10 Best Sports Cars for Everyday Use

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata ・ Photo by Mazda

It’s fun to dream about a great sports car — something fast and flashy with incredible power and handling. But when it’s time to take that car to work every day, will you still love it? 

In selecting the best sports cars for everyday use, we’re looking beyond classic sports-car virtues to qualities like affordability, fuel efficiency, ride quality, and interior space. We’ve rounded up 10 models that are great sports cars... that aren't only great at being sports cars. For the purposes of this article, we’re defining “sports cars” broadly: any vehicle that exists for the purpose of maximizing performance and driving pleasure. We’ve covered a variety of price points, starting with the cheapest. 

1. 2022 Chevrolet Camaro

In some ways, the Chevrolet Camaro is a flawed sports car for everyday use. Its cramped rear seat, small trunk, and limited outward visibility make it less functional than some of its competitors. Still, the Camaro — sold as a two-door coupe or convertible — has some overlooked appeal. 

Unlike many affordable sports cars, the Camaro has luxury bones. Under its retro muscle car skin is a Cadillac sports sedan platform, one of the best-regarded in the industry. That means even the base Camaro has commendable poise and polish. Unlike Camaros of old, this isn’t a crude car that goes fast and feels cheap. It’s fun to drive even if you choose its 275-horsepower four-cylinder engine or 335-horsepower V6, while a choice of 455-horsepower and 650-horsepower V8s is also available. Best of all, the Camaro starts at just $25,000, and even the V8 arrives for as little as $34,000. 

Photo by General Motors

2. 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is another example of a great sports car that will work only for some people. It’s a tiny two-seat roadster, not the sort of car that everyone would pick for everyday use. 

Still, the Miata is one of the few modern cars that’s a joy to drive even in humdrum conditions. It’s so small and light, it feels fast even when you’re just keeping up with the minivan in the next lane. And with 181 horsepower, you can actually put your foot to the floor without needing to wait for a racetrack or risk getting your license suspended. And while the Miata isn’t a cushy, quiet car, it’s a more civilized commuter car than you might expect. It’s an economical choice, too, thanks to its modest weight and small engine. You might need to give up some of the Mazda’s zest for a more practical choice, but there are few cars that are more fun in everyday use. Prices start at $26,830. 

Photo by Mazda

3. 2021 Subaru WRX

When you need your everyday sports car to be practical, the Subaru WRX stands ready. It’s an anonymous-looking four-door sedan, loosely derived from an older generation of the Subaru Impreza economy car. But what it gives up in style, it gains in rear-seat space; two adults can fit comfortably in the back, and everyone enjoys unimpeded visibility out of the big windows. 

The WRX isn’t mild-mannered when you get moving, though. You get a choice of raucous 268-horsepower or 310-horsepower four-cylinder turbos, both of which deliver lively, almost unruly performance. And with its standard all-wheel drive and rally-ready suspension, the WRX is agile without being fragile. This isn’t a sports car that ever likes to settle down for a relaxing drive, and you’ll burn a lot of gasoline. But if you don’t mind a coarser character, the WRX is an affordable way to get lots of power in a practical four-door body. It’s priced from $27,495. 

Photo by Subaru

4. 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Volkswagen GTI is a classic example of an excellent sports car for everyday use. It’s a higher-performance version of the sensible Golf five-door hatchback, and it has all the sporty styling of a shoe. But this 228-horsepower compact car delivers lively acceleration along with excellent handling composure and a choice of slick transmissions: a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. 

In every way but its looks, the GTI could be a member of Volkswagen’s Audi division. (And that’s not hyperbole; the GTI indeed shares its underpinnings with the Audi A3 subcompact sports sedan.) It’s comfortable and quiet when you want it to be, yet zippy and fun to drive when you push it harder. And while its upright hatchback body won’t appeal to buyers who think a sports car should be low and sleek, it accommodates an almost SUV-like 52.7 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seat folded down. Rear legroom and gas mileage could be a bit better, but the GTI otherwise delivers plenty of performance for the money — and more. Prices start at $28,695, including a long list of advanced safety features.  

Photo by Volkswagen

5. 2021 Dodge Challenger

At a glance, the Dodge Challenger looks like a similar type of sports coupe to the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. All three are American retro-styled rear-wheel-drive two-doors that you can buy with enormous V8 engines. But for some buyers, the Challenger is by far the best choice for everyday use. 

