It seems a shame to park your sports car for the winter. A summer sports car sits in your garage untouched, unused, unwashed, and – worst of all – undriven for five or six months of the year. Wouldn’t it be so much more fun to own and drive a sports car all year round? So what’s the best winter sports car?
There are a whole bunch of sports cars that can take on harsh winters head-on. Some are quite reasonably priced, while others demand a substantial ransom to own. From good ground clearance and decent tires to all-wheel drive and year-round performance, these are the best winter sports cars for 2018.
Undoubtedly one of the most intimidating sports cars on the market today is the Dodge Challenger, and that’s compounded when you see it romping in the snow. It’s like Dodge built the 2018 Challenger GT AWD specifically to handle wintry conditions. That’s a novel idea for all the other carmakers.
It rides on 19-inch all-season tires on hyper-black rims, and that’s not too bad. The engine is Dodge’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 305 horsepower, and that seems to do the trick quite well also. It comes strictly with a TorqueFlite 8-speed auto transmission, giving smooth shifts for snowy roads or crisp gear changes when the conditions permit. An active transfer case keeps all four tires grabbing at the icy road to gain traction. You’ll want to spring for the block heater in cold climates too, it’s an extra $95 though.
Keeping you comfortable on chilly days, the 2018 Dodge Challenger GT AWD is hot stuff – literally. Heated (and ventilated) seats are standard, as are heated mirrors, a heated steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control. And when the spring melt happens, the Challenger GT AWD has no problem fitting in with summer sports cars either.
The Bavarian brand has always been a top performer in all-year operation. The 2018 BMW 440i is no exception, with some of the best pieces you want and need to tame Old Man Winter. The two-door coupe has a short overhang in the front which looks sporty but also prevents hang-ups in the snow. All-season run-flat tires are standard equipment on 18-inch rims that look good but can handle ice and snow fairly well.
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The 2018 BMW 440i xDrive also uses Driving Dynamics Control with ECO PRO, COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ settings, so you can adapt to the current road conditions at the flick of a switch. That’s assuming you’ll modify the way you drive the 320-horsepower 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo V6 to also suit the conditions. The xDrive AWD is absolutely the best thing about winter driving in the 440i, sticking like glue to dicey roads with ease.
Of course, heated seats, heated power mirrors, and rain (or snow) sensing wipers make the winter easier to bear. While it’s easily in the running for best winter sports car, the 2018 BMW 440i xDrive Coupe is also pretty decent in the summer.
Godzilla likes the snow too. If you’ve ever thought the Nissan GT-R was intended for only dry pavement, you’d be very wrong. It’s one of the best winter sports cars in terms of handling and performance. All you need to do is equip it with winter tires, because the factory-equipped Dunlop SP Sport Maxx run-flat summer tires slide like hockey pucks when the temperature dips to freezing.
The 3.8-liter V6 with 565 horsepower sounds like overkill, but the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive puts control firmly in your grasp…as long as you drive somewhat responsibly. On top of that, you want to make sure you aren’t plowing snow with the front fascia – the GT-R has a minimal 109mm ground clearance.
With this sports-focused monster coupe, you’ll get heated seats, heated outside mirrors and dual-zone automatic climate control. You won’t get a heated steering wheel or some of the finer cold weather appointments, but it’s still a beast in the snow.
It makes a great case for being the best winter sports car on the road today. The 2018 Subaru Impreza WRX STi is proven to be a winner on winter rally courses (and summer ones too). It’s a four-door sedan, which seems odd for a sports car at first, but it’s quickly forgotten once behind the wheel.
It packs 305 horsepower under the hood, compliments of a turbocharged 2.5-liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder BOXER engine. Its Symmetrical AWD system is beyond capable, featuring a Driver Controlled Center Differential for precise front-to-rear torque distribution using limited-slip helical front and Torsen rear differentials.
It’s laden with options straight from the factory. Because the nights get dark sooner, LED steering-responsive headlights are standard on the STi. In the All-Weather Package, heated side mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats are included.
When you aren’t busy road-rallying your STi in the winter, you can take it off-roading in the summer. Be sure to use the appropriate tires for the season – the factory-equipped tires should probably be changed out for winter ones once the snow flies.
You had to know an Audi quattro model was going to hit the list of best winter sports car contenders. The 2018 Audi TTS Coupe was chosen, but it could easily have been the S5 Coupe also. The TTS wins out because, well, it looks sportier. It has better ground clearance than other models on the list (ahem, the Nissan GT-R). Honestly, the Audi TTS Coupe is a personal favorite too.
You can’t argue with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 292 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, and can accomplish a top speed of 155 mph. Add to that Audi’s quattro AWD system that grabs traction where there appears to be none, and you have the makings of a champ. Audi Drive Select gives the driver selections for performance based on current conditions, which you’ll appreciate when the roads are terrible.
