Who needs a back seat? Here are 15 sports cars that serve up 2-seater thrills, from less than $30,000 to well over $300,000

Matthew DeBordMay 1, 2020, 02:00 IST

Business Insider

In a world of SUVs, some with three rows of seats, the two-seater sports car is a vanishing breed.
But it hasn't vanished quite yet: there are more than a dozen currently on sale, ranging from less than $30,000 to well over $300,000.
Here's a rundown of 15 favorites, from Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and others.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fast. Flashy. Fun.

And completely impractical.

That's the story of sports cars. And sure, you can get one with a back seat.

But for the purists, a sports car is a two-seater, whether it be a peppy roadster or an asphalt-immolating supercar.

I'll be the first to admit that I have a serious soft spot for 2-plus-none cars — there's something about slipping into a proper dual-seater and hitting the road with the understanding that it's just you, a companion, and not much space for luggage. The joy is in the journey.

Here are my 15 favorite two-seaters currently on sale:

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The Audi R8 V10 Spyder is powered by a 540-horsepower, 5.2-liter, naturally aspirated, V10 engine.

Audi R8 Spyder. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Where else are you going to find a beautiful mid-engined, V10 exotic drop top you'd gladly take on a 500-mile road trip?

Audi R8 Spyder. Tech Insider/Aaron Brown

The Audi R8 Spyder, at $200,000, was one among several of the "Iron Man" supercars we've tested.

Audi R8 Spyder. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

My tester had a Nismo-ized, 350-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6, tuned up from a 332-horsepower base-trim motor. I've tested several 370Z cars, and for my money, the relatively large cargo area makes up for no back seat.

Nissan 370Z Nismo. Matthew DeBord/BI

My tester had a Nismo-ized, 350-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6, tuned up from a 332-horsepower base-trim motor. I've tested several 370Z cars, and for my money, the relatively large cargo area makes up for no back seat.

That said, the 1990s called and they want their interior back.

Nissan 370Z Nismo. Matthew DeBord/BI

At $46,000, the Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech I tested represents an incredible value for the money in sports cars.

Nissan 370Z Nismo. Matthew DeBord/BI

The 5.2-liter, 631-horsepower V10 engine has no supercharger nor turbochargers. Just old-school power, produced by displacement. Torque? That's 443 pound-feet of push.

Lamborghini Huracán Performante. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Compared with the Aventador, the Huracán's interior is plush.

Lamborghini Huracán Performante. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

If the Aventador is too much, then how about a $320,000 Lamborghini Huracán Performante?

Lamborghini Huracán Performante. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The cruel heart of the Aventador SVJ is a 6.5-liter V12. It produces 770 horsepower and 720 pound-feet of torque, with a redline at 8,700 rpm.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. Matt DeBord/BI

Two seats. Mostly red. And not optimized for comfort.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. Matt DeBord/BI

The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, I decided, was the most insane supercar money can buy. Price? $610,000.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. Matt DeBord/BI

At the heart of the 720S is a new 710-horsepower, 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

McLaren 720S. Hollis Johnson

As with all McLaren cockpits, there's little in the way of luxury.

McLaren 720S. Hollis Johnson

The McLaren 720S is an insane, $300,000 supercar.

McLaren 720S. Hollis Johnson

The GT has a 647-horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine. The cockpit is extremely narrow — driver and passenger are shoulder-to-shoulder.

Ford GT. Hollis Johnson

That's Joey Hand, the Ford driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 at the wheel of the race-car version of the GT. Good thing the GT has two seats so that his helmet can ride shotgun.

Ford driver Joey Hand in driver's seat of the Ford GT. Ford

That's Joey Hand, the Ford driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 at the wheel of the race-car version of the GT. Good thing the GT has two seats so that his helmet can ride shotgun.

The Ford GT I reviewed was priced at $400,000, but some customers paid upwards of $500,000.

Ford GT. Ford

The all-new 6.2L LT2 V8 engine makes 495 horsepower in the Stingray version of the car.

Chevy Corvette C8. Chevrolet

Corvettes have never made accommodations for space: the front seats are snug and amply bolstered.

Chevy Corvette C8. Chevrolet

The all-new Corvette C8 moves the engine amidships, away from the front end where it has always lived on Vettes.

Chevy Corvette C8. Chevrolet

The 6.2-liter pushrod LT5 V8 in the ZR1 makes 755 horsepower with 715 pound-feet of torque.

Chevy Corvette ZR1. Matthew DeBord/BI

Vettes have been two-seaters ever since the legend's debut in the 1950s.

Chevy Corvette ZR1. Matthew DeBord/BI

The Corvette ZR1 — the most powerful Vette in history. The one I tested was $137,000.

Chevy Corvette ZR1. Matthew DeBord/BI

Compared to the four-cylinder Z4 and its 255-horsepower four-pot, the Supra's much beefier six makes all the difference.

