very striking bright blue, which adds even more drama to the small sports car.

The interior is disappointing, and you can feel where Toyota has saved money. It looks and feels old-fashioned, with a basic 8.0-inch infotainment screen in the middle of a very grey - and rather plasticky - dashboard.

You do get a comfortable and supportive pair of sports seats as standard though; the chunky steering wheel and suede-esque inserts splashed around the cabin do help to lift the ambience. It’s easy to find a good driving position and the door bins are a decent size, but the rear seats are tiny and annoying to get into. The boot is small, miles behind its coupe alternatives but still bigger than in a Mazda MX-5.

Much like the Mazda, you can forgive the GR86 of its transgressions the moment you get it onto a winding road. Everything feels incredibly precise, from the throttle response to the hefty steering weight - and the gearchange is crisp and satisfying. The engine isn’t hugely powerful, but 234hp is plenty for a car this small and it’s not scary when you’re driving it quickly.

The firm suspension is noticeable around town but the GR86 never feels too uncomfortable, and great forward visibility means that it’s easy to place on a narrow road. Motorways aren’t great as there’s a distinct lack of sound deadening, which makes for far too much road and wind noise. Still, you’ll forget all of that on a lovely country lane.

Best for: pocket-rocket fun

Yes we know, another sports car on the list that you can’t buy brand new anymore, but the i20 N is so good that it’s still the affordable hot hatchback we’d choose - even if it means buying used.

While it’s undeniably a good car, the looks are more questionable. It’s not a bad looking thing by any means, but the i20 N doesn’t half shout about its sporting credentials with its red highlights all along the lower edge and hyper-aggressive body kit. The spoiler has a touch of ‘boy racer’ about it too.

The interior isn’t as exciting. The standard i20 is very dull inside and it’s much the same here. Swathes of grey plastic surround you, but the blue steering wheel buttons, weighted gear knob and bucket seats do feel sporty. Rear seat and boot space is good for such a small car, though the rear bench is a bit too tight for three passengers.

On the road, the hot Hyundai justifies its appearance in spades. It’s a little stiff over bumps in town and on the motorway, plus there’s plenty of road noise at a cruise, but the sticky Pirelli tyres and firm suspension mean the i20 N has loads of grip on a twisty road. Put your foot down out of a bend and you can feel it squirming and clambering for traction - and it puts a huge smile on your face in the process.

Best for: old-school hot hatch feel

So many hot hatchbacks and sports cars are tech-fests these days, but Ford has gone down a much more tried-and-tested route with its latest Focus ST. There aren’t a million-and-one configurable drive modes to get lost in, and you can still have your ST equipped with a manual gearbox.

It doesn’t look old school though, with narrow LED headlights and a bold set of front grilles with a honeycomb pattern insert. The rear end looks especially sporty with a big body-colour diffuser and dual exhaust tips. It may be a bit shouty, but the optional metallic green paint looks rather fetching.

Inside is much the same as the non-ST Focus, but with sporty seats and a sporty steering wheel to set the ST apart. Unfortunately the cabin is a big expanse of grey with a few too many scratchy plastics in easy-to-reach places. The 12.3-inch touchscreen is intuitive to use - even if the digital heater controls are a pain. There’s loads of room both front and back, and the boot is a good size too.

The 2.3-litre turbocharged engine is a little underpowered when compared to some alternatives - it’s been around since the previous generation car - but the Focus has some of the best handling of any sporty hatchback. It grips well even in bad weather conditions, and while the suspension is a little too stiff in town it’s actually quite comfortable on the motorway.

Best for: subtle sportiness

The Golf GTI may be the icon of the Volkswagen model range, but the new Polo GTI is actually a better car than its larger counterpart. It shares a lot of the same qualities as the Golf, but in a much more affordable package.

You might need a second glance to notice the difference between the GTI and a regular Polo as it’s a little too understated for its own good. The typical red stripe in the front grille and headlights and sportier lower grille mesh are present and correct, but the bumpers are otherwise the same as the normal Polo.

The restrained styling carries through to the interior, but to much greater effect. You get a very classy cabin in the Polo, with plush, soft touch plastics and a handsome, sturdy-looking dashboard. Funky tartan trim and red splashes tart up the otherwise grey interior, but it all works well. It’s spacious and very comfortable too, plus the automatic gearbox makes it easy to potter about in.

It’s not quite as fun as some alternatives though - the i20 N feels sportier - but the Polo GTI has a spicy exhaust note and feels very planted around fast corners. City driving is a breeze, especially with its suspension in its softest setting, and though there’s a lot of road noise the Polo GTI is very easy to drive on the motorway.

