Lotus, Porsche and Corvette: the best sports cars to buy in 2026
Back in the 1960s, British sports cars ruled the world. From the Lotus Seven to the Jaguar E-Type – not forgetting the venerable MGB – they were almost as big as the Beatles.
Today, we seem to be falling out of love with sports cars. Registrations are down across Europe, with some models witnessing a major slump in sales. The reasons for this are manifold, but include the popularity of SUVs, higher energy bills, tightening emissions legislation and the ever-increasing cost of developing a new car.
Wherever the blame lies, though, the outcome is the same: fewer sports cars on sale. Indeed, we recently bid farewell to three of our former favourites: the Alpine A110, Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman and Toyota GR86.
Don’t despair just yet, however, because there are still some brilliant ways to get your driving kicks. As your starter for 10, here are Motoring Research’s favourite new sports cars to buy in 2026. Our choices are presented in alphabetical order.
Caterham Seven
Caterham has been playing the role of wasp at the supercar picnic since 1973. That’s when the company, now based in Dartford, acquired the rights to build the Lotus Seven: one of Britain’s simplest and most driver-focused sports cars. Prices range from £29,500 to £80,000, or you can save money by having a chassis and boxed components delivered to your garage, along with an assembly guide.
The Seven 170R pictured above weighs a mere 440kg – a tonne lighter than a Porsche 911 – and will sprint to 60mph in 6.9 seconds. At the opposite end of the range, the ballistic Seven 620 uses a supercharged Ford engine for 0-60mph in 2.79 seconds and a top speed of 149mph.
Of the Seven 170R, we said: ‘Sitting almost atop the live rear axle, the tarmac inches from your elbows and a view of the front suspension jostling ahead, you’re acutely aware of the road and how the chassis reacts to its every nuance.
‘The steering feels disconcertingly direct at first, but you soon tune into its vivid, hyperactive responses. Compared to a “normal” car, it feels like the Seven has downed a double espresso.’
Read our Caterham Seven 170R review and Caterham 360R review
Chevrolet Corvette
For the first time in its 73-year history, ‘America’s sports car’ is available in right-hand drive. This eighth-generation ‘C8’ model is also the first Corvette with its engine mounted in the middle. Purists will be relieved to note, however, that power still comes from a brawny, big-capacity V8.
Three varieties of Corvette are sold at Chevrolet’s six official dealerships across the UK: the 482hp Stingray (priced from £97,760), 644hp E-Ray (£158,720) and 646hp Z06 (£182,920). All are offered in coupe or folding-hard-top convertible body styles.
We loved the intensity of the hardcore Z06, but the hybrid E-Ray is our favourite ‘Vette overall. It combines a 6.2-litre V8 with an electric motor mounted on the front axle. The result is all-wheel-drive performance to worry much pricier European supercars.
Of the Corvette E-Ray, we said: ‘Before starting the E-Ray, you can select Stealth mode to drive away on battery power at speeds up to 45mph. You won’t get far before the V8 blares into life, but it might avoid upsetting the neighbours in the morning.
‘Under full acceleration, when the electric motor is playing its part, a spaceship-style whine is channeled into the cabin. Combined with the V8’s rumble, it makes for a highly passable impression of a World Endurance Championship (WEC) hypercar.’
Read our Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray review and Corvette Z06 review
Ford Mustang
Sports car or muscle car? The Ford Mustang has an axle in both camps, but there’s no questioning its status as an automotive icon: one as American as baseball or mom’s apple pie.
You can now buy a battery-powered Mustang, of course – the electric Mach-E SUV – but it’s the OG version we’re talking about here. Available in GT coupe, GT convertible or Dark Horse guises, it costs from £58,670.
Even the entry-level 446hp six-speed manual Mustang will hit 62mph in 5.3 seconds. Choose the sharper, track-focused 453hp Dark Horse and this drops to 5.2 seconds – or just 4.4 seconds you choose the 10-speed automatic gearbox. Whichever ‘Stang you go for, every journey will be soundtracked by the rolling thunder of a cross-plane Detroit V8.
