Sports coupes are a rare breed, the challenges of developing a fun-to-drive vehicle that naturally has limited sales appeal means they are arguably an engaged species.
However, because they do bring much-needed excitement and appeal to a car brand, manufacturers have worked hard to keep them. That’s why there are some excellent two-door sports cars on the market today.
We’ve chosen five of the best to highlight, but these are by no means the entirety of your options.
Let us know in the comments or on social media which is your favourite.
Subaru BRZ – from $38,990
The BRZ underlines just how much car brands value a coupe and the attention it brings. That’s because the BRZ goes against Subaru’s core messaging of ‘all-wheel drive’ being a superior technology.
The BRZ is the only two-wheel drive model in Subaru’s line-up but it’s also the only true sports car, with the WRX more strictly-speaking a ‘hot hatch/sedan’. Subaru partnered with Toyota to build the original BRZ/86 duo back in 2012 and now, a decade later, the updated, second-generation version arrives.
It’s powered by a new, and bigger, 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer engine that makes 174kW of power and 249Nm of torque (a 22kW/37Nm increase on the old model). It also gets stickier Michelin tyres and some other suspension tweaks to improve its already engaging driving character.
Learn more about the Subaru BRZ here.
Ford Mustang GT – from $64,190
The Mustang is one of the few exceptions to the idea that sports coupes are fickle. Since Ford debuted the Mustang back in 1964 it has been a consistent part of the brand’s line-up.
It has gone through many appearances with each new generation but it has always remained the same car at its core – a V8-powered coupe.
The seventh-generation Mustang is due to be revealed before the end of 2022, but for now we’re able to enjoy the sixth-gen version and its various forms. There’s the four-cylinder High Performance, the V8-powered GT and the track-ready Mach 1.
While the four-cylinder is under-rated, the reality is the Mustang with a V8 engine is a true automotive icon. The GT is a nice car, but the Mach 1, with its Shelby parts, is the pick of the bunch.
It’s 5.0-litre V8 makes 345kW/556Nm and it handles with a precision and poise that none of its siblings can manage. It may not be as sharp as its European rivals, but it offers great bang-for-you-buck.
Read more about the Ford Mustang Mach 1.
Toyota GR Supra – from $87,303
Yet another example of two companies working together for the greater good. When Toyota wanted to revive the Supra as a premium, six-cylinder sports car it turned to a specialist in that genre – BMW.
But while the Supra and Z4 share plenty in common, the two cars have different designs and personalities on the road.
The 3.0-litre inline six makes 250kW/500Nm and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels – classic Supra despite the fact it’s a BMW engine.
It’s a fun car to drive, with a very competent chassis, which is exactly why Toyota brought it back. The new Supra is part of a wider push by the Japanese giant to inject more excitement into its image – and as we’ve said already, nothing adds excitement quite like a coupe.
Check out our Toyota Supra review.
BMW M4 Competition – from $159,900
While not quite as old as the Mustang – and you have to factor in its name change to M4 from M3 Coupe – BMW’s two-door sports car has been a staple for decades.
The latest interaction may have a bold new look thanks to the designers adding a very large twin-nostril grille, but underneath it stays true to what the M3/M4 has always been – a pure driving machine.
There’s a 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine under the bonnet, which makes 375kW/650Nm in the M4 Competition. That’s enough for it to launch 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds.
The M3/M4 has always had a strong racing lineage too, with the original E30 M3 coupe the Bavarian brand’s Group A touring car hero model. That carries on today, with the M4 GT3 developed alongside the road car to help improve the breed.
Click here to read our BMW M4 Competition review.
Aston Martin Vantage – from $299,462
For those with a bigger budget there are some very exciting choices, including Britain’s answer to the Porsche 911 and Mercedes-AMG GT.
The Vantage has been around a few years now, debuting in 2018, but it hardly feels dated. On the contrary the AMG-sourced 375kW 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 makes it feel like a potent beast on the road.
It helps that it gets an updated version of the bonded aluminium chassis from the bigger DB11, as well as adaptive dampers and an electronic rear diff, which work in harmony to ensure it handles corners with ease.
The latest Vantage F1 version recently arrived in Australia, as the brand leverages its increased involvement in the sport with an even more capable version of its stylish coupe.
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