Best for: all-round practicality

Though the Polo GTI is a bit more fun to drive and much cheaper than the Golf, that doesn’t mean the Golf GTI isn’t a good car. Far from it, it just feels a tad bit too grown up in entry-level trim.

It certainly looks sporty though, with sportier bumpers compared to the standard Golf and some rather tasty alloy wheel options. You need the Clubsport version for a properly shouty hot hatch, as it comes with a bespoke body kit and a racy wing on the back.

Inside is a similar story to the Polo too, with the typical classy Golf interior having been dressed up with sports seats, a sports steering wheel and plenty of red accents around the place. The boot is well sized and the rear bench is comfortable, though the front bucket seats do block the view a bit.

While the regular GTI is perfectly capable, it’s not all that fun to drive. The Clubsport version, however, is a riot. With 300hp compared to the standard GTI’s 260 and some suspension changes, the Clubsport squirms for grip when you put your foot down and holds on to some serious pace in the corners. It’s a proper laugh in sport mode, but leave it in comfort and the GTI is a perfectly capable city and motorway cruiser.

Best for: top-down cruising

The Z4 is yet another sports car that’s stood the test of time where its alternatives have been dropped from production. It’s more of a sporty cruiser than it is an out-and-out sports car, but considering its only real counterpart is the Porsche 718 Boxster these days, we’re just happy it’s still in production.

It looks fantastic too, blending a butch stance and buckets of road presence with compact dimensions and some very pretty design features. It’s a proper roadster too, with a long bonnet, a taut rear end and a folding soft-top roof.

The Z4’s interior is also impressive, with BMW’s fantastic infotainment system, lashings of leather and a funky dashboard design oozing poshness while the high door tops and low-slung seating position make the cabin feel extra sporty.

It’s not quite as fun to throw around on country lanes as the Boxster - or even its M240i cousin - but with the top down and the Z4 M40i’s sonorous exhaust note, driving the Z4 is an occasion to enjoy. The Z4 20i is a bit gutless, but it makes more sense for someone who wants a sporty convertible commuter.

Both Z4 models are well insulated against wind and road noise, which is surprising for a sporty roadster, and the suspension does a good job of absorbing bumps and blows making it a good choice of sports car for long-distance drives.

Best for: outrageous attitude

It may come as a surprise that the boldest car on this list is the smallest option and that it happens to be electric, but the Abarth 500e manages to drop almost all of its city-car cutesiness in favour of sporty hot hatch flair.

It’s a real head turner, especially in fluorescent yellow or bright blue, and Abarth has done a remarkable job of making the little car look aggressive. A deep front bumper, angry headlights and deep side skirts show off the 500e’s sporting intent.

The interior isn’t quite as bold, though you do get a pair of excellent sports seats and swathes of Alcantara throughout the cabin. The widescreen 10.3-inch infotainment system isn’t packed with features, but it’s easy to use and includes a fun performance tab that shows off some power statistics when you’re on the move. Practicality is the Abarth’s weak point though, with pitiful rear seat space and a tiny boot.

Unlike a lot of EVs which promise a sporty driving experience but fail to deliver, the 500e feels like a bonafide hot hatch as a result of prioritising a smaller, and crucially lighter battery. This does mean the range is poor, though.

It’s got stiff, sporty suspension and feels darty around corners without having a harsh ride around town, though motorways are uncomfortable due to the odd (and loud) sound synthesiser at the rear of the car. It adds a video-game charm to the driving experience, but there’s an anxiety-inducing drone at cruising speeds as a result. You can turn it off, but you have to be at a standstill, for some reason.

Best for: sporty chic

The Mini Cooper is arguably the most iconic sporty hatchback the world has ever seen, and while it’s not as raw and silly as its predecessors, the latest generation does a good job of living up to the Mini’s reputation.

It’s recognisably a Mini - you can tell from a mile away - and the current generation car is the best looking since the New Mini was launched in 2001. Big round headlights, a sleek grille and soft, rounded corners give the Cooper a retro-futuristic vibe without looking kitschy.

The cabin is even better, with fabric-covered surfaces hiding the scratchier plastic underneath and a properly cool circular infotainment screen in the middle. A heads up display helps to keep your eyes on the road and the front seats are rather spacious. The rear seats are tiny, as is the boot, so the Mini is best for two people without much luggage.

The Cooper SE is the sportiest option going, and it performs fantastically on a twisty road. It puts a proper smile on your face when carving through corners, and the SE’s powerful electric motor gives the small Mini a pseudo hot hatch vibe when you put your foot down. It’s a piece of cake to drive around town, but motorways are quite tiring with a lot of wind and road noise present.