2009 nissan 370z
Look for Nissan's 2009 370Z to go on sale in January.

Consumer Guide's sporty/performance car class probably contains the most diverse variety of vehicles. While cars we put in this segment categorize driving fun as their primary goal, they go about reaching it in different ways. Some are performance hatchbacks, others drop their tops for open-air fun, and a few are muscular coupes.

This class also encompasses a wide range of prices, from about $17,000 all the way to more than $40,000. As a whole, these cars provide good performance at prices that won't break the bank, though some may crack it a bit. Some have front-wheel drive, others send power to the rear wheels. Most offer seating for four passengers, but often times their rear compartments are generally hostile towards anyone who's not a toddler.

While sporty/performance cars are all about driving excitement at affordable prices, the 2009 model year brings a few significant changes. We bid adieu to Hyundai's Tiburon, but the Korean automaker plans to be back in this segment for model-year 2010 with its new Genesis coupe. Also gone is the high-performance Volkswagen R32.

Mitsubishi's Eclipse and Mazda's off-beat RX-8 get nip/tuck exterior styling updates. RX-8 also receives a new R3 model, which has a specific sport suspension and interior trim. Mazda also has something in store for its venerable MX-5 Miata convertible, though the company is tight-lipped as to what. The two-seat Pontiac Solstice convertible is joined for '09 by a coupe with a removable hardtop.

New for 2009 is an expanded lineup of Dodge's retro-sporty Challenger. In addition to the high-performance SRT8, lower-cost, less-powerful SE and R/T models join the roster. Also new is a John Cooper Works package for the Mini Cooper and extended-wheelbase Mini Clubman. That package includes a high-output turbocharger, which boosts the Mini's engine output to a startling 208 horsepower. Take a moment to let that sink in: a 208-horsepower Mini Cooper.

Coupe versions of Nissan's 350Z become the 370Z for 2009. The 2-door convertible version carries over as the 350Z, returning with few changes. The freshened "Z car" debuted at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The revised coupe is called the 370Z because it gets a new 332-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine, replacing the 3.5 V6 that's in the 350Z.

The Ford Mustang, Honda S2000, Saturn Sky, Scion tC, Volkswagen GTI, and Volkswagen New Beetle continue into 2009 with no major changes.

Hot Hatchbacks

Hatchbacks make up the largest group of cars in Consumer Guide's sporty/performance class. They include the Mini Cooper, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Nissan 370Z, Scion tC, and the Volkswagen GTI and New Beetle.

Sporty/Performance Car Facts
  • The Honda S2000 can rev like a motorcycle. Its redline is a sky-high 8,000 rpm.
  • The Mazda RX-8 is the only new car sold in the United States that uses a rotary engine.
  • The Volkswagen GTI is the only vehicle in this class that offers the choice of two or four doors.

Their body styles and drive wheels may be similar, but that's about all they have in common among them. All except the Nissan are front-wheel-drive sporty cars. The former is rear-wheel drive. Engine choices vary from the small 4-cylinder found in the Mini to the brawny V6 in the Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Volkswagen's GTI deserves special mention. This hatch is one of the more practical vehicles in this group, offering two- or four-door body styles, accommodations for five adults, and a good amount of cargo room. Yet this hatch is still a blast to drive. The engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 200 horsepower. You can get a 6-speed manual transmission or Volkswagen's "Direct Shift Gearbox" 6-speed automatic. The automatic will let you change gears manually via the floor shifter or steering-wheel paddles. It's a bit on the pricey side, but it comes with a lot of safety features including ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. GTI 4-doors are even available with rear side airbags, a feature more commonly found in luxury sedans.

Dropping the Top

Sporty/performance convertibles are just as diverse a subgroup as the entire class. Want a small, two-passenger roadster? How about something with a V6 or V8 engine to really get the wind whipping through your hair? They're all here.

Small convertibles come in a few forms. Probably the most well-known is Mazda's MX-5 Miata, which is available with either a manual soft top or the all-weather security of a power-retractable hard top. Other two-seaters include the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky from General Motors. Honda's S2000 fits in this group with its high-revving 4-cylinder engine. Nissan's 350Z is also a drop top.

A common issue associated with convertibles is the tendency for the body to flex and creak when going over bumps. The representatives in our sporty/performance car class all have very solid body structures that minimize this condition. The sharp handling of these cars affords them such solidity.

Flying the Coupe

With more than 40 years of heritage under its belt, the Ford Mustang is a popular choice for its retro-flavored styling, high performance, and reasonable pricing. Enthusiasts will want one with a V8 engine. With either manual or automatic transmission, Ford says the 300-horsepower Mustang GT can go from 0-60 mph in about 5.2 seconds. Faster still is the Shelby GT500. Channeling the super-high-performance Shelby Mustangs of the late 1960s, the GT500 has 500 horsepower.

Dodge wants to steal the Mustang's spotlight with its revived Challenger. Introduced in limited quantities late in the 2008 model year, Challenger is a full product line for '09. Base SE and mid-line R/T trim levels join the high-performance SRT8. Also new for 2009 is the availability of a 6-speed manual transmission, which joins a 5-speed automatic. SE models have a 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. The R/T has a 5.7-liter version of Chrysler's Hemi V8, which produces 376 horsepower with the manual transmission and 372 with the automatic. SRT8 models have a 425-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi V8.

We would be remiss not to give mention to Mazda's RX-8. This sporty car is a "4-door" coupe with two regular doors and a pair of rear-hinged back doors that don't open independently of the front. This design is similar to what Saturn used for its compact Ion coupes. RX-8 is also unique because of its Wankel rotary engine. Instead of the pistons and cylinders found in most gasoline engines, the Wankel rotary produces power via a triangular rotor that spins inside a housing. The design allows for high horsepower output from an engine that's small in displacement and physical size. The RX-8's rotary engine displaces only 1.3 liters, but its maximum output is 232 horsepower.

Decisions, Decisions

Being that the sporty/performance car class is so diverse, it's hard to say which is the "best" or "right" vehicle. It all depends on your interests, whether you want a coupe, hatchback, or convertible. Just be prepared for the compromises that come with buying this type of car. Limited passenger and cargo room, potentially heavy fuel thirst, and higher insurance premiums are among the factors you need to think about when shopping vehicles in this class. One thing is for certain, any one of the vehicles in this category will provide a heapin' helpin' of pure driving enjoyment--far more than what you'd find in a typical car, truck, or SUV.