Best Sporty Cars for 2009

Best Sporty Cars

Small vehicles that are big on fun.

With splendid handling, a punchy engine, and an overall fun-to-drive quality, the BMW 135i outpaced all of its competition in the best sporty cars category to become our top-rated sporty car. Moreover, the 135i doesn't cede much in fun and capability when compared with the pricier Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which are performance/luxury cars.

This demonstrates that as car buyers migrate to smaller or less expensive vehicles, those looking for driving fun don't need to give up performance or handling prowess. Several of the cars in this group also deliver real sports-car thrills without costing you an arm and a leg in the showroom or at the gas pump.

Premium Performance

For this best sporty cars test, we gathered nine small, sporty cars with a wide range of prices and driving characteristics. The top-rated cars, the BMW 135i, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Volkswagen R32, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, commonly called the Evo, deliver true sports-car acceleration, cornering ability, and braking. They range from $33,630 for the R32 to $38,078 for the Evo.

BMW began selling the 135i in the U.S. this year, but the 1-Series line has been sold elsewhere since 2004. In this best sporty cars test group, it had the quickest 0-to-60-mph acceleration time, at 5.2 seconds, the shortest braking distances on dry and wet surfaces, and the highest speed through our avoidance maneuver, which measures at-the-limit handling. In addition to this standout performance, the 135i's high rating also reflects its decent overall fuel economy of 23 mpg. Its excellent front seats, quiet cabin, and comfortable ride make it easy to live with.

The WRX STi and Lancer Evolution are high-performance versions of the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer , respectively, and they reflect the companies' World Rally Championship cars. The R32 is a further souped-up version of the Volkswagen GTI, which, in turn, is based on the Rabbit hatchback.

Affordable Fun

This best sporty cars group includes four other cars, which are priced about $10,000 less. They might not have the performance capabilities of the higher-rated cars, but the best of them offer impressive performance for the price. We tested the Subaru Impreza WRX, Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Nissan Sentra SE-R and Dodge Caliber SRT4. Prices for those models ranged from $23,310 for the SE-R to $25,169 for the WRX.

Similar to the higher-priced models, these are sporty versions of small cars. We've published full road tests of each of the base vehicles in past issues of Consumer Reports. They're also available to subscribers of ConsumerReports.org.

Our Auto Test Extra features the Volvo C30, which is less sporty than the other eight models tested for this issue but is stylish and capable.

The only vehicles we recommend in this month's test grouping are the Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STi, based on previous models' reliability. The other tested vehicles are still too new for us to have reliability data on them.

After the Quake 2008 Beijing Motor Show - Showcasing Finest cars

2008 Beijing Motor Show Highlights

A selection of some of the standout vehicles on display at the 2008 Auto China Exhibition.

By Perry Stern

With China now one of the fastest growing automotive markets, the Beijing Motor Show has become one of the most important International shows in the world, joining the ranks of Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Detroit.

More than 60 different car companies from Europe, Asia and America had vehicles on display, many of which were shown for the first time anywhere. Included in the world debuts were two vehicles coming to America—the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK. A freshly styled Hyundai Elantra was also shown publically for the first time.

Here are some of the highlights of the show, chosen for significance or just for catching our eye.

Geely GT Concept

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Geely GT Concept

Some may recognize Geely as one of the few Chinese car companies that have presented vehicles at the North American International Auto Show. But Geely never brought anything to Detroit like the Geely Tiger (GT). Still just a concept, the GT features a bold grille, long sweeping lines and a front-engine/rear-wheel-drive configuration expected in a grand touring coupe. The low roofline and muscular rear design emphasizes power to the rear wheels. While it may not make it to production, the GT provides a clear example of sexy designs that can come from China-based Geely. The GT was just one of several stylish new models on display at Geely’s Beijing Motor Show stand.

Oulim Motors Spirra

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Oullim Motors Spirra

Oulim Motors may not have the name recognition of Hyundai or Kia, but the Korea-based car company is looking to get noticed with its first production car, the Spirra S. We certainly noticed. The Spirra S is a hand-built mid-engine sports car with sleek lines and a wide stance. Clearly visible through the Plexiglas engine cover is a supercharged 2.7-liter V6 that produces an estimated 400 horsepower. Power runs to the rear wheels via a 6-speed gearbox, and the manufacturer claims 62 mph comes up in just 4.8 seconds. To match the power and styling, the Spirra is equipped with some serious brakes—6-piston Brembos in front, 4-piston binders in the rear. The Spirra’s space frame and carbon-fiber body make it light and stiff, two hallmarks of a true sports car. The Spirra is scheduled to go on sale in Korea this summer, but there’s been no word on availability stateside.

Audi Q5

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2009 Audi Q5

Making its world debut in Beijing, the Q5 is Audi’s first entry into the growing luxury crossover market. The Q5 has a sporty appearance with a wide stance, bold fender flares and available 20-inch wheels. The clamshell cargo hatch is similar to the styling of the larger Q7, providing both a wide opening for easy loading while needing little space behind the vehicle to raise the hatch. Split taillights, like those on the Q7, leave lights visible even with the hatch open. Inside is a large cargo area that can be expanded by either sliding the rear seats forward or folding them flat. While a number of different engine options are available for the European and Asian market, the Q5 will be available exclusively with a 270-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 when it goes on sale in North America early in 2009. Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system will be standard on all Q5s.

Nissan Teana

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2009 Nissan Teana

The Japanese automaker revealed the next generation of its flagship for the Chinese market, the Teana. The press release from Beijing, tailored for the Chinese audience, pegged the Teana as embodying, “deep insight into the unique cultural taste and Chinese consumer behaviors.” It goes on to say that “both the center console and leather seats create gentle and comfortable visual experience.” To fit the Chinese market, special attention was paid to making the Teana run quietly and smoothly. Its V6 engine is teamed with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Mercedes-Benz GLK

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2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK

The German car company has had great success building luxury SUVs, and early next year it will take on the luxury compact SUV market with the all-new GLK. Making its world debut in Beijing, the GLK features a more chiseled, angular style somewhat reminiscent of the first Mercedes SUV, the G-Class. For the U.S. market the new model will be sold as the GLK350, sporting a 3.5-liter V6 engine putting out 268 horsepower. Available with two- or four-wheel drive, the GLK comes with a slew of standard features, including 19-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and multiple airbags. A rear-seat entertainment system featuring two eight-inch screens, wireless headphones and an integrated dual-source DVD player will also be available. The GLK350 is expected to arrive stateside in January 2009 as a 2010 model.

Buick Invicta

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Buick Invicta Concept

It was no big surprise that Buick would be making news at the Beijing Motor Show. After all, General Motors sells more Buicks in China than in any other country, including the U.S. The news in question was the world debut of the all-new Invicta concept. The large 4-door sedan features a bold grille with sweeping lines, giving the appearance of speed even when standing still. The high beltline and low roof give the Invicta the sleek lines of a coupe, and fit well with the 20-inch polished alloy wheels. Following Buick tradition, the Invicta features three portholes on each side, but instead of being placed on the fenders, they are located on either side of the hood. The Invicta gets Buick’s first direct-injected turbocharged engine, a four-cylinder powerplant that produces 250 horsepower. In no way is the Invicta a production car, but future Buicks will likely take many of the styling cues introduced on this sexy sedan concept.