The Best Selling Sports Cars in the U.S.

Ford’s classic Mustang is the number one selling sports car in the U.S., but the list of bestsellers ranges from the Porsche 911 to the Hyundai Veloster.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
background
From Ford’s number one selling sports car, the classic Mustang, to Dodge’s bullying Challenger, and from BMW’s sleek 8-series to Mazda’s cute lil’ Miata, these are the best-selling sports cars on the road today.
Whatever road-owning sports car you decide to shell out for, you’re going to want to protect that automotive jewel with a robust
car insurance
policy from
Jerry
.
Sign-up takes just 45 seconds, and then Jerry puts the pedal to the metal by comparing quotes from more than 50 top insurance companies. Once you pick your policy, Jerry goes from 0 to 60 by handling all the administrative grunt work for you, signing you up for your new policy, and canceling your old one.
You’ll be all ready for next-level savings once you browse this list of the best-selling sports cars in America.
icon
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now

Home-grown roadsters

These made-in-America rubber burners have been fueling dreams and thrills since the 1950s. Without further ado, here are the top-selling sports cars born and bred in the United States.

Ford Mustang 

Ford’s pony car has been iconic since it first rolled off the assembly line back in 1964.

What you should know

  • Six decades and six generations in, the
    Ford Mustang
    remains the belle of the ball, America’s most popular and best-selling sports car, ranging from the Shelby GT350 to today’s Mach 1.
  • The Shelby GT350 remains its most “sporty” trim.
  • Features a coupe, 2-door body with a 5.2 L V8 engine with 526 horsepower and 6-speed manual transmission powering its rear wheels.
  • Goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a hair-raising 4.2 seconds.

Dodge Challenger 

A true muscle car—if the
Dodge Challenger
were a person, it would be the bully that pushes you around and spits in your eye. With nicknames like Demon and Hellcat, are you surprised?

What you should know

  • With either a Mopar V6 or a pair of V8 motors, the Challenger offers plenty of gusto in whatever engine you choose.
  • Choose from a 5.7L Hemi with 375 horsepower, or a 6.4L Hemi with 485 horsepower—either one will leave your competition in the dust.
  • The Challenger comes with either manual or automatic transmission.

Chevrolet Camaro 

Unveiled in 1967, the Camaro was Chevrolet’s entrant to take on the Mustang in the pitched battle for muscle car supremacy on America’s streets.

What you should know

  • The
    Chevrolet Camaro
    remains a popular, affordable sports car—the Camaro’s SS trim offers the best performance overall.
  • The SS features a 6.2 L V8 engine with 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque.
  • Chevy’s iconic sports car is available in both automatic and manual transmission.
  • The ZL1 is the most powerful Camaro, sporting a V8 engine, 650 horsepower, and 650 pound-feet of torque.
  • This ride goes 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, or about the length of time it will take your brain to retreat into your feet.

Chevrolet Corvette 

The American roadster that defies categorization—is it a sports car? An exotic car? A muscle car? All three? Whatever it is, one thing is clear—the Corvette is popular!

What you should know

  • The
    Chevrolet Corvette
    has been around since 1953.
  • The Corvette body is known to be lighter than most muscle cars and has a more sophisticated look.
  • The Stingray is the “lightweight version,” featuring a 6.2 L V8 engine with 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque.
  • The Z06 features 650 horsepower, while the ZL1 offers 755 horsepower!
  • Corvette’s sublime ZR1 goes from 0 to 60 miles in 3 seconds.
MORE: 10 affordable American muscle cars

Imported Speedsters

Plenty of imported vehicles have captured the American imagination, including sports cars hailing from Germany, South Korea, and Japan.

BMW 8 Series

The popular Bavarian brand effortlessly blends refined power with chic looks.

What you should know

  • After a brief hiatus, the 8 Series is back with more flair than ever.
  • BMW’s 8 series roster sports a 4.4 L V8 twin-turbocharged engine boasting 523 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque.
  • An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels.
  • Manual mode is available too—it gives you more control over shifting and RPMs for a more pure, Autobahn-inspired driving experience.

