Our Picks for the 7 Cars with the Best Handling
Do you ever make racecar noises while you’re driving? You know, the kind you used to make when you were a kid? We know it’s not just us. Everyone fantasizes about tearing around a track at least once in their lifetime. And some drivers will go out of their way to buy cars that will in some way bring that fantasy to life.
One of the things that makes a racecar a racecar is its ability to “carve corners” and make tight turns with minimal sliding and skidding involved. So if you’re in the market for a vehicle that will make your commute feel like a day at the races, you’re in luck! We’ve put together a list of cars with best handling to help you find your dream vehicle.
What is Handling?
If you’re not already a car geek, you might not know what we mean by ‘handling’. So before we move onto our list, let’s talk about what handling is.
How well a car handles basically means how well a car responds to the steering wheel, or how much control you as the driver have over the movement of your vehicle. Things like suspension, car weight, and center of gravity all come into play to determine how well your car handles.
A sports car will generally have very stiff suspension and a low center of gravity which makes it a champion at taking sharp turns at very high speeds.
And while good handling makes athletic vehicles responsive and fun to drive on the track, it’s also an important aspect of staying safe during everyday driving. If you swerve to avoid an accident and succeed, you have the handling of your car to thank. (As well as your own reflexes!)
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Mazda Miata - new from $26,580
This little vehicle gets a rare 9.5 out of 10 rating from Car and Driver, and absolutely deserves it. The Miata is a true sports car: everything in it caters to the joy of driving - and little else. But if you’re a car enthusiast, that’s all that really matters, right?
The Miata is great as a daily commuter if your ride doesn’t include a school pickup or a carpool with more than one other person. It gets 37 MPG, and can be found with safety features like lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring.
The Miata is also famous for its “superior driving dynamics.” It’s a joy to drive around corners, but its suspension isn’t so stiff that it makes the ride uncomfortable.
Porsche 911 - new from $99,200
The one, the only: the Porsche 911. The vehicle every wannabe racer dreams about owning. Car and Driver practically sings this iconic car’s praises, using words like “sublime,” “unrivaled,” and “legendary” in their 10⁄10 review. The 911 truly sets the standard for consumer sports cars, and provides the driver with an experience almost the equivalent of driving a built-for-track vehicle.
Like the Miata, the 911 is geared more towards the experience of driving than anything else (of course the handling is amazing), but with a nearly-hundred-thousand-dollar price tag, this Porsche offers its owner a few more gadgets to play with. To keep you entertained, the new 911 comes standard with wireless hot-spot capabilities, a surround sound audio system, and Apple CarPlay integration.
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider - new from $67,150
The Spider goes a step beyond the racecar fantasy and makes you feel like you’re piloting a vintage airplane. The cabin is noisy, there’s very, very little in the way of tech besides some buttons and knobs, and reviewers say driving the Alfa at slower speeds is “a chore.”
But that’s because the Spider was built to make hurtling down a windy track feel like a leisurely stroll in the park. Around town you might feel like you *are* taxiing an old bomber down the street. But on the open road this Alfa Romeo will feel like an extension of your body.
THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
Honda Civic Type R - new from $37,895
It might not be the easiest on the eyes, but the Civic Type R makes up for its “childish” design by doubling as both an athletic racer and a practical family car. (Leave it to Honda, right?)
The first 4-door on our list of consumer cars with best handling, you can spend the day pushing that 306-horsepower turbocharged 6 cylinder engine as far as it will go, and still pick your (very lucky) kids up from school. It also has plenty of cargo space for everyday activities like grocery shopping, and out-of-this-world handling that won the Type R an Editor’s Choice Award from Car and Driver. You know, in case your drive home involves a road like the Nurburg ring.
Ford Mustang - new from $27,155
While not as family-friendly as the Honda, the Mustang still does its best to woo would-be owners with as much every-day appeal as speciality performance. A maximum 13.5 cubic feet of cargo space makes it the heavyweight champion in roominess on our list.
And despite a handling capacity that allows this beast to go 50 MPH through a 90 degree turn, the ride is surprisingly smooth, and can be made even more comfortable by engaging, well, “comfort mode” which softens the suspension for longer, slower road trips.
Toyota Supra - new from $42,990
The aggressive styling of this built-for-speed vehicle dares you to drive it anywhere. In fact, Toyota takes the sport potential of this car so seriously that the purchase of a Supra comes with a one-year membership to the National Auto Sport association as well as one free day at the track.
This car is begging to be driven at top speeds on smooth and winding tarmac. But sport seats and super-handling aside, this Toyota also makes a great everyday car, with a smooth ride, considerable cargo space, and a fully decked-out cabin complete with such creature comforts as Apple CarPlay compatibility, integrated navigation, and Head-Up Display.
IS GAP INSURANCE WORTH IT?
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Mercedes AMG GT-R - new from $131,750
Some vehicles sacrifice straightaway speed for better handling. Not the AMG. 720 horsepower, 590 lb-ft of torque, and a 0 to 60 speed of 2.9 seconds makes this supercar an absolute speed demon, as well as a champion corner-cutter.
And if you like aggressive engine sounds to go with your wild driving, the AMG’s twin-turbo V8 has some truly earth-shattering roars to share with you. But the AMG is easily tamed for daily drives, and comes standard with a digital instrument cluster, a 12.3 inch touchscreen infotainment center, and forward-collision warning.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
Got a need for speed, but no vehicle? The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
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The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
