Best performance cars 2026: the thrillers to buy – and avoid

If ever there was a performance car that really can be a vehicle for all occasions, it’s the BMW M3 Touring. Part laser-focused thrill ride, part versatile family car.

Yes, it’s a little heavier than the saloon, but its 523bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged engine makes that academic. Few will notice that it’s 0.1sec slower than its sibling, because 0-62mpg takes just 3.6sec – making it faster than the closely related Alpina B3 Touring.

The extra 85kg it carries doesn't blunt its handling either, because it provides an agility the Audi RS4 Avant and Mercedes-AMG C 63 Estate can’t match. The four-wheel drive system builds huge confidence, ensuring sure-footedness regardless of whether you’re on the school run or traversing the Stelvio Pass.

And the M3 Touring is equally adept at either, because it’s brilliantly practical. Its 500-litre boot is capable of carrying any number of projects right to the school gates, and should you fancy tackling an Alpine pass, then the versatility of a 40/20/40 folding rear seat makes it easy to carry your skis alongside a pair of back-seat passengers. 

“Like most drivers, I'll adjust a car as much as I can to suit my needs – and in the M3 Touring, the driver has lots of scope for tailoring its behaviour to suit their mood or the road conditions. And given its tremendous abilities, you have to wonder why BMW didn't make this car years ago.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth BMW M3 Touring review

There's hot and there's hot, and on the spice scale of hot hatchbacks, the Mercedes-AMG A45 is a carolina reaper.

Its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine provides indecent levels of space, developing 416bhp in total and allowing for a scorching 0-62mph sprint time of 3.9 seconds. And while the eight-speed automatic gearbox does a perfectly fine job of managing all that power, you can still take control using the wheel-mounted paddles if you want to. 

You'll find that a Honda Civic Type R has even meatier steering feel than the A45, but the Mercedes' always feels well planted through corners, and it's easy to point the nose exactly where you want it, which isn't something you can say about all hot hatches. 

What's especially impressive about the A45 is that, being based on the regular Mercedes A-Class, it's every bit as usable as that car. It features the same show-stopping interior, with its impressive infotainment system and high-end materials. And there's room for six carry-on suitcases in the boot, which is two more than we managed to fit in the back of the Audi RS3.

Yes, the A45 is one of the most expensive hot hatchbacks you can buy, but in the context of the wider performance car class it's actually one of the cheaper options. And it shouldn't be ruinous to run, returning 28.5mpg in our real-w0rld testing. In terms of warranty, you get three years of cover with no mileage limit.

“I think it’s a shame the bright yellow paint option is no longer available for the A45, but there are some interesting alternatives, including Mountain Grey with a matte finish.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth Mercedes-AMG A45 review

Britain's best electric performance car is the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, and while you might not have heard of it before, this sleek and sporty EV has a famous sibling – the Ioniq 5 N, which is one of our favourite electric cars. Indeed, the 6 N borrows plenty of technology from that car, including its virtual gearbox which makes it feel as though you're driving a manual car.

In terms of raw power, the Ioniq 6 N serves up 601bhp, but that figure can be increased up to 641bhp for 10-second bursts – perfect if you find yourself in perfect overtaking position. As you might expect, the point-to-point pace of the Ioniq 6 N is truly impressive, but what also impressed us is that despite its weight, this electric car feels remarkably agile. Indeed, it feels even more eager to turn into bends than the far more expensive Audi E-tron GT or Porsche Taycan.

Those rivals have the edge when it comes to ride comfort, though, but that's not to say that the Ioniq 6 N is uncomfortable, it just doesn't have the same sophisticated air suspension as those cars. Like the Ioniq 5 N, you get a lot for your money here, with a long list of standard equipment which includes luxuries such as dual-zone climate control and heated and ventilated front seats. 

As is the norm for electric cars, there are two warranties to consider. You get five years of unlimited-mileage cover for the car, with the drive battery covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

“Our all-black test car looked pretty evil, but personally I’d specify any Hyundai N car in the Performance Blue paint the N sub-brand tends to be associated with.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Read our in-depth Hyundai Ioniq 6 N review

If you want the best blend of electric power and driving excitement, then look no further than the Porsche Taycan.

