Supercars combine exotic looks, high performance, and exclusivity in one package. Equally at home on the racetrack or the primo spot in front of the hottest nightclub, these cars are the ultimate dream machines for many car enthusiasts. However, many supercars are out of reach of mere mortals of modest means. Fortunately, some supercars don’t command million-dollar price tags. Instead, the following are among the most affordable supercars, according to U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News & World Report’s list of the most affordable supercars

Recently U.S. News put together a list of the top 10 most affordable supercars. While it seems hard to imagine the words affordable and supercar going together in the same sentence, these cars offer supercar attributes at a price that many people could stretch to afford. 

10. Mercedes-AMG GT

• Price: $118,600 
• U.S. News Performance Score: TBD  

There’s a reason why Formula One uses the Mercedes-AMG GT as its official safety car. Powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing 523 horsepower, it reaches 60 mph in 3.7 seconds while on its way to a 193 mph top speed. 

The engine is hand-built, and the whole car exudes the engine’s wolfish personality. It’s high drama and high tech with a luxury interior swathed in Alcantara premium synthetic suede. And when it comes to price? This supercar rings in at $118,600, landing it the 10th spot on U.S. News’ list of the most affordable supercars.

9. Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye

• Price: $76,430 
• U.S. News Performance Score: 8.0/10  

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye makes no excuses for its rough and tumble nature. But with a 797 horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8? It doesn’t have to.  As one of the best performance bargains of the bunch, the loveable brute will hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. 

Amazingly, the Challenger is available with a six-speed manual transmission, making it a rarity among performance cars these days. It also has a presence. With its old-school muscle car looks, the Challenger SRT Hellcat stands out and gathers a crowd wherever it goes.    

8. Jaguar F-Type R

• Price: $105,300 
• U.S. News Performance Score: 8.4/10  

Much ink has been spilled heralding the Jaguar F-Type as the successor to the legendary E-Type. But with drop-dead gorgeous looks, luxurious appointments, and two incredible sounding V8 engines, it stands on its own merit. 

The 5.0-liter supercharged engine produces 444 horsepower in base spec or 575 horsepower in the F-Type R, sounding incredible in either configuration. Good for 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, it’s a muscle car in a Tom Ford suit. Jaguars have always been about “grace, pace, and space,” and the F-Type R does not disappoint. It’s no wonder U.S. News included it on its list of the most affordable supercars. 

7. BMW M8 Competition

• Price: $134,100 
• U.S. News Performance Score: 8.9/10  

BMW’s M cars are special, and the M8 Competition is no exception. A 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 belts out 617 horsepower and will go from 0 to 60 in just over 3 seconds, thanks to all-wheel drive and an 8-speed transmission. 

Offered as a coupe, convertible, or four-door, the BMW M8 Competition combines style with effortless performance. More grand tourer than an outright sports car, it will still show its taillights to lesser supercars.     

6. Lexus LC500

• Price: $94,225 
• U.S. News Performance Score: 8.9/10  

Many people consider the Lexus LC the Japanese Aston Martin, but it’s much more. The Lexus LC500 is an affordable supercar that offers the bespoke style and luxury of an Aston Martin but is distinctly a Lexus and a worthy, more attainable successor to the legendary LFA.  

Buyers can choose between a sensible 3.5-liter 354 horsepower hybrid V6 or the sonorous 5.0-liter V8 producing 471 horsepower. But what sets the LC apart is the distinctly beautiful styling and premium materials.   

5. Audi R8

• Price: $146,500 
• U.S. News Performance Score: 8.8/10  

Audi’s R8 shares a platform and a 5.2-liter V10 with the more expensive, exotic Lamborghini Huracan. Both cars are part of the VW group, and while the R8 costs roughly half the price of a Huracan, the R8 is distinctly its own car.  

Depending on trim, the V10 makes either 562 or 602 horsepower and can be equipped with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The interior is luxurious, well-appointed, and dynamic in typical Audi fashion. And while the Audi R8 rings in at $146,500, it inevitably landed on U.S. News’ list of the most affordable supercars.  

4. Acura NSX

• Price: $169,500
• U.S. News Performance Score: 9.1/10  

The original Acura NSX supercar upended the supercar market by combining world-class performance with Honda’s outstanding ergonomic design and excellent reliability. The current NSX combines these same traits with a striking design and amazing technology.  

The twin-turbocharged V6 is paired with three electric motors making a combined 600 horsepower and 492 pound-feet of torque. Performance is mind-bending, but the real story is the scalpel-like handling and responsiveness make the NSX feel hardwired to your brain.  

3. Porsche 911

• Price: $101,200 
• U.S. News Performance Score: 9.5/10 

The iconic Porsche 911 offers supercar performance in a timeless, useable, everyday package. Power ranges from 379 horsepower in the “entry-level” model up to 640 horsepower in the top-line Turbo model. 

Everything about the 911 is evolutionary based on the original car launched 57 years ago. The distinctive shape houses a roomy interior and a flat-six-cylinder engine in the rear. Build quality and materials are excellent. More importantly, the car offers a rewarding driving experience and prestige worthy of its supercar status.  

2. Nissan GT-R

• Price: $113,540 
• U.S. News Performance Score: 9.0/10  

You don’t have to be a fan of the “Fast and the Furious” franchise to appreciate the legendary Nissan GT-R supercar. You just have to be a fan of speed. Equipped with a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 producing 565 to 600 horsepower, it will pin you to your seat until it hits its 205 mph top speed.  

While the all-wheel drive and six-speed dual-clutch transmission seem ordinary in this group, and the design is somewhat dated, it still has what it takes. Plus, the comfortable interior, supportive seats, and good ergonomics make it a great car to spend time in. 

1. Chevrolet Corvette

• Price: $60,900 
• U.S. News Performance Score: 9.4/10  

The top spot on U.S. News’ list of the most affordable supercars of 2022 goes to the Chevy Corvette. Chevrolet transformed the Corvette when it launched the C8 in 2020. Starting with a clean sheet, the engineers designed a mid-engine car, squeezed more horsepower out of the V8, and dialed in a healthy dose of refinement. The results are spectacular. 

490 horsepower doesn’t seem like a lot, especially in this group, but the 6.2-liter V8 and eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox make every bit of horsepower count. The Corvette flings itself from a standstill to 60 mph in less than three seconds. But raw acceleration isn’t the new Corvette’s only party trick. The affordable supercar is genuinely rewarding to drive and makes a capable companion for a daily commute or weekend road trip.  

The Chevrolet Corvette is the cheapest supercar you can buy

It may be a stretch to call a supercar with a six-figure price tag affordable, but there’s no question these are all great cars. They offer tremendous bang for the buck and, compared to their more exclusive rivals, are cheaper to buy and more affordable to maintain. 

But one car stands out from the pack, the Chevrolet Corvette. It has the lowest price tag but is among the top performers in this group. Add in the rewarding driving experience and everyday practicality, and you’ve got an unbeatable combination.