Since we were kids, most of us have dreamed of owning those fancy sports cars. However, as life happened, we came to realize that this wasn’t the most practical of dreams; for most of us, anyway.

Sports cars are expensive, and even if you can get one at a low price—which is a rarity—the maintenance costs are generally through the roof.

But that’s not to say you can’t afford one. Thanks to car makers realizing that there’s a group of people who want sports cars but can’t afford them, they developed average-priced sports cars.

This has suddenly become a burgeoning niche. But which affordable sports cars are the best? Let’s take a look!

Fiat 124 Spider

The Fiat 124 Spider is a revival of the 60s and 70s cars. It sets itself apart from other cars by sporting retro looks. At face value, the car looks much more expensive than it is: starting at just below $27,000.

All models of the car use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that outputs up to 164 hp. Considering it’s a 1.4-liter, this is not a bad performance. The car is also fuel-efficient, delivering up to 39 miles per gallon.

Inside, the car is a bit of a tight fit—especially if you’re over 6ft tall. But being a roadster, just fold the soft top behind the seats, and it’ll be much more comfortable.

Fiat 124 Spider

Toyota 86

When it comes to affordable cars, Toyota is the brand to beat and when it comes to affordable sports cars, Toyota 86 is one of the best. The car handles like a dream, with quick reflexes and superb rear-drive performance.

With sufficient cargo space, it’s also a practical car. The four-cylinder engine might not seem like much, but you won’t mind as much when you’re on the road. It’s not like you can push the 1,000 hp monsters on anything other than a track, after all.

Toyota 86

Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the pioneers of the hot hatch segment of cars. It’s practical, for starters, with sufficient storage room and a conveniently big cabin.

It also packs in enough power to make full use of it. Its four-cylinder engine produces 228 hp, making it one of the fastest-accelerating cars you can get for under $30,000.

The Golf GTI is also quite responsive. It has firm brakes that work well on both the road and track. The response to throttle and steering is also precise, making it a pleasure to drive.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevrolet Camaro is an affordable sports car that screams high performance. Starting at around $26,000, the car packs a V6 engine in its base model.

Even the highest-end version, the Camaro SS coupe, costs under $38,000. Combining the car’s power with the six-speed manual transmission makes this one of the most fun cars to drive.

Depending on the version you go for, you can get impeccable handling. Alternatively, you can opt for brute force and performance that will have your heart thumping in seconds.

V6 Chevrolet Camaro

Subaru WRX STI

Few cars are as iconic as the Subaru WRX STI when it comes to rallying. So, there will always be a market for the road-legal version of the car. Even though the WRX STI costs just under $38,000, it’s worth every penny.

The 2.5-liter flat-four engine hasn’t changed much over the years. However, the 310 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque it produces are still impressive.

The car is firm, which makes it enjoyable to drive on twisty back roads. And, similar to a rally car, the cabin can get a tad noisy.

Subaru WRX STI

Ford Mustang

The Mustang is one of the most iconic cars of all time, with its signature headlights and visual appeal. Many have dreamed of owning one.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot. By spending just under $28,000, you can own the latest Mustang.

The base car might come with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but it’s no slouch. It churns out 310 hp and is quite fast. It can easily take down the old V8 Mustangs without breaking a sweat.

Ford Mustang

With a wide variety of models, packages and specs you can easily find a high performance, budget-friendly sports car that will suit your lifestyle.

After 25 long years, the Ford Bronco is finally making a grand comeback! The Bronco was one of the most iconic SUVs of the 90s, and it easily traded blows with the Jeep Wrangler.

However, it was discontinued in 1996 because it didn’t have a lot of demand from buyers at the time. But right now, it’s a different story.

Lots of people are anticipating this car more than any other, and you can be sure it will sell a lot. But should you also get excited for the new Ford Bronco? We have 5 reasons that might just persuade you!

Removable Doors

Image: ford.com

One of the most popular features of the Jeep Wrangler is how it lets you remove the doors and go on your drive completely doorless—and even roofless if you want.

“The total open-air experience. Class-exclusive frameless doors are lightweight and easy to remove.”

However, the Wrangler has a considerable issue: there is nowhere on the car to place the doors when you remove them. So, most people tend to leave them in the garage at home, which can be a problem if it starts to rain during your trip.

The new Bronco has solved this issue. The doors and roof are all easily removable, and you can store the doors in the trunk; the car even has tie-downs that secure the doors.

Contemporary Looks

Image: ford.com

Some reintroduced cars look nothing like their old models. Not so for the Bronco. The car is still rectangular, boxy and has a lot in common with the first-generation version.

“The new Ford Bronco looks nostalgic, contemporary, fresh and futuristic at the same time.”

However, that’s not to say the Bronco looks like a relic. The designers added just enough modern touches that make the car look contemporary.

Touches include big round headlights and slight curves in many parts of the car.

Inside, the car looks properly modern while remaining functional. It has rubberized floors you can easily wash, marine-grade vinyl seats, waterproof instrument panels and plenty of rubber.

