Top 5 Cheapest Sports Cars in India in 2024

Sports cars are tempting not just for their design but for the performance they deliver. Crafted to go fast without breaking a sweat, the adrenaline rush they offer makes them even more desirable. Unfortunately, sports cars are considered elusive due to their premium price tags. In this blog, we’ve listed some of the more financially accessible sports cars available in India. Considering the driving ecosystem in our country, experiencing the true potential of a fully-fledged supercar is indeed impossible. Therefore, entry-level sports cars emerge as more sensible options, providing a taste of thrill with their tightly set bodies, stiff springs, direct steering, and peppy engine-gearbox combinations.

Let's address the burning question - what are the top 5 cheapest sports cars in India in 2024? Well, this blog has the answers, showcasing some of the most affordable sports cars or driver’s cars in India that you can bring home without draining your pockets.

List of Top 5 Cheapest Sports Cars in India

1. Mini Cooper S

As we begin discussing the most affordable sports cars in India, the Mini Cooper S takes the top position. The Cooper S offers a lot of performance for the money it demands. Priced from ₹42.53 lakh, ex-showroom, it is the closest you can ever get to a go-kart in a car. Compact dimensions, lightweight architecture, tight suspension setup, and feedback-rich steering make the Cooper S handle like a hot knife in butter. Under the hood, it hides a 2.0L, 4-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine. The motor is designed to push out a peak power output of 178 bhp and a max torque of 280 Nm.

While these figures aren’t astonishingly high to make the Mini Cooper S look like a supersonic sledgehammer on paper, the Cooper S’ nimbleness can tickle the purest of adrenaline in you. The Mini Cooper S can do the 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds flat, and the top whack is limited at 233 km/h. The compact dimensions make it a hoot-to-drive car in fast-moving traffic, but the interior space remains a tight affair in the cabin. Well, it is safe to say that Mini Cooper S can be your ultimate daily driver if the demand is for a small car that’s not too big on the