10 Cheapest (Most Affordable) Supercars

2020 Audi R8 Coupe Driving Side Profile ・ Photo by Audi

The 1966 Lamborghini Miura is widely considered to be the world’s first supercar. It looked amazing, it had limited availability, and it was incredibly fast for its time. Of course, with 350 horsepower and a 0-60 time of more than 6 seconds, the Miura doesn’t deliver supercar performance today. That’s closer to a modern Toyota Camry than a modern Lamborghini.

Today, when even commonplace cars can be fast, supercars need even more to distinguish themselves. They deliver a higher-grade driving experience, they employ unique engineering methods, and they distinguish themselves visually. They may not always be No. 1 on the spec sheet — after all, anyone can put a huge engine in a relatively ordinary car, as Fiat-Chrysler gleefully demonstrates with models like the Dodge Charger Hellcat and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. But today’s supercars still have to fast. And even some comparatively affordable vehicles manage to meet all our admittedly subjective supercar criteria for speed, style, and uniqueness. Here are the 10 most affordable supercars for 2020, listed alphabetically.

2020 Acura NSX

The Acura NSX has a 30-year heritage as a relatively affordable supercar, and one that’s always put more emphasis than most on everyday concerns like reliability. That’s a big piece of a supercar’s affordability after the warranty expires.

Another key element is the NSX’s gas-electric hybrid powertrain. While its primary focus is delivering a hearty jolt of low-end torque — a specialty for electric motors — it also provides comparatively impressive EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of 21 mpg in mixed driving. The all-wheel-drive, two-seat NSX packs 573 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5-liter V6 engine and three electric motors. That’s good for a 0-60 run of just over 3 seconds. The NSX starts at $157,500.

Photo by Acura

2020 Aston Martin Vantage

Aston Martin vehicles are often known more for their style and luxury than their performance. Fortunately, the company’s most affordable model is also widely considered to be one of its most fun to drive.

Visually, the 2020 Aston Martin Vantage fits right in with the British marque’s line of pricey, exclusive vehicles. Some of them have more horsepower and fancier interiors, but this one is already going to impress bystanders while also giving you plenty of thrills behind the wheel. The Vantage features a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine with 503 hp and 505 lb-ft of torque, can reach 60 mph in a little more than 3 seconds, and starts at $152,995.

Photo by Aston Martin

2020 Audi R8

The Audi R8 shocked the supercar world when it debuted in 2006, combining an upscale, approachable, and comparatively affordable vibe with sports-car mechanicals shared with supercar-originator Lamborghini — now part of Audi’s same corporate family. More than a decade later, the R8 is less shocking but still greatly appealing.

This mid-engined, all-wheel-drive two-seater uses an exuberant 5.2-liter 10-cylinder engine, which makes 562 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. You can also up those numbers even further with a higher-cost performance model, but we’re looking for relative affordability here. Besides, even this base R8 can reach 60 mph in roughly 3.5 seconds and starts at $169,900.

Photo by Audi

2020 BMW M8 Coupe

BMW’s new flagship coupe, the 8 Series, is more of a luxury car than a supercar — in most of the model lineup. But sitting atop the 8 Series range is the 2020 BMW M8, which brings more dialed-in handling and more ferocious acceleration.

At the heart of this two-door four-seater is a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with 600 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Unlike some supercars, the M8 doesn’t look like a racecar that’s escaped from its track. But that engine is enough to bring 60 mph in around 3 seconds, which is hard to argue with. Prices start at $133,000.

Photo by BMW

2020 Chevrolet Corvette

The Corvette has been the most affordable supercar for years, so much so that it’s easy to take for granted. Chevrolet has been packing in a whopping V8 engine, adept handling, and beguiling styling into an affordable two-seater for so long, it almost starts to seem like nothing special. Almost.

This year brings an all-new Corvette that brings fresh attention to the marque. A new mid-engine configuration improves handling and allows for more Ferrari-like styling. Chevy didn’t neglect the old formula of horsepower for the dollar, either; even the base 2020 Corvette has a 490-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine with 465 lb-ft of torque. As in the past, higher-performance variants are on the way. But the standard Corvette, priced at just $58,900, runs away with the title of most affordable supercar — especially now that its new mid-engine layout makes it more of a supercar than ever.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2020 Lotus Evora GT

Few vehicles are more focused on visceral performance than the Lotus Evora GT, particularly among the most affordable supercars. This tiny little two-seater borrows a 3.5-liter V6 engine from the Toyota Sienna minivan, then fits in a supercharger and a manual transmission to bring 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. But acceleration isn’t its prime quality.

The Evora takes away everything that isn’t essential to the driving mission. Its light weight and instantaneous responses make it a ridiculously capable and engaging driver’s car. And forget about the idea that supercars need to be big to get attention. It’s hard to miss this Lotus. Prices start at $96,950.

Photo by Lotus

2020 McLaren 570S

Like the Lotus Evora, the McLaren 570S is special both because it’s unfamiliar and because it’s more raw than the typical luxury performance car. And it backs up that vibe with exceptional speed and handling.

Like pricier McLarens, the 570S uses a monocell carbon fiber chassis — basically a high-strength, low-weight tub that you climb right into. And if you ever need to impress a crowd, the flip-up doors scream “exotic.” So does its engine, a mid-mounted 562-hp twin-turbo V8 that propels the 570S to 60 mph in around 3 seconds. And its extra-precise handling is perfectly racetrack-friendly. The McLaren 570S isn’t the least expensive among our 10 most affordable supercars, with a base price of $192,500, but its “super” qualities compete at an even higher level.

Photo by McLaren

2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R

Even the “base” Mercedes-AMG GT coupe is a performance machine, with a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 making 469 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, and Mercedes-Benz says it can manage a 0-60 time of less than 4 seconds. It also looks the part of a supercar — while most AMG vehicles are high-performance versions of more ordinary Mercedes sedans and SUVs, this one has all the dazzle and exclusivity of a six-figure exotic.

The standard AMG GT coupe starts at $115,900, but even the upgraded GT R model is one of the most affordable supercars for 2020. For $162,900, you get that V8 engine with a mighty 577 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, along with extra downforce to keep you stable at high-triple-digit speeds. The estimated 0-60 time falls to 3.5 seconds.

Photo by Mercedes-AMG

2020 Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R’s name is similar to the Mercedes-AMG GT R’s, but besides their ferocious performance, that’s where these supercars diverge. The Mercedes delivers a posh, high-tech, amenity-laden cabin. The Nissan is more about brute force, for an arguably more thrilling driving experience.

The all-wheel-drive GT-R uses a turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 with either 565 or 600 horsepower, depending on the model you choose, and 467 or 481 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to reach 60 mph in around 3 seconds. The GT-R hasn’t seen a full redesign in more than a decade, but it still has the goods to compete with other six-figure supercars — including many that cost quite a bit more. Prices start at $113,540.

Photo by Nissan

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S

The Porsche 911 is almost so ubiquitous that it just seems like any other luxury car, not supercar material. But every 911 is a finely engineered performance machine — and when you step up to the Turbo S, you’re in true supercar material.

The 911 Turbo S is newly redesigned for the 2021 model year, featuring a turbocharged 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine with 640 horsepower and a 0-60 time of just 2.6 seconds. You’d have to be a Porsche fan to recognize a Turbo S from a standard 911, but if you’re behind the wheel, the car’s speed and handling leave no doubt. Prices start at $203,500 — more affordable than many supercars, though no chump change. The good news is that even a lesser 911, like the 443-hp Carrera 4S ($113,300), is already pretty super.

Photo by Porsche