Of the now-discontinued Mustang Mach 1, we said: ‘If you want to go sideways, you can, but the Mach 1 is too polished to play the all-out hooligan. That doesn’t mean it has morphed into a flighty sports car, though. It remains quite a physical experience, with a heavy manual shift and a sense of weight shifting that betrays its 1,851kg heft.’
Read our Ford Mustang Mach 1 review
Honda Prelude
The new Prelude resides at the easygoing end of the sports car spectrum – and we rather like it for that. Based on the Honda Civic hatchback, it boasts a head-turning coupe body, two child-sized rear seats and a useful 264-litre boot.
A hybrid drivetrain pairs the 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a total of 184hp. Acceleration is merely brisk, with 0-62mph dispatched in 8.2 seconds, but the payoff is miserly fuel economy. On a swift cross-country drive, we managed just over 47mpg.
The Prelude’s most notable feature is the ‘S+’ automatic transmission: a CVT with artificial gears that can mimic a manual ‘box. With steering wheel paddles and rev-matching on downshifts, it adds a bit of fun to an otherwise smooth and unflappable driving experience.
We said: ‘There’s plenty of front-end precision and bite, allowing it to be threaded through corners at speed with accuracy. It has a fuss-free nature, feeling neat and confident without overloading you with feedback. Perfect GT car fodder, without the rawness and intensity of a hot hatchback.
‘Smart electronics that add some braking at the rear help the Honda Prelude turn precisely into corners, while that clever front suspension geometry provides great traction out of tight bends, quelling torque steer in the process. The deeper you dig, the more impressive it becomes.’
Lotus Emira
Any list of the best sports cars must include a Lotus, right? The Emira feels a long way from the back-to-basics Caterham (née Lotus) Seven, or indeed the much-missed Elise. However, its blend of supercar styling, explosive performance and deft handling make for a compelling package – especially with key rivals such as the Porsche 718 Cayman, Alpine A110 and Toyota GR Supra no longer available to buy new.
We recently drove the Emira Turbo SE and 420 Sport models, both of which employ the turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the Mercedes-AMG A45 S hot hatchback. You can also opt for a 406hp Toyota-supplied V6, which is available with a manual gearbox.
The Emira had a few teething troubles, but has finally blossomed into the car it should have been from the start. The flagship 420 Sport in particular is a worthy foil for the outgoing Cayman GT4. Race-bred Multimatic dampers keep it taut and tied-down at speed, without sacrificing that all-important Lotus sense of ‘flow’.
Of the Emira 420 Sport, we said: ‘As you’d hope, the same carefully enunciated communication flows through the steering, this being one of a handful of new cars to still use hydraulic power assistance – rather than a CO2-saving electric setup. It feels wonderfully linear and full of feedback, helping you to make the most of the Emira’s enhanced cornering ability.’
Read our Lotus Emira Turbo SE review and Emira 420 Sport review
Mazda MX-5
Why spend £60,000 on a sports car when less than half that figure could get you behind the wheel of the world’s favourite roadster? Over four generations and 37 years, the Mazda MX-5 has cemented a reputation as the benchmark affordable sports car.
Emissions rules mean Mazda is phasing out our preferred 184hp 2.0-litre engine in the UK, although there is still time to buy one from stock. Don’t panic, however, because the base 136hp 1.5-litre motor is still a gem, with just enough power to entertain, a snickety six-speed gearbox and malleable rear-wheel-drive handling.
Indeed, despite being on sale for more than a decade, the current ‘ND’ MX-5 seems more vital and relevant than ever before. Buy one before the fun police force it off the road altogether.
We said: ‘It is delicate, adjustable and floods you with feel and feedback. Compared to a hot hatchback, it almost feels over-soft, as the body rolls in corners and the suspension is supple over bumps. This, however, is because it’s so light, meaning Mazda hasn’t had to battle with managing excess weight.
‘Best driven with fingertips, it’s nimble and flows beautifully, feeling exactly like the 1960s throwback Mazda intended since day one.’
Morgan Plus Four
First launched in 2020, the Morgan Plus Four boasts a bonded aluminium platform, double wishbone suspension and a twin-turbocharged BMW engine. More recent updates included LED headlights with integrated indicators, new puddle lights, a redesigned rear diffuser and an optional Dynamic Handling Pack.