As a premium model, you can expect a few of the finer things in life inside. Heated seats, heated side mirrors, heated windshield washer nozzles and automatic climate control are all standard. The leather interior is sporty with S-inspired trim and badging, and there are fantastic options including the Audi Virtual Cockpit 12-inch digital cluster display.
There’s always been something fascinating about Porsche, like it’s the epitome of sports cars. It might not be the top of the list, but it’s definitely a worthy to mention in the best winter sports cars list. The 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 gets the nod because of its all-wheel drive.
It also helps that the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 has 370 horsepower from its horizontally opposed six-cylinder and a top speed of 181 miles per hour, although I wouldn’t want to try that in winter. The engine configuration helps with a low center of gravity, also a good thing for winter driving. Porsche Active Suspension Management and Porsche Stability Management aid the Carrera 4 in staying on the intended course in any conditions.
Heated seats are optional, and heated outside mirrors are standard equipment. It seems the Germans don’t need the creature comforts in their Porsches to make them winter cars.
Luxury sports cars seem to be best suited for winter driving and the 2018 Jaguar F-Type proves the point. You’d have to have no pulse to think it doesn’t look sexy as hell, and it backs it up with exceptional performance. The entry-level F-Type has a 296-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and you can pair it with your choice of manual or automatic transmissions. There aren’t many where you can row on your own, and that’s a particular highlight.
To be considered one of the best winter sports car, 2018 Jaguar F-Type has to be equipped with the available all-wheel drive system. That’s only available with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6, producing 380 horsepower, and paired only with the automatic gearbox. Not that we mind more power, but the option for an entry-level F-Type with AWD would be good.
Fully loaded, the F-Type’s ground clearance is 3.9 inches. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for snow and ice under the car, so let’s hope the city is quick to clear your roads. Torque Vectoring and Intelligent Driveline Dynamics smoothly control the Electronic Active Differential, adapting to your demands effortlessly.
Of course, the Jaguar F-Type has the winter equipment you want, such as heated seats, automatic climate control, available heated steering wheel and heated side mirrors. But, like most of the others, you’ll need to find good winter tires.
It’s time for some old-fashioned rear-wheel-drive winter driving, and the Camaro is perfect for it. Toss 455 horsepower to the rear wheels of a front-engine sports car and you’re apt to find it tucked deep in a ditch very soon. But the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro SS might surprise you if, and only if, you address the poor summer-tire traction before it’s too late.
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro has a Driver Mode Selector that tweaks the Camaro’s response to driver inputs. Magnetic Ride Control turns the Camaro into a smooth, precise rocket, even when the road is covered in snow and ice.
Heated seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors and a brilliant Head-Up Display are standard on the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS. If you can do without the winter conveniences (you can’t), then go down to the 1SS trim.
More American muscle at its finest. Again, it isn’t the best winter sports car, but it’s worth a mention. The 2018 Ford Mustang looks phenomenal with its new digs, and it’s an awesome sports car in the summer. Why not drive it all year round? We wouldn’t try it with a Shelby, though.
Under the hood you’ll get a 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 that makes 460 horsepower. You have the choice of a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, although the auto trans is probably best for winter use. Also, make the most of your purchase with the Torsen limited-slip diff in the back. Factory-equipped 18-inch all-season tires will do in a pinch. If you opt for the upgraded 19- or 20-inch wheels, you’ll desperately need winter tires when it gets cold.
Dual-zone automatic climate control and heated seats are standard equipment. A heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers and remote engine starter are options that you’ll want to indulge if you plan on making the Mustang GT Premium your year-round car.
Not to be outdone, the 2018 Infiniti Q60 makes a case for being the best winter sports car this year. As a major plus, it offers its Intelligent All Wheel Drive system on the entry-level PURE trim. It’s paired with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine for 208 horsepower. While it’s certainly not going to win races against most of these other sports cars, it could probably handle itself more respectably on the road.
Tires from the factory are 19-inch all-season run-flats that, while not the worst out there, should probably be changed off for some winter rubber. It comes equipped with the bare essentials at the base level, giving you heated outside mirrors and dual-zone automatic climate control. You have to step up to higher trims to get heated seats and a heated steering wheel.
The purist will absolutely adore the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF in winter conditions. This is one of the few two-seater sports cars that can be truly driven as intended in the winter, so long as it’s properly equipped with winter tires. It has, by far, the lowest horsepower rating at just 155 horsepower from its 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G four-cylinder, but it’s still a blast to drive.
Being a rear-wheel-drive coupe, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF offers the driving enthusiast either a six-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed sport automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The manual transmission might be the better option for winter driving with a torque-sensing limited-slip differential.
Heated seats, rain-sensing wipers and heated outside mirrors are standard equipment on the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring. Despite its lack of wintry options, it’s still a thrill a minute to drive in the white stuff.
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