Variety

Image: ford.com

Don’t like two-door SUVs? Want your SUV to go fast as well as far? Ford has got you covered. The Bronco comes in three versions. The two-door model looks the most like the model of old, plus it’s compact in size. It also has a hardtop as standard.

“The four-door comes standard with a soft top with the option of a modular hardtop or dual tops.”

The four-door Bronco is bigger, more spacious and comes in a soft top. It’s for guys who want to take their friends or family off-road.

The third Bronco is the Sport. It’s built for drivers who like going off-road but also want a daily driver.

Off-Road Capability

Image: ford.com

While most people assume that SUVs are generally supposed to be good off-road, this isn’t true. Many SUVs struggle on rough terrain; they just look tough, but they are meant to stay on the road.

“Bronco is ready for adventure with plenty of segment-leading design and capability features.”

Fortunately, the Bronco is off-road capable. The engineers built it to go off the beaten path and take you wherever you want. That’s the main reason why most people will buy this car, anyway.

And if you’re not really looking for a car you can get dirty with, Ford still offers a Sport version of the Bronco that you can use on the road.

Affordable

With a car that many drivers are nostalgic for, Ford could easily have charged a pretty penny for the Bronco. Instead, they’ve made it quite affordable.

The Bronco will start at just under $30,000 for the two-door version. This is a little more than $200 more expensive than the base two-door Jeep Wrangler.

For all the versions of the Bronco, Ford has ensured that the car remains competitively priced. This means that people who are torn between the two cars will make their choice based on performance, looks or just personal preference. Price is not going to be the issue here.

Lamborghini is no stranger to going all-out when it creates its supercars. Power, performance, and style are par for the course when the Italian automaker is trying to make something special. And with the Sián Roadster, Lamborghini is going all-out.

The car is a topless supercar that comes with hybrid assist. The engineers built it as the sister to the Sián Coupe that came out last year.

They gave it incredible power and an even more incredible price tag. Costing over $3,700,000, this is the kind of car you already can’t afford if you ask how much it costs.

Italian Style

Since it’s based on the Sián Coupe, the Roadster shares plenty of visual similarities with it. However, they didn’t just remove the roof and end it with that. The car’s aerial view has a periscopio line that runs diagonally from the car’s cockpit to the back.

It essentially forms aerodynamic air streamers behind both the passenger and driver. The designers drew inspiration for this from the Countach.

To increase aerodynamics, they also directed the car’s airflow through the front splitters straight to the hood. Air then flows through the Roadster’s side air intakes, and over the rear spoiler.

At the front, the car comes with its signature Y-shaped headlights. It also has a new integrated carbon front splitter. At the rear, there are six taillights that also draw inspiration from the Countach.

Stylish Interior

The Sián Roadster’s interior is largely inspired by the cockpit of a jet fighter, just like the Sián Coupe. The wide center console has toggle switches, and above it is a display screen that offers infotainment and navigation functions.

The instrument cluster is completely digital and it’s set just behind the steering wheel. The cabin also has aluminum accents in the car’s signature Oro Electrum color.

And if you want to make it even more customized, you can have your initials ingrained in the 3D-printed air vents.

Hybrid Power

The Sián Roadster runs on a 6.5-liter V12 engine that produces 785 hp. However, the engineers integrated a 48-volt electric motor that churns out an extra 34 hp. This allows the car to sprint to 60 mph in just under 2.9 seconds. It can also reach a max speed of 217 mph.

The electric motor is light, at only 75 pounds. Since the engineers integrated it into the transmission, the car’s power-to-weight ratio is an impressive 1.0 kg/hp.

The e-motor also doesn’t rely on a lithium-ion battery. Instead, it uses a supercapacitor that produces three times more power despite weighing virtually the same.

Sián Roadster Competition

When it comes to ultra-limited cars, the Lamborghini Sián Roadster is the perfect definition. If the astonishing $3,700,000 base price wasn’t enough to shock you, the developers are also producing only 19 cars. And because the rich love their toys, these 19 models have already been spoken for. If someone decides to sell their toy, the price is guaranteed to be a lot higher than a “measly” 3 million.

Because of its price and rarity, the Sián Roadster doesn’t have a lot of competition. One car that comes close is the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. It has three electric motors that it has paired to a twin-turbo V8 engine. The car is much cheaper, though, at $625,000.

Another car you might consider is the Koenigsegg Regera plug-in hybrid supercar. Powered by a 5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, it produces a mind-blowing 1,489 hp. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in just under 2.8 seconds, and it has a limited top speed of 255 mph. The car costs $2,000,000, but it’s already sold out.

For now, the Sián Roadster has few cars it can call it’s equal. But that is sure to change in the coming years.

Specifications:

• Engine: 6.5-liter V12 Hybrid

• Horsepower: 819 hp @ 8500 rpm

• Transmission: 7 Speed ISR semi-automatic

• Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive

• Configurations: Sian Roadster

• Interior Space: 2 seater

• Starting Price (MSRP): $3,700,000