Underrated Cars With Amazing Handling

Mazda RX-8

Sure, the rotary drinks oil like a thirsty sailor, but it also carves corners with telepathic grace. The RX-7 usually gets all the glory, but the RX-8 delivers that same rotary balance magic in a more practical package that purists somehow keep overlooking. Truly underrated.

Toyota GR86

Power junkies call it slow, but they're missing the entire point of what makes the GR86 a great driver's car. This lightweight rear-drive gem teaches you more about cornering in one afternoon than most supercars ever will, and the enthusiasts who get it really get it.

Subaru BRZ

In a nutshell, the BRZ is the GR86's twin brother with its own personality quirks and slightly different suspension tuning. While everyone argues about which one's better, both deliver that rare combination of approachability and genuine engagement that makes every drive feel like a masterclass.

Some very underrated lightweight legends…

Honda CR-Z

Honda tried selling this as an eco-friendly hybrid, which was arguably their biggest marketing mistake ever. Strip away the green credentials and you've got yourselves a lightweight, manual-transmission revival of the CRX spirit that nobody bothered to appreciate.

Lotus Elise (Series 2)

This is what happens when Colin Chapman's "add lightness" philosophy gets taken to its logical extreme. Every steering input in the Elise feels like you're directly connected to the road surface through some kind of mechanical telepathy. Most people think it's too hardcore, but that's exactly what makes it brilliant.

Pontiac Solstice GXP

It looked like GM's attempt at a Miata competitor, but the turbo GXP version actually had some serious handling chops hiding under that divisive styling. Short wheelbase, decent power, surprisingly communicative chassis. Too bad GM killed it.

Saturn Sky Red Line

The Solstice's prettier sibling with the same solid bones and turbocharged heart. While everyone was busy dismissing Saturn as an economy brand, this little roadster could genuinely hang with the Miata crowd on twisty roads.

Even Japan's finest go unnoticed sometimes…

Nissan 350Z

Drifters have always known the secret, but automotive journalists spent years complaining about the interior and calling it crude. Yes, it's not as polished as a Cayman, but that raw steering feel and playful rear end make it an absolute riot on the right road.

Acura RSX Type-S

Everyone acts like the Integra Type-R was the holy grail, while this was just a watered-down successor. But they just don’t get it. The RSX Type-S kept that Honda magic alive with a chassis that loved to be pushed and a VTEC engine that made you giggle a little.

Nissan 370Z

The 350's evolution, which felt heavier and less exciting to most reviewers. However, get it on a proper mountain road, and that planted rear end becomes your best friend. Heavy steering builds confidence, and the 370Z is still one of the best value propositions in the sports car world.

The next trio surprised even their own fans…

Infiniti G37 Coupe

Most people bought these as comfortable GT cruisers and never discovered what they could really do. Sure, it's heavier than a BMW, but that natural balance and willingness to play make it way more entertaining than anyone expected.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

Gets lost in the shuffle between the beloved VIII and the controversial X, but the IX might actually be the sweet spot of the entire lineage. The AYC system feels like black magic, and the steering response is so quick it's almost telepathic.

Lexus IS F

Lexus built this to take on the M3, and most people just shrugged because it wasn't German enough. Their loss. The naturally aspirated V8 screams like nothing else in the segment, and the chassis tuning is way sharper than Lexus usually does.

Moving on to some truly hidden beauties…

Ford Fiesta ST (Mk7)

Small car, big personality. The Mk7 proved that front-wheel drive could still be an absolute blast when done right. The mechanical LSD makes all the difference, and that eager little engine loves to be revved. It's the kind of car that makes you take the long way home just because you can.

Renaultsport Megane RS 265/275

While everyone else was busy chasing horsepower numbers, Renault quietly built one of the best-handling front-wheel drive cars ever made. The Trophy-R got the front-drive Nürburgring record in 2019 for good reason. Europeans know, but the rest of the world somehow missed this masterpiece completely.

Peugeot 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport

Peugeot's hot hatch reputation died with the 205, or so everyone thought. This 208 proved they still knew how to make magic happen, with suspension tuning that would make a Porsche engineer jealous.

Ford Focus ST (Mk3)

Got overshadowed by the RS hype train, but honestly, this might be the sweeter handling car of the two. Less dramatic, more usable, but still plenty quick when you want it to be. And that torque-vectoring system isn’t a gimmick either; it makes the ST feel sharper than most people expect.

Renaultsport Clio 197/200

The French have always understood hot hatches differently than everyone else, and this little Clio is proof. It’s surgically precise, with great usability in a package that most people dismiss as just another economy car with a body kit. Particularly the 200 Cup. That thing is a track weapon.

