Top 10 best sports cars 2022
Here is the definitive top 10 list of the best sports cars currently on sale, each with a compelling reason to take top spot – but only one can claim the throne…
When picturing a modern sports car, you might imagine anything from a lightweight track car or a modern hot hatchback to a mid-engined two-seater or a front-engined grand touring coupé.
For the purposes of this top 10 list, however, we can narrow our terms of reference down a bit: Caterham Sevens, Ferrari 488s, Audi R8s, Alpine A110s and BMW M cars are ranked and dealt with elsewhere. Here, we’re interested in full-sized, fulsomely endowed, dedicated sports cars with rich and enticing multi-cylinder engines priced between about £60,000 and £120,000. Only grown-up, big-hitting, multifaceted and purpose-built options get in.
Front-, mid- and rear-engined offerings are included, likewise rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive layouts, and open and closed cockpits. There are plenty of routes towards the level of indulgent performance, vivid handling poise, immersive driver engagement and character you’d expect of a true sports car, after all. But which should you take – and why?
-1. Porsche 911-
The derivative range of Porsche's latest-generation 911, the '992', has filled out quite a bit since its introduction in 2019. The car is now available in 380bhp Carrera and Carrera T guises, as well as 444bhp Carrera S and 473bhp Carrera GTS forms, all powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six engine; in coupé, cloth-top Cabriolet and 'folding fixed-head' Targa bodystyles; with either rear- or four-wheel drive; or with eight-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic or seven-speed manual gearboxes. There are also the extra-rapid GT3, GT3 RS, Turbo and Turbo S versions of the car on offer higher up the range, which we deal elsewhere with in our super-sports car top 10 chart.
We’ve tested most versions of the car, and we've yet to find much to dislike in any of them. Although it has certainly become a better and more refined and sophisticated luxury operator than it ever used to be, this eighth-generation, rear-engined sporting hero is every inch as great a driver’s car as the '991' it has replaced – and, if anything, stands ready to take the game further away from its rivals.
Having grown longer and slightly wider, all versions of the the 992 now use what used to be called the 911’s ‘widebody’ shell (which has been lightened by more extensive use of aluminium in its construction), while four-wheel steering is now an option even on non-GT-level cars and mixed-width wheels and tyres come as standard.
Although there’s as much reason as ever for the keenest of drivers to stick with the car’s purer rear-driven mechanical layout, the 992’s wider front axle track and quickened steering ratio seem to have sharpened its handling very effectively. Its turbocharged engine may not have the textural qualities of Porsche’s old atmospheric units, but it makes for very serious real-world performance – and, overall, for a car that remains without equal among direct contemporary rivals for usability, for rounded sporting credibility and especially for the accessible, everyday-use, any-occasion brilliance of its driver appeal.
*Save money with new 911 deals from What Car?*
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-2. Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 / Boxster GTS 4.0-
Yes, it's a Porsche one-two at the top of the charts, but the German firm knows what it's doing when it comes to screwing together a sensational sports car. No more so than when Zuffenhausen took the decision to answer the critics and return an atmospheric flat six back into this car in 2019; it created series-production 718 derivatives with prices well above £60,000 before you put a single option on them. And so, while the more affordable four-cylinder, sub-£50k 718 derivatives continue to present themselves to buyers with less to spend (and are ranked in our affordable sports car chart), Porsche's higher-end 718s have absolutely progressed in among the bigger fish of the sports car class.
Not that they struggle in such treacherous water. Porsche's latest six-cylinder, naturally aspirated boxer engine is an utter joy, offering as much outright performance as any road-going sports car really needs but also wonderful smoothness and response, and an 8000rpm operating range. Unusually long-feeling gearing makes the six-speed manual versions slightly less appealing to drive, in some ways, than the seven-speed paddle-shift automatics - although for pure driver interaction the three-pedal versions are hard to beat.
The 718's beautifully poised handling, incredibly linear handling response and effortless body control at speed are now widely celebrated. This is the kind of sports car that can seem word-perfect in how it takes apart a cross-country road tough enough to expose a lesser machine. If you like a sports car with more power than its chassis can easily deploy, or whose dynamic quirks and flaws present something of a challenge to be 'driven around', you might even think a GTS 4.0 too good. Only kidding - it's flippin' brilliant.