Turbo and Turbo S trim levels deliver on power and performance, forsaking range for a 0-62mph time of as low as 2.7sec. However, our preferred 4S trim strikes a much better balance between performance and range – it can cover the same sprint in a still-rapid 3.7sec, yet can officially travel 367 miles between charges. Upgrade to the larger optional 105kWh battery, and that figure increases to a staggering 421 miles.

The Taycan is a practical choice, too, with decent room in its rear seats – for two people, at least. Unlike some performance car rivals, there's no middle seat, so you can't squeeze five people in at a push. Meanwhile, the boot is large enough for a baby buggy or a set of golf clubs.

Inside, the Taycan's curved 16.8in digital instrument cluster does a good job of putting all the information you might want right in front of you, plus it's fully customisable, meaning you can prioritise the information you want, such as remaining range or directions from the sat-nav.

“The Taycan's high-quality interior can seat four adults in comfort, with a relatively practical boot for their luggage. I like that you get some underfloor storage for your charging cables, too.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Porsche Taycan review

The Audi E-tron GT is a 583bhp four-door coupé that can sprint from 0-60mph in 3.4sec. It’s not as sharp to drive as the closely related Porsche Taycan, but strikes a good balance between all-out speed and ride comfort. 

It's the entry-level S model which we recommend. It has two electric motors and four-wheel drive, and feels exceedingly fast in a straight line. Of course, if you really want to show off, then the RS E-tron GT offers 671 bhp and can reach 62mph in just 2.8 seconds.

As you'd expect of such a pricey car, the E-tron GT is well equipped inside and features a crystal-clear infotainment and driver display, albeit with the exception of some fiddly touch-sensitive buttons. 

The saloon boot is a little tight to squeeze luggage into, but it’s deep enough to swallow a few cases. And despite the E-tron GT’s sleek silhouette, there is enough room in the back for two six-footers to travel in comfort.

“You might think that an electric car built around performance wouldn't be able to go very far, but when we tested the E-tron GT's real-world range, we determined it to be around 230 miles, and that's enough for most drivers.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor

Read our in-depth Audi E-tron GT review

There's no getting away from the fact that putting any version of the Porsche Cayenne Coupé on your driveway is going to be an expensive proposition, but at least you don't need to splash out on the range-topping versions to experience it at its brilliant best. Instead, it's the second-rung S version which we think most buyers will love, thanks to its storming 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine. With 482bhp available, it feels ferociously fast, and can get you up to 62mph in a quick 4.7 seconds. And you'll enjoy getting there, because the sound of the V8 engine when it's doing its best work is, quite simply, sublime.

Elsewhere, the Cayenne Coupé impressed us with its ride quality, at least on the models fitted with air suspension that we've tried so far. A Range Rover Sport is even more supple, but the Cayenne never crashes or jars when it hits lumps and bumps in the road. Plus, the body control at higher speeds is exceptional.

Despite its plunging roofline, there's still enough room for a couple of six-footers to sit comfortably in the back of the Cayenne Coupé, and there's plenty of room in the boot for a couple of suitcases.

You get a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty with every Cayenne Coupé, which is pretty par for the course among sports SUVs.

“When the rear seats of the Porsche Cayenne Coupé are folded down, they lie at a slight angle instead of completely flat, but I reckon you'd still find it easy enough to slide in flatpack furniture.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Read our in-depth Porsche Cayenne Coupé review

Key to the BMW M4's appeal is its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, which pumps out 523bhp and sends that power to all four wheels. That means it's effortless for you to keep moving quickly. Indeed, you can hit 62mph in just 3.5 seconds, which is faster than the rival Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio can manage. 

