The Best Affordable Sports Car: 2024 Shootout

Affordable, engaging cars are a rarity these days, but these four all provide plenty of smiles per hour for less than the average new car transaction price.

Don't get it twisted: the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Mini Cooper S, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota GR86 don't represent the entire spread of affordable sports cars. There are other options around the $40,000 range, a few of which are American. For this comparison however, we're focusing on small footprints, and big fun. And we mean fun in different ways, too: the new-for-2025 Mini is the front-drive interloper here, yet offers a very particular sort of fun compared to the pared-back Mazda.
With contributing writers Jeff Wilson and Jerry Vo along for the ride, we spent days driving these cars in all sorts of situations before scoring them. Rain and shine, highway slogs and glorious backroads, these bundles of fun did it all. Read on for the affordable sports car comparison, brought to you by WeatherTech.

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[emirramos]

All are great but the Miata has the best combination of fun and sexy.

[mdatpe]

Again, what’s with the music, almost overpowering the narrative and it’s not that nice to listen to for 21min

[danielorozco]

Here in México no one calls a hatch back a 3 door, its literally a car with 2 doors and a hatch, you're not going to step up the car through the hatch... Its definitely not a door.
Great video though

[robertmiller]

The Miata soft top convertible starts under $30, 000 Consumer Reports states it has the highest reliability & also the highest resale value of any of its competitors even other sportscars 3 times the price.

[screamingstrings]

Hard disagree. Miata is a convertible, two seater, better manual transmission, better mileage, proper suspension, a 30+ year heritage and dedication from an incredible manufacturer with an in-house engine. Miata Is Always The Answer.

[mattkramer]

Having music playing for the whole length of the video is more annoying than the guy with popsicles on his shirt.

[gixxerr]

Having owned two Miatas and one Mini, a few months ago I sold the remaining Miata (Mini is long gone; it cooked the turbocharger) and I bought a BRZtS. I agree with most everything you said. All are fun cars but as much as I LOVED driving the Miata, it is a fair weather, drive only in the country toy. I bought the BRZ because I can drive it anytime and anywhere and have total fun doing it. Plus it is a bargain. Long live light weight RWD front engine manual transmission sports cars without iPod-ish instrument panels. They are a dying breed.

[chico]

Finally someone who realizes that Tremclad grey is not great color like so many YouTube car reviewers seam to think its the greatest color.Nice review of these great little cars.So sick of all the BS cars that do 0-60 in 3 seconds, most drivers in the real world cannot handle that kind of power, just look at the wrecks for sale at the auction sites.

[angelo]

Maybe a little more subtle BGM... Otherwise, it's a good video. Keep it up!

[roustaboutfun]

If the GR had a large sunroof/convert...I'd take it overall in part because of the looks.... who wants to grow up lol Nothing sticking up on the dash and so much fun and tossable~~ I enjoyed your video. I will keep my ND (Miata) and the reliability has been outstanding~

[bearclaw]

Real happy to finally see a comparison between the BRZ tS and GR86 with performance package.

[rhynecars]

Thorough and practical comparo. Cars we might buy in the future! I same pick for me too, the Mini is all looks, Miata is always the answer but is too small for people over 6 ft.

[saywhat]

A "Sports Car" without a stick is like taking a shower with a raincoat.

[Eddie-ycyd]

motor, rear wheel drive and convertible. There was only one winner, the Miata.

[bricksbeersbeards]

my 2023 ND GT has wireless carplay...I think it depends on the trim level?

[Silverbulletzx]

You have 2 doors....and a trunk.

Or 2 doors and a hatchback.

[A]

Been lucky enough to have owned both 😊 BRZ and MX-5 the overall winner for me was the BRZ❤ and it was because I could use the car more over the year was safer and could fit in it easily. Cheers from Oz🇦🇺

[jimiverson]

FWIW, the GR86 is now available with the shock and brake upgrades and without the odd paint job.

[karacha]

I'd probably include a GTI here and eliminate either Subaru or a Toyota, for obvious reasons. Nice review though! :)

[bricksbeersbeards]

did. your driving include with the top down...oh...only 1 car can do that...he best affordable practical (?) sports car...didn't realize that practical and sports car belonged in the same sentence...miata is last, yet the choice of the day, I guess there is no sense to having an order.