Top 15 Best Sports Cars Of The Last 25 Years

Updated on June 25, 2023: Over the decades, numerous sports cars have come and gone that have gained a place in our hearts, so we have decided to refresh and update this list. That means instead of burying this one into the endless articles lost to the internet, the original ten sports cars can be found below, and a few new ones to help expand your excitement and knowledge.

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15 Honda S2000

0 to 60 MPH: 5.4 Seconds

front 3/4 view of a white 2009 Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition driving

The Honda S2000 is not as fast off the line, or out of a corner, as some of the other sports cars on this list, but it will always earn a spot on any list of the best sports cars. The reason why is not necessarily because of the performance, even though it was designed to be one that was more practical for real-world driving.

Performance and Specs

In fact, the development team was so adamant about that concept that they refused to take any input from the marketing team that was current requirements. They wanted to stick as close to original Honda values as possible while giving the public a great sports car. To ensure they were on the right track, they would test the car out on the real-world roads of Japan at high speeds, just like you would drive it.

14 Subaru BRZ

0 to 60 MPH: 5.3 Seconds

Front and side view of a 2014 Subaru BRZ

You may not think that a couple of rival carmakers would put their heads together and create a great sports car, but they did. In fact, they made two; the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota 86. As with many sports cars coming out onto the market in the early part of the century, the BRZ was designed more for driving fun than performance, which is why it is not one of the quickest sports cars on this list.

Performance and Specs

However, what the Subaru BRZ lacks in all-out speed and torque, it more than makes up with the sports-designed suspension. Plus, unlike many cars designed strictly for sports car style driving, it offers the passengers a reasonably smooth ride without feeling every bump on the road.

13 Alpine A110

0 to 60 MPH: 4.6 Seconds

Action shot of a yellow Renault Alpine A110

If you can remember the French-built Alpine A110 from 1963 to 1967, you are doing much better than most people. It was a fine sports car back in the day, but we are not here to talk about the classics today. In 2012, Alpine and Renault signed a partnership to resume building the sports car from the past but upgrade it for the future.

Performance and Specs

Unfortunately, that partnership did not last long, and the French company Renault took complete control of the project. The Alpine A110 has been dubbed the Porsche alternative because even though it is not as powerful as the entry-level Porsche Cayenne, it has the same handling prowess as the famous German sports car, with more headroom and a 2-inch shorter wheelbase.

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12 BMW M3 E46

0 to 60 MPH: 4.5 Seconds

front 3/4 view of a yellow 2000 BMW M3 E46

The BMW M3 is like a staple in BMW’s lineup. Until the M1 (later, M2) arrived, the M3 was the entry-level M-car in BMW’s lineup. Although the first M3, the E30, had an inline-four engine, the straight-six quickly became a trademark for most BMW M-cars. To this day, the S54 engine, which powers the E46 M3 and other BMW M-models, is considered one of the best Bavarian engines ever made.

Performance and Specs

With 3.2 liters, up to 360 horsepower, and 273 pound-feet in CSL guise, the smooth and high-revving S54 perfectly complements the E46’s balanced chassis. Meanwhile, the 0 to 60 mph took as little as 4.7 seconds. A six-speed manual was available, but if you wanted the range-topping CSL, you had to make do with one of the worst automated manuals ever produced. Still, manual conversions are possible, so there is no fear.

11 Lotus Elise

0 to 60 MPH: 4.5 Seconds

Blue Lotus Elise parked in front of a forrest. 

Nothing screams minimalism more than a Lotus Elise. Like Jeremy Clarkson once said, “Unlike any other carmaker, Lotus doesn’t ask what the customer wants. They ask what the customer can do without”. Apparently, quite a bit. Luxury and features are not words that fit the Elise. There is a steering wheel, three pedals, a shifter, and two seats. Behind the cabin is a Rover and later Toyota-derived inline-four, which can be supercharged depending on the version.

Performance and Specs

While later versions can boast as much as 250 horsepower, earlier variants were the lightest, at just 1,598 pounds. Because of this, the Series 1 Elise could reach 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, despite putting out only 118 horsepower. The supercharged Cup 250, meanwhile, managed 0 to 60 mph in a supercar-like 3.8 seconds. Regardless of the version, the Elise embodies the purest driving experience in a mid-engine sports car.