At £1,995, the latter is an essential upgrade, giving the Plus Four a newfound sense of poise and accuracy. Developed with suspension specialist Nitron, it consists of stiffer springs, adjustable dampers and a rear anti-roll bar. It’s the best upgrade you can make to a Plus Four.
We said: ‘The Morgan Plus Four is a trad British sports car with modern manners – if you opt for the new Dynamic Handling Pack. Most people will buy a Boxster instead, but a Morgan isn’t for most people.
‘It’s a car that keen drivers can enjoy without qualms, blending exciting performance with lucid steering, deft damping and real exuberance when its limits are tested. Appearances, it seems, can be deceptive.’
Read our Morgan Plus Four review
Porsche 911
To many people, the Porsche 911 is the definitive sports car, bridging the gap between affordable two-seaters and six-figure supercars. Sure, prices start from around £100,000, but the beauty of the 911 is that you don’t have to progress far beyond the ‘entry-level’ model for the pure Porsche experience.
Indeed, we think the 911 Carrera, which was updated in 2025, is a very complete package. Granted, a total of 394hp from a 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six looks a bit ‘meh’ in a world of 400hp hatches and 1,000hp EVs, but they don’t offer the poise and purity of a 911.
Not convinced? The lighter, manual-only 911 Carrera T is the arguably the driver’s choice – unless your budget stretches to the sublime, track-oriented 911 GT3 – while the new hybrid 911 Carrera GTS (pictured above) is an accomplished all-rounder. There are no wrong answers here.
We said: ‘If you have £100,000 to splash on something sporty, it remains the default choice. Does ‘default’ also mean ‘dull’? Absolutely not. I’ve been lucky enough to test many exotic 911s, from classic RS models to a tuned Turbo. I always enjoyed the experience, but after a few hours I usually felt ready to return the keys. That isn’t the case here. Indeed, I could have happily carried on driving the 911 Carrera, taken it home and lived out my days with it. The only sports car you need? Yes, something like that.’
Read our Porsche 911 Carrera review and 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid review
Radical SR10 XXR
Meet the Radical SR10 XXR, a purpose-built race car with Bugatti-baiting performance and no electronic driver aids. It’s not the kind of car you’d climb into for a commute to the office, unless your office happens to be Silverstone or Spa.
Power is sourced from a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine from the Ford Focus ST, which, thanks to a custom Garrett turbocharger, forged pistons, a high-flow exhaust and a Life Racing ECU, produces 425hp. That’s in a car weighing just 725kg. No surprise, then, that it’ll hit 62mph in just 2.4 seconds.
We said: ‘Forget track-focused road cars: this is the real deal. The Radical SR10 XXR will teach you to be a better driver, and make you grin in the process. Its real USP, though, is the Radical Cup race series: a relatively affordable route into national-level motorsport.’
Read our Radical SR10 XXR review
One to avoid: Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupe
With its flowing curves and muscular haunches, the AMG GT looks stunning. In ’63’ guise, as tested, it boasts a 585hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 beneath that long bonnet. So what’s not to like?
Well, for all its visual and aural chutzpah, the GT simply isn’t as enjoyable to drive as a Porsche 911. Its ride is rather brittle on UK roads, you sense its near-two-tonne mass when changing direction, and its screen-focused cabin doesn’t feel sufficiently special. Ultimately, the AMG can’t decide whether it’s a luxurious GT or a serious-minded sports car – and it fails to hit either target.
Of the AMG GT 63, we said: ‘The young adult elephant in the room is a (DIN) kerb weight of 1,895kg – around 250kg more than both the outgoing GT and a Porsche 911 Turbo S. Add a passenger and some luggage and this has become a two-tonne sports car.
‘Attack the road and the GT 63 raises its game to suit, rear axle steering and the Active Ride Control system – with electronic anti-roll actuators at each corner – keeping all that mass firmly in check. It isn’t as flamboyant or ultimately as much fun as its forebear, but the payoff is a more confidence-inspiring chassis, particularly when driving on a damp surface.’
Read our Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupe review
Tim Pitt writes for Motoring Research