Ford Focus RS (Mk2)

The front-wheel drive RS that never made it to America, and that's our loss entirely. The Mk2 was absolutely mental in the best possible way. Rally-bred chassis, torque-steer with a lot of personality, and handling that rewarded commitment. The perfect combination.

And a couple of unexpected Korean gems...

Hyundai Veloster N

Nobody saw this coming, but Hyundai actually built one of the most entertaining hot hatches on the market, with proper suspension tuning and a differential that actually works. The three-door layout is weird, sure, but the driving experience is absolutely legit.

Kia Stinger GT

A proper rear-wheel drive sports sedan from Kia was the last thing anyone expected, but they nailed it on the first try. Great chassis balance, decent power, and way better value for money than most people thought.

One can’t talk about handling without mentioning Germans…

BMW 128i (E82)

This little coupe represents the end of an era at BMW, back when they still cared about hydraulic steering and naturally aspirated engines. Everyone was chasing the turbo 135i, but the 128i had better balance and that classic BMW feel that's completely gone from the modern lineup.

BMW Z4 M Coupe (E86)

The "clownshoe" coupe that most people thought looked ridiculous but drove like a dream. That S54 engine is a masterpiece, and the shorter wheelbase makes it way more playful than the M3 sedan. Maybe a bit too wild for daily driver comfort, but that was exactly the point.

Porsche Cayman 987 R

Early Caymans got dismissed as "911 for people who couldn't afford a 911," which completely missed the point. Mid-engine balance beats rear-engine drama every time on a twisty road, and the Cayman R proved it.

Audi TT Quattro Sport (Mk1 3.2)

The TT suffered from image problems early on, but the Quattro Sport version was genuinely impressive underneath that polarizing styling. Strip out some weight, sharpen the suspension, add proper all-wheel drive, and suddenly you have a car that could embarrass much more expensive machinery.

Wikimedia / Vauxford

Volkswagen Scirocco R

While everyone was buying Golf Rs, the Scirocco R was quietly doing the same job with more style and better handling dynamics. That lower center of gravity made a real difference in corners, but unfortunately, VW never marketed it properly.

Mini Cooper S (R53)

The supercharged original that started the modern Mini craze, and honestly, it might still be the best one they ever made. The whining supercharger, razor-sharp steering, and go-kart dimensions created something genuinely special.

Volkswagen Golf R32 (Mk4/Mk5)

Before turbocharging took over everything, VW built these naturally aspirated beauties with that legendary VR6 soundtrack. Heavy compared to modern standards, but the all-wheel drive system and that engine character made up for the extra weight.

Mini Cooper JCW GP (R56 GP1)

Limited production, stripped interior, massive rear wing; all the necessary ingredients for a proper track weapon. Mini took the suspension tuning seriously, and the results spoke for themselves on any decent road. Way more focused than most people expected.

Sometimes the best handling comes in a four-door disguise…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Alfa finally built a sedan that could take on the Germans at their own game, but most buyers never noticed. The Giulia Quadrifoglio has Ferrari DNA in its chassis tuning and a twin-turbo V6 that sounds like pure Italian passion. The rear end slides just enough to keep things interesting.

Volvo S60R

Volvo's attempt at building a BMW M5 competitor wasn't taken seriously because it was Swedish and understated. Four-wheel drive, active suspension, and surprisingly sharp handling dynamics. The people who bought them knew exactly what they were getting, even if everyone else was clueless.

Concluding with a few unexpected entries…

Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE (5th Gen)

GM took their muscle car and turned it into a legitimate track weapon with the 1LE package. Magnetic dampers, serious rubber, and suspension geometry that actually worked. Most people still saw it as just a straight-line hero, though, which was their loss.

Volvo C30 T5 R-Design

A quirky three-door hatchback from Volvo that most people bought for the looks, but never realized had genuinely entertaining handling underneath. The R-Design suspension made all the difference, transforming it from a stylish cruiser to something that could entertain on a back road.

Alfa Romeo 4C

No power steering, carbon fiber tub, mid-engine layout; this was Alfa's love letter to driving purists in an age of electronic everything. It wasn’t comfortable, but it made you feel alive behind the wheel. And there’s no other feeling like it.

Lotus Exige (Series 2)

Take everything great about the Elise and add a massive wing, stickier tires, and track-focused suspension. It's so focused that even hardcore track rats sometimes overlook it. This thing delivers kart-like precision with the grip levels of something costing three times as much.

From featherweights to forgotten American roadsters…