[00:00] What are the 10 best sports cars that you can buy? That's what we're going to find out. Welcome to CarHealth Corner, where we help you the consumer, master the process of car buying and ownership. I'm going to share the 10 absolute best sports cars
[00:14] that you can buy brand new for the 2026 model year. And if you were thinking of buying a sports car, get one while you still can because they are disappearing and many of these will not be around for much longer.
[00:27] I'm going to share something for every budget, but first, let's begin with a solid contender in the number 10 spot, which is the BMW M2. BMW is known for building ultimate driving machines
[00:41] as their famous slogan states. But the M2 is really one of the few BMWs left that truly lives up to the hype. A small rear-wheel drive coupe with a powerful inline six-cylinder engine under the hood,
[00:54] the option of a proper six-speed manual gearbox if you don't want an automatic, it is a total blast to drive. Super sharp handling, well-balanced, the engine is an absolute gem with loads of power
[01:09] and best of all, you can bring the family along thanks to a pair of decent back seats and a proper trunk. And if you want to save some money, you can also get 80% of the thrills of the M2
[01:21] in its tamer cousin, the M240i, which offers torque vectoring all-wheel drive for those who want a more daily friendly ride. Both are an absolute blast to drive.
[01:33] They are also well-made, well-engineered, durable cars. As far as BMWs go with the company's most reliable drive trains, and they are even reasonably priced by BMW standards.
[01:45] BMW won't make cars like this for much longer, so jump on them while you still can. And next up in the number nine spot, what say sports car list without this incredible gem?
[01:57] Which is the Chevrolet Corvette. The latest C8 generation VET has really up the sports car game to the point where this is now a proper supercar beater. At least if you go with the insane race level,
[02:10] Z06 or ZR1, but the truth is that even the regular Corvette with its 500 horsepower V8 engine is more than enough sports car for most. It's an absolute blast to drive.
[02:24] You can get it with a removable hard top or as a proper convertible. It's a decent value, well-priced, and according to consumer reports, even has one of the highest owner satisfaction ratings
[02:37] of any car, so all in all a solid choice. As NICE says, Corvette's are, however, for that kind of money, there is no way I'd be able to pass up this next car in the number eight spot,
[02:49] which is the Lexus LC500. It is a shame how slept on this car is because it is truly one of the all-time grades. Gorgeous, exotic styling, a Rolls Royce-like
[03:02] plus luxurious interior, a nicely balanced driving feel that is both sporty and comfortable, and a spine tingling, naturally aspirated V8 engine that's more exciting and charismatic
[03:15] than anything else you can buy in its price range. And as a bonus, it's incredibly well-made, reliable, and won't cost a fortune in repairs. I've driven plenty of supercars and sportscars
[03:28] double its price, and the LC500 is the one I would take all day every day. It is truly that amazing, and with 2026, likely being its final model year,
[03:41] please get one while you still can. Of course, if you want a high-end sportscar and you have the money, then the absolute go-to choice has to be car number seven on the list, which is the Porsche 911.
[03:55] It's pretty wild how expensive these cars are becoming, but the 911 remains the go-to option for high-end sportscars. Nothing else delivers a driving experience this thrilling, exciting, so polished.
[04:09] It's almost indescribable how amazing these cars feel to drive. They are also incredibly well-made, and have superb resale value when compared to anything else. And I love the fact that you can still get
[04:22] an old-school analog version with the Carrera T, with a proper six-speed manual gearbox, which would be my pick of the range. With the 718 gone as of 2026,
[04:35] the 911 Carrera T is the true driver's car of the Porsche lineup, and it's an absolute gem. There is another sportscar, however, that is truly slept on that deserves a lot more love than it gets.
[04:48] In the number six spot, we have the BMW Z4. Although the BMW M2 and M240i are amazing, the Z4 or Z4 is the true star of the BMW lineup
[05:01] as far as I'm concerned. And the one that embodies the brand's old-school spirit better than any other, it's a proper two-seater roadster, with a perfectly balanced rear-wheel drive chassis,
[05:14] a proper inline six-engine under the hood, and you can even get a six-speed manual gearbox as an option, a true sportscar recipe. Not only is it fast, fun and a total blast to drive,
[05:29] the drive train is known for being very reliable, making this a safe long-term car. The interior is also nicely finished, and this is the last BMW you can still get with proper physical buttons.