The Dodge is significantly bigger than the Ford or Chevy, and that means you can carry adults in the back seat and a generous 16.2 cubic feet of cargo in the trunk. That’s an impressive feat for a two-door car that also makes a strong styling statement. It’s also the only member of the trio available with all-wheel drive, making it an easy choice in bad weather (though AWD requires the base V6 engine). The Challenger is better known for its wild straight-line acceleration than its handling polish; the V6 already makes 303 horsepower, while five V8 options range from 375 to 807 horsepower. But if that’s your type of sports car, the Challenger is unexpectedly practical in addition to speedy. It’s priced from $28,870, with the V8 arriving at $34,995. For even more practicality, the Dodge Charger is essentially a four-door version of the Challenger. 

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

6. 2021 Hyundai Veloster

Turning back to compact cars, the Hyundai Veloster is a zippy hatchback with sporty looks and up to 275 horsepower. For maximum thrills, the $32,250 Veloster N is the way to go; there’s also an agile but otherwise non-sporting 147-horsepower base engine ($18,900) and a 201-horsepower turbo ($23,450). 

As some stop-and-go commuters will appreciate, the Veloster N is newly available with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission in addition to the carryover six-speed manual. The Veloster N is less expensive than similarly powerful and capable sports cars, and every Veloster also has a useful body configuration: There’s a small rear passenger door on just one side — balancing two-door style with four-door utility — along with the cargo space of a hatchback. Some people might prefer something bigger or fancier, especially at the Veloster N’s price point, but it’s a lot of fun without being too impractical. 

Photo by Hyundai

7. 2021 BMW 2 Series

The BMW 2 Series is almost too mild to be considered a sports car. Still, this subtly styled rear-wheel-drive two-door coupe and convertible (with optional all-wheel drive) delivers perhaps the most delightful everyday driving experience in the BMW lineup. Rather than forcing you to push the car near its high limits, the 2 Series has lively handling even in normal conditions. 

The base 248-horsepower four-cylinder engine is quick without delivering straight-line thrills, but you can also get a fiery turbocharged six-cylinder with a choice of 335-horsepower and 405-horsepower versions. Plus, you get the other perks of buying a BMW instead of a Hyundai or Volkswagen: a luxury-grade interior and a supremely composed suspension. Don’t expect to fit adults in the backseat, though. Prices start at $35,900 for the four-cylinder 230i version and $46,350 for the six-cylinder M240i.

Photo by BMW

8. 2022 Audi S5

The Audi S5 is a luxury performance car with an elegant two-door body and a hearty 349-horsepower V6 engine. It’s not a low-slung traditional sports car like the two-seat Audi TT, but the four-passenger S5 — sold as a coupe or convertible — is the more sensible choice for everyday use. 

Like the S4 sedan and S5 Sportback liftback that share its underpinnings, the two-door S5 is easy to drive gently. When you’re in stop-and-go rush hour traffic, you can enjoy the quiet ride and beautifully finished interior. But when things open up, it will let you dial up the performance as high as you want without ever seeming to break a sweat. The S5 starts at $53,900.

Photo by Audi

9. 2021 Lexus LC

When you want something all-out opulent and head-turning for everyday use, we recommend the Lexus LC. It doesn’t have the razor-sharp handling of a Porsche 911, but its serene ride and available hybrid powertrain can make it more appealing for everyday use. 

This big coupe and convertible is capable when you’re ready to drive hard, and it’s a head-turner wherever you go. It has a beautiful interior, and a 471-horsepower V8 is standard. Plus, unlike a Porsche, this Lexus isn’t a fragile or temperamental exotic car. It will do what you ask it to, day in and day out, and you won’t have a heart attack when it’s time to replace the brakes. Still, brace yourself for sticker shock: The 2021 Lexus LC starts at $93,050. 

Photo by Lexus

10. 2022 Audi R8

If you’d like an exotic car for everyday use, it would be hard to do better than the Audi R8. It’s essentially a more civilized, less expensive version of the Lamborghini Huracán — a low, wide, mid-engined two-seat sports car with a 562-horsepower V10 engine. (Less expensive is relative; it still starts at $146,500.)

But unlike the Lamborghini, the R8 is also an Audi. That means a firm but comfortable ride, gorgeous interior details, and well-sorted infotainment. There’s riotous performance when you’re ready to open it up, but this supercar is also able to tone things down and behave when it has to.

Photo by Audi