24 Underappreciated Cars That Deserve More Love

Used car prices skyrocketed during the pandemic. That, combined with collectors and wealthy enthusiasts seemingly vacuuming up all the fun cars.

However, there are still some underappreciated cars out there that deserve more love.

We’ve dug deep into the internet, searching for both old and new cars that are fun to drive but still somewhat overlooked.

There’s no guarantee they’ll fly below the radar for much longer, though, so if you want one, we suggest acting sooner rather than later.

MazdaSpeed3

As you may have guessed, the Mazdaspeed3 is the performance version of the Mazda3. It packs a decent punch thanks to a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine that sends 263-hp to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual.

Edmunds compared the MazdaSpeed3 to the Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru WRX, two of the most iconic heavyweights in the JDM performance car game.

MazdaSpeed6

If you want a bit more space than the MazdaSpeed3 offers, its bigger sibling, the MazdaSpeed6, may be the perfect option. It also uses a turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder unit, but its 274-hp is sent to all four wheels via the 6-speed manual.

Only the initiated can tell there’s something special hiding underneath its sleeper body. Once the lights turn green, it’ll launch to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds and has a 150mph top speed. We’re surprised that not more gearheads are buying the MazdaSpeed6. It may not be as exciting as the Mitsubishi Evo or Subaru WRX, but it’s probably more reliable than both, and they’re available for a fraction of the price.

Honda Prelude

Honda sold the Prelude over five generations from 1978 to 2001. It was the brand’s flagship model, and the last two generations packed all of Honda’s fanciest tech.

Still, it was never as popular as certain other Japanese sports coupes. That’s good news, though, as buying one for very little money is possible. We’d either go for the third-gen with its cool pop-up headlights or the fifth and last generation with plenty of power and excellent driving dynamics.

Fiat 124 Spider

Fiat’s 124 Spider is built on the same platform as the latest Mazda MX-5 Miata, so you know it’ll be fun to drive. Mazda went with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine, while Fiat decided to use the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine from the 500 Abarth.

That decision, perhaps combined with Fiat’s less-than-perfect reputation for reliability, means it’s not as popular as its Japanese cousin. However, that little 1.4-liter is very tunable. Abarth extracted 180-hp from it, and that was with a factory warranty.

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution

Mitsubishi is perhaps best known for its Lancer Evo lineup, which enjoyed great success in the WRC. In 1997, the Japanese carmaker wanted to give the Dakar Rally a go and needed a beefed-up SUV, which resulted in another Evo — the Pajero Evolution.

The Pajero Evolution is a two-door SUV powered by a 3.5-liter V6. With 270-hp, it packed a punch that matched its aggressive yet purposeful exterior. Mitsubishi built 2,300 Pajero Evolutions, but most gearheads have never even heard of it.

7th-Gen Toyota Celica

Toyota has built seven generations of the Celica, and the last one is actually the most affordable — at least when compared to the turbocharged models. Car enthusiasts seem to either love or hate the seventh-gen Celica, primarily because of its divisive looks.

In GT-S spec, it packs a 2ZZ 1.8-liter engine with close to 200-hp. In fact, the same engine was used in the Lotus Elise. The Celica is an excellent sports coupe if you can look past its exterior design and don’t mind driving an FWD car.

Subaru SVX

We’ll admit that the Subaru SVX looks a bit odd. Honestly, it’s surprising that it even made it into production in the first place. If sales numbers are anything to go by, we’re not the only ones who think the SVX looks strange.

Only around 14,000 units were sold when it was new, and while prices have started to climb now, there are still plenty of good deals out there. Don’t buy one that needs much work, though, as parts can be tough to find. On the plus side, it offers plenty of ‘90s luxuries, and the 3.3-liter flat-six delivers a solid 230-hp.

Toyota MR2 Spyder

There aren’t many mid-engined cars out there for under $12,000, especially if you want something that doesn’t break down on a regular basis. The Toyota MR2 Spyder was never as popular as its predecessors, and that’s reflected in the current prices.

There are some valid reasons why people don’t buy it. It’s not exactly practical, as there’s virtually zero cargo space except for some tiny storage area behind the seats. It also has an underpowered 1.8-liter engine from a Corolla, pushing out nearly 140 horses on a good day. However, take it to a narrow, twisty road, and its driving dynamics will amaze you.

R170 Mercedes-Benz SLK

Mercedes-Benz introduced the first-gen SLK in 1995, and by the time production ended in 2004, over 300,000 units had been sold. It’s fair to say that its looks are a bit dated now, and that’s probably why it’s not as popular as it once was.

The SLK was one of the models that pioneered the folding metal roof, so it’s actually not as bad for winter use as many other convertibles. Supercharged 2.3-liter models can be found for under $10,000; even the 3.2-liter AMG is available for less than $15,000.

BMW Z3

BMW’s little Z3 roadster had powerplants ranging from 1.8 to 3.2 liters. While the smaller capacity four-cylinder versions arguably offer better handling, they’re severely underpowered, so we’d opt for one of the six-cylinder versions.

Rather than continue with new Z3 models, BMW abandoned the name and started over with the Z4 instead. However, we think it’s still a stylish car that deserves more attention. It’s possible to buy one for a song these days, and it’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Alfa Romeo 4C

If you want a practical sports car, there’s no need to consider the Alfa Romeo 4C. However, if you’re an Italophile who can’t afford a Ferrari or Lambo, the 4C is most likely your best bet for owning a mid-engined Italian performance car.

While it’s far cheaper than an actual supercar, the 4C isn’t cheap, and KBB claims that prices start just under $40,000. It’s certainly not the most reliable car on this list either, but thanks to its low weight and 240-hp 1.8-liter turbo engine, it’s still a fun option to consider.

