2019 Mazda Miata
2,339 lbs | $25,500
When you see that the Mazda Miata’s engine only produces 181 horsepower, you might think that there’s no fun to be had. Of course, you would be horribly mistaken. The Miata’s light weight, exceptional balance, and excellent suspension tuning make it hard to beat at any price.
You can get into a 2,339-pound 2019 Mazda Miata soft top with a manual transmission for $25,500. That's a great price for a sports car, and the Miata's weight is well below the average weight of a new car, which is around 4,000 pounds.
An automatic transmission is available, but if you want to wring the best performance out of the roadster, you'll want to stick with the manual.
The Miata holds a spot atop both our ranking of sports cars and our ranking of convertibles.
2019 Fiat 124 Spider
2,436 lbs | $24,995
The 2019 Fiat 124 Spider shares much of its structure with the Miata, but it’s equipped with a different engine that pumps out less horsepower. The 1.4-liter turbo produces 160 horsepower in most 124s, or 164 horsepower in the 124 Spider Abarth trim.
If you’re looking for an affordable two-seat touring roadster, the 124 Spider should be on your shopping list. Its handling is confident and nimble, but not quite as crisp as the Miata’s. Opt for the Abarth trim, and not only is the handling razor sharp, but its performance exhaust sounds a pleasantly raspy tone.
Prices for the 124 Spider start at $24,995. The Abarth trim is priced from $29,290.
2019 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
2,87 lbs | $66,900
Let’s get something out of the way right now. The Alfa Romeo 4C is not exactly a comfortable or luxurious model, so it lands at the bottom of our luxury sports cars ranking. What’s the point of this small convertible, then? It’s all about performance.
Weighing in only a bit more than the Miata and the 124 Spider, the 4C has a more powerful turbocharged engine that makes 237 horsepower. That means this car can reach 60 mph in just over four seconds, and it can keep going up to 160 mph on a track. The 4C’s sharp suspension means it’s a thrill to drive on twisty stretches of pavement, though it’s not so great as a daily driver thanks to a rough ride.
The cabin is short on features and it doesn’t have upscale materials. That may not sound appealing, but we’re talking about lightweight sports cars here. Touch screens, power seats, and leather upholstery all add weight, and that’s not what this car is about.
The 4C starts at $66,900, but prices can rise to nearly $80,000, depending on options.
2019 Toyota 86
2,776 lbs | $26,455
The 2019 Toyota 86 is a lightweight 2+2 sports coupe with a pair of comfortable front seats and a pair of rear seats best reserved for packages or people you really don’t like.
Depending on whether you get an automatic or a manual transmission, the 86’s four-cylinder engine will produce either 200 or 205 horsepower, respectively. For most buyers, the engine power provides plenty of fun, though some enthusiasts would prefer a few more horses under the hood.
2019 Subaru BRZ
2,789 lbs | $25,795
The 2019 Subaru BRZ is the Toyota 86’s doppelganger. It’s produced in the same plant and shares nearly all of the Toyota’s technology and features.
Subaru offers a Performance package ($1,195) for the BRZ that includes upgraded shocks, premium wheels, and Brembo brakes. The enhancements improve what are already exhilarating driving dynamics.
A base BRZ will set you back $25,795 with a manual transmission. If you step up to the Limited trim, you can get an automatic transmission instead for an extra $1,100. Though they’re not as much fun to drive as ones with the manual, BRZs with the automatic earn EPA fuel economy estimates that are significantly better.
2019 Honda Civic Si
2,889 lbs | $23,900
The Honda Civic Si is a sporty take on one of our highest-ranked compact cars. It’s available in both coupe and sedan models and features a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that produces 205 horsepower.
Suspension components in the Si have been upgraded and tuned for a sportier personality than you’ll find on the standard Civic. Following the tradition of previous Si models, you’ll have to learn how to shift a manual transmission if you want to drive one. No automatic transmission is offered.
2019 Porsche 718 Cayman
2,944 lbs | $56,900
Is the Porsche 911 a bit out of your budget? Porsche also offers the 2019 718 Cayman, a midengine, rear-wheel-drive sports car with performance that’s worthy of the Porsche badge.