10 Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series

0 to 60 MPH: 4.0 Seconds

Front and side view of a Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series

The W204-generation Mercedes C-Class enjoyed great success, but its most epic version came in 2011. Mercedes celebrated the last naturally-aspirated V-8 with various epic versions, and for the C-Class that was the C63 AMG Black Series. In the Black Series, the 6.2-liter M156 V-8 gets some bits from the SLS AMG’s M159 unit. Among those are a lighter crankshaft and forged internals for a power output of over 500 horses and a torque rating of just over 450 pound-feet.

Performance and Specs

The C63 Black Series has a bespoke body kit featuring a tall rear wing, canards, and flared wheel arches, resulting in a 40mm wider track at the front and a 79mm wider track at the rear. Sophistication and German Muscle best describe this tire-shredding V-8 lunatic of a car.

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9 Dodge Viper

0 to 60 MPH: 4.0 seconds

Front 3/4 shot of a parked Black Dodge Viper SRT 10

There’s a debate on whether the Dodge Viper is a sports car or a supercar, but one thing is sure – it’s the last of the old guard. The idea of the Viper came in 1989, intending to reinvent the Shelby Cobra. Names like Lee Iacocca, Bob Lutz, and even Caroll Shelby were in on the project. After five generations, the Viper was finally retired for good. In August 2017, the last of the fifth-generation Vipers rolled off the production line, ending analog sports cars.

Performance and Specs

The beauty of the Viper was how analog it was. Few things remained unchanged over the years, such as the 90-degree, pushrod V-10, which rose from 8.0 to 8.4 liters and up to 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet. The massive lump was always mated to a six-speed manual, sending power to the rear. Even so, the Viper managed a 3.3-second 0 to 60 mph time (in ACR form) and a top speed of up to 206 mph.

8 Toyota GR Supra

0 to 60 MPH: 3.9 Seconds

A front-view shot of the Toyota GR Supra 

When the fifth-generation Supra arrived, it got a mixed reception. Some called it a “false Supra,” while others embraced the fact it had a Bavarian inline-six underneath. But performance talks and the GR Supra quickly showed that it is a worthy successor to the 1990s JDM icon, the fourth-generation Toyota Supra. Toyota made its own improvements to the BMW Z4 chassis and B58 engine, making it a much more athletic sports car than its Bavarian technological twin.

Performance and Specs

The engine was rated at just under 400 horsepower and a little over 350 pound-feet of torque, but those numbers were underrated. Moreover, the GR Supra is easily capable of much more, enabling it to embarrass supercars on the drag strip. In 2022, the GR Supra received a six-speed manual, making it even more desirable.

7 Ferrari 360 Modena

0 to 60 MPH: 3.9 Seconds

rear 3/4 view of a red 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena at a vantage point

Most Ferraris are considered supercars, so they are excluded from basic sports car lists, but the 360 Modena is an exception to that rule because, by definition, it is not officially a supercar. It is under 400 horsepower (barely) and cannot accelerate to a top speed of over 200 MPH. Do not let that fool you, though. The Modena is all Ferrari under the hood and in the cockpit.

Performance and Specs

The naturally aspirated V-8 under the hood may not look all that impressive by today’s standards. Still, the truth can be seen if you compare it to a modern sports car, such as the 2023 Nissan 280 Z that runs 0 to 60 MPH in over four seconds. A car built in 1999 can still race toe to toe with some modern sports car offerings and win.

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6 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R NISMO Z-Tune

0 to 60 MPH: 3.8 Seconds

Japanese carmakers gave us many iconic models during the 1980s and 1990s, but the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R is considered the Emperor of JDM sports cars. Building upon the homologation special R32 GT-R and the R33 GT-R that came after it, the R34 further refined the motorsport-derived chassis and RB26 DETT engine. The R34 Skyline GT-R was ahead of its time, featuring mind-blowing performance and features that are only today standard on some high-performance vehicles.