Honda CRX Del Sol

We can’t deny the fact that the Del Sol had some annoying flaws — the biggest one was its targa-style roof, which is guaranteed to leak. You can try to fix it, but it’ll soon start leaking again. Another issue is its cutesy looks, and many enthusiasts avoid is as it doesn’t look aggressive enough.

However, it’s a fun sports car to drive and certainly belongs on this list. The most potent version has Honda’s iconic B-series engine, which makes it a little pocket rocket on the right roads.

Ford Probe

Ford originally introduced the Probe as a replacement for the Mustang. Luckily, that didn’t happen because the Probe is nowhere near as cool as the iconic pony car.

Its questionable name aside, the Probe was still an okay enthusiast car, especially when fitted with the 2.5-liter V6 engine. It never gained the popularity it deserved, and Ford eventually discontinued it after only seven years. The good news is that plenty of bargain-basement Ford Probes are out there.

C4 Chevrolet Corvette

The C4 Corvette was extremely popular throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but it looks very dated compared to the C5 and C6. That’s probably why it’s so overlooked among today’s gearheads as well.

Packing V8 power and more ’80s style than you can shake a stick at, the C4 Corvette is a retro bargain now. With a handful of carefully selected modifications, we think it could look seriously cool.

Porsche 968

Starting in the 1970s, Porsche sold a series of front-engined, water-cooled, rear-wheel-drive sports cars. It started with the 924, which evolved to the 944, and culminated with the 968, which was manufactured from 1991 until 1995.

The Porsche 968 has a similar profile to the 944, and the two share around 20% of their components. Under the 968’s hood, there’s a 3.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 237-hp. While it may not be as iconic as the air-cooled 911s, it’s still a proper Porsche sports car, and prices are steadily climbing.

Ford Taurus SHO

When Ford introduced the original Ford Taurus SHO (Super High Output) sedan in 1989, it featured plenty of performance upgrades over the regular model. The most important of them all was the Yamaha-built V6 DOHC engine.

The SHO was so performance-oriented that it wasn’t even initially available with an automatic transmission. With 220-hp, it could reach 60 mph in roughly six seconds and had a top speed of 143 mph.

Lancia Thema 8.32

Lancia dominated the world’s rally stages with iconic cars such as the Stratos, 037, and Delta Integrale. However, the Italian carmaker also had fun when it made some of its more luxurious road cars.

The Lancia Thema sedan was produced from 1984 to 1994 and features technology and luxuries that put it right up there with the German sedans. Under the hood, the Thema 8.32 had a 32-valve V8 engine built by Ferrari, and no one would know by looking at it.

Volvo C30 T5

At first glance, the Volvo C30 T5 may not look like much, but we all know that looks can be deceiving.

Open the hood, and you’ll see the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five engine. While it only delivers 217-hp and 240 lb-ft of torque in stock form, it has lots of untapped potential. This is the same engine found in the Ford Focus ST and RS models, and owners have extracted over 1,000-hp from them!

Kia Stinger

Many gearheads overlook the Kia Stinger, probably because the brand’s past consisted of cheap, underpowered cars with questionable build quality.

The Stinger is a proper sports sedan with a range of turbocharged engines, including a 365-hp V6 unit. The Koreans have “stolen” some of the best engineers from Audi and BMW’s performance divisions, so the Stinger certainly delivers exciting driving dynamics. As an added bonus, they even have some of the best warranties.

Porsche 928

Porsche built the 928 as a replacement for the 911, as they felt there was a shift towards grand tourers. Luckily, the 911 lived on, but the 928 is still worth checking out, especially if you want to cross continents in classic style.

Packing a large and powerful V8, most 928s had automatic transmissions, which may help explain why it’s not as popular as other Porsches.

Volkswagen Phaeton

The Volkswagen Phaeton may look like a dull Passat, but there’s much more to it than its exterior. VW boss Ferdinand Piëch decided the car had to endure some ridiculous tests, and it passed with flying colors.

Volkswagen also gave the Phaeton a W12 engine, which was basically 2 VR6 engines combined into one. As great as the car and its engine were, very few people bought it. Only 500 W12-powered Phaetons were sold in the States, and if you can find one (and can afford to maintain it), it’s definitely worth it.

Hyundai Veloster N

Hyundai is another Korean carmaker that’s commonly overlooked by performance-hungry car enthusiasts. Again, it’s a brand with a questionable past, which still affects it today.

Hyundai’s performance division, N, fine-tuned the Veloster, and its turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces a decent 275-hp. While it won’t set the world ablaze, it’s a fun hatchback that’s the perfect companion during a spirited drive on your favorite backroad.

Mk4 Volkswagen Golf V6 4Motion

The Mk4 VW Golf GTI failed to meet enthusiasts’ expectations, but the R32 was a different beast. Unfortunately, the R32 isn’t cheap, but there’s one model that’s almost as cool and for a fraction of the price.

Enter the Golf V6 4Motion. Like the R32, it has a VR6 engine, but here it’s a 2.8-liter rather than a 3.2-liter — it still sounds just as raspy and amazing. It also has the 4Motion AWD system, so no one will ever know the difference if you buy an R32 body kit.

NC Miata

Granted, the Miata isn’t exactly overlooked or underrated. If anything, it’s one of the most hyped-up cars out there, and with good reason.

In the world of Miatas, however, the third generation is severely overlooked. It has somewhat questionable styling, but it also packs a larger, more powerful 2.0-liter engine. If you want a Miata, it’s worth looking into.