2 Thrilling Bargain-Best Sports Cars for 2022
The sports car segment is highly competitive, especially because most buyers believe higher prices equal better quality. As a result, they might not even give the 2022 Toyota Supra a second glance. Critics say the revived Supra is spacious and fun to drive—all available for as low as $43,540. It’s even more difficult for a car to stand out in the luxury segment, where many cost upward of $90,000. Fortunately, the 2022 Porsche718 Boxster bucks that trend, starting at just $68,300.
Despite these two sports cars’ below-average prices, they punch well above their weight in power, performance, and pizzazz. But how do they stack up together?
2022 Porsche 718 Boxster
Base trim Boxsters get the 300-hp turbo-four paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. However, the optional seven-speed PDK will bring a more Porsche-like feel to the rather un-Porsche-like sound. The 2022 Porsche 718 Boxster’s handling is smooth and precise, lacking any noticeable body roll, and showcases superior braking performance compared to other sports cars.
| Trim level | Engine | Transmission | HP | Torque (lb-ft) | 0-60 mph | Top speed |
| Boxster | 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four | Six-speed or PDK | 300 | 280 | 4.7 seconds | 171 mph |
| Boxster S | 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four | Six-speed or PDK | 350 | 394 | 4.0 seconds | 177 mph |
| Boxster GTS | 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-six | Six-speed or PDK | 309 | 309 | 3.4 seconds | 182 mph |
The interior is predictably luxurious, though some may be left wanting additional seat adjustment options. Though the seats are quite supportive, the Porsche 718 Boxster’s firm ride quality is unavoidable. Seat access is also a chore because this roadster sits so low to the ground. The 718 Boxster has two storage trunks but woefully little cabin storage.
On the bright side, it’s easy to mitigate the annoyances by dropping the top. It takes 10 seconds to unroll or roll up, and you can activate it at speeds of 43 mph or below.
2022 Toyota GR Supra
The Toyota Supra 3.0—the best of the lineup—comes with a BMW-built turbo-six, which comes in at $51,890 without options. Despite the Supra’s extra horsepower, the 718 Boxster is still a hair faster. The GR Supra still excels at handling, with quick steering and smooth-shifting transmission.
| Trim level | Engine | Transmission | HP | Torque (lb-ft) | 0-60 mph | Top speed |
| 2.0 | 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four | eight-speed automatic | 255 | 295 | 5.0 seconds | 155 mph |
| 3.0 | 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six | eight-speed automatic | 382 | 368 | 3.9 seconds | 155 mph |
Like many sports cars, the 2022 Toyota Supra doesn’t have the most accessible seats or coziest ride. The cabin also suffers from a lot of exterior noise. And driver visibility is reportedly poor from any angle.
Although the cabin feels small, the Supra offers many adjustment options to make things more comfortable. Roomy bucket seats come standard, and the interior, though not overly extravagant, looks refined. But the infotainment system poses a bit of a learning curve if you’re unfamiliar with the BMW interface.
Which is the more authentic sports car?
If potential buyers are looking for an authentic sports car, neither the Porsche nor Toyota base model gives enough of the brands’ DNA in performance. The Porsche’s entry-level drivetrain won’t be what purists want, similar to the Supra’s turbo-four. Speccing up the cars will grant what potential buyers are typically looking for.
It’s only the 2023 GR Supra that is destined to contain a stick shift. Therefore, if rowing your own gears is a priority, one should wait for the following year’s mode or step into the Porsche. Although the base Boxster starts just above $60,000, the one to pick, the S variant, skyrockets to $80,000. But is the 718 Boxster S double the sports car the Supra 2.0 is? That’s an opinion that the beholder must determine.