The base engine in the 718 Cayman is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 300 horsepower. Using launch control with the available automatic transmission, the 718 Cayman can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The top trim Cayman GTS has a 365-horsepower 2.5-liter turbo, and it accelerates to 60 mph in only 3.9 seconds with the automatic.
Compared to many cars in the segment, the 718 Cayman is a bargain. It’s priced from $53,900, though that price can climb quickly when you start adding multi-thousand-dollar option packages. The 718 Cayman GTS starts at $80,700.
If you prefer a roadster, you should consider the 2019 Porsche 718 Boxster, which is essentially a Cayman with a convertible top. It weighs exactly the same as the Cayman.
2019 Porsche 911
3,153 lbs | $91,100
Few cars can be considered truly iconic, but the 2019 Porsche 911 is certainly one of them. The base engine produces 370 horsepower. Output ramps up from there to as high as 690 horsepower with the GT2 RS’ twin-turbo six-cylinder.
Even the slowest 911 reaches 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The fastest gets you there in 2.7.
Seven-speed manual and automatic transmissions are offered. Every 911 comes standard with leather upholstery, and most seat up to four, though, realistically, you’ll never want to put anyone in the tiny rear seats.
Porsche includes a navigation system as standard equipment, as well as Apple CarPlay and an onboard Wi-Fi hot spot.
Porsche 911 prices start at $91,100 and climb to more than $350,000.
2019 Volkswagen Golf R
3,300 lbs | $40,395
Stuff a 288-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood of a benign VW Golf – add all-wheel drive, leather sport seats, and an adjustable suspension – and you create the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R. Unlike most of the other cars on this list, the Golf R has four doors and a back seat that’s usable.
At $40,395, the Golf R isn’t the cheapest Golf (in fact, it’s the most expensive), but it’s certainly the most fun. When you back its high-performance engine with the available six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Golf R can leap from zero to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.
The Golf holds a spot in the upper third of our compact car rankings.
If the Golf R is too rich or powerful for your blood, the Volkswagen GTI is another performance model of the Golf you should take a look at. It’s $12,800 cheaper than the Golf R and 269 pounds lighter.
2019 BMW 2 Series
3,380 lbs | $35,300
The compact 2019 BMW 2 Series is a sports coupe with pronounced sporting intentions. The base 230i packs a 248-horsepower four-cylinder turbo, which is quick but only offers a hint of the model's potential. The lineup tops out with the BMW M2, a 365-horsepower pocket rocket.
Not only does the 2 Series have a high placement in our ranking of luxury small cars, but its starting price of $35,300 is reasonable for the class. Great safety scores, an above-average predicted reliability rating, and a trunk that's big enough for a week's worth of luggage only add to the reasons it should be on your shopping list.
An eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard, but a six-speed manual is a no-cost option.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
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10 Best Lightweight Sports Cars
- 2019 Mazda Miata | 2,339 lbs
- 2019 Fiat 124 Spider | 2,436 lbs
- 2019 Alfa Romeo 4C | 2,465 lbs
- 2019 Toyota 86 | 2,776 lbs
- 2019 Subaru BRZ | 2,789 lbs
- 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman | 2,944 lbs
- 2019 Porsche 911 | 3,153 lbs
- 2019 Volkswagen Golf R | 3,300 lbs
- 2019 BMW 2 Series | 3,380 lbs
- 2019 Honda Civic Si | 2,889 lbs
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The Best Way to Add Performance: Add Lightness
There are a couple of ways to make a car go fast. Either you can put a massive engine under the hood, like in a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, or you can put the car on a diet, reducing the amount of weight that the engine needs to propel.
Some of the best sports cars on the market choose the latter option, trading extra ounces for quick acceleration and lithe handling. In fact, if you make a car light enough, even a small engine can provide an excellent driving experience.
On the following slides, we explore some of the best lightweight sports cars you can buy today. The average new car weighed 4,035 pounds in the 2015 model year, according to the EPA; all of the cars on this list weigh less. We’ve left the exotics out, focusing on mainstream models that range from super-affordable to just slightly outrageous. Check out our picks on the following pages.