[05:42] Like I said, a nice, no-nonsense sportscar that doesn't skip on luxury, any proper BMW done the old-school way. Get one while you can, because 2026 is its final model year.
[05:56] And what's really nice is that if you really like the formula of that one, but prefer to have a coupe, well, you can just go with car number five on the list, which is the Toyota Supra. Mechanically, the Supra is the same car as the Z4 and M240i,
[06:12] with the same rear-wheel drive chassis, interior and drive train. The fact that Toyota went to BMW speaks volumes about its durability and the performance of this setup.
[06:24] The B58 inline six-cylinder engine, the ZF8 speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox, are just such incredibly solid drive trains, both in performance and quality.
[06:38] It may be all BMW underneath, but the Supra is an absolute blast to drive, wickedly fast, and even a decent value. Again, get one while you can, because 2026
[06:51] is going to be its final model year. Okay, let's continue to ease our way towards the more affordable sportscar options, moving on to car number four of the list, which is the Ford Mustang GT.
[07:04] With the Camaro gone and the charger now in EV or six-cylinder automatic, the Mustang is the last muscle car standing if you prefer things the old-school way, with a big V8 engine and an available six-speed manual gearbox.
[07:20] It's a blast to drive. The high-revving five-liter V8 is punchy and sounds amazing and the quality is not too bad with these either. I also like that you can go with either a coupe
[07:33] or convertible depending on your preference. There are a lot pricier than they once were, but if you want a V8 muscle car or a V8 with a manual gearbox, the Mustang is the last man standing.
[07:46] The next sportscar we have in the number three spot is a great choice for those who prefer things to be a bit on the old-school side, and that car is the Nissan Z. What I really like about the Nissan Z or Nissan Z
[08:01] is its simplicity, no fancy tech, no drive modes, settings or adaptive this or that with the Z. You just get in and drive, a nicely balanced rear-wheel drive chassis,
[08:14] an available six-speed manual, any powerful twin-turbo V6 engine with tons of power. Although modern, the Z feels like a bit of a throwback to the 90s with its no nonsense analog charm.
[08:28] It's a blast to drive and even though it can get pricey, you can negotiate a pretty aggressive deal on one of these, which would make it a very tempting buy. If that one though is still too pricey for you,
[08:41] then you really can't go wrong with the next two cars of the list, which are a tie between the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GR86. Essentially the same car,
[08:53] these are the go-to options for affordable sports car thrills. Just a super lightweight, balanced rear-wheel drive chassis, a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with just enough power and an available six-speed manual
[09:08] for maximum fun. They are also well-made, durable and again affordable, truly the last proper analog sports cars that are reasonably priced. So get one while you still can.
[09:21] And with that, that brings us to car number one of the list, the sports car to go for if you want maximum fun with maximum affordability. And that car, of course, is the Mazda MX-5.
[09:34] What really needs to be said about this one? No other car nails the sports car formula better than the MX-5. Incredibly lightweight, nimble, fun with a punchy,
[09:46] naturally aspirated engine and a slick six-speed manual. You can get it with a powerful, folding hardtop or a simple manual softtop to keep things the old school way. The quality and reliability are unbeatable
[10:01] in the sports car realm. They are cheap to run and even remarkably fuel efficient. Every time I drive an MX-5, I come away thinking what is the point in buying anything else?
[10:13] This is everything you need in a fun, affordable sports car. And best of all, it won't break the bank. So there you have it, the best sports cars that you can buy for 2026. So which of these would be your choice?
[10:26] Let me know in the comments. And if you enjoyed this video, make sure to like and subscribe. And if you're planning to purchase a vehicle and you live in Ontario, know that Omvik is the vehicle sales regulator. That's responsible for administering
[10:39] and forcing the rules that dealerships must follow. To learn more about your consumer protection rights, visit omvik.ca. And if you need an additional car buying advice, recommendations or help with getting a great deal
[10:51] on your next new car purchase, make sure to visit carhelpcan.com. Thanks so much for watching and I'll see you next time.