Compared with some cars in this list, there is also perhaps a slight lack of desirability about this car, but its usability is first-rate - and, now at least, its powertrain can be considered every bit as stellar as its ride and handling.
*Save money with new 718 deals from What Car?*
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-3. Lotus Emira-
The last hurrah for internal combustion power at Lotus, the all-new Emira certainly has a lot resting on its shoulders. And the good news is that the Norfolk newcomer gets so much right, from its junior exotic looks, through to a chassis that maintains the decades-long tradition of Hethel handling greatness.
There are some novelties for a Lotus too, such as an interior that delivers previously unheard of levels of luxury and quality, plus all the latest gadgets and gizmos. It’s decently practical too, proving easier to get into and out of than an Evora and packing handy storage. This is an everyday usable sports car.
However, this extra usability and refinement comes at a cost, with the Emira weighing in at a very un-Lotus 1440kg, which is heavier even than a Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0. That means the supercharged Toyota 3.5-litre V6 doesn’t feel quite as strong as you’d expect, its efforts aided and abetted by the slightly slack six-speed manual gearbox. That said, this is still a quick car, with the 0-62mph emergency start taking 4.3sec.
More importantly, it drives like a Lotus where it matters - in the corners. The extra mass means it doesn’t feel quite as lithe as the old Elise, but the Emira is beautifully balanced and damped, helping it breathe with the surface where others attempt to pummel it into submission. The steering is quick and feelsome, and as a result the Lotus dives through bends with quick-witted agility, its ability to shrug off unsettling bumps further boosting confidence.
The Emira feels like it's a few development tweaks away from greatness, and there's a sneaking suspicion that (whisper it) the forthcoming four-cylinder car might actually be the dynamic highlight. But for now it’s a fine send-off for suck, squeeze, bang and blow sports cars.
-4. Chevrolet Corvette C8-
Much has been written about General Motors’ decision to gamble with this, the eighth generation of its iconic Corvette sports car, by switching from a front-mounted engine to a mid-mounted one. There were objective reasons to do it: because it improves the car’s weight distribution, enhances its outright handling potential and also makes it more competitive for motorsport use. And there was a more complex argument: that a mid-engined layout has become expected of an operator within this part of the sports car market, and the old C7 Corvette’s front-engined configuration made it something of a relic to the latest generation of sports car buyers.
Whatever it took to finally convince GM to make the switch, you could say it was worth it. The C8 Corvette has all of the metal-for-the-money and bang-for-your-buck value appeal as any of its forebears possessed, its supercar-looks-for-sports-car-cash shtick earning it the Dream Car accolade in the 2022 Autocar Awards. Yet there's more to its appeal than simple showroom sparkle and prices that run to £81,700 for the coupé and £87,110 for the convertible (think Porsche 911 Carrera cash).
Bristling with small-block-V8 combustive charm, the C8’s engine has excellent throttle response and has a wonderful mid-range power delivery; it likes to rev to beyond 6500rpm and sounds superb doing it. For outright performance, it feels broadly in line with the old C7 Corvette. Perhaps not quite fully ‘supercar fast’, then, but for this money, you’re unlikely to quibble with any run-to-60mph figure that starts with a three.
The C8 also handles with plenty of stability and precision, feeling instantly more benign and easier to drive quickly than any of its front-engined forebears, even if the slightly numb steering and a predilection for on-the-limit understeer might take the edge of its appeal on track days. In a subsequent twin test with a Porsche 911, however, it stood up and held its own remarkably well; and any sports car that can retain its own particular appeal under pressure from a car as complete as a Porsche '992' must be a pretty good one.
Yes, its cabin has plenty of ergonomic quirks and it still lags behind the best for perceived quality, but we can't helping feel grateful that a car like the Corvette exists at all, and in right-hand-drive form to boot. It's not an unequivocal recommendation, but the caveats are small and easily offset by the car's big-hearted character.
