With gas prices all over the place, enjoying a sporty drive is becoming more and more expensive. Large V8 engines are simply too thirsty for many. Sure, they are fun to push hard and mean-sounding, but there are alternatives with low running costs that have just as much character and spunk as large-displacement sports cars.
In addition, the more affordable options are great for those that are looking for their first true sports car that won’t try to kill them in the first corner they take. In this article, we look at the seven affordable Japanese sports cars with good gas mileage and low running costs that will perfectly serve you as a weekend car.
1. Toyota GR86
Replacing the previously offered GT86, the GR86 has a difficult task ahead but so far, since its introduction in late 2021, it seems like it has succeeded. The GT86 was a universally loved model, that offered a pure sports car experience at an affordable price.
Furthermore, it was a great car for those looking to get into sports driving, as it featured a characterful but not too powerful naturally aspirated engine. The new GR86 uses the same recipe for success and there is very little to dislike.
This is one of the best sports cars with good gas mileage. It is equipped with a 2.4L boxer engine from Subaru. In this configuration, the naturally aspirated boxer generates 228 hp and 184 lb.-ft of torque. This engine ensures that the driver feels engaged but is not overwhelmed by the sheer amount of power.
Regarding fuel consumption, the GR86 can achieve almost 30 MPG on the highway. This is exceptional for a vehicle that can be considered a true sports car. The boxer engine comes with a rear-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual as standard. An optional automatic transmission improves the mileage estimates even further.
It is important that sports cars with good gas mileage are also serviceable at relatively low costs, and this is another advantage of the GR86. Tires for this car are fairly cheap, as the GR86 comes with either 215/45R17 or 215/40R18, which are one of the most common sizes and not too large.
In addition, Toyota also offers an extended warranty, and in combination with the low starting price of below 28 thousand dollars for the 2023 model, the GR86 is simply one of the best affordable sports cars.
2. Honda Civic Type R
The Honda Civic Type R will soon be released for the latest eleventh generation but for now, we have to settle with the outgoing tenth generation. Not that this would be a bad thing. The Type R has been an amazing car, and it is still relevant even among newer competitors such as the 8th generation Golf R and GTI.
While the aggressive and maybe overcomplicated exterior styling might be a bit too much for some, it lets everyone know that the Type R is about serious performance. It sends 306 hp and 295 lb.-ft of torque to the front wheels using a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine, which is paired with a 6-speed manual.
Not only does the engine sound great, but it also makes the Civic quite a usable daily car. It is tame when driven calmly and can do about 28 highway miles on one gallon of fuel. With the starting price well under $40,000, the Civic Type R is a surprisingly good offer among the sports cars with good gas mileage.
There is very little that the Type R has in common with the regular Civic in terms of sports driving. The top-of-the-line Type R is equipped with entirely reworked suspension, more powerful brakes, and cooling performance upgrades. Not only that, but it also offers a number of gadgets to make your sports driving even more fun, such as the Honda LogR data logging app, which saves all the important data from your track days.
3. Mazda MX-5
The MX-5 has been around for many years. Even the latest generation has already been on the market since 2015. However, it is still one of the perfect sports cars with good gas mileage and is not dated at all.
The MX-5 is a small roadster that can use just a small engine due to its low weight. That is not to say, that the Miata is boring or slow, not at all. The naturally aspirated 2.0L engine generating 181 hp and 151 lb.-ft of torque in the latest ND generation makes it nimble and so much fun. It is offered as either a soft-top convertible, where the roof is manually operated or a sleek RF model, which makes a great impression with the electrically operated hard-top roof.
The so-called Miata is one of those perfect sports cars with good gas mileage. It achieves 34 miles per gallon on highways, and 26 in the city. A new MX-5 starts below $28,000, meaning that it’s priced almost identically to the GR86, which has already been mentioned on this list.
However, if you want a Miata that is even more affordable, the older generations have just as much fun factor. The 3rd generation, internally coded as NC, is still quite modern and offered at significantly lower prices. The NA and NB models are now over 20 years old, and their prices are slowly starting to appreciate, so get them while you can do so for cheap! The Mazda MX-5 is a perfect weekend car in all of its generations.
4. Toyota GR Corolla
For some, an affordable sports car also represents a versatile vehicle that can do it all. A perfect example of this is the Toyota GR Corolla. This 5-door hatchback ensures that you always have enough space and comfort for your everyday commute but also the power and excellent handling for weekend driving. As a bonus, the GR Corolla is surprisingly fuel efficient. What more could you want?
The Corolla has gone through twelve generations now, and with every new model introduced, Toyota pushed the capabilities of the model further. As of now, the performance Corolla delivers 300 hp and 273 lb.-ft of torque through its 1.6L 3-cylinder turbo. It’s interesting to see class-leading power figures from such a small engine, but Toyota always has something special prepared.
