Here are the Sports Cars You Can Buy Right Now That Are “Actually Affordable”

Key Takeaways

• Sports cars under $35,000 have around 200-300 hp.
• Most cars on our list come with an option of manual transmission for some real driver engagement

• Honda Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra N, and Mazda 3-2.5 Turbo are the most practical four-door sports cars among the lot.

   

Mustang Ecoboost 

I Get It, Mustang without a rumbling Coyote is like a PB&J sandwich without the J part, unacceptable. But it's still a sandwich tho! Jokes aside the phenomenal 2.3L turbocharged inline-4 produces 310 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque and you only can get it with a 10-speed automatic. 

It might not be as acoustically awesome as its V8 brother but the Mustang Ecoboost makes up for it in fuel efficiency and tunability.

In C&D independent testing the Mustang Ecoboost did a 60 mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds, only three-tenths of a second more than the nearly $50,000 Mustang GT. It also managed 32 mpg, 8 more than the GT could do

Mazda Miata 

No words are needed here. The Miata is one of the most desired and best-selling sports cars that is critically acclaimed in every country it gets sold. You will be extremely hard-pressed to find any issues with the Miata unless you are like 10 feet tall, LOL.

Its sub-tonne curb weight and Mazda’s justifiably insane obsession over weight saving means that occupant and cargo space are rather limited but adequate for most folks, bar the NBA players. 

The Miata comes with a tightly strung 2.0 L sky active inline 4 with 181 hp and a manual transmission. The Miata has been around for nearly three decades now, translating into expansive aftermarket support and service. I recommend the Goldilocks “Club” trim which comes with Sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein dampers and 17-inch Metallic Black alloy wheels.

Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ

This duo is one of the rare examples of acclaimed badge engineering that no one has any problem with. The unifying element is the supremely balanced 2.4L 4-cylinder boxer engine with 228 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. We will be focusing on the GR86 as it has a starting MSRP of $29,300, undercutting BRZ by $800 and it also edged out the Subbie on track with superior grip and traction. 

The base GR86 comes with a 7-inch infotainment display, a six-speed manual transmission, and a 1 year NASA membership that includes a session of high-performance driving. The Premium trim is $1700 more but comes with Michelin PS4s, Spoiler, and Heated seats.

 Amusingly, this is the only sports car that I can think of that does 60 mph quicker when equipped with a manual tranny rather than an automatic as claimed by Toyota. It reaches 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds with the former and 6.6 seconds with the latter.

Volkswagen Jetta GLI

So far we have only raked bout the Coupe and a Roadster, as these two body styles are dominant when the word “Sports Car” pops up anywhere. But the Jetta GLI is a four-door exception that begs to differ. 

The 2025 Jetta GLI is an endangered species belonging to the genus sport sedans. It has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with adequate 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. But what stands apart from the crowd is a two-parter. First, it is affordable and starts under 33k, and second, it can be had with a stick shift, another dying breed.

Jetta GLI also comes with Multimode DCC Adaptive Chassis Control and VAQ limited-slip front differential lock but lacks a bit in the interior department due to tacky plastic bits.

Also Read- Fastest Manual Cars Ever Made

Honda Civic Si

Type R is good, Type R is fast, Type R is the purist‘s dream but Type R is so dang expensive! If you can forego the rightful need to own a Type R badge, the Civic Si is here to challenge your badge perception.

Armed with a 200 horsepower power unit and a six-speed manual sending all the grunt to the front wheels it offers the most bang for your buck when it comes to usable power and abundant practicality. Since it is a Honda it gets the coveted prize of being one of the most reliable yet fun cars around

Owners and reviewers have praised its maturity compared to Type R’s boy racer vibes and there's also an option for a high-performance tire package that comes with stickier summer tires

Hyundai Elantra N

If you prefer NOT flying under the radar and are in the market for something that has the bark and the bite, the Elantra N deserves your serious consideration as it is one of the best affordable four-door sports cars you can buy. 

Equipped with a 276-hp 2.0L turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder with a six-speed manual or an 8-speed DCT, limited slip diff, chassis brace, Michelin Pilot PS4s, bucket seats, and a variable exhaust. It has got all the tools you would ever need to incite oohs and aahs from onlookers and passengers alike during weekend track days.

Combine all that with a large trunk and four seats you have got a real do-it-on your hands for road and track alike. TBH, the Elantra N has “will grow on you over time” kind of looks but hey, it costs under $34,000 and does 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds!

Mazda 3 2.5 Carbon Turbo 

Mazda has carved itself a rather large fanbase due to its elegant styling, seriously awesome performance, and perpetually affordable price tag. The 2.5 Turbo is among the best-looking affordable sports cars and comes with a 250 hp 2.5 Liter engine mated to an active AWD system with torque vectoring and a six-speed automatic gearbox. 

Sadly, no manual is available with the AWD system. Being a hatchback it's both practical and better handling than its sedan cousin. 

Mazda also offers a laundry list of aero-optimized parts like diffusers, air dams, and spoilers for function performance and stand-out aesthetics.

Note- All prices exclude destination fees which vary a lot but generally are between $1000-$2000. Acceleration and top-speed times are sourced from manufacturers or reputable sites like C&D or Motortrend.