A supercar, often featuring a mid-engine layout, boasts extraordinary performance and stunning looks, usually produced in limited quantities and commanding premium prices. Fortunately we live in an incredible time for automotive performance. Nowadays, car enthusiasts don't have to buy an Italian exotic car brand like Lamborghini or Maserati to get supercar power and handling.
Welcome, then to a class of more affordable supercars, each of which delivers thrilling performance without the exorbitant price. Exotic cars like the Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, and Acura NSX are affordable all-wheel-drive (AWD) supercars, but we're going a step further. The following cars have supercar-level performance and all for under a $100,000 price tag.
The Best Supercars Under $100,000 in 2024
- 2017-2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
- 2020-2024 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
- 2018-2024 Lexus LC 500
- 2023-2024 Lucid Air Touring
- 2020-2024 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS
- 2020-2024 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS
- 2023-2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance
- 2023-2024 Tesla Model S Plaid
2017-2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
Top speed: 202 mph
The Chevy Camaro blends modern styling details with a traditional coupe platform and a traditional coupe’s cramped rear seat. It also has a small trunk and the interior quality is so-so. But the cabin has a great design, capped off by an intuitive infotainment system with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The top dog in the Camaro lineup is the ZL1. It features a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine making 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The ZL1 offers a six-speed manual gearbox and features active rev-matching, which syncs up engine speed for perfect upshifts and downshifts. This is key in hard braking while coming into a sharp corner. Buyers can also select a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The ZL1 comes equipped with Brembo performance brakes and magnetic ride control, which allow the driver to select a softer ride for touring or a firm ride for performance driving.
2020-2024 Chevrolet Corvette
0-60 mph: 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 194 mph
When Chevrolet redesigned the Corvette with a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive (RWD) layout. In doing so, it cemented the Corvette as the definitive American supercar, as well as one of the true affordable supercars. It offers a surprising amount of storage spread between the frunk and trunk, and the roof panel stows in the rear. The cabin features luxury-level materials, as well as a polarizing row of buttons down the center console. It's all wrapped in a package that could be confused for a mid-engine Ferrari.
Behind the driver, a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 makes 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. With the optional Z51 package, it puts out 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet. An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission available, routing power to the rear wheels. The aforementioned Z51 package also adds performance tires, larger brakes, more aerodynamic bodywork, and a more hardcore suspension. The optional Magnetic Ride Control allows the Corvette to comfortably drive on the highway or mercilessly attack a racecourse.
2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
0-60 mph: Less than four seconds
Top speed: 166 mph
The Ford Mustang is significantly refreshed inside and out for 2024, and runs the gamut from a fun, affordable turbocharged four-cylinder sports car to a high-powered performance beast in the new Dark Horse. The Dark Horse boasts a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 that hammers out 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed to the rear wheels through a standard six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching. An optional 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters is available. A limited-slip rear differential, Brembo performance brakes, and magnetic ride control all help the Dark Horse corner like a supercar.
Want to show off that 5.0-liter V8’s engine note? You can rev it standing outside the car with the push of a button on the key fob. With the Dodge Challenger no longer being offered, the Camaro remains the Mustang’s only direct competitor for 2024.
2018-2024 Lexus LC 500
0-60 mph: 4.4 seconds
Top speed: 168 mph
The Lexus LC is available with a V8 or hybrid V6 engine, but regardless of what’s under the hood, it looks every inch a supercar. The dynamic front-end styling and angular lines result in a car that appears to be at speed, even when parked. The cabin also lives up to supercar status, with a dramatic, flowing design. It features a massive 10.3-inch touchscreen that blends seamlessly into the dash, though it can be distracting to use at times.
The LC 500 is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. It makes 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed to the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission with a manual tap-shift mode. A dial protruding from the side of the instrument panel binnacle allows the driver to select Eco, Comfort, S Sport, and S Sport+ drive modes. Even in S Sport+, the LC 500 is not a hardcore sports car, but more a luxurious grand tourer. And yet, when you stop on the throttle, that V8 has a glorious exhaust note.
2023-2024 Lucid Air Touring
0-60 mph: 3.4 seconds
Top speed: 205 mph
The Lucid Air is a new car from a new company that’s quickly making itself known in luxury car circles. Depending on which version you choose, you can find a model that offers class-leading numbers for speed, range, or performance, and often several of those combined. We are talking a mind-boggling 1,234 horsepower from three electric motors, acceleration to 60 mph in less than two seconds, up to 469 miles of driving range, and a charging rate of 200 miles in 12 minutes.