Smaller turbo engines are perfect when you’re trying to build sports cars with good gas mileage on a large scale, as they are plenty efficient. The GR Corolla achieves 30 MPG on highways. Furthermore, this is one of the few cars that still offer a manual transmission for even better driver engagement.
With a starting price of over 31 thousand dollars, the Corolla tuned by the Gazoo Racing department is more expensive than some of the other best sports cars with good gas mileage from this list, but unlike them, this hatchback is so versatile, that you will not need any other car for your daily use. This is a great advantage of fast hot hatches.
5. Toyota GR Supra
Another Toyota on the list of the best sports cars with good gas mileage is the GR Supra. This model has been developed in conjunction with BMW. Although such a decision has upset many of the Supra purists, it also clears any doubt about the sports qualities of this car. While priced cheaper than the BMW Z4, with which it shares its platform, it is just as fun to drive.
Speaking of purists views, the Supra is a proper sports car with its rear-wheel drive. Regarding drivetrains, customers have the option to choose between a 2.0L 4-cylinder and a 3.0L 6-cylinder. The first option is particularly suited for this list, as it achieves 28 miles per gallon in combined use. The engine generates 255 hp and 295 lb.-ft of torque and is paired to an 8-speed ZF transmission. It is true that the 6-cylinder is more powerful, but the 2.0L significantly lowers the curb weight and makes the GR arguably nimbler in corners.
The 2023 Toyota GR Supra is equipped with a wide range of comfort features as standard, and to make it better looking, the interior is equipped with Alcántara and leather-trimmed sport seats, carbon-fiber interior trim, and a dual exhaust system on the exterior. In addition, there is the iconic ducktail on the rear! The base GR Supra starts at $43,000, which is more than 8 thousand dollars less than the BMW Z4, with which it shares a majority of the parts. This is a great deal and makes it one of the best sports cars with good gas mileage.
6. Toyota GT86
The Toyota GT86 is the perfect choice for those that are interested in the all-new GR86 model but wish for something even more affordable. The GT86 is now discontinued as the GR86’s predecessor but used cars are not hard to find. The fun factor at this price is unrivaled.
It uses a 2.0L flat-four engine that sends 205 hp and 156 lb.-ft of torque to the rear wheels. This means that just like the new 86, even this model is super fun but does not try to kill you every time you hit the pedal. As standard, the GT86 comes with a notchy 6-speed manual transmission. Although an automatic with the same number of gears is also available, it is simply not a good fit for this small sports car.
As this is a list of the best Japanese sports cars with good gas mileage, the GT86 must be efficient as well. This is of course true, as this Toyota achieves 28 MPG on highways (32 MPG with an automatic transmission).
The exterior of the GT86 is simple and so is the interior. It is not the best equipped nor luxurious car on this list, but that is how Toyota intended this model to be. It is simply an affordable sports car that is made to make you smile, and it excels in that.
7. Subaru WRX
A Subaru WRX is another vehicle on this list that perfectly combines the needs for a practical daily driver and a weekend sports car that is affordable to use. A new generation of this model has recently been released, and it has made the already great WRX even better.
As we are looking at cars with good gas mileage, the WRX achieves 27 MPG combined. This is wonderful if we take into account that this Subaru packs a 2.4L turbo boxer engine that delivers 271 hp and 258 lb.-ft of torque.
Of course, it would not be a proper Subaru sports car without a manual transmission, which is why the WRX comes standard with a short-throw shifter and a 6-speed manual gearbox. That said, an automatic is also available and makes this Subaru even more usable as a daily. In addition, like every other Subaru, even this one comes with a symmetrical all-wheel drive.
One of the best things about the newly redesigned WRX is the styling. It looks robust and mean at the same time, all while hinting at Subaru’s legendary rally DNA. This is also apparent when you get in the interior. You’ll find that all surfaces feel premium, and the passengers are sat in sporty bolstered seats that keep you tightly in place while going around corners at high speeds.
Sports Cars With Good Gas Mileage Do Exist!
As you can see, there are quite a lot of cars that are both fun and economical. Most of the cars on this list can be had for well under $40,000, and with some compromises, they are perfectly usable as daily drivers.
Not only that but most of the presented models are packed with features, with premium interiors and an exciting aggressive design. As usual with Japanese manufacturers, reliability is almost never an issue, especially with models such as the Honda Civic or Mazda MX-5, which have been on the market for more than 20 years.
In that time, the manufacturers practically perfected these affordable road weapons. There is no need to buy a supercar to enjoy some thrill on the road, and the best 7 sports cars with good gas mileage from this list are a proof of it.
That being said, even the most reliable cars need proper maintenance. Here at Newparts.com, we offer a wide range of genuine, OEM and aftermarket parts for a wide range of vehicles. Check out our offer for more info!
