The cheapest sports cars

The need to get from A to B motivates most new car purchases but what if you’re in the fortunate position to be buying something that makes the journey as important as the destination? However you choose to define it, a sports car makes driving more fun and, while it will always be something of an indulgence, it doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank. Or even be completely impractical.
Sure, for most people the definition of a sports car is something with two seats and the emphasis very much on the driving experience. But a new generation of increasingly potent hot hatches bring performance that was once reserved for much more ‘serious’ machinery to the masses, meaning you can have your thrills at the wheel with all the boot space and practicality of a standard supermini or hatchback. And at a relatively reasonable price. Here then are our top value picks for enjoying the drive and choosing a car that goes so much further than that A to B…

You don’t have to stretch to a supercar with sticky tyres and a roll cage to enjoy motorsport thrills to the road – indeed you can have all that in a humble Hyundai i20! True, it may be a relatively conventional looking supermini with added trimmings. But with its direct links to Hyundai’s World Rally Championship machines this is – literally – a sports car, and one that will deliver thrills far beyond what you might expect of its relatively modest price tag. Built by keen drivers for keen drivers, the i20 N redefines the term pocket rocket for a new age, beating the benchmark Fiesta ST in the process.
Read the full review or explore the Hyundai i20 range on Auto Trader here.

Inspired by the classic MG Bs and similar affordable sports cars owned by the team that developed the original version, the MX-5’s secret is to fixate on the fun of driving rather than chasing impressive horsepower figures or lap times. Four generations on, the latest car sticks to the same formula and, while most hot hatches would leave it for dead in performance terms, the MX-5’s revvy engine, classic rear-wheel drive balance and sheer sense of fun deliver a true sporting drive for the price of a mid-spec supermini.
Read the full review or explore the Mazda MX-5 range on Auto Trader here.

Like the Hyundai i20 N, the Toyota GR Yaris uses rallying as its inspiration but takes the idea and runs with it. While it wears a Yaris badge, the GR version shares little with the regular supermini of the same name and combines a feisty turbocharged engine with a sophisticated, multi-mode all-wheel drive system and soft, rally-inspired suspension. This makes it incredibly effective on twisty, bumpy country roads at the speeds you can sensibly enjoy them, features like the uprated brakes, carbon fibre roof and lowered body adding geeky engineering intrigue to an already fascinating car. A Yaris as a sports car? You’d better believe it!
Read the full review or explore the Toyota Yaris range on Auto Trader here.

Created by Lotus founder Colin Chapman in 1957 as a cheap, affordable sports car, the rights to the Seven were taken on by Caterham in 1973 and the formula remains as pure as it always has been. The Seven is so simple you can even build it yourself if you want, which saves a bit of money and makes the whole thing even more affordable. The cheapest Seven 170 costs about as much as an MX-5 and uses a small Suzuki engine with a mere 85 horsepower but still hits 0-62mph in under seven seconds. That price increases to over £30,000 for the more powerful 360 version, at which point the Seven gets a whole lot more serious. There’s not much to it – some motorbikes look luxurious in comparison – but you won’t find a more thrilling drive for the money. And they hold their value so well you’ll probably get most of it back when you’ve scratched the itch.
Explore the Caterham range on Auto Trader here.

A mid-engined coupe built by a brand with a proud sporting heritage stretching back many decades, created by a man with motorsport in the blood? No, not Ferrari. And not Ferrari money, either. True, £50,000 for a two-seat sports car may be stretching the ‘cheap’ angle a little but, for what you get, the Alpine A110 is, all things relative, an absolute bargain. And good enough that many are being bought by supercar owners to add to their collections alongside, yes, Ferraris, Porsches and other exotica. Thank the combination of Gallic style and fact Alpine has delivered Lotus-style minimalism without forgetting the creature comforts for that, the A110 lighter than most hot hatches but delivering true sports car performance with just a 1.8-litre engine. Comfortable, cool and even pretty good on fuel, the Alpine is just as usable on the day to day as it is for track days and road trips.
Read the full review or explore the Alpine range on Auto Trader here.

If not exactly cheap the 718 Cayman is the first rung on the Porsche sports car ladder and, arguably, the purest and one of the best models it makes, full stop. The temptations to go for the faster, more expensive versions or add lots of options are hard to resist. But exercise self-discipline, stay off the extras and a base 718 Cayman is one of the finest sports cars at any price. With a 300 horsepower engine driving the rear wheels through a gorgeous manual gearbox, the allure of that badge and beautifully balanced handling, even this entry-level model hits 0-62mph in just 5.1 seconds and can go on to 170mph. But it’s the fun it delivers at a third of that on a twisty road that really sets it apart. Why spend more?
Read the full review or explore the Porsche 718 Cayman range on Auto Trader here.