13 Underrated Performance Cars We Actually Love

Driving fast, high-performance cars is often an uncontrollable addiction both for the driver and the spectator. It makes sense that these cars are typically more expensive than regular cars because the pleasure we derive from them is made possible through specialized engineering and advanced technology.

Like all things sold on the market, performance cars don’t always cost what they are worth. They can be overvalued or undervalued.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “undervalue” means someone or something is considered less important than they really are. It’s not just about economic worth: It’s also about being misconstrued as less capable than they really are. If machines have feelings, many cars throughout history would surely have suffered from depression because they feel underappreciated.

So, we sympathetic humans take it upon ourselves to make a case for the downtrodden – the underappreciated performance cars that deserve better. Remember, the perception of “overvalue” or “undervalue” ultimately depends on individual expectations and – maybe – market trends and geographic location.

That said, we consider the following performance cars as offering more value than their price tags suggest at the time of their release or sale.

Chevrolet Corvette C8

Who thinks about the Chevy Corvette during a discussion about supercars? You should. The C8 Corvette, introduced in 2020, offered mid-engine supercar performance at a price point far below typical European competitors.

Perhaps the Corvette C8 doesn’t have the looks? Wrong. The car represents an impressive blend of supercar power, athletics, and aesthetics, thanks to its advanced aerodynamic styling and potent V8 engine.

The truth is we don’t even see it as unfortunate that what the C8 got in return is the love and admiration of Corvette fans and savvy enthusiasts. Despite being underrated, the Corvette C8 is exactly what it’s supposed to be.

Ford Mustang GT

Only discerning enthusiasts and Mustang fans know this truth: The Ford Mustang GT boasts performance figures that match, or even surpass, much pricier sports cars like the Corvette Z06 or even the worshiped Porsche 911 Carrera and Audi R8. Here’s the lowdown.

The Mustang GT comes with a 450-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 that sends the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Well, the much pricier 911 Carrera (992 generation) has a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six that brings 380 horsepower to the table.

Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86

The Subaru BRZ’s comparatively less popularity, compared to models like the Miata MX-5 and Ford Mustang, could be a good or bad thing. It depends on who’s affected and how you see it. The BRZ/Toyota 86 twins are pure enthusiast sports cars made for purists who drool at the thought of their exceptional RWD configuration and excellent balance – all at an affordable price point.

For context, the MX-5 features a 2.0-liter straight-4 that accelerates to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and achieves a 140-mph top speed. The BRZ  is not as popular (by sales numbers) but features a boxer engine that makes the distance in six seconds and achieves a top speed of 140 mph. The mainstream market may need an introduction, but enthusiasts know what’s what.

Nissan 370Z

Like the BRZ, the 350Z might be a legend in enthusiast circles, but the regular folks looking for an affordable sports car are more likely to think of the Mustang and MX-5 without a thought spared for the Fairlady. Perhaps that’s because the Fairlady has been dead since 2009?

Nonetheless, the Mustang is the world’s bestselling sports car, and the MX-5 is the world’s bestselling 2-seater even though the 350Z offered the same layout and a much more powerful 3.5-liter V6 (VQ35DE) producing 287 horsepower and 274 lb-ft of torque. Comparatively, the Miata’s Skyactiv-G generated 181 horsepower and around 151 lb-ft of torque.

Sure, so many other variables determine a car’s desirability, but the 350Z deserves better credit than the wider world gives it. Its naturally aspirated V6 and focused driving experience are what you expect from more expensive sports cars.

Hyundai Veloster N

Do you watch it drive past or look at pictures of it and feel so sorry for the Veloster? You’re not alone. It’s not for lack of performance or aesthetics because this Hyundai hot-hatch has those aplenty.

As the high-performance variant of the Veloster hatchback, the Veloster N featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter straight-4 that made some 275 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful than the globally revered Golf GTI, with approximately 220 to 245 horsepower, and the 252-hp Ford Focus ST.

While it suffered reliability problems, especially with the engine, the Veloster offered performance tuning and driving dynamics that punch above its price class.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

We’ve used the Miata several times to boost the image of other models we feel are undervalued. But the Miata is one of them as well, especially when you compare its price to the unrivaled combination of lightweight, rear-wheel-drive fun, and reliability the car brings to the table.

