There may be nothing more American than a sports car. Some of us love the promise of the open road and a roaring engine. Others prefer that engine rumbling at the stop light before it explodes off the line. Regardless of your chosen method of enjoyment, the sports car sits strong at the top of the list of most-envied automobiles in the country just like it has for years now.
The big three American automakers hold the top spots on the best-sellers list for sports cars in this country, and all three offer up worthy contenders for the crown. They all have tires that smoke and exhaust notes that sing – but only one can be the champ. The car in first place has a pretty sizeable lead on the others, so a quick look on the roads might spoil it for you, but the top three best-selling sports cars each offer a little something special. It’s just that the Ford Mustang is a little bit better.
3. Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger just looks like classic rock. It’s got the swagger and lines of something from a bygone era, and it leans into that nostalgia proudly. It has a simple interior that gives the impression that it is more concerned with look and performance than the stitching on the seats. But, it’s still very comfortable to sit in and drive. The ride is smooth – until you kick in that 485-horspower V8, of course.
Over the years, Dodge has improved handling with a sport-tuned suspension and a really cool widebody version that makes the car more stable on fat 20-inch wheels. The car handles quite well, and its available 10-speed transmission adds a little bit of sophistication to a throwback, muscle-car experience.
2. Chevy Camaro
Everyone knows and loves the Camaro. It’s been among the most popular and best performing pony cars from almost the very beginning. Chevy has evolved the Camaro over the years into something wonderful. There are versions of this car for seemingly every driver – from guy who is obsessed with performance on the track to the student who wants a sports car that just looks cool.
Under the hood, both the more powerful engine options (forget the 4-cylinder) offer a large number of combinations for performance, value, and pure, gut-busting power. From the sporty V6 that offers quite a bit of bang for the buck, to the monster V8 in the SS 1LE model with its satin-black hood, triple spoiler, and hundreds and hundreds of horses, there’s a Camaro model for everyone. The Camaro also excels as a purely drive-able car – the infotainment system is top-notch with a ton of great options and an intuitive interface.
1. Ford Mustang
At the top of the list sits a familiar face – and really, there is a reason that the Ford Mustang outsells its closest competitor by almost half. The Ford Mustang offers drivers everything they want: incredible styling, top-of-the-line performance, comfort, and luxury – all while having one foot planted in history and the other taking a huge step into the future of sports cars.
Ford started the pony car idea with its Mustang and has stayed either in front or near the lead for decades now, and the newest model is out of sight. It brings to mind everything great about sports car history while being firmly futuristic in both design and performance. The GT and Bullitt versions are beautiful, technological marvels that also happen to be scary-fast (and the Bullitt even has a “California Special” package that pays homage to the original McQueen car from 1968.)
When coupled with a five-star safety and driver-assist rating, it’s easy to see why the Ford Mustang is yet again on top of the best-selling sports cars list. It is for all of this that the Ford Mustang is now not only America’s best-selling sports car — it is now No. 1 across the world. And you know Americans love first place!
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