What is the best sports car under £20k?
Looking for a sports car on a £20k budget? Here are your best (and most fun) options
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Choosing your next sports car doesn’t have to be tricky, despite there being so many options out there to choose from.
But with a healthy budget of £20,000, there are plenty of models to choose from. Whether it’s a sporty Audi or a nippy Mazda, the used car market will be able to help you out.
But which is the best? Read our guide to find out which of these four used sports cars is best for you and your £20k budget.
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Best used sports cars under £20,000:
Audi TT
Mazda MX-5
Toyota GT86
Fiat 124 Spider
BMW M240i
Jaguar F-Type
Ford Fiesta ST
Abarth 595
Audi TT
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One of the best used sports cars under £20k is the Audi TT.
Often referred to as the ‘baby R8’, this pocket rocket is loved by Audi fans and petrolheads worldwide.
Sitting under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre petrol engine that will put a smile on your face every mile you drive – especially with the punchier 245hp models.
Thanks to a solid chassis and the AWD Audi quattro system, you can enjoy this nippy sports car on a hot summer’s day or a chilly winter’s morning – it's available as both a convertible and coupé.
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Mazda MX-5
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If you want a new weekend whip and one of the most reliable sports cars, then you can’t go wrong with a Mazda MX-5.
It first came out in 1989, and Mazda has been busy perfecting the formula ever since. This is why we now have one of the best all-around sports cars for the money.
At the front is either a 132hp 1.5-litre engine or a larger 184hp 2.0-litre petrol that offers more power and torque while not weighing much more.
Both units are non-turbocharged, so they need to be revved hard for maximum performance, but if anything, that makes them more enjoyable and engaging to drive.
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Toyota GT86
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While the Mazda is great, if you want to maximise your £20k budget and still have some cash to spare, then the Toyota GT86 is one of the best two-seater sports cars to consider.
This Toyota is not particularly powerful, but it does have a lovely manual gearbox and sends all its power to the rear wheels, and with a few adjustments, it can be made into the ultimate weekend sports car.
Power comes from a characterful 2.0-litre flat-four boxer engine that’s very robust and can handle more power should you wish to tune it, making it a great project car.
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Fiat 124 Spider
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Not all sports cars come with a retractable roof, but thankfully, all Fiat 124 Spiders do, making them some of the best convertible sports cars you can buy for under £20k.
Sharing its DNA with the Mazda MX-5, this little Fiat is good to drive, easy to live with, and offers good features as standard.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine that’s punchy and a manual gearbox that’s smooth and feels very tactile when on a twisting country B-road.
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BMW M240i
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While a BMW M2 is a fantastically capable car, it doesn't quite fall under the £20,000 budget yet. Luckily, the M240i does, and it's one corker of a car.
If you need back seats and a decent boot, the M240i is a powerhouse. You get a silky-smooth 3.0-litre straight-six (B58) engine that is legendary for its tuning potential and reliability.
340hp makes it seriously fast (0-62mph in 4.6 seconds). It’s more of a junior muscle car than a delicate corner-carver.
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Jaguar F-Type
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Available with a V8, V6, or four-cylinder engine, the Jaguar F-Type is one of the most versatile two-seater sports cars out there, and it can be had for a steal.
At this budget, you’re likely looking at the 3.0-litre V6, a supercharged heart that defines the car’s personality.
It doesn’t just drive nicely; it barks, crackles, and pops, especially if you find a model with the switchable Active Exhaust.
While the newer 2.0-litre four-cylinder is lighter and more efficient, it lacks the operatic soul that makes the F-Type truly feel like a British supercar.
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Ford Fiesta ST
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The Ford Fiesta ST isn't strictly a sports car, but it is a performance hot hatchback with plenty to offer.
Since Ford stopped producing the Fiesta, these have become instant future classics. For under £20k, you can get a nearly-new model with very low mileage.
It’s arguably the most fun you can have on a twisty UK B-road at any price. The 1.5-litre turbo engine is punchy, and the handling is proper puppy-dog energetic.
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Abarth 595
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Like the Fiesta above, the Abarth 595 isn't a 'sports car' per se, but it's one of the best hatchbacks ever made, especially in the fun department.
If you want something that feels like a race car even when you're just nipping to the shops, the Abarth is it. £20k will buy you a top-spec 2022-2024 model with almost no miles on the clock.
If you can find one, the Competizione trim comes with a "Record Monza" exhaust that is hilariously loud, Brembo brakes and carbon-backed Sabelt seats. It’s tiny, angry and oozes Italian character.
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