This author is willing to bet his year’s wages that the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata wouldn’t have a $29,000 starting price if it were a European brand. Can you imagine the Alpine A110 at $29,000? Guess not.

Dodge Challenger Hellcat

What does the Lamborghini Aventador S, McLaren 720S, and Ferrari 812 Superfast have in common with America’s Dodge Challenger Hellcat? All four boast similar performance figures. The Aventador S comes with a free-breathing 6.5-liter V12 that makes 730 horsepower.

The 812 Superfast’s 6.5-liter V12 delivers approximately 789 horsepower, and the McLaren 720S features a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 producing 710 horsepower. Yet, you’ll never see the Challenger mentioned in any worship service in honor of exotic supercars, even though the Hellcat is home to a supercharged HEMI V8 producing over 700 horsepower.

Kia Stinger GT

This is probably the first time you’ve seen Kia appear in an article about performance cars. Have you met the Stinger GT yet? It’s a high-performance sports sedan introduced in 2018 and comes with a range of engines, including a turbocharged 4-cylinder and a more powerful twin-turbo V6.

For the 2023 model year, the Stinger’s 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine delivers 385 horsepower at a screaming 6,000 rpm and 376 lb-ft of torque at 1,300 to 4,500 rpm. Yet, the Stinger just couldn’t summon the courage to ask for what it deserves in the market despite combining a robust powertrain with a satisfying list of luxury amenities.

Volkswagen Golf R

Introduced in 1974 as a longer-range Beetle, the Golf’s origin as an affordable compact car stuck to it so snuggly that the mainstream market still struggles to see it as anything more. Be as it may, the Volkswagen Golf has evolved and expanded into various configurations and performance levels, including the GTI, a diesel-powered model, a two-door convertible, and the sporty GTD variant.

Even though Volkswagen has sold over 35 million Golfs as of 2019, many still see it as no more than a reliable, affordable car for students and spinsters. Nevertheless, the Golf R is a blue-blooded enthusiast car, offering all-wheel-drive performance and a well-engineered turbocharged engine to rival some of the more prestigious and expensive performance hatchbacks.

Honda Civic Type R

The Type R upset the performance game by bringing track-level performance to the front-wheel-drive platform at a price tag that undercuts many of its less focused rivals. We’re talking about a mainstream model with track capabilities right out of the box, with features like Brembo brakes, high-performance tires, and cooling systems designed to handle the rigors of enthusiastic track fun.

It makes a strong case for the concept of Jinba Ittai by sticking to a manual gearbox – a 6-speed manual transmission with a rev-matching control system. In fact, the Civic Type R has broken many FWD lap records at famous tracks around the world, but too many people mistake it for a Civic hatchback. It’s just as well that Honda makes a comparatively few of them because the Civic Type R is for collectors and enthusiasts and not for everyone.

Ford Focus RS (last generation)

We thank the Il Commendatore, Enzo Ferrari, for taunting Ford into building the GT40, setting a new dawn in Ford’s performance. The GT40’s race-bred technologies trickled into other Ford vehicles, including the humble Focus compact car, specifically the RS hatchback variant.

Like the Civic Type R, the RS’s humble “Ford Focus” nameplate doesn’t quite betray its innovative all-wheel drive and impressive power figures. With a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine producing around 350 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, this car could have rightly warranted a higher price tag.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Sure, a starting price of around $82,000 is not most people’s definition of “undervalued.” However, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio actually uses a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6 mated to a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.

Ferrari’s head of gas engines, Gianluca Pivetti, joined Alfa’s team when the Giulia was in the works, resulting in the car benefiting from a heart designed by ex-Ferrari engineers. With the added driving pleasure of its exceptional handling, the Quadrifoglio offers Italian sports sedan flair at a price less than comparable German rivals.

Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE

It’s still just a Camaro, right? Not quite. The 1LE package transforms the SS Camaro model into a track-capable sports car with suspension, brakes, and aerodynamic elements you won’t see every day in its price range.

The ILE is inclusive of performance and cosmetic upgrades, including the FE4 Performance Suspension, red six-piston front monoblock / four-piston rear calipers, electronically controlled limited-slip 3.73:1 differential, six-speed manual transmission, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires, dual-mode performance exhaust system, larger splitter plus a rear blade spoiler, Recaro front buckets, and synthetic-suede-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel and shift knob.