Top 5 Affordable AWD Sports Cars for 2023
The words “affordable,” “all-wheel drive,” (AWD) and “sports cars” shouldn’t go together, but if you look hard enough, they do. Of course, you’ll have to look at the used market to find anything remotely affordable nowadays. But with the proper scouring efforts, you should be able to find one of these five affordable AWD sports cars.
1. 2021 Mazda3 Turbo – $26,000
The Mazda3 Turbo may not seem like a sports car, but we think it has the potential. We had a chance to drive it and found that its silky-smooth 250-hp turbocharged engine had plenty of power for driving around town. The 320 lb-ft of torque helped a lot as well.
Additionally, the Mazda3 is super practical with its 13 cubic feet of cargo space and interior room for five adults. You may not consider it a true AWD sports car, but technically, the Mazda3 Turbo is the “practical grown-up’s” sports car.
2. 2017 BMW 230i xDrive – $24,000
Whether you love or hate BMWs, it could be worth checking out a used model due to its depreciating residual values. One good example is the 2017 BMW 230i xDrive, which is a sporty coupe that once retailed in the $40,000 range but can now be found in the mid-$20,000 range.
Affordable pricing aside, the BMW 230i presents a good value because it’s powered by a 250-hp turbocharged engine. Additionally, that power goes through all four wheels, which makes the AWD sports car agile on dry pavement and capable in the wet.
3. 2009 Nissan GT-R – $60,000 or less
It’s hard to believe that a supercar like the Nissan GT-R can be found for around $60,000 nowadays. And if you happen to find one with a lot of miles on it, you may be able to get it in the $50,000 range. That’s a lot of car for the price, considering we’re talking about a 480-hp sports car with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and AWD. With that kind of power, 60 mph comes in only 3.3 seconds, and it has a top speed of 191 mph. Of course, we don’t expect anyone to go that fast on the street.
4. 2010 Audi TT-RS – $30,000
The Audi TT-RS may sound pricey for a used AWD sports car, but that doesn’t take away from its capability. Under the hood of this German sports coupe is a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that routes 265 hp through a dual-clutch transmission and out through all four wheels. It’s hard to argue with the magic that the brand’s Quattro AWD system does, especially in the snow.
5. 2015 Dodge Charger SXT – $15,000
The Dodge Charger SXT is a good choice if you want an AWD sports car for cheap. In addition to a 292-hp V6 under the hood, the Charger has plenty of room for five adults and all their stuff. We really like its huge trunk, which makes it a practical and sporty family sedan. Best of all, we found plenty of used examples on CarGurus selling for less than $20,000.
AWD sports cars can be affordable
Although the thought of a cheap sports car with an all-wheel drivetrain might sound like snake oil, it’s not. If anything, you may have to look hard to find one of these cars for cheap, but when you do, it’s well worth the effort.
