9 Best Roadsters for Summer
As is the case in every comparison of vehicles by category, this overview of roadsters exposes that some models are much better than others. Yet, all of these cars have something in common: They are all superb joy to drive, even the model with the lowest overall rating from U.S. News. You can take any of these cars out on a flawless day or night, lower the top, and be pretty sure that your drive will be pleasurable.
It is even possible to make the case that many of these models would be capable daily drivers. Convertible tops seal tightly when raised and many have numerous layers that insulate the driver and passenger from noise and temperature extremes. Some models even suggest all-wheel drive – added confidence for buyers who will face lubricious roads. So, let the joy begin.
The cars on the following glides are roadsters, meaning they have two seats and a drop top. We chose these models based on their scores in U.S. News sports car and luxury sports car rankings. Our rankings are updated permanently as fresh pro reviews and data become available, so the scores may switch over time.
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2017 Nissan 370Z
U.S. News Score: 7.7/Ten | $41,820 (Details Below)
The U.S. News evaluation of the Nissan 370Z pulls no punches. «The 370Z is a better sports car than it is an overall vehicle,» we say. That means you can have lots of joy with it thanks to its powerful 332-horsepower V6 engine, excellent six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmissions, and acute treating. However, you might be disappointed by the fuel economy, minimal cargo space (Four.Two cubic feet), and lack of high-tech features.
Then there is the price. The 370Z coupe starts at $29,990. The least costly convertible is $11,830 more. And, if you want such common convenience upgrades as power seats, a premium audio system with an auxiliary input, and voice recognition technology, you will have to step up to the Touring model, which will add another $Three,450 to the price.
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2017 Audi TT
Among luxury sports cars, the Audi TT ranks high for its affordability. The coupe version starts at $43,500, with the roadster adding just $Three,500 to that price. Buyers end up with a car that offers a sumptuous interior with a driver-centered multimedia system and standard all-wheel drive.
Treating, however, was called «inconsistent» by U.S. News, and most competitors suggest a more powerful engine. In addition, the TT, while delivering ample power once under way, suffers from turbo lag when very first kicking off out. Still, the TT is both comfy and engaging to drive, overall.
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2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC
If there is a sports car that might seem suitable for use across the year, winter included, the Mercedes-Benz SLC, a brand-new entrant for two thousand seventeen and successor to the SLK, would seem to be it. Credit its retractable hardtop. Top up, the SLC is as snug as a coupe. Top down, it is a refined convertible.
The interior is a premium effort, tho’ a larger driver or passenger may find the available space snug – perhaps even cramped. While space may be brief, the list of available features, including high-tech safety upgrades, is long.
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2017 Fiat one hundred twenty four Spider
The fresh Fiat Spider is an ideal choice for people who want a two-seat sports car with athletic treating. The Spider is undoubtedly joy to drive. It is also among the least costly roadsters available. It has a embarking price only $80 higher than the base price for a Mazda Miata, with which it shares its platform (however not its drivetrain).
Power in the Spider`s Classica and Lusso trims comes from a 160-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Abarth raises this to one hundred sixty four horsepower. Both the manual and optional automatic transmissions are six-speed units, and the convertible top, while manual in operation, is lightly treated from the driver`s seat. You likely won’t miss the extra weight and maintenance worries of a power top. Assembly of the Fiat one hundred twenty four Spider is treated by Mazda in Japan.
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2017 Jaguar F-Type
The Jaguar F-Type roadster may commence at $65,400, but to stir from the 340-horsepower supercharged V6 to the most powerful 575-horsepower supercharged V8 in the SVR trim almost doubles that price. Moving from rear- to all-wheel drive raises the price of entry to $89,700.
Regardless of the F-Type model, the interior will be of high quality, with comfy and supportive seats, and the engine will emit a crowd-pleasing growl on wide-open throttle runs. The suspension is tuned for acute treating and a stiff rail.
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2017 Mercedes-Benz SL
U.S. News Score: 8.8/Ten | $86,950 (Details Below)
The styling has been updated for 2017, but the treatment that Mercedes-Benz takes with the SL has remained unchanged. The SL proceeds to be one of the best-riding sports cars around. It is the sports car that you would want for that cross-country tour. It gulps the miles effortlessly.
The price you have to pay for this convenience is less-responsive treating (and $86,950). The SL is capable, predictable, and joy to drive, but it is not as acute as the Porsche nine hundred eleven or Jaguar F-Type. It is a sports car, but it is not the model that buyers who participate in track sessions will choose.
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2017 Chevrolet Corvette
U.S. News Score: 8.9/Ten | $59,450 (Details Below)
With four hundred fifty five horsepower on tap in the base version, the Chevrolet Corvette demonstrates with every blip of the throttle what American muscle is all about. The Corvette is utterly quick. It also supplies treating that makes the car joy to drive on the street or on the track.
For serious track participants, the Corvette offers upgrades to the suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires that make it even more exceptional when driven vapid out on closed courses. The 650-horsepower Corvette Z06, with its adaptive suspension, is best looked upon as a street-legal racecar.
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2017 Mazda Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has long demonstrated that you don’t need the most powerful or most expensive sports car to have excellent joy on weekend drives or at track events. As it turns out, the Miata is the least costly and least powerful car in this group. Yet it is among the most very rated sports cars available at any price. That should tell you a lot of what you need to know.
The Miata is agile, responsive, and impatient. Its manual transmission is excellent joy to use. However, an automatic is also suggested. Add remarkably good fuel economy and you have car that is as very desirable as it is effortless to live with (and justify to your accountant).
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2017 Porsche Boxster
Porsche has given the Boxster an extensive midcycle freshening for 2017. The engines are fresh and turbocharged, the interior has been updated, and the technology has been revised.
Fortunately, the exceptional driving feel and treating are unchanged. The Boxster is instantly responsive to its driver`s wishes. The engine is powerful and the steering combines instantaneous responses with a level of road feel that has to be experienced to be appreciated. The bod structure feels exceptionally solid and the rail is convenient. This is a sports car that you will want to drive every day.
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More Shopping Instruments From U.S. News & World Report
To check out other roadsters, explore our fresh car rankings. When you`re ready to buy, use our Best Price Program to find the dealers with the best prices in your area. Shoppers who use our Best Price Program have saved an average of $Trio,279 off MSRP.