2008 Sporty/Performance Car Lineup

2008 sporty/performance cars
Ford Mustang
Base Price Range: $19,250-$46,755
EPA MPG Range: 14-26
Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
Our Recommended label applies mainly to the GT versions, but V6 Mustangs also have some bang-for-the-buck appeal. They rival some sporty imports on price, though not agility, refinement, or overall quality. GTs deliver great "go" for relatively little dough. GT500 offers even higher performance at a reasonable price, but its interior isn't as special as the rest of the car. Convertibles blend value, verve, and nominal four-seat practicality. Mustang's main letdowns are low-rent cabin appointments and occasional workmanship lapses.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Honda S2000
Base Price Range: $34,300-$37,300
EPA MPG Range: 18-25
Body Style: 2-door convertible
The S2000 is pure sports car fun. It's a bit stiff-riding and noisy, and the Mazda MX-5 is a little more practical and a lot less costly, but for motoring enjoyment the spicy S2000 rivals the Porsche Boxster and a comparably powered BMW Z4 for thousands less.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Hyundai Tiburon
Base Price Range: $16,595-$22,695
EPA MPG Range: 17-28
Body Style: 2-door hatchback
It's not that quick or refined even with the V6, and the basic design is aging, but Tiburon is a solid and capable sporty coupe. Budget-friendly prices and Hyundai's long warranties make it a good alternative to the Scion tC or a high-line Honda Civic coupe.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Mazda MX-5
Base Price Range: $20,585-$27,860
EPA MPG Range: 20-27
Body Style: 2-door convertible
This Best Buy delivers as much driving enjoyment--if not outright power--as two-seat sports cars costing thousands more. MX-5 combines open-air driving fun with surprising practicality, including a remarkably well-engineered retractable hardtop. Some versions are a bit pricey, but resale values are strong.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Mazda RX-8
Base Price Range: $26,435-$32,070
EPA MPG Range: 16-23
Body Style: 4-door coupe
The 2008 Mazda RX-8 is little changed. This four-passenger sporty coupe is unique for using a rotary engine, which replaces pistons pumping in cylinders with triangular rotors spinning in oval chambers. It also has rear access doors that don't open independently of the fronts. RX-8 delights for its exceptional handling ability and slick-shifting manual transmission. The rotary engine that makes this car unique is its biggest liability, however. It feels underpowered and delivers subpar fuel economy. Interior comfort also fails to impress, and lofty sticker prices further diminish this sporty car's appeal.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Mini Cooper
Base Price Range: $18,050-$25,400
EPA MPG Range: 25-40
Body Styles: 2-door hatchback, 2-door convertible
Minis may look like economy cars, but these Recommended picks are actually sporty driving machines. The base models have no surplus of power, but S versions are quick, and all handle with the agility of a sports car. Ride is a sore point, as is rear-seat room; on convertibles, add to that terrible top-up visibility and limited cargo space. But Minis are reasonably priced, brim with character, and are available with a dizzying array of personalizing accessories.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Mitsubishi Eclipse
Base Price Range: $19,999-$29,599
EPA MPG Range: 16-28
Body Styles: 2-door hatchback, 2-door convertible
Cramped, noisy, and difficult to see out of, Eclipse sacrifices much for the sake of style. No version possesses the handling poise of rivals that benefit from lighter weight and/or rear- or all-wheel drive. Still, Eclipse's sporty character, powerful available V6, new convertible model hold some appeal for buyers who favor youthful appearance over balanced performance.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Nissan 350Z
Base Price Range: $27,980-$41,330
EPA MPG Range: 17-25
Body Styles: 2-door hatchback, 2-door convertible
This Recommended pick delivers pure sports-car satisfaction, but not without the typical sports-car vices; namely, a rough ride and high noise levels. Initial pricing is reasonable, but you must move up to more expensive trim levels in order to gain features such as an antiskid system and leather upholstery.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Pontiac Solstice
Base Price Range: $21,675-$27,275
EPA MPG Range: 19-28
Body Style: 2-door convertible
The base Solstice and its Saturn Sky sibling match Mazda's MX-5 for performance, handling, and style, but not for practicality or powertrain polish. The turbocharged Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line are notably faster, but suffer the same drawbacks as the base versions. Still, Solstice and Sky are affordable, fun-to-drive American sports cars--even if they don't always impress of refinement, decor, or design detail.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Saturn Sky
Base Price Range: $24,975-$29,175
EPA MPG Range: 19-28
Body Style: 2-door convertible
Like its Solstice sibling, Sky offers affordable sports-car fun, but feels unfinished. The base model rivals Mazda's MX-5 for performance, handling, and style, but not for practicality and overall polish. The punchy Red Line compares more with Honda's S2000 on price and performance, but has the same drawbacks. For now, Saturn (Pontiac, too) gets an A for effort, C for execution.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Scion tC
Base Price Range: $15,300-$17,800
EPA MPG Range: 20-29
Body Style: 2-door hatchback
The tC is a solid Best Buy that combines sporty performance, surprising space, and lots of standard features--all at bargain prices. Dealer-installed accessories provide ample scope for personalizing, but can fast inflate delivered prices.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Volkswagen GTI
Base Price Range: $22,730-$32,990
EPA MPG Range: 18-29
Body Styles: 2-door hatchback, 4-door hatchback
GTI offers many laudable standard safety features, and some uncommonly upscale conveniences. But options can lift sticker prices to the top of the class. Still, this is a a practical hatchback with near premium-compact build quality and serious driving-enthusiast appeal. That blend earns this sporty hatchback our Recommended nod.

2008 sporty/performance cars
Volkswagen New Beetle
Base Price Range: $17,365-$26,625
EPA MPG Range: 20-29
Body Styles: 2-door hatchback, 2-door convertible
The retro styling has its drawbacks and the 5-cylinder engine is no prize. New Beetles are entertaining and reasonably practical funmobiles. Convertibles sacrifice some of the hatchback's passenger and cargo space, but reward with a particularly expansive open-air feel.