Car enthusiasts are bombarded with cool and desirable cars on social media, magazine reviews, and shows like Top Gear and The Grand Tour. These flagship vehicles get so much attention that it’s easy to forget about the lesser models.
Yes, the latest BMW M4 is great, but it’s not exactly affordable. Gearheads can get an old 3 Series with very respectable performance for 10-30% of the price, and I bet it will make you grin just as much.
On this list of underrated cars, you’ll find everything from muscle cars to hot-hatchbacks and convertible sports cars. Some of these models were once praised by the automotive press, only to fade into obscurity; others never got the attention they deserved.
2013 BMW 135is
Towards the end of 2007, BMW launched the coupe version of the 1 Series, and the E82 BMW 135is is the fastest and most powerful 1 Series model without M badges. It looks like any other 1 Series car, and only real enthusiasts are able to tell the difference… until the driver floors the throttle.
Lurking under the hood, is the N55 turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine. It sends 320 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, translating into a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. Being a Bimmer, it’s also tons of fun on twisty roads.
BMW Z3
Long before the 1 Series was a twinkle in the Bavarians’ eyes, BMW launched another fun sports car. The Z3 arrived in the ’90s, and it remained in production until 2002. I think it has aged quite well, but I agree that its looks are polarizing. That, combined with underpowered entry-level models, many gearheads sleep on the Z3.
Today, you can pick one up for a song, and as long as you avoid the Euro-spec base models, you’re in for a treat. Personally, I’d opt for the 2.8 or 3.0-liter versions, as they pack enough power to make you giggle on the straights, and the handling will have you laughing maniacally in the corners.
MazdaSpeed6
Looking at the MazdaSpeed6, there’s no reason to think this isn’t your average, innocent, everyday Mazda6, but there’s much more to it than you might think. This is a proper sleeper car, and it’s right up there with legendary Japanese sedans, such as the Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.
The MazdaSpeed6 is powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine. All its 273 horses are sent to all four wheels via a manual transmission. When it was new, the automotive press praised its power and handling, but these days, it’s a mostly forgotten gem.
Chevrolet SS
The Chevrolet SS is another sleeper sedan that has no problems keeping up with proper sports cars. Perhaps the understated looks are the reason sales never took off, and it was only available for five years? Today, most people don’t even know it exists.
According to Car and Driver, the Chevy SS was actually a badge-engineered Holden Commodore. The “SS” name hints that something special is going on here, and once you pop the hood, it becomes obvious. A 6.2-liter V8 sends it flying down the straights, and a sport-tuned suspension setup ensures that it can go around corners, too.
Fiat 124 Spider
The Fiat 124 Spider is essentially a Mazda MX-5 Miata. They use the same platform and are built on the same assembly line. However, whereas the Miata has a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine, the 124 Spider is powered by Fiat’s own turbocharged 1.4-liter from the 500 Abarth. For that reason, most gearheads wrote it off immediately.
There’s more to the Fiat 124 Spider than its tiny engine, though. It still has the Miata’s excellent handling and is quieter to drive, and those looking for more power should know that tuners have extracted hundreds of ponies from this unit.
Audi TT
Audi launched the original Audi TT in 1998, and its styling has held up well – it certainly doesn’t look like it’s nearing 30 years. For whatever reason, the TT never received the same respect as other performance models in Audi’s lineup, and many gearheads view it as a “hairdresser’s car.”
I don’t think the critics have actually spent time behind the wheel of Audi’s little sports coupe, because this is a fun and engaging car, especially in Quattro guise. The VAG 1.8 Turbo engine is tried and tested, and it can hold a lot more power than what it left the factory with.
986 Porsche Boxster
Evil tongues will have you believe the Porsche Boxster is a poor man’s Porsche. Let me tell you, those who claim that obviously haven’t driven one.
It’s the cheapest way to get behind the wheel of a flat-six-powered Porsche. It also offers the performance you’d expect from a 1990s Porsche, but being mid-engined, it handles better than its bigger sibling, the rear-engined 996. Sure, you’ll probably live in fear of the infamous IMS bearing failure, but that may never happen if you take proper care of it.
Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6
I agree that the regular Chrysler Crossfire isn’t particularly exciting, but the SRT-6 version is undoubtedly capable of putting a smile on most driving enthusiasts’ faces. Chrysler built the Crossfire on the first-gen Mercedes-Benz SLK platform, but it didn’t suffer from some of the convertible SLK’s issues.
Car and Driver says the Crossfire SRT-6 had the same supercharged 3.2-liter V6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission as the SLK32 AMG. If you can live with the styling, the Crossfire SRT-6 is a fun and capable American sports car that’s worth checking out.
Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta ST is an amazing all-rounder. It looks like your average grocery-getter, and it can certainly be used as that. It’s also a proper pocket rocket that’s up for some hooliganism every time you fire up the engine.
This tiny beast has a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, producing nearly 200 hp. That’s enough to send it to 60 mph in just 6.9 seconds. It also enjoys a massive selection of aftermarket parts, so you can turn the Fiesta ST into a fire-breathing, wide-bodied replica of Ken Block’s Gymkhana car if you like.
Pontiac Solstice GXP
Car enthusiasts have talked a lot of smack about the Pontiac Solstice over the years, and frankly, it kind of deserves it, as the build quality leaves a lot to be desired. It does look cool and quirky, but that’s not the reason why we’d buy it.
The base model had a relatively tame 2.4-liter engine, which is best avoided. Go for the GXP version with a 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. Those willing to spend some time and money on it may find that the Solstice GXP is a very rewarding car.
MazdaSpeed3
Here we have another MazdaSpeed vehicle, this time based on the smaller Mazda3. Like its bigger sibling, the MazdaSpeed6, there’s a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine hiding under the hood.
Unlike the MazdaSpeed6, the MazdaSpeed3 doesn’t have AWD. Here, all the 263 horses are sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission with a limited-slip diff. Mazdaspeed also gave it some chassis and suspension upgrades to improve the driving dynamics.
Kia Stinger
Twenty years ago, nobody would’ve guessed that the Korean carmakers would end up as some of the most exciting brands. Kia and Hyundai hired engineers from Audi and BMW, and since then, they’ve churned out several excellent driver’s cars.
The Kia Stinger GT is an absolute beast of a sports sedan. The top-spec version has a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 engine that knocks out a staggering 368 hp. It also has a premium interior and all the gadgets and tech you’ll ever need.
Chrysler 300C SRT
The Chrysler 300C is built on technology and a chassis that’s 20 years old. Over the years, it has also suffered from some issues, so many gearheads overlook it or choose to stay away from it. However, if you find a well-kept example, the SRT version is a muscle sedan worth looking into.
The 300C SRT was introduced as a sporty version for the second generation. Under the hood, it has a 6.4-liter V8 that sends 470 American stallions and an equal amount of torque to the rear wheels. Like muscle cars of the past, handling certainly isn’t its strong suit, but it’ll keep up with sports cars in a straight line.
