Most enthusiasts dream of owning a sports car at least once in their life. While most of these options would consist of high-end, track-capable monsters, some prefer exhilarating options that won’t break the bank.
These sports cars are also great daily drivers, thanks to their practical nature, handling, and ride quality. We’ve compiled a list of the best sports cars under $50,000 that you can find for sale today.
10. 2023 Chevrolet Camaro
Starting MSRP: $26,100
Sadly, the Chevrolet Camaro is no longer after the 2024 model year. Chevrolet will be producing a limited run of Camaro’s for the 2024 model year to mark this glorious occasion. Despite the Camaro coming to an end, the 2023 model is among the cheapest sports cars on offer. With a low starting price of $26,100, the Camaro is the cheapest muscle car you can buy.
For the price, you get a surprisingly potent 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 275 hp. The engine pairs with a 6-speed manual transmission and sends power to the rear wheels. For the V8 grunt, you can opt for the $36,100 LT1 trim with a more potent 455-hp 6.2-liter V8 engine. The V8-powered LT1 trim also gets a 6-speed manual transmission as standard.
9. 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Starting MSRP: $28,050
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a fun-to-drive convertible with a smooth and powerful engine. Unlike most sports cars, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has compact dimensions, giving it a playful character. Mazda also offers a well-tuned suspension, giving the MX-5 Miata a smooth ride and agile handling.
Mazda offers two flavors of the 2023 MX-5 Miata, the base variant and the MX-5 Miata RF. All Miata variants get a high-revving 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. While the base variant is good enough for most enthusiasts, the $35,750 MX-5 Miata RF offers more indulgence thanks to its refined suspension setup that offers a more eager, playful, and sharper response.
8. 2023 Toyota GR86
Starting MSRP: $28,400
The 2023 Toyota GR86 is a small, quick, and agile sports car. It boasts fun-to-drive performance and an affordable price tag, especially with its 2022 redesign that added more power, sharper handling, and a nicer interior. The GR86 is available with either a manual or automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels.
It uses a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine with 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The engine offers plenty of torque, helping the GR86 sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds with the manual and 6.6 seconds with the automatic. The manual drive variants get a Track mode, but the automatic’s Normal, Sport and Snow modes also offer a sporty and engaging ride.
7. 2023 Subaru BRZ
Starting MSRP: $28,595
Nowadays, it’s hard to come across two-door coupes with reasonable prices and a fun-to-drive character. Luckily, Subaru offers one such package with the BRZ sports car. The 2023 Subaru BRZ features a potent boxer engine, perfectly tuned suspension, and a manual transmission. Thanks to the 2022 lineup redesign, the BRZ received smoothed-out edges and more power.
Just like the slightly cheaper 2023 Toyota GR86, the 2023 Subaru BRZ uses a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine. The engine churns out 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, sending it all to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed automatic transmission.
6. 2024 Ford Mustang
Starting MSRP: $30,920
For the 2024 model year, the Mustang receives a slight refresh, gaining reworked but familiar styling, an all-new interior, revised chassis hardware, and two improved engines. The base variant offers ample power thanks to its turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine with 315 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque.
If you want more power for under $50k, you can also get the V8 powered $42,495 2024 Ford Mustang GT. It boasts a 5.0-liter V8 motor with 450 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. While the EcoBoost trim gets a 10-speed automatic as standard, the GT trim offers a more engaging 6-speed manual transmission.
5. 2023 Dodge Challenger
Starting MSRP: $34,230
While the Dodge Challenger still manages to have an affordable price tag, it has the highest starting price of the three muscle cars. Despite this, it’s still an automotive oddity with impressive performance and multiple trim options. The base Challenger, the SXT, offers impressive performance from its 303 hp 3.6-liter V6 motor.
However, for thrill seekers, opting for the $40,805 R/T variant offers better performance from the 375 hp 5.7-liter V8 motor. The $48,265 R/T Scat pack trim offers even more performance from its 485 hp 6.4 liter V8 motor. It also adds in Brembo brakes, upgraded suspension, a premium sound system, a larger touchscreen, and a heated steering wheel.
4. 2023 BMW 2 Series Coupe
Starting MSRP: $38,200
When thinking of a BMW 2 Series sports car, the first thing that comes to mind is the legendary BMW M2. While the 2023 BMW M2 offers great performance, its $62,200 price tag disqualifies it from this list. The 2 Series lineup offers impressive performance even in the base 2023 BMW 230i that features a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
This powertrain helps the 230i rocket from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. BMW also offers a more potent $48,900 M240i variant. The 2023 BMW M240i gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. This helps the M240i rocket from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds.
3. 2023 Nissan Z
Starting MSRP: $40,900
After a three-year hiatus, Nissan finally revealed the 370Z’s successor, the Nissan Z. The 2023 Nissan Z is an amazing sports coupe with retro-themed styling that helped usher the Z nameplate to the modern era. While it still uses the 370Z chassis, the new Z is stiffer. It also gets a more potent engine helping it continue the tradition of delivering fun driving dynamics.
The 2023 Nissan Z uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 motor. The engine produces an impressive 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, helping make the Z a great performer. Nissan offers two transmission options, a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed automatic transmission, both driving the rear wheels.
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2. 2023 Toyota GR Supra
Starting MSRP: 44,640
After the reintroduction of the Toyota Supra in 2020, it’s now in its fourth reboot. The 2023 Toyota GR Supra is an impressive two-seat sports coupe that sits at the top of the GR lineup. Like its GR siblings, the 2023 GR Supra is a specialty-tuned sports car with impressive engine options and a wide low stance.
The base GR Supra, the 2.0, uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter BMW 4-cylinder engine with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. While it’s not the best GR Supra offering, it’s the only option for buyers who want to spend no more than $50k.
1. 2024 BMW 4 Series Coupe
Starting MSRP: $49,900
The 2024 BMW 4 Series coupe is a stylish-looking sports car, available as a coupe or convertible. The BMW 4 Series coupe also gets better and distinctive front-end styling, unlike the 3 Series sedan. While the base 4 Series coupe isn’t the most powerful sports car on the list, it’s the most luxurious, offering buyers a flashy and premium interior.
Under its hood sits a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, similar to that in the base 2 Series and GR Supra 2.0. The powerplant produces 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, helping rocket the 430i from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. BMW also offers more potent variants of the 4 Series coupe, the M440i, and the M4, but they’re both past the $50k budget.