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-5. Jaguar F-Type-
Nearly a decade after its debut, the Jaguar F-Type is beginning its farewell tour. The British brand has announced its flagship sportscar will die at the end of 2023, with no direct replacement in the pipeline. In fact, the sales fortunes of Jaguar’s much-hyped successor to the Lyons-designed E-Type will tell you much about the development of the modern sports car market. When it was launched in 2013, we imagined the buying public would value it as a sort of prettier and more dependable modern TVR – favouring the biggest-hitting eight-cylinder engines and viewing it as a cheaper and more powerful front-engined rival to the 911.
For a while, buyers did exactly so. But as the car aged and the focus of the purist sports car market migrated (both upwards towards mid-engined super-sports cars like the Audi R8, and downwards towards cheaper mid-engined machines such as the Porsche Cayman and the Alpine A110), the F-Type had to move with it. The six-cylinder models grew in popularity, until Jaguar created another wave of interest in the car by furnishing it with a four-cylinder engine.
So, after its latest facelift at the beginning of 2020, the F-Type straddles even more market territory than it used to, despite the decision to axe the V6, which was becoming increasingly difficult to clean-up to meet emissions regulations. At the top of the range, the new R version remains a bleeding-heart, 567bhp upper-level-911 and cut-price Aston Martin Vantage rival; at the lower end, it costs less than £60,000 and makes do with just under 300bhp; and in the middle, the V8-engined, rear-wheel-drive, £70k P450 version might even be the pick of the range. As a nod to the company's 75th anniversary of its combustion engined sportscars, which stretches back to the XK120, the V8 machines will all be badged 75 for the last year of production and feature bespoke trim and equipment treatments.
Jaguar’s new styling treatment for the F-Type certainly gives it some fresh and distinguishing visual appeal, though. We have thus far only driven the range-topping R AWD coupé, but it charmed us with its somewhat antediluvian V8 hotrod speed and noise, and yet impressed with its outright handling precision and chassis composure too.
The F-Type has never been quite as complete as its key rival from Porsche, and is now considerably less ritzy and technologically sophisticated inside. There is, however, still an awful lot to like about it, and plenty of reasons to grab one while you still can.
*Save money with new F-Type deals from What Car?*
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-6. Mercedes-AMG SL-
Over the years the Mercedes SL has swung between out-and-out sportscar and sunshine-seeking cruiser, but with this latest seventh generation machine the brand's drop-top two-seater is aiming to be more of the former and less of the latter. Underpinned by an all-new aluminium platform, this SL has been engineered exclusively by the performance-enhancing engineers at AMG, which gives you the clearest indication of the SL's intent.
Other clues to the car's renewed focus include the use of a weight-saving fabric roof in place of the old car's folding metal hardtop, the option of four-wheel steering for enhanced agility and the fact that the entry level engine is the 470bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 in the SL55, which results in a claimed 0-62mph sprint of 3.9 seconds and 183mph top speed. If that's a bit tame for you, then the SL63 offers a 577bhp version of the same unit.
Whichever way you cut it, the new SL is a more dynamic and capable car than its predecessor, it's quick steering, strong grip and taut body control allowing it to scythe through corners with greater precision and poise. It's aided by four-wheel drive that allows you deploy all of the V8's considerable firepower out of a corner, yet also has enough of a sense of humour to permit some throttle induced yaw shenangians when you're in the mood.
That said, anyone expecting Porsche 911 levels of driver interaction and agility will be disappointed, as the Merc still feels a little too big and bloated in this company. However, the SL counters this by being more easy-going when you just want to get from A to B, its adaptive dampers slackening off for a more compliant ride and its cossting interior feeling as luxurious as that of an S-Class. As a result, the German machine is a fine all-rounder, one that's willing to play when you're in the mood but capable of cossseting when you're not.
-7. Mercedes-AMG GT-
With the spaceframe body structure of a supercar, a front-mounted engine from a muscle saloon, suspension tuned for maximum attack on the track and yet the practicality and luxury allure of an elegant coupé or roadster, the Mercedes-AMG GT is an even more bewildering addition to the sports car world than the Mercedes-Benz SLS was.
With lower-end (if you can call 523bhp 'lower-end') versions available for less than £110,000, however, it deserves to be considered next to higher-end examples of the Porsche 911 Carrera and Jaguar F-Type. In fact, thanks to its bombastic hotrod character and somewhat rough-edged, unreconstructed and to-the-point handling, it's at this level that the car probably has the greatest appeal.
Of course, there would be times when you’d grow tired of the GT's high-adrenaline temperament and lack of civility; but cheaper versions of this car have that bit less wearing aggressiveness about their character than the pricier ones, and the car's highs would always outweigh the moments when it annoyed. The GT is certainly capable and versatile – as much as cars twice its price – and it's so charming and lovable with it, even if not quite as delicate as alternatives.
*Save money with new GT deals from What Car?*
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-8. BMW M240i xDrive-
Straddling the line between sports car and coupé, the fairly freshly minted 2 Series makes a compelling case for itself as a driver’s car, particularly in racy M240i xDrive guise. This is the most focused version of the two-door machine until the arrival of the all-new M2, but it shares quite a bit of its Motorsport-infused DNA with its brawnier brother.
Muscular haunches hide a shortened version of the 3 Series platform, while the long nose houses a 368bhp version of the tried, tested and turbocharged B58 3.0-litre straight six. It’s mated to a four-wheel drive system that has a sense of humour, diverting enough torque rewards for some tail-happy corner exits if you’re in the mood. The rest of the chassis is pretty good too – meaty steering, strong grip and eager agility drawing you into the action.
Yet the BMW’s party trick is its ability to turn into an everyday cruiser, a touch of a button slackening of its adaptive dampers for a cushioned ride, while styling that’s at the sit-up-and-beg end of the coupé spectrum allows room for four and a decent boot.
We still can’t wait for the full-blown M2, but for now the M240i is an engaging and entertaining understudy.
-9. Audi TT RS-
Like the Jaguar F-Type sitting a little higher up this list, the Audi TT RS is living on borrowed time. The brand has revealed that the curtain will be drawn down over the eye-catching coupe at the end of 2023, a quarter of a century after the original made its debut.
So, what will be missing, and why should you buy one now before the factory doors close for the final time? Well, the TT still looks the part and in range-topping RS guise it has a stonking 395bhp five-cylinder engine that delivers a warbling soundtrack that instantly brings to mid the firm's brutal Group B rally machines. Thanks to Quattro four-wheel drive, it can do 60mph in comfortably less than 4.0sec, and if you pay extra it will run on to as much as 174mph.
The car's chi-chi design appeal probably doesn't have the same allure among cars like this that it might among Mazda MX-5s and Toyota GT86s, and it isn't the most multifaceted or engaging driver's car in this class either. The four-wheel-drive layout makes for a slight lack of throttle-on cornering balance on the limit of grip, with the TT RS's controls feeling a bit remote and over-filtered.
As a final hurrah, Audi has also revealed a celebratory Iconic Edition version of the RS. Mechanically identical to the standard car, it does feature a unique bodykit, interior trim and a smattering of iconic badges, all for an eye-watering £87,650 (yes that's right, a similar price to a Porsche Cayman GT4). Just 100 will be built, with 11 coming to the UK, all of which have already been sold.
*Save money with new TT RS deals from What Car?*
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-10. Lexus LC-
As a keen driver, you feel inclined to make a case for the LC. It has a superbly charismatic and likeable V8 engine, while balanced, spry, involving handling makes it feel, at times, more of a natural rival for the Jaguar F-Type or Porsche 911 than the mix of two- and four-door sporting grand tourers that Lexus identifies as its true opponents. Hence its inclusion here.
But the LC seems large, heavy, leaden-footed and a bit cumbersome on the road at times, so you never quite escape a feeling of ambivalence towards it. On song, its V8 engine is hugely special, and on a smooth surface its sheer agility and balance are quite something. Equally, the cabin, while remarkably luxurious, wants for much in the way of storage space, while the car's touring credentials are undermined by a particularly unpleasant run-flat-shod secondary ride.
Ultimately, depending on how much you’re moved by its virtues or irked by its shortcomings, the LC is either a bit of a rough diamond or the dreaded curate’s egg. For us, it’s much closer to the former.
*Save money with new LC deals from What Car?*
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