Toyota Supra. Matthew DeBord/Business Insider

A BMW-sourced, three-liter, turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine makes 335 horsepower with 365 pound-feet of torque.

Toyota Supra. Matthew DeBord/Business Insider

The 2020 GR Toyota Supra I tested arrived in a "Renaissance Red" paint job and with an as-tested price of $56,220, a bit of a premium over the $49,990 base model.

Toyota Supra. Matthew DeBord/Business Insider

The seat-back roll bars are a valuable safety feature, in the unlikely event that the Z4 encounters physics that overcome its low center of gravity.

BMW Z4. Matthew DeBord/BI

The Z-Series roadsters date to the late 1980s for the Bavarian automaker, but the model that really defined the two-seater for BMW was the original Z3 of 1996.

BMW Z4. Matthew DeBord/BI

The BMW Z4 I reviewed tipped the cost scales at $64,000. Base is $50,000. The 2.0-liter, twin-turbo four-cylinder in our sDrive30i trim level makes 255 horsepower and an impressive 295 pound-feet of torque. That grunt from the small motor had us fooled that we might be driving the 3.0-liter inline six that's also in the lineup. It makes 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

BMW Z4. Matthew DeBord/BI

The BMW Z4 I reviewed tipped the cost scales at $64,000. Base is $50,000. The 2.0-liter, twin-turbo four-cylinder in our sDrive30i trim level makes 255 horsepower and an impressive 295 pound-feet of torque. That grunt from the small motor had us fooled that we might be driving the 3.0-liter inline six that's also in the lineup. It makes 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

Up front, a 4.0-liter V8 rocks twin turbochargers, making 550 horsepower with 502 pound-feet of torque. In back, no seats, but a decent amount of cargo space.

Mercedes-AMG GT C. Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

The interior is rendered in saddle-brown-and-black Nappa leather, along with a fair amount of carbon-fiber trim. Gorgeous.

Mercedes-AMG GT C. Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

The Mercedes-AMG GTC that I tested was $168,000.

Mercedes-AMG GT C. Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

The Boxster is all about having fun. And behind the wheel, it's a point that the Porsche makes abundantly clear.

Porsche 718 Boxster S. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The base Boxster gets a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower, while the S variant gets a 2.5-liter unit with 350 ponies. Both turbo fours come standard with an old-fashioned six-speed manual; the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) manumatic transmission is available as an option.

Porsche 718 Boxster S. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The base Boxster gets a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower, while the S variant gets a 2.5-liter unit with 350 ponies. Both turbo fours come standard with an old-fashioned six-speed manual; the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) manumatic transmission is available as an option.

The Porsche 718 Boxster. The base Boxster starts at about $57,000, while the Boxster S starts at over $68,000. Our option-laden S-variant test car left the showroom at $89,690.

Porsche 718 Boxster S. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Porsche 718 Boxster. The base Boxster starts at about $57,000, while the Boxster S starts at over $68,000. Our option-laden S-variant test car left the showroom at $89,690.

The big difference from the regular Miata is that the RF features a fastback coupe shape with an automated folding hardtop.

Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. Matthew DeBord/BI

The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine is no beast, generating just 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. But it revs high, and you can get into all those ponies.

Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. Matthew DeBord/BI

The Mazda MX-5 RF. I reviewed a $34,310 example, in Grand Touring trim.

Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. Matthew DeBord/BI

The cloth convertible top is a masterpiece of simplicity and function. Throw a single latch inside the car and flip the folding mechanism back (No motors to fail!).

Mazda MX-5 Miata. Matthew DeBord/BI

The interior has been steadily upgraded over the years, since the first Miata hit the road in 1989. The MX-5 has a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, located right up front under the hood.

Mazda MX-5 Miata. Matthew DeBord/BI

The interior has been steadily upgraded over the years, since the first Miata hit the road in 1989. The MX-5 has a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, located right up front under the hood.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata. My tester was about $31,000, but the base version is a few grand less.

Mazda MX-5 Miata. Matthew DeBord/BI

Trunk space isn't exactly considerable — but with just two people in the car and a weekend run to some chic retreat on the agenda, it doesn't need to be.

Ferrari 812 Superfast. Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

The cockpit is fantastically luxurious. A handbuilt, 6.5-liter V12 makes an astounding 789 horsepower, with peak torque of 530 pound-feet and a redline to 8,900 rpm. Top speed is 211 mph.

Ferrari 812 Superfast. Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

The cockpit is fantastically luxurious. A handbuilt, 6.5-liter V12 makes an astounding 789 horsepower, with peak torque of 530 pound-feet and a redline to 8,900 rpm. Top speed is 211 mph.

The Ferrari 812 Superfast. My test car was a cool $474,000.

