The ten best affordable sports cars of 2020

Among the ten best affordable sports cars of 2020 there are some true automotive gems. They’ll keep you grinning from ear to ear and give you goosebumps.

Owning a sports car doesn’t have to break the bank. Here is our pick of the ten best affordable sports cars. The choice of sports cars at the affordable end of the spectrum has never been greater, and each one offers thrills to match, and in some cases exceed, those of its more expensive rivals.

It’s not just about outright power at this end of the market: most of the models on our top ten list put driving enjoyment ahead of raw, straight-line performance. But we guarantee each one will put a big smile on your face.

1. Alpine A110

Every key component of the Alpine A110‘s driving experience, from its turbocharged engine’s punchy torque to the hilariously immersive balance and steering, is about one F-word: fun. It brings to life roads and journeys its rivals simply wouldn’t, and its handling is such that your affection for it can only grow the more closely you explore it.

Dissect the car and you won’t find too many mechanical ingredients or areas that you could really call exceptional; but put them all together and you can’t help but conclude that the A110 is a much better car, and an achievement, than the sum of its parts would suggest.

It’s rare for a car to be so dedicated to driver involvement and so uniquely effective at it, even among the best affordable sports cars; the last was probably the Toyota GT86 back in 2012, a car with supreme aptitude for sucking the marrow out of every mile. The A110 is quicker, more agile, more effusive and, ultimately, even more fun. It deserves nothing less than a standing ovation.

2. BMW M2 Competition

The new BMW M2 Competition is powered by the twin-turbocharged straight-six from the larger M3 and M4 models (albeit in slightly de-tuned form), replacing the single-turbo six of the previous model, while a handful of chassis and suspension tweaks mean it’s now sharper and more controlled on rough roads still. The weighty steering lets you point the car’s nose into a corner with confidence, and it’s also extremely adjustable on the throttle. The new M2 Competition is so good, in fact, that we believe it’s one of the best driver’s cars BMW currently makes. You won’t be disappointed.
3. Porsche 718 Cayman

Even with its new turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, the 718 Cayman is, by some distance, the most complete mid-engined sports coupé on sale, and it’s talented enough in the handling department to overcome doubts about the way the crank is now turned.

In that sense, Porsche can certainly be accused of sleight of hand with this car. The 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre turbocharged flat fours that were introduced in the car in 2016 attracted plenty of criticism for sounding tuneless, and also lacked the driver-purist appeal of the naturally aspirated flat sixes they replaced. Porsche later re-tuned the car’s 2.0-litre engine to meet WLTP emissions and launched the Boxster and Cayman T, whose lack of response worsened an already controversial situation.

And yet, even taking into account its disappointing and unworthy engines, this car keeps its place right at the end of our table of the best affordable sports cars. Practical, high-quality, excellent handling, always appealing to drive, and quick enough even in four-cylinder form, the 718 has it all, and it would take a car of unique dynamic brilliance in the generation to beat it.
4. Toyota GR Supra

Was the Toyota Supra the most anticipated new sports car of 2019? Very probably. After an absence of around two decades, the iconic sports car from Toyota finally returned. But were it not for a collaboration with BMW, from which the new Z4 was also spawned, it’s likely this icon would never have been reborn. As such, beneath the Supra’s eye-catching exterior you’ll find an engine, platform, gearbox, limited-slip differential, electrics and a bunch of switchgear, all of clearly Bavarian origin.

And yet, when it comes to driving, the Supra manages to forge its own distinctive dynamic identity. The suspension, steering and differential calibration are exclusive to the Supra, so much so that Toyota sees the Porsche 718 Cayman, rather than the Z4, as its key rival.

Toyota certainly isn’t pulling its punches, then. And in many ways it’s the Supra that makes it the superior sports car. It may not be able to match the Porsche’s handling purity and balance, but it isn’t far off. Its gait is impressively flexible, its engine is smooth and far more characterful, and it would be much easier to live with day-to-day.
5. Mazda MX-5

There isn’t a single area in which this new Mazda MX-5 doesn’t surpass its predecessor. It’s shorter, lighter, roomier and better distributed. It looks sharper yet still disarmingly and distinctively itself. It’s quicker, more economical and even more vibrant and appealing to drive.

In 2018, Mazda highlighted its iconic roadster, with the facelift bringing a 23 CV power boost for its punchy 2.0-litre engine. A steering column that now also adjusts for reach was also introduced.

All of that and yet the MX-5 remains every inch the same spicy and inimitable car it was. Its character hasn’t changed one bit. Nothing on this list offers better pounds-per-smile value. Undoubtedly one of the best affordable sports cars.
6. Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ

You need not only to accept some compromises with the co-developed Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ, but also, as with a Caterham Seven, to embrace them positively. They make the model what it is.

Importantly, it’s an accessible sports car, one that won’t cost you much to run either, and it’s a refreshing alternative to the Mazda MX-5 for those seeking lightweight rear-wheel-drive fun.
7. BMW Z4 M40i

In a recent group test, the top-spec BMW Z4 M40i emerged victorious against a lower-spec Porsche 718 Boxster T, although we concluded it was ultimately not as composed, incisive or enthusiastic as the more delicate Boxster. Its refinement, powerful and responsive straight-six engine and punchy straight-line pace earned it much affection from our testers. That it also has a distinctive sense of street-fighter character weighs heavily in favour of §1.

That said, the higher-order varieties of the 718 still provide a purer and more appealing version of one of the best affordable sports cars. And although there are indisputably plenty of thrills to be had in the BMW, as a precision tool it still isn’t as sharp as some of the smaller, lighter contenders in this class.
8. Lotus Elise Sport

The Lotus Elise is utterly brilliant to drive if you’re in the mood. It has one of the finest-handling chassis in the world and exquisite steering. But this Lotus is old and could be seen as costly if you like to judge your cars objectively.

However, many of the Elise’s drawbacks can be overlooked when you’re in the midst of a red-mist moment. In essence, the Elise remains magnificent, and gets better the more sporting the model is.
9. Audi TT RS

This second-generation TT RS feels like the answer from a company that has defended a popular car for decades against claims that the TT has all the style and none of the substance real enthusiast drivers should take seriously.

It feels that way because you simply have to take any sports car with an engine this strong, capable of genuine supercar-baiting pace, very seriously.

Ultimately, the

TT RS

doesn’t counteract the vivid thrill of its powertrain with enough handling balance or driver involvement to feel fully formed as a sports car, so it sits behind its rivals.
10. Ford Mustang

The sensible thing would be to buy a

Audi TT or a BMW 2 Series Coupé

, wouldn’t it? And if you did, it would be a great shame.

Yes, this car has significant drawbacks. Yes, you have to think twice before parking it in the city, as well as factor in how many more visits to the petrol pump it demands than its peers, but no other car at this price, or several price points higher, can do what the Mustang does.

Its powertrain brings an appeal that engines with fewer cylinders simply can’t, and its inherent chassis balance is absolutely rose-tinted. Sensible it is not, and that’s exactly the point.