2017 Honda Civic Si Coupe: $23,900
A Honda Civic might be stretching the “sports car” designation, but it looks the part. Heck, it even acts the part. This 10th generation Honda Civic is drawing attention – mostly with the Type R, but also with the Si. You get crisp lines, angular and athletic front and back ends, and the choice of either coupe or sedan. Of course, the true sports car enthusiast will go two-door.
It comes standard with all the goods inside: aluminum shifter knob, aluminum sport pedals, push button start, LED interior lighting, heated front seats, Display Audio with HondaLink, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – perhaps the best value you can expect.
As one of the best affordable sports cars though, it has to perform. It does a great job of being a driver’s car, and that starts with its solid powertrain. The 205-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder rips up and down the RPM range like an Italian supercar. The 6-speed manual shifter feels better than average, almost perfect. And while it has less horsepower than several other rear-wheel-drive sports cars listed here, it’s probably more fun to drive overall. And, as icing on the cake, it’s just $23,900.
2018 Subaru WRX: $26,995
You can’t classify too many four-door models as a sports car. The 2018 Subaru WRX is one of the few you can. It starts with that glare from the front. The deeply carved hood scoop and hexagonal grille, along with perfectly placed lighting, give it serious curb appeal, even for a sedan.
Power windows, steering wheel controls, automatic climate control, STARLINK Media, Vehicle Dynamics Control with Active Torque Vectoring – all standard features on the base model 2018 Subaru WRX. It rides like a sports car with sport-tuned suspension, and so much so that you forget you have a back seat.
But it’s about performance, right? The Boxer engine makes a healthy 268 horsepower from its 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. Each one of these Subaru WRX models have standard SYMMETRICAL All Wheel Drive, essentially making it a rally car that’s street ready. Don’t look past the 2018 WRX as a potential purchase.
2017 Ford Focus ST: $24,775
All right, before you pass judgment and leave a nasty comment, take an unbiased look at the 2017 Ford Focus ST. It’s not your typical puddle jumper. It’s definitely a puddle jumper on steroids. From the alloy wheels and bright colors to the roof-mounted spoiler and ground effects package, the Ford Focus ST flips the compact hatchback game on its head.
Inside, there are Recaro racing seats wrapped in leather. The ST-emblazoned steering wheel has a flat bottom. There’s a carbon fiber shift knob and the car rides much stiffer on its sport suspension. SYNC and all that jazz are standard too.
Think about what it takes to throw a tiny Focus hatchback down the quarter-mile with a ton of torque steer. Yep, that’s what it has. 252 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque from the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. It’s overkill to be sure. But it’s a blast, especially with the 6-speed manual tranny.
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