Sportscars, supercars and GTs are all very well, but they rarely provide the day-to-day practicality that many owners require.
And while front-wheel-drive hot hatches combine fun driving characteristics with exciting performance, they’re not that fast, and often don’t offer much in the way of a premium feel.
Which is where our performance car category comes in to bridge the gap. Like hot hatches these are mainstream cars that have hit the gym, and come out muscled-up and fighting fit – only this time with an extra dose of steroids.
Some of the cars on our list of the top 10 best performance cars on sale are hyper hatchbacks from Ford, Volkswagen and Audi, some are super saloon cars from Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Subaru and Vauxhall, and some are even estates – thank you Volvo. What binds them all together is a sense that ‘ordinary’ performance isn’t enough, and so they’ve all been fettled by specialist performance divisions to create levels of acceleration and handling that are simply jaw-dropping.
Performance-focused cars from the likes of Mercedes-AMG, BMW M, or the teams behind Ford and Audi RS models don’t come cheap. But they do come with extreme performance, a level of practicality that sports car can’t match, and – usually - an iconic aura that excites any enthusiast who sees one on the road.
They are the halo cars of the mainstream manufacturers, offering exaggerated performance and sometimes exaggerated looks to match. Most importantly, they offer genuine thrills for drivers looking for ultimate performance from their daily drivers.
Top 10 best performance cars on sale now
- 1. Ford Focus RS
- 2. Mercedes AMG C63
- 3. Volkswagen Golf R
- 4. BMW M3
- 5. Lexus GS F
- 6. Audi RS3 Sportback
- 7. Volvo V60 Polestar
- 8. Mercedes AMG CLA 45
- 9. Vauxhall VXR8
- 10. Subaru WRX STi
Which of our top 10 best performance cars would you choose if you had the cash? Let us know in the comments section...