Brands

Below we highlight the most popular and the most significant sport car brands, with a synopsis of traits common among their sedans.

Audi

Audi is Volkswagen's upscale brand and plenty of sporty cars fill the roster, from the TT roadster and coupe to sports-oriented "S" versions of other, larger models. Audis tend to have attractive, well-fitting interiors and good seat comfort. Handling is good but not as agile as competing BMWs. They can be fairly pricey, especially for the souped-up S versions, and reliability has often been iffy, though has improved of late.

BMW

BMW has long set the standard for European-style "driver's cars." The M badge denotes heightened performance, available on many BMWs, though the significant enhancements to appearance, powertrain, and chassis come with a significant price. We give BMW high marks for the cars' agility, handling finesse, smooth, punchy powertrains, sophisticated engineering, and impeccable fit and finish. We have criticized the lack of rear seat room in the smaller models and the over-complexity of some controls, as well as persistent small gripes such as inadequate cup holders. Reliability has not been BMW's long suit. Most models hold up well.

At a lower price, the Mini Cooper S is a charming and truly fun-to-drive machine.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet is an iconic, all-American brand. Chevy offerings include every size and type. On the sporty side, Chevy's major entries are the high-performance Corvette and the Camaro muscle car.

Ford

The Ford logo, symbolized by a blue oval, appears on a full range of cars, trucks, and SUVs. In latter years Ford has made good use of its global resources to create great-handling cars especially those wearing the SVT badge. Currently, Ford's only entry in the sporty-car class is the Mustang coupe and convertible.

Honda

For years, Honda made a name for itself, and a good one, selling just two vehicles in the U.S., the Civic and Accord. Honda is justly known for high quality, reasonable prices, and excellent reliability. The Civic Si is a pleasant sporty sedan while the S2000 roadster is a highly entertaining "true" sports car.

Infiniti

Infiniti is Nissan's upscale brand. It long struggled in the shadow of Lexus, which was the class act among the Japanese luxury marques. Lately, though, we have been impressed with the driving qualities, powertrains, and interior design of such cars as the Infiniti G and Infiniti M sedans. Infiniti is placing more sporting character in all its vehicles.

Lexus

Lexus, a Toyota division, arrived in 1988 as the first of a wave of Japanese luxury cars. The flagship LS sedan was our top-Rated car or top-Rated luxury car for many years. Lexus is known for interior quiet, top-notch fit and finish, and refinement but lack of driver involvment. Sporty entries such as the IS and the SC, despite their impeccable finish, have not proved as sporty or engaging as competitors such as BMW. A new "F" line of performance variants promise more extreme performance, mirroring the strategy of its European competitors.

Mercedes-Benz

With a Mercedes-Benz model, you can expect an excellent powertrain at every level, crisp handling, and a composed and comfortable ride. Mercedes' seats tend to be very firm but comfortable and supportive on long trips. Some controls may be needlessly complicated. Reliability has been spotty in recent years, with the C- and E-class popping on and off our Recommended lists, but great improvements have been evident lately. Increasingly, Mercedes models have a sporty edge, though the highest-performance offerings are denoted by AMG badging. These exclusive, high-dollar versions feature upgraded powertrains, chassis, and cosmetics.

Nissan

Nissan has long been famed for its excellent engines, especially its V6s. In recent years, Nissan has made marked improvements in interior quality and packaging. Nissan made a name for itself with the Z-car series of sports coupes, and has had limited success with souped-up versions of the Sentra sedan. Nissan also makes the ultra-premium Nissan GT-R. Reliability for Nissan cars has usually been very good.

Volkswagen

A specialist in small and mid-sized cars, Volkswagen can be counted on for excellent fit and finish, crisp handling, and good ride composure. Reliability has been spotty—good one year, poor the next. That's a shame since otherwise the cars are so good and fun to drive, especially the affordable and entertaining GTI.

See also:

GPS Navigation Systems

Car batteries

Car seats

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Guide to Driving Green