7 of the Coolest Winter Sports Cars for 2023
Did you know that you can drive a sports car in the snow? It’s possible, especially if the car has an all-wheel drivetrain and a good set of winter tires. However, that’s not always necessary. Check out these seven sports cars that will do just as well in the white stuff as they do on dry pavement. Well, for the most part.
1. 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
The Volkswagen Golf R is a perennial favorite of ours when it comes to winter driving, not just due to its all-wheel drivetrain but also its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that puts out more power than it should. For 2023, the Golf R pumps 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque to all of its wheels via a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Power aside, the Golf R also has four doors and five seats, which makes it as practical as it is sporty.
2. 2023 Honda Civic Si
As we said before, you don’t really need an all-wheel drivetrain to get a car down a snowy road. We tested the Honda Civic Si in 2022 and proved this as we could get through the snow with relative ease. We thank the car’s limited-slip differential and front-drive configuration for that, which aided in getting the turbocharged engine’s 200 hp to the ground.
3. 2023 Dodge Challenger AWD
It’s hard not to include the 2023 Dodge Challenger on this list because it can be optioned with an all-wheel drivetrain. Unfortunately, you’ll have to opt for the V6 model to get it, but when driving in snow, you don’t want too much power anyway. However, if you want more power, we suggest checking out the V8 models or the Hellcat version. But don’t blame us when it starts spinning the tires and doesn’t get very far in the snow.
4. 2024 Acura Integra Type S
Like the Honda Civic Si, the 2024 Acura Integra Type S has a front-drive configuration and a limited-slip differential that aids in winter driving. You’ll be better off getting winter tires with this car, however, because its turbocharged engine produces 320 hp. That’s a lot of power for winter driving, but the six-speed manual transmission will make it a lot of fun. Best of all, unlike its Honda Civic Type R (and Si) cousin, the Integra Type S comes with heated seats to keep your buns warm this winter.
5. 2023 Nissan GT-R
Yes, the Nissan GT-R is overkill for winter driving, but it’s hard not to recommend. Who wouldn’t want to command a car with 565 hp and an all-wheel drivetrain? It’s fun on dry land and probably just as fun in the snow. Oh yeah, the GT-R also has heated seats and a dual-zone climate system to keep its occupants comfortable while shredding through the snowy winter roads.
6. 2023 Audi TT
If you would rather have a German sports car that’s a little more posh than the Golf R, but has a similar powertrain, we recommend checking out the 2023 Audi TT. The TT is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. OK, so that’s less than the Golf R, but it is available with an all-wheel drivetrain, so it should do just as well in the snow.
7. 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
We’ll admit that the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is an odd choice to put on this list that’s heavy on AWD cars. But it’s hard not to recommend it because a good set of winter tires could help the little rear-drive roadster plow through the snow. Furthermore, its rev-happy 181-hp engine makes it zippy, as does its six-speed manual transmission.
Can sports cars drive in the snow?
Although most of these cars have an all-wheel drivetrain, it’s not completely necessary. Of course, it would make driving a sports car much more enjoyable in the snow, but as stated before, a good set of winter tires could do the trick. No matter which of these cars you choose, we’re sure they will all encourage plenty of winter driving enjoyment.
