Top 10 Sports Cars Of 2026 Ranked By Horsepower

2026 is shaping up to be a bold and expressive year for sports cars. Another year of holding onto our beloved internal combustion monsters, while now also enjoying the instant torque and innovation in the world of performance hybrids, and an enormous range of philosophies of what a sports car can be. In an exciting time of colliding worlds of propulsion and blueprints for the future, the best sports cars of 2026 offer the most versatile breadth of experiences the industry has ever seen.

We have chosen 10 of the most prominent performance cars for this list and ranked them by horsepower. No insane, exotic supercar inclusions, but a dive into the wonderful, speed-oriented world of the best cheap sports cars and a few bigger-budget monsters. Somewhere in this collection, there will be at least one car that proves to you that we are still having a fruitful time for the sports car section in 2026.

2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata

181 Horsepower

The Mazda MX-5 is the perfect way to start any sports car list. With the Miata having the finger on the pulse of what has always made it such a special car and being one of the very best convertible sports cars ever, it has become a modernized old-school analog wonder. Embracing a more premium interior with a new 8.8-inch touch screen and updated Alcántara material options, the MX-5 now feels like a high-quality yet driver-focused place to sit. The joy of each of the 181 horses being so vibrantly alive and so usable on public roads makes it feel as exciting as cars with triple the horsepower and shows the industry that technological wizardry cannot replace the feeling of a lightweight car with perfect distribution and dynamics.

2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata Specifications

2026 Honda Prelude

200 Horsepower

If the MX-5 were an analog go-kart of the 200-horsepower and less sports car club, the Prelude would be the geeks’ perspective on how performance is best yielded. It’s a fascinating proposition, and includes a combination of Honda’s most prevalent tech in both the seemingly contradicting worlds of efficiency and performance. Despite not using the Civic Type R’s 315 hp engine, the Type R DNA is apparent: Dual-axis strut front suspension, which essentially eliminates torque steer like a modern Type-R — a truly refined roadmap to performance.

The ultimate sensible, efficient sports car

• It can achieve 44 mpg combined
• Insulated cabin for sound deadening
• CVT transmission with motors to reproduce the feel of a traditional transmission
• Peaceful but punchy hybrid system

2026 Honda Prelude Specifications

2026 Toyota GR86 (Yuzu Edition)

228 Horsepower

The Toyota GR86 is one of the world’s best budget sports superheroes, and the 2026 Yuzu edition just takes that up another notch. With the GR86 offering Porsche-style dynamics in a car that costs only $36,365, it is no wonder that the model has captured the hearts of those with aspirations of owning a car with realistic dream performance. This version is one of the best cheap sports cars, including huge Brembo Brakes that are painted red for good measure, SACHS Dampers tuned for both imperfect surface absorption whilst maintaining flat-handling, and, of course, that classy Yuzu yellow paint which pays homage to its roots, the 2015 Scion FR-S.

2026 Toyota GR86 (Yuzu Edition) Specifications

2026 Lotus Emira

400 Horsepower

With a sudden increase in horsepower and a $115,000 price tag comes a more serious performance vehicle. Lotus isn’t trying to make the best value sports car possible; they are attempting to produce the best sports car they possibly can, and Lotus is famously excellent at it. Despite full electrification being on the horizon for Lotus, the Emira is a car that still adopts the notion of mechanical purity deep within its soul. With the legendary Toyota 2GR 3.5L V6 at the helm, which is supercharged for good measure, not only is the Emira fast, but it achieves this speed in such traditional large-displacement classiness, which is rare in 2026. Not only that, but it combines that muscular powertrain with a sub-3,300 Ibs car, creating an intoxicating combination on road or on track.

2026 Lotus Emira Specifications

2026 Nissan Z NISMO

420 Horsepower

The standard Nissan Z is a powerful, yet forgiving, comfortable grand tourer. But with the addition of the NISMO comes the introduction of a truly hardcore edition, truly focused on pure performance. With its Nissan Heritage design, NISMO branding, and incredible 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, this car seems to be keeping the insanely passionate ’90s Skyline-loving Gran Turismo fans alive with hope by offering such incredible performance through an old-school feeling powertrain.

2026 Nissan Z NISMO Specifications

With its dedication to across-the-board improvements from the standard Z, this NISMO edition has become the modern Japanese sports car fan’s dream. With Dunlop Sport Maxx GT600 tires and a new rear spoiler, this vehicle isn’t only fast by numerical metrics, but by putting those numbers down onto the track.

2026 BMW M2 CS

523 Horsepower

The 2026 BMW M2 CS is one of the most all-encompassing and impressive cars on this list, with everyday practicalities and track day performance. With BMWs becoming larger and relying more on AWD on the M5, the M2 is refreshingly compact and arguably keeps the legendary M sports spirit alive, more than the rest of the current lineup. Whilst the standard M2 is the best all-round car for speed and the daily commute, the 2026 M2 CS is the true track-weapon.

What Makes It So Deadly?

• 100 Ibs saved through carbon-fiber reinforced plastic
• True driver’s car through its RWD drivetrain
• 188mph top speed in a car that you can get your groceries in
• Optional carbon-ceramic brakes

2026 BMW M2 CS Specifications

2026 Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid

532 Horsepower

Without a doubt, the most space-age pick for this list, technology-wise. It is also one of the most controversial cars on this list, with some Porsche purists thinking hybridization ruins the essence of a 911. However, look beyond the surface and discover that Porsche has always been about engineering prowess, innovation, and pushing the boundaries of modern technology. Just look at the 959 and 928, for example.

2026 Porsche 911 GTS Specifications

The 2026 Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid keeps this alive with its extraordinary tech-magic. Some of these bleeding-edge additions include an integrated electric motor between the turbo and compressor wheels, a hidden electric motor inside the eight-speed transmission for telepathic torque off the line, and the immersive 12.6-inch curved digital cluster. Whilst brimming with extremely capable tech, it ends up weighing less than a Nissan Z Nismo and a BMW M2 CS. It is truly the pioneer of outside-the-box thinking on how to approach the performance of the 2026 sports cars.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

668 Horsepower

There is no other way to describe the 2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing other than a supercharged performance lunatic. When it comes to four-door sedans, they don’t really get any more wild than this, and its sheer dedication to a bonkers powertrain, RWD, and manual options make it one of the best sports cars out there for the thrill of hilarious insanity. Above all, this is the final manual V8 sedan left, making it feel like somewhat of an ending.

2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Specifications

But it isn’t just for donuts and drag races. The CT5-V Blackwing includes an optional “precision package” which adds stiffer springs, larger anti-roll bars, and refreshed suspension bushings. This means, once you master putting the power down with poise, you have a car that’s set up to be genuinely capable with all the luxuries you’d expect from a premium sedan, even including a staggering 33-inch curved LED screen.

2026 Corvette Z06

670 Horsepower

Whilst the Corvette always felt more like a muscle car, rather than a sports or supercar, the most recent iterations of the Z06, with their move to a mid-engined layout, have inherited a more refined European feel as a result, whilst embodying the spirit of traditional muscle car sensations. Whether it be the legendary naturally aspirated V8 engine, which reaches a staggering 8,600 rpm, or the enormous 345-mm rear tires, this thing brings true American fire to an elegant mid-engined solution.

2026 Corvette Z06 Specifications

There are some truly phenomenal additions to the Z06, including the Z07 performance package, which includes an oversized carbon fiber wing and carbon Brembo brakes. It also includes the secret killer, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, the closest thing you’ll get to a racing slick for the road.

2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC

700 Horsepower

The goal of the 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC is to bridge the gap between the regular 500hp Dark Horse and the insane, but incredibly expensive 800+ horsepower Mustang GTD. And considering the 2026 Dark Horse SC gets most of the way to the GTD’s power whilst costing a third as much, it already seems like a success. The engine truly is the star of the show in all of its legendary supercharged glory.

Much like the CT5-V Blackwing and the Z06, the Dark Horse SC does all it can to contain its enormous amounts of muscle. They offer their own track-focused additions, which also include carbon-ceramic brakes. The pack also removes 150 lbs of weight, while the incredible, enormous rear wing produces 620 Ibs of downforce at 180 mph. A 700-horsepower beast that can be tamed, if treated with poise and dignity.