Performance and Specs

After the R34’s production cycle ended, NISMO (Nissan’s motorsports division) bought the 20 best examples of the R34 GT-R it could find and gave them a bespoke motorsport treatment, resulting in a 2.8-liter all-wheel-drive monster that could rival the likes of Porsche and Ferrari with a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 203 mph.

5 Audi R8

0 to 60 MPH: 3.4 Seconds

A front 3/4 shot of a 2008 Audi R8

For the 2007 model year, Audi decided to hand over sports car production to its private subsidiary company that did not have to worry about hitting marketing goals or staying within maximum sales guidelines. All they had to worry about was building the best sports car possible, which is why they started out producing sports cars using a Lamborghini Gallardo platform but have since changed to a Huracan platform.

Performance and Specs

What that means for you is getting a sports car designed to be a sports car on and off the track. The frame is built using space-age aluminum, making it lighter and faster. For the 2020 model year, the car was refreshed and received a performance boost of 30 horses, putting the total almost up to 600 horsepower. There will be an all-electric version to check out and bring home soon.

4 Porsche 718 GT4 (RS)

0 to 60 MPH: 3.2 Seconds

An outdoor shot of a Porsche 718 GT4 Cayman and Boxter 

In 2020, Porsche gave all of us petrol heads a huge service by offering up a Porsche 718 with a 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated flat-six that revs to 8,000 and 9,000 RPM, depending on the version. In an age where big, tech-heavy cars, electrification, and forced induction are the new norm, Porsche gave us a no-nonsense, mid-engine, high-performance model that provides one of the best driving experiences of a modern sports car.

Performance and Specs

In GT4 RS guise, the engine produces almost 500 horsepower and can push the car from a dead stop to 60 MPH in just over 3.0 seconds, less in the right conditions. Unlike the non-RS model, which can be had with a six-speed manual, the GT4 RS comes exclusively with the seven-speed PDK. The top speed for this car approaches the 200 MPH mark, making it a fan favorite on the Autobahn.

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3 Nissan GT-R R35

0 to 60 MPH: 3.2 Seconds

An action shot of a Nissan GT-R R35 Nismo on the highway

In 2007, Nissan revived one of the most iconic JDM cars ever made. The Skyline and GT-R names were separated, leaving the Nissan GT-R as the brand’s flagship sports car. The R35 certainly had big shoes to fill, following the successes of its R32, R33, and R34 predecessors, which is why it was criticized for being too digital.

Performance and Specs

With that said, the R35 GT-R offered supercar performance in a practical package for a fraction of the price of exotics (which it often outran). The R35’s 17-year production cycle is both good and bad. The car is no longer the bargain supercar slayer it once was, but because of its age, it’s also the most analog hi-tech sports car.

2 Chevrolet Corvette C8

0 to 60 MPH: 2.8 Seconds

Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray

The Chevy Corvette has been America’s classic sports car since 1953. Currently, the car is in its eighth generation, and it brought many model firsts. The Corvette was always meant to be a mid-engine car, but this only happened in 2020, with the C8. This was also the generation that introduced a flat-plane crank V-8 in the Z06, the first hybrid Corvette, and to top it all off, there’s a fully-electric C8 on the way.

Performance and Specs

With that said, the ‘Vette always stood for attainable performance, even though the Z06 and E-Ray can cost a pretty penny once you get a few options. Regardless, with up to 670 horsepower from a Ferrari-sounding American V-8, the C8 can run with the best in the business, reaching 60 mph in under 3 seconds.

1 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

0 to 60 MPH : 2.8 Seconds

A front 3/4 action shot of a 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring driving

The Porsche 911 is a classic on many levels. It’s one of the names that define the term sports car, and when it comes to the visceral, analog driving experience, the GT3 Touring is up there. The wingless version of the GT3 is one of the greatest 911s ever made for a few reasons. The key aspect is its 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated, flat-six engine that revs to 9,000 RPM and makes over 500 horses.

Performance and Specs

The Touring, in particular, can be had with a seven-speed manual, which only adds to the classic driving experience. The fact that the 992 may be the last non-hybrid 911 only adds to the GT3 Touring’s allure.