These 2017 Sports Cars Earned U.S. News’ Top Scores
Everyone wants a sports car, right? It’s probably safer to say that most of us have dreamed of owning one, but perhaps price and the necessity for practicality are holding us back. The good news is that the segment offers plenty of variety in terms of pricing, even in some surprisingly versatile configurations.
You can get an exceptional sports car for as little as $25,000. If you intend to splurge, you can easily drop well over $150,000 on a luxury sports car. If you’re interested in a second car for cruising, there are many fabulous two-seaters and convertibles on the market. However, there are also some outstanding sports cars with functional rear seats, decent cargo capacity, and daily drivability .
We’ve put together this list of the best sports cars for the 2017 model year. The following slides include each vehicle’s base price, U.S. News score, and other information that’s important to sports car buyers.
Keep in mind that we constantly update U.S. News scores as new expert reviews and data become available. Therefore, the scores in our rankings and reviews may not match up with scores in this slideshow.
Read through the following slides to learn about this year’s best sports cars.
$156,000 | U.S. News Score: 8.6/10 | Reliability: 3.5/5
The Acura NSX is a brand-new model for 2017 and comes to market with one of the highest starting prices in our luxury sports car rankings. The hybrid churns out 573 horsepower and offers drivers instant torque with its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine and three electric motors. It will take you from zero to 60 mph in under 3 seconds. The NSX’s corner-carving prowess is nearly unrivaled among hybrids. It seats two passengers in roomy and supportive seats.
$25,905 | U.S. News Score: 8.7/10 | Reliability: 3/5
The base Chevrolet Camaro comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, although a V6 and two muscular V8s are available. For maximum power, choose the ZL1 trim with its supercharged 650-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. It’s the most powerful production Camaro ever built, which is fitting, since 2017 marks the Camaro’s 50th anniversary. The cabin is stylish and well-built, and the front seats offer plenty of support. However, the rear seats are cramped and there’s not much room for cargo.
$86,950 | U.S. News Score: 8.8/10 |Reliability: 4/5
The two-seatMercedes-Benz SL roadster comes with a robust lineup of engines that range from 362 to 621 horsepower. For the most power, look to the range-topping AMG SL65’s twin-turbo V12, which churns out 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.It will accelerate you to 60 mph in about 4 seconds. The SL delivers an incredibly smooth and refined ride, earns high marks for reliability, and offers roomy, comfortable seats in its luxurious interior.
$24,915 | U.S. News Score: 8.9/10 | Reliability: 3/5
The Mazda Miata delivers unmatched agility in the sports car class and features a smooth-shifting manual transmission. It comes standard with a manual-folding soft-top, though Mazda added the RF trim for 2017, which comes with a power-retractable hard top. The Miata also returns exceptional fuel economy and has more available safety features than rivals’ models, including blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and rear cross traffic alert.
$55,450 | U.S. News Score: 8.9/10 | Reliability: 3/5
The Chevrolet Corvette offers potent engine options, starting with a 455-horsepower V8 engine and topping out with a 650-horsepower engine in the Corvette Z06 that will rifle you from zero to 60 mph in under 3 seconds. The Corvette has athletic handling and a serene, composed ride. It comes standard with an 8-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, features a handsome interior, and has an impressive amount of cargo space for a luxury sports car.
$162,900 | U.S. News Score: 8.9/10 | Reliability: 3/5
The Audi R8 has the highest starting price in our luxury sports car rankings. The supercar was completely redesigned for the 2017 model year, following a one-year hiatus. The R8 features a high-tech cabin that iincludes Audi’s 12.3-inch virtual cockpit with handwriting-recognition technology and navigation. It comes standard with a 540-horsepower V10 engine, though you can upgrade to a 610-horsepower V10 that pushes the almost 4,000-pound sports car from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds.
$25,185 | U.S. News Score: 9.0/10 | Reliability: 4/5
The Ford Mustang comes equipped with a 300-horsepower V6 engine. You can opt for the more powerful and fuel-efficient turbo-four, or either of two potent V8 engines. Mustang GT350 models are equipped with a 526-horsepower 5.2-liter V8.
The Mustang tops our affordable sports car rankings and comes with a very reasonable starting price. It has a modern interior and a respectable amount of cargo space. Additionally, it earns outstanding crash test and reliability ratings, which is uncommon for a sports car.
$89,400 | U.S. News Score: 9.2/10 | Reliability: 4.5/5
Porsche updated the 911 for the 2017 model year to include more-powerful engine options and an upgraded infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay. Choose the 911 Turbo S and you’ll enjoy a 2.8-second zero-to-60-mph sprint. The 911 offers one of the most exhilarating rides among luxury sports cars and a best-in-class, near-perfect reliability rating. Its cabin exemplifies the utmost in fit, finish, luxury, and comfort, although there’s not much room in the second row, and cargo space is minimal.
$56,000 | U.S. News Score: 9.2/10 | Reliability: Not Available
Porsche completely redesigned the Boxster for the 2017 model year. It delivers much of the fun of the 911 for a lot less money. This is due to the Boxster’s world-class handling and peppy turbocharged four-cylinder engine options. It also features a top-notch interior, an intuitive infotainment system with Apple CarPlay availability, and many available active safety features, including adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake assist.
$53,900 | U.S. News Score: 9.3/10 | Reliability: Not Available
If you’re impressed with the Boxster, the fully redesigned Porsche Cayman is essentially the same car in a hardtop configuration. It also costs a bit less than its convertible sibling and has more room for cargo. Due to its midengine layout, the Cayman has two trunks, which is also true of the Boxster. However, the Cayman offers 5.3 cubic feet of additional space.
Did any of these sports cars appeal to you? If so, head over to our best lease deals and financing deals pages, where we’ve made a list of all the best current manufacturers’ incentives. Visit our sports car and luxury sports car rankings for more model information and to compare the competition.
Once you’re ready to buy, use our U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealership near you with the best prices. Shoppers who use the program save an average of $3,279 off their new car purchase.
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These 2017 Sports Cars Earned U.S. News’ Top Scores
Everyone wants a sports car, right? It’s probably safer to say that most of us have dreamed of owning one, but perhaps price and the necessity for practicality are holding us back. The good news is that the segment offers plenty of variety in terms of pricing, even in some surprisingly versatile configurations.
You can get an exceptional sports car for as little as $25,000. If you intend to splurge, you can easily drop well over $150,000 on a luxury sports car. If you’re interested in a second car for cruising, there are many fabulous two-seaters and convertibles on the market. However, there are also some outstanding sports cars with functional rear seats, decent cargo capacity, and daily drivability .
We’ve put together this list of the best sports cars for the 2017 model year. The following slides include each vehicle’s base price, U.S. News score, and other information that’s important to sports car buyers.
Keep in mind that we constantly update U.S. News scores as new expert reviews and data become available. Therefore, the scores in our rankings and reviews may not match up with scores in this slideshow.
Read through the following slides to learn about this year’s best sports cars.