Ferrari 812 Superfast. Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

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Who needs a back seat? Here are 15 sports cars that serve up 2-seater thrills, from less than $30,000 to well over $300,000

The Audi R8 V10 Spyder is powered by a 540-horsepower, 5.2-liter, naturally aspirated, V10 engine.

Where else are you going to find a beautiful mid-engined, V10 exotic drop top you'd gladly take on a 500-mile road trip?

The Audi R8 Spyder, at $200,000, was one among several of the "Iron Man" supercars we've tested.

My tester had a Nismo-ized, 350-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6, tuned up from a 332-horsepower base-trim motor. I've tested several 370Z cars, and for my money, the relatively large cargo area makes up for no back seat.

That said, the 1990s called and they want their interior back.

At $46,000, the Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech I tested represents an incredible value for the money in sports cars.

The 5.2-liter, 631-horsepower V10 engine has no supercharger nor turbochargers. Just old-school power, produced by displacement. Torque? That's 443 pound-feet of push.

Compared with the Aventador, the Huracán's interior is plush.

If the Aventador is too much, then how about a $320,000 Lamborghini Huracán Performante?

The cruel heart of the Aventador SVJ is a 6.5-liter V12. It produces 770 horsepower and 720 pound-feet of torque, with a redline at 8,700 rpm.

Two seats. Mostly red. And not optimized for comfort.

The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, I decided, was the most insane supercar money can buy. Price? $610,000.

At the heart of the 720S is a new 710-horsepower, 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

As with all McLaren cockpits, there's little in the way of luxury.

The McLaren 720S is an insane, $300,000 supercar.

The GT has a 647-horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine. The cockpit is extremely narrow — driver and passenger are shoulder-to-shoulder.

That's Joey Hand, the Ford driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 at the wheel of the race-car version of the GT. Good thing the GT has two seats so that his helmet can ride shotgun.

The Ford GT I reviewed was priced at $400,000, but some customers paid upwards of $500,000.

The all-new 6.2L LT2 V8 engine makes 495 horsepower in the Stingray version of the car.

Corvettes have never made accommodations for space: the front seats are snug and amply bolstered.

The all-new Corvette C8 moves the engine amidships, away from the front end where it has always lived on Vettes.

The 6.2-liter pushrod LT5 V8 in the ZR1 makes 755 horsepower with 715 pound-feet of torque.

Vettes have been two-seaters ever since the legend's debut in the 1950s.

The Corvette ZR1 — the most powerful Vette in history. The one I tested was $137,000.

Compared to the four-cylinder Z4 and its 255-horsepower four-pot, the Supra's much beefier six makes all the difference.

A BMW-sourced, three-liter, turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine makes 335 horsepower with 365 pound-feet of torque.

The 2020 GR Toyota Supra I tested arrived in a "Renaissance Red" paint job and with an as-tested price of $56,220, a bit of a premium over the $49,990 base model.

The seat-back roll bars are a valuable safety feature, in the unlikely event that the Z4 encounters physics that overcome its low center of gravity.

The Z-Series roadsters date to the late 1980s for the Bavarian automaker, but the model that really defined the two-seater for BMW was the original Z3 of 1996.

Up front, a 4.0-liter V8 rocks twin turbochargers, making 550 horsepower with 502 pound-feet of torque. In back, no seats, but a decent amount of cargo space.

The interior is rendered in saddle-brown-and-black Nappa leather, along with a fair amount of carbon-fiber trim. Gorgeous.

The Mercedes-AMG GTC that I tested was $168,000.

The Boxster is all about having fun. And behind the wheel, it's a point that the Porsche makes abundantly clear.

The Porsche 718 Boxster. The base Boxster starts at about $57,000, while the Boxster S starts at over $68,000. Our option-laden S-variant test car left the showroom at $89,690.

The big difference from the regular Miata is that the RF features a fastback coupe shape with an automated folding hardtop.

The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine is no beast, generating just 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. But it revs high, and you can get into all those ponies.

The Mazda MX-5 RF. I reviewed a $34,310 example, in Grand Touring trim.

The cloth convertible top is a masterpiece of simplicity and function. Throw a single latch inside the car and flip the folding mechanism back (No motors to fail!).

The interior has been steadily upgraded over the years, since the first Miata hit the road in 1989. The MX-5 has a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, located right up front under the hood.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata. My tester was about $31,000, but the base version is a few grand less.

Trunk space isn't exactly considerable — but with just two people in the car and a weekend run to some chic retreat on the agenda, it doesn't need to be.

The cockpit is fantastically luxurious. A handbuilt, 6.5-liter V12 makes an astounding 789 horsepower, with peak torque of 530 pound-feet and a redline to 8,900 rpm. Top speed is 211 mph.

The Ferrari 812 Superfast. My test car was a cool $474,000.