Sports cars are great machines with which to blast down a back road or enjoy an exhilarating drive along a coastal highway. They are usually more powerful than normal sedans or hatchbacks, but at the expense of practicality and fuel economy.
In the U.S., the sports car segment includes actual sports cars like the Mazda MX-5, Chevrolet Corvette and BMW 2-Series, but also muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang. This is a side effect as the muscle car in the U.S. is one of the most popular classes of vehicles. In many cases of determining which model is the most popular, we simply look at the recent sales figures available. In this case, it is for the 2022 model year and the two top spots are quite close in units sold.
Whether it be a 2-door muscle car, a luxurious European coupe or a more practical 4-door sedan, sports cars are excellent ways to spice up life. According to GoodCarBadCar.com, here are nine of the most popular sports cars sold in the U.S. right now.
9 BMW 8-Series – 7,763
The BMW 8-Series is a gorgeous car sold in both coupe and Gran Coupe body styles, the latter of which sports 4-doors and a stunning silhouette. The 8-Series is also available in M-guise as both the M8 and M8 Competition, with the addition of the special Alpina version.
The 8-Series sold almost 7,800 units in 2022, which is pretty good for such a specialized and exclusive model. It may have the same performance as the 5-Series, but it features less practical space and more elegance – resulting in a higher cost.
8 Porsche 911 – 9,167
The Porsche 911 is one of the best sports cars out there. It blends performance with elegance and build quality perfectly to create a car which is just as at home going out for an occasional back road blast, as it is being used as a daily driver.
Surprisingly, the 911 saw just over 9,000 units sold in 2022, which is an average of 23 units per day. Not bad for such a brilliant – but expensive – sports car. With the introduction of the upcoming 911 e-Hybrid, this number is bound to increase.
7 Mazda MX-5 Miata – 10,470
The Mazda MX-5 is one of the last cars on sale to follow the original sports car philosophy of a small but quirky engine in the front, enough seating for two in the middle and drive going to the rear. It is a fantastic sports car which can easily be driven at the limit.
As a result of this brilliance, Mazda sold an impressive 10,470 MX-5s during 2022, showcasing the want for a small, fast and cheap vehicle to spice up the day a bit. The closest car to the MX-5 is probably the Toyota GR86.
6 BMW 2-Series – 15,684
The BMW 2-Series is the German brand’s entry-level 2-door sports car and is currently in its second generation. The 2-Series may have some questionable exterior styling, but there is no doubt that it is an excellent sports car in all aspects – even comparable to previous-generation M-cars.
The 2-Series sold 15,684 units in 2022, most likely due to the great performance and build quality exhibited by BMW. Interestingly, BMW sold nearly 2,000 units in March alone, indicating the popularity of the model.
5 Audi A5 – 17,128
The Audi A5 may seem like nothing more than a 2-door A4 – technically considered a sports compact vehicle – but it is so much more. The A5 gets unique tuning to make it sportier than the A4, yet still retaining the comfort and practicality of a family car.
Audi moved just over 17,000 units in 2022, with most probably being turbocharged 4-cylinder models. The A5 is a great alternative to the BMW 4-Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe as it is sporty, yet sophisticated and comfortable – somewhere between BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
4 Chevrolet Camaro – 21,893
The Chevrolet Camaro is the least popular of the muscle car trio sold in the US, but it is still a great car. The main reason for its lower sales, probably has to do with the dark interior and weird infotainment system.
Chevrolet sold nearly 22,000 Camaros in 2022, ranging from the turbocharged 4-cylinder on the bottom, all the way to the awesome ZL1 up top. The Camaro is a great car which deserves popularity, as it is better than both the Mustang and Challenger in many ways.
3 Chevrolet Corvette – 33,042
Another GM product, the Chevrolet Corvette, sold spectacularly well. The reasoning behind it is most likely due to the C8 Corvette’s fantastic performance and price compared to anything else in its class. The C8 starts from well under half the price of many mid-engine sports cars, offering equal performance.
Chevrolet got just over 33,000 units through their dealerships, with some lucky customers probably already staring at their brand new Z06s in their driveways. The Corvette is currently one of the best value for money sports cars on the market.
2 Ford Mustang – 52,384
The Ford Mustang is the car which properly started the muscle car revolution in the US in the 1960s, becoming a massive hit and enjoying great sales figures for most of its existence. The 2015 Mustang greatly increased its popularity as it was the first Mustang to be sold in right-hand-drive.
Ford sold more than 50,000 Mustangs in 2022 alone, just falling short of the most popular sports car accolade in the US – although it still holds the accolade for most other territories. It is a great vehicle, from the powerful EcoBoost engine to the GT and GT500 variants.
1 Dodge Challenger – 54,315
The Dodge Challenger is the last proper muscle car still available on the market, focusing on straight-line speed rather than handling. It also still looks fantastic, even though the basic design is from 2008.
Dodge sold an incredible 54,315 units of the Challenger in 2022. The reason behind this is probably because Stellantis announced both the Challenger and the Hellcat V8 will be discontinued in 2023, removing one of the best cars ever made from the market. Still, the normal Challenger models are excellent machines.