Air Sapphire is the performance king of the lineup, with specs that put most “performance cars'' to shame. The Air Touring with its standard dual-motor AWD powertrain still gets a swift 3.4 second 0-60 time and falls within our price constraints for this list, unless of course you go wild with the option sheet. Even with 640 horsepower on tap, the EPA estimates owners can expect up to 425 miles of range on one charge. Not bad at all for the new kid on the block.
2020-2024 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS
0-60 mph: 4.3 seconds
Top speed: 182 mph
The Porsche Boxster is a nimble, mid-engine sports car with an upscale interior and tight but supportive seats. Features like heated seats and dual-zone climate control are standard equipment. No matter which trim you select, the Boxster is an agile performer. In years past, we’ve included the Boxster Spyder, with its lightweight manual soft-top, but the Spyder’s prices have now climbed past $100,000 and pre-owned models cost even more. Instead, check out the Boxster GTS which just sneaks onto our list.
The GTS is powered by a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flax-six engine (the “Boxster” name is a reference to the horizontally opposed “boxer” engine layout). It routes 394 horsepower to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a PDK seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters. In addition to its upgraded performance brakes, it features a sport-tuned suspension that allows for razor-sharp handling.
2020-2024 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS
0-60 mph: 4.3 seconds
Top speed: 182 mph
The Cayman is the coupe counterpart to the drop-top Boxster. You don’t gain any more seats with the hardtop, but it provides more than 9 cubic feet of cargo space out back and 5.2 cubic feet in the frunk (front trunk). That’s actually not bad for a mid-engine sports car. The Cayman also has an upscale cabin with terrific fit-and-finish. As for engines, the Cayman features a turbocharged flat-four, while the GTS has a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six.
The range-topping GT4 features the same size engine as the GTS, but is tuned to put out 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. Buyers can select the six-speed manual or the paddle-shift PDK. The GT4 features an adaptive performance suspension, as well as a torque-vectoring rear differential. The latter applies light braking to the inside wheel in a corner, resulting in more power to the outside. The GT4 can be identified by its more aggressive bodywork and a high, fixed rear spoiler.
For 2024, GT4 prices have climbed into the six-figure range. Incredibly, late-model GT4’s actually fetch well over market value, so you may want to look at the 394-horsepower GTS. It has a starting price of $95,200 and sprints from zero-to-sixty in 4.3 seconds (with the Sport Chrono Package).
2023-2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance
0-60 mph: 1.99 seconds
Top speed: 162 mph
The Tesla Model 3 Performance takes the cake for being the cheapest of our most affordable supercars. The top Performance trim can now be had for a mere $50,990. Its front-and-rear motors provide instantaneous acceleration from a standstill and allow the Model 3 to hit a top speed of 162 mph. The Performance model has a range of 315 miles. While the Long Range can travel farther on a single charge (333 miles), that’s still better than many EVs.
The dual-motor AWD system can respond to road conditions and make changes in just 10 milliseconds. This setup, combined with the low floor-mounted batteries makes for an incredibly stable and composed vehicle through corners. The Model 3 also has a futuristic cockpit with a massive touchscreen center console/instrument panel.
2023-2024 Tesla Model S Plaid
0-60 mph: 1.99 seconds
Top speed: 200 mph
The flagship Tesla Model S Plaid, thanks to several significant price cuts, is back on our list. In fact, Tesla currently only offers two versions of its largest sedan. The Model S, and the Model S Plaid. The upgraded Plaid get’s a mind-warping 1,020 horsepower. Its three high-performance motors provide instantaneous acceleration and that can take you all the way up to 200 mph. If you are reasonable on the throttle the EPA estimates you can squeeze 396 miles of range from the battery. It’s not all about power either. You get torque vectoring, improved brakes that can handle higher temperatures, and Tesla even rounds out the package with a carbon fiber lip spoiler.
Even though the basic Model S design dates back to 2012, it’s received continuous updates over the years to almost everything under the roof. Plaid model interiors also feature carbon fiber decor (but that’s about it) to set them apart from the standard Model S. It’s just icing on the cake that Tesla’s over-the-air updates will keep your car feeling fresh years after the day you bring it home.
Related Topics
The Cars We Wish We’d Bought 10 Years Ago
The Best Concept Cars that Made It to Production
The Best American Muscle Cars: New and Classic