Along with swift acceleration and stunning cornering capabilities, these sports cars also come with economy-car gas mileage.
It's hard to avoid the headlines about how gas prices are rising at an unprecedented rate, and how that is unlikely to change anytime soon. It seems inevitable that the price of gas is going to keep shooting up for the foreseeable future, and as much of a bummer as that is for car enthusiasts, it doesn't have to be a total fun killer. In fact, there are plenty of fun sports cars out there that won't cost any extra at the gas station than a regular economy car.
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All of these efficient sports cars share some common attributes: they're all lightweight with small engines and a focus on handling rather than all-out speed. None of these cars will be able to drag race a Hellcat at the stoplights, as that level of straight-line acceleration is reserved for performance EVs like the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan. Instead, this list focuses on cars that feel great on the back roads or the track, with plenty of potential to upgrade if necessary. And of course, all of them come with great gas mileage for budget-friendly driving.
The Miata is undoubtedly one of the best sports cars on the market in terms of the value it offers, as it's a great all-around package that doesn't really have many flaws. One of its many selling points is its efficiency, which is mostly down to its four-cylinder engine.
Miata drivers can expect to get up to 34 mpg on the highway according to the EPA, and up to 29 mpg combined. A real-world test by Car and Driver achieved a higher figure, with the hard-top RF variant getting 37 mpg over a 200-mile highway route.
The new version of the BRZ is actually slightly less efficient than its predecessor thanks to its larger engine, but it's also more fun to drive. Official ratings put the car at 30 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined, although the BRZ only manages 21 mpg in the city.
It's not the most efficient car on this list, but its figures are comparable with many best-selling crossovers and SUVs, so it still deserves a spot here. Not to mention, the 2022 BRZ is a significantly improved car over the old version, and its low starting price makes it a bit of a steal in the current market.
Despite its modern hot hatch looks, the Hyundai Veloster N treats drivers to a more old-school sports car experience, with plenty of turbo lag and a more gruff engine note than most of its rivals. It's the only surviving Veloster trim, as the base-level car was killed off last year.
According to the EPA, the Veloster N will achieve 22 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway, although it's worth noting that premium gas is recommended by the manufacturer. That means fuel costs are going to be higher even if the driver tries to drive frugally.
Alfa's slow-selling 4C was finally axed at the end of 2020 after years of underperformance, and the final examples have recently been shifted off dealer forecourts. That means buying a new 4C will now be impossible, but there's plenty of nearly-new stock floating about on the used market.
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The 4C took a beating from critics for its sub-par ride and mediocre four-cylinder engine, but it did win plenty of fans too. Its looks are certainly on point for an Alfa, and that four-cylinder helped ensure that although it might not be the purebred Italian missile that some fans dreamed of, the 4C is a surprisingly efficient head-turning sports car.
The BMW M440i xDrive is very different from most of the other cars here. It's a luxurious executive sports coupe with a hybrid system and four-wheel drive, but it still ticks both boxes of being great fun to drive and surprisingly efficient.
It might not be a bare-bones sports car, but it handles just as well as one, and its bigger engine means it's faster in a straight line than most of the other cars on this list. The best part? Thanks to its hybrid setup, real-world testing has seen the car achieve over 34 mpg over a combined highway and city route.
If the Mazda Miata isn't quite stylish enough, then its Italian cousin might be just the ticket. The Fiat 124 Spider is essentially a reskinned Miata, but that's no bad thing, as it uses the same efficient internals as its Japanese rival.
Fiat isn't a big name in the US, and there are rumors that the brand might be axed in North America over the next few years, so anyone wanting one of these funky roadsters should act quickly. The car was discontinued in 2021, but it's still just about possible to find a new one on dealer forecourts, although it won't be that way for long.
Despite all the controversy over the Supra being closely related to the BMW Z4, most people who have actually driven one agree that it's a genuinely great car. Toyota's gearhead CEO even had a personal hand in its development, helping to ensure its handling was exactly the way he wanted it.
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The EPA claims it'll achieve up to 32 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined, decent figures for a car built from the ground up for performance. At around $44,000 starting price, it won't break the bank to buy a Supra, and it won't break the bank to run it either.
The newly-unveiled 2022 Honda Civic Si gives every other sports sedan a good run for their money, as it offers a winning combination of affordability, fun, and practicality. It's also efficient, with official ratings of 27 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.
The Civic Type R sits at the top of the Civic range, but many consider the Si the variant to get thanks to its cheaper starting price and thoroughly enjoyable handling. It even compares well to veteran competition like the Subaru WRX, a long-standing favorite in the segment.
The Audi TT has been around for over 20 years now, and in that time it's sold hundreds of thousands of units all over the world. Since the flagship R8 was debuted, the TT has been somewhat in its shadow, but it doesn't deserve to be, as it's a great car in its own right.
It's also a surprisingly efficient choice, with an official rating of 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. That puts it considerably ahead of its chief rival, the Porsche Cayman, which claims still-competitive figures of 12 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
When it comes to driving fun, there isn't much better on the market than a BMW M2. It's a surefire future classic, with a punchy inline-6 engine and that all-important six-speed manual transmission.
The upcoming 2022 car will deliver a host of upgrades, but the 2021 car is still one of the best drivers cars on the market at any price bracket, combining track-ready handling with the ability to light up its rear tires at a moment's notice. It's far from the most frugal car here, with a rating of up to 28 mpg highway, but it's about the best gas mileage that any six-cylinder, tire-shredding track day monster is going to get.
Mark covers a variety of topics for HotCars, from the latest pickup trucks to obscure Japanese sedans. A regular fixture at car shows around the UK and Europe, if there's a weird model or obscure manufacturer, he probably knows about it. Having previously worked as a radio presenter, he knows a thing or two about Top 10 lists, and enjoys writing them as much as presenting them. Mark is a graduate of the University of Sheffield's English department and is currently based out of Birmingham, UK.