10 of the Most Comfortable Sports Cars

2018 Porsche 911 front three quarter hero ・ Photo by Porsche

Looking for 10 of the most comfortable sports cars could be construed as missing the point. The traditionalist might think that such machines should be as hard as they are fast, that you’re not putting in the work if your spine isn’t being jarred. There’s a certain thrill to that no-compromise approach, for sure. But things have moved on.

Like it or not, computers are everywhere, even making multiple adjustments to car suspensions in milliseconds. So why not embrace them and enjoy what they can bring? Most of our choices represent the state of the sports car art, although a couple of more affordable options are also included. We’d be happy to have any one of them in our garage.

2018 Acura NSX

How many other sports cars have a Quiet mode? None. That’s an indication of how downright civilized the NSX can be. Push this hybrid supercar and it will respond like no other sports machine. It can turn into corners with a speed and precision that feels contrary to natural laws. Decide not to push and it won’t suddenly become some temperamental thoroughbred that’s a liability to thread around town.

Instead, the NSX calms the heck down, softens its systems and obeys the driver. A driver, incidentally, who can be tall. The cabin only has seating for two, but it’s spacious enough for that fortunate couple. If this is the new, user-friendly and eco-friendly wave of sports cars, count us in.

Photo by Acura

2018 Audi R8

We’ve driven hundreds of miles in an R8, even run laps at race tracks, and loved every minute. It’s not that the R8 is so much fun the driver forgets whether the car is comfortable or not (although such a thing might easily be possible). It’s that the R8 is an absolute pleasure in almost all driving conditions. It doesn’t create fatigue by being noisy, hard and demanding, despite its considerable talents. It allows the driver to become as involved as she or he or she wants to be. Remember also that the R8 was born from a wildly successful campaign in endurance racing, where cars are going full-on for 24 hours at a time. Adding to the comfort levels are navigation and wi-fi.

Photo by Audi

2018 BMW M4

The M4 has its roots in the original M3, a coupe built to comply with the regulations of German touring car racing (DTM). Now this excellent coupe (or hard-top convertible) has 425 hp, compared with its ancestor’s 192, and technology has advanced to the point where the M4 can offer user-selectable driving modes that adjust the settings of the suspension, throttle responses and gearshift points. Naturally, there’s a Comfort setting. The M4 is a wonderful machine for a driving enthusiast’s everyday transport, which might occasionally mean picking up an aging aunt from the airport. Then, when the track calls, a fresh set of performance tires (and perhaps new brake pads) will bring out the more extreme side of its character.

Photo by BMW

2018 Chevrolet Corvette

With respect, when someone thinks of Americans, they don’t usually imagine skinny people. This is the land of plenty and some people have eaten plenty. They also like a big cup holder or two. The Corvette is a sports car made for Americans, always has been. That’s not a bad thing. It still has an excellent power-to-weight ratio no matter who’s occupying those two comfortable yet supportive seats. And getting in and out is way easier than trying to extricate oneself from something like a Lotus Exige (the tiny British sports car with a fixed roof and super-wide sills). The Grand Sport version has an adaptive suspension and a dual-mode exhaust system as standard.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Fiat 124 Spider

The 124 Spider is essentially the Mazda MX-5 in a different costume. Which sounds like a win-win — some Italian flair combined with Japanese quality. That’s a recipe for comfort right there. The Fiat also has a slightly more pliant ride quality than its Mazda counterpart, perhaps because Italian roads are generally rougher than those in Japan. The result, though, is still a pleasant and affordable convertible. One big difference is in the engine bay. The 124 has a turbocharged 1.4-liter unit in place of the MX-5’s naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, with a bump in horsepower from 155 to 160. The chassis could easily handle more, but we should be grateful that both cars are affordable and charming.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2018 Jaguar F-Type

The suspension technicians at Jaguar have serious skills. Every car bearing the leaping cat badge has ride and handling talents that are about as good as it gets. For every increment of body control, there’s a corresponding amount of sinewy suppleness. This approach makes the F-Type an absolute delight to drive. And there’s another kind of comfort in evidence — it’s the reassurance that comes from precise and informative steering. One might assume that such traits were absolute necessities, but the advent of electrically assisted steering has removed a lot of tactility from various manufacturers’ systems. Jaguar should be applauded for overcoming those limitations and developing a setup worthy of the rest of the car.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

2018 Mazda MX-5

Firstly, yes, the MX-5 is a sports car. A lot of grassroots racers compete in them every summer weekend. Secondly, if there was some situation where it was necessary to drive across the country in one, we’d sign up without blinking. Comfort isn’t merely about parking one’s nether regions on a big cushion. It’s also about the shape of the seats, how they support their occupants, and being able to attain the ideal driving position. That’s the science of ergonomics. The MX-5 gets those things right. From the position of the gearshift and the driver’s seat (perfectly placed to perceive the car’s inherent balance), to the feel of the brake and clutch pedals (just the right amount of effort required).

Photo by Mazda

2018 McLaren 570GT

The 570 is McLaren’s main product. It’s a supercar made predominantly using carbon fiber. There’s a mid-mounted V8 making 562 hp and the chassis is the result of expertise gained from competing at the highest levels of motorsport. There are two flavors, the 570S, and the 570GT. The first is naturally sporty, hence the S suffix. The second is still fast and firm enough for most people, even those who might indulge in the occasional track day, but since GT traditionally means “grand tourer” (or Gran Turismo in its native Italian), this is the version with a touch more of the nice touches. It has extra sound insulation, a quieter exhaust, a slightly softer ride and a smoother steering system.

Photo by McLaren

2018 Mercedes-AMG GT

The AMG GT was created to compete with top sports cars like the Porsche 911 and Audi R8. Therefore it has power and poise in abundance. But it comes from Mercedes-Benz, a company renowned throughout the world for making sophisticated, comfortable and refined cars. Stretching the budget to the S coupe, which is one step up from the entry-level model, is where amenities like an adaptive air suspension and a Burmester surround-sound system (one of the highest-rated audio setups available) become standard equipment. With 515 hp from a hand-crafted, twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8, the AMG GT S can blast down an autobahn yet saunter along busy city streets.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2018 Porsche 911

This current generation, codenamed 991, is the roomiest and most forgiving 911 there’s ever been. It’s also the 911 with the longest wheelbase, which means less twitchiness in ride quality. With so many permutations of this iconic machine, there are varying degrees of comfort, but the regular Carrera models with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) provide a range of settings that go from sharp to civilized. And this is now standard equipment. Naturally, a 911 owner is someone who cares about driving and wants to feel the road. But maybe not all the time. It’s good to have the choice. For extra ease, the infotainment system is controlled using smartphone-like movements.

Photo by Porsche