by Michael Satterfield - 04/17/2019
One of the advantages of writing about cars is that I get to drive a lot of the latest and greatest from almost every manufacturer. While the bulk of the cars that cycle through the press fleets are your everyday sedans, CUVs, and hatchbacks, everyone few weeks I do get to slide behind the wheel of a performance-focused coupe, and the 2019/2020 models are some of the best that have ever been offered. After driving everything from AMG to Zagato here are my top 5 picks for real world sports coupe you can buy today.
2019 INFINITI Q60S 400 AWD Coupe
MSRP: $56,900
MPG: 19 city / 26 highway
3.0-liter Twin Turbo V6
400 hp @ 6,400 rpm
350 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
One of the most surprising cars I have driven, the Q60S feels like it has much more than 400 hp, with almost no noticeable turbo lag and very responsive throttle. In sport mode the AWD system makes it feel like a RWD stepping the tail out just enough to be fun on the tight corners, but still keeping everything under control. With comparable horsepower to the BMW M2 the Q60 offers a far more luxurious and stylish interior than it's German competitor and starts at about $2,000 less. The optional $2,200 carbon fiber package is a must-have in my opinion to give the car a more sporty appearance to profile with the rear lip spoiler.
2019 AMG C 63 S Coupe
MSRP: $76,450
MPG: 17 city / 26 highway
4.0-liter V8 Biturbo
503 hp @ 5,500 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm
The AMG C 63 S Coupe is a brutish German muscle car in a bespoke suit, the hand-built the engine, available carbon package, sports seats, exclusivity, style, and lots of tire-smoking power. Like all Mercedes-Benz products, the C 63 is a beautifully made but all of that engineering means it can be a little overwhelming when it comes to using the interior controls and gadgets. It is also the most expensive of the five I have chosen, and the $76,450 is just the starting price and a fully optioned C 63 can easily be pushed into the six-figure range.
2019 Lexus RC 350 F SPORT AWD Coupe
MSRP: $52,400
MPG: 18 city / 24 highway
3.5-liter V6
311 hp @ 6,400 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
Since launching the F Sport line in 2007, Lexus has turned out some very impressive sports cars, including the technological marvel that was the LFA. The DNA from the LFA has been slowly working its way down the line to create some of the most engaging luxury performance cars on the market. While it might not have class-leading horsepower the RC 350 offers impressive handling, understated style, and a great selection of colors that make it stand out in the sea of black, white, and grey sports cars in this segment.
2020 BMW M2 Competition
MSRP: $58,900
MPG: 18 city / 25 highway
3.0-liter Twin Turbo I6
405 hp @ 5,230 rpm
406 lb-ft of torque @ 2,350 rpm
The baby BMW is built as a pure performance machine, with a more austere interior than most of the other cars in the category it is all business and is one of the most driver-focused machines on the market it is also the only car of the five that comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. Be sure to add the optional M Drivers Package which gives you a top speed of 174 mph.
2020 Jaguar F-TYPE
MSRP: $61,600
MPG: 23 city / 30 highway
2.0-liter Turbo I4
296 hp @ 5,500 rpm
295 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
The Jaguar makes my list simply because it is one of the best looking cars on the market for under $100,000. Since launching the Jag has gone through several configurations and currently, the F-TYPE is offered with a range of engines and options from the base 2.0-liter 4 cylinder all the way up to the 575 hp Supercharged SVR V8 (which starts at $123,600). For 2020 Jag also loses the manual transmission. The Checkered Flag Limited Edition (pictured) is new for 2020 and is the package is also available with a starting price of $71,900 and includes a number of performance and style upgrades.
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