When it comes to fun-to-drive cars, sports coupes are among the best out there. By definition, they are sleek, trimmed-down vehicles that place one thing above all else (or two things, rather): looks and performance. Ranging from American muscle cars to genuine luxury roadsters, these vehicles are the embodiment of fun. But, the selection is bigger than you may think, so finding the one that fits you like a driving glove can be difficult. To help you sift through the options, we have given each model a ranking in our list of the best sports coupes of 2022.
You may have noticed that many of these have similarities, such as eye-catching designs, but they share other traits, too. There will always be exceptions to the rules, but these are the characteristics that generally define two-door sports cars:
Design: Just like a gourmet meal needs to be devoured with the eyes before the mouth, the best sporty coupes need to seduce you to get behind the wheel. Apart from two doors, these cars have sloping rooflines and sensuous curves that evoke the image of motion. However, some brands take a different take and opt for aggressive styling that is reminiscent of classical muscle cars, and it still speaks the same language.
Performance: And the language is speed makes right. You may find a turbo- or twin-charged four-cylinder under the hood, but the chance of a V6 or V8 is very high. Not only does this give these coupes the chops to deliver on the promise of their good looks, but the soundtrack that accompanies the driving experience is to die for. More often than not, rear-wheel drive is the norm, but many high-powered coupes enjoy the added confidence of AWD traction.
Price: Power has a price, or so we are led to believe. Many 2-door sports cars will cost you an arm and a leg, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some cheap, or at least affordable, options. Nevertheless, the best-looking, fastest, and most engaging will set you back a pretty penny. If you want an interior that looks as good as the outside, expect to approach the six-figure mark.
What to Consider When Buying a Sports Coupe
You’d think speed and massive curb appeal would be for everyone, but that’s simply not the case. Everyone wants something different from a new car, and while there are some sports coupes that can deliver a comfortable and sedate driving experience, it’s not where their strengths usually lie. To see if a new high-performance coupe should be at the top of your shortlist, consider these pros and cons:
Pros
Horsepower and torque for days
Breakneck acceleration and top speeds
Unrivaled driving dynamics
Sheer driving pleasure
Decent, if not excellent, ride comfort
Good looks, both inside and out
Cons
The majority are not meant for the masses
Fuel economy is generally an afterthought
Not the best in terms of safety
FAQs
What are the best sports coupes?
This is not a simple question. The sheer number of capable performance vehicles out there is quite staggering, and each has its own charm and appeal. We might score the Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe higher than its rivals, but the BMW M8, Audi R8, Bentley Continental GT, and Porsche 911 Turbo all earn high BuzzScores.
Are there any affordable sports coupes?
While the majority of sports cars are aimed at the top 1%, there are a few everyman models. At just over $40,000 are the Ford Mustang Bullitt, the Audi TT Coupe, and the Toyota GR Supra. Dodge is particularly well-known for supplying high-powered automobiles at a reasonable cost. But if you want to spend under $40k, you’d have the best luck looking at the used market.
What is the fastest coupe?
The Bugatti Chiron in Super Sport guise can reach a top speed of 304 mph.