We especially like the M4's adaptability. With everything in its most comfortable setting, the M4 feels just as cosseting and as calming as any other BMW 4 Series. But twist every dial into its angriest mode, and plant your right foot, and the M4 transforms into a snarling beast. It forces you back into your seat every time you flick up a gear, and has the kind of confidence-inspiring handling which keeps you pressing on. We just wish it sounded a little better while you were doing so – the soundtrack from the engine is fine enough, but it lacks the audible drama of the Ford Mustang.

There's plenty of space for passengers in the front of the M4 to stretch out, and while getting into the rear seats requires a bit of contortion, once you're settled you'll find a decent amount of space. And if that ends up becoming an issue, then there's always the four-door BMW M3 to consider instead.

"Official figures suggest you should expect to see just 28mpg from the BMW M4. And if you have any intent of taking full advantage of its power, you'll see considerably less than that.” – Jack Mortimer, Content Editor

Read our in-depth BMW M4 review

In many ways, the Aston Martin DBX is a sports SUV that's all about pure excess. After all, what happens when you put a 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine which, even in its most basic form, produces 697bhp, into an SUV can only be described as excessive. Or intoxicating, which is how you'll feel when that engine is doing its best to get you up to 62mph, which takes just 3.3 seconds. Or, to put it another way, faster than a Porsche Cayenne, Ferrari Purosangue or Lamborghini Urus.

Of course, a great performance car is about more than just point-to-point pace, and the DBX feels both agile through corners and impressively comfortable on the motorway. In short, when you don't need it to be a rip-snorting SUV, it doesn't have to be.

Inside, the DBX treats you to the kind of high-set driving position which SUV buyers will love, and surrounds you with the kind of materials and technology you'd expect to see at this price point – and that's especially true since the car's mid-life facelift, which replaced the previous Mercedes-sourced infotainment system with a more modern one.

Like many of the other cars on this list, putting a DBX on your driveway is an expensive prospect, and you'll need to make sure you can afford to keep one running too – even according to official figures, just 19.9mpg is possible.

“Given how fast and heavy the DBX is, I think the fact that it has fade-resistant carbon-ceramic brakes is very welcome.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth Aston Martin DBX review

Like the best products, the Audi RS3 has a unique selling point to help it stand out from the automotive crowd. In this case, it's quite a good one, too – a 2.5-litre, five-cylinder petrol engine. And if the significance of that isn't readily apparent to you, consider this: it's bonkers fast, wonderfully enjoyable and emits the kind of soundtrack which will have you taking the long route home every time.

When you want it to be, the RS3 can attack lap times with the very best hot hatches, with sharp steering, and an innovative torque splitter which allows drive to be sent to each rear wheel completely independently. Yet when all you want to do is get home, the RS3 can be comfortable and relaxing, just like the regular Audi A3.

In most respects, the RS3 is every bit as practical as the regular A3, with one exception. That's because its four-wheel drive system raises the boot floor, making the load bay very shallow, and meaning we could fit just four carry-0n suitcases into it, compared with five in the Mercedes-AMG A45. That said, if you do need to carry more, then 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats come as standard.

"The interior of the latest RS3 has just enough touches to make it feel bespoke compared with a regular Audi A3. It’s just a shame the quality doesn’t quite match the car’s high price." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Audi RS3 Sportback review

This two-time winner of our Performance Car of the Year Award is one of the best sports saloons to drive on a winding B-road, due to its engaging handling and free-revving 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine. It has plenty of performance – we managed to hit 60mph in just 3.7 seconds at our private test track – and can out-sprint the Porsche Taycan 4S to motorway speeds.

Put the Giulia Quadrifoglio into its Race mode, and it provides an excellent soundtrack too, with the exhaust barking and crackling loudly as the gearbox helps you to press on. 

On the inside, however, there are areas where it falls short of its rivals – both the BMW M3 Touring feels more premium inside. Plus, space in the back is lessened by the car’s low roofline. 

“While the Giulia Quadrifoglio undoubtedly has a licence to thrill, it is let down in other areas. I found its infotainment system difficult to get along with, hindered by being slow to respond and with graphics which don't match the car's price.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio review

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