Porsche 911

Originally released as the 901 back in 1963, the 911 looks almost exactly like that first version—which goes to show you how timeless the Porsche look has become.

What you should know

  • You’ll get a visceral, blood-boiling, mind-bending ride in this thrillster.
  • The
    Porsche 911
    sports a twin-turbo flat six-cylinder engine, with 450 horsepower going to this auto’s rear wheels via a 7-speed manual transmission.
  • Automatic transmission is available, but do you really dare risk the wrath of the German roadster gods by buying an automatic Porsche? Nein!
  • The 911 goes 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds, and the optional all-wheel-drive model goes even faster.
  • The top-of-the-line 911 GT2 RS offers 700 horsepower and goes 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.6 seconds.

Hyundai Veloster

Ok, so it's a bit of a drop-off from a Porsche (and honestly, what isn’t?), but this fun little gizmo of a sports car has plenty of moves up its sleeve.

What you should know

  • The Veloster features a taut 2.0 L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, offering up to 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, driving the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission.
  • Sports five driving modes to suit your mood, such as track mode.
  • Also features launch control capability, adaptive dampers, and variable exhaust for a fuller sports car experience.

Toyota 86

Formerly the Scion FRS (of Toyota’s defunct sister brand), the 86 has become popular on US roads.

What you should know

  • It may not be the fastest car, but the 86 has plenty of power to spare and sublime handling to whip around corners, giving you great value for your buck.
  • The
    Toyota 86
    sports a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine with 205 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque to drive the rear wheels.
  • This sprightly ride is available as a 6-speed manual or an automatic.

Nissan Z-Series

Originally a Datsun back in the 1970s, the Z Series has come to define the fast, affordable sports car.

What you should know

  • Now part of Nissan’s Z series, the newest Z (slated for 2023 release) is targeted at the lower-upper price range, with an estimated price tag of $40,000 upon release.
  • The Z will sport 400 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged engine, which drives the rear wheels via either a 6-speed manual or 9-speed automatic transmission.
  • It will also feature updated technology, including safety assist software, as well as a re-done interior.

Mazda Miata MX-5

“The little sports car that could” keeps making drivers gush with its combination of oh-so-cute looks, a light body, and a surprisingly roaring (yet still small) engine.

What you should know

  • It’s now in its 4th generation since its inaugural 1989 release.
  • The
    MX-5 Miata
    offers up a 2.0 L Skyactiv inline 4 cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque to scoot from point A to point B.
  • It goes 0 to 60 miles in a quick 5.7 seconds and handles like the little sports car that it is.
rating reverse-full
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”

Protect your sports car with Jerry

Whatever your reason for buying a sports car—you live life in the fast lane or you’re going through a midlife crisis (we don’t judge)—you’re going to want to protect your lightning-quick ride with a robust
car insurance
policy from
Jerry
.
Sign-up takes just 45 seconds, and then Jerry gets to work, comparing competitive quotes for you from more than 50 top insurance companies. Once you pick your Lamborghini-of-a-policy, Jerry will sign you up for your new policy and cancel your old one, just like that.  
Just when you think this ride can’t get any better, Jerry kicks things into overdrive by automatically searching for better rates on your behalf before each renewal period. No forms, no phone calls, and definitely no hassles!
Best of all, Jerry users save an average of $887 per year on car insurance!
“The savings are real!
Jerry
saved me almost $1,000 a year for my car insurance. Was I surprised? Yes. Was I happy? Yes!” —Sonia Z.
RECOMMENDED
Haven’t shopped for insurance in the last six months? There might be hundreds $$$ in savings waiting for you.
avatar
Judith switched to Progressive
icon savingsSaved $725 annually
avatar
Alexander switched to Travelers
icon savingsSaved $834 annually
avatar
Annie switched to Nationwide
icon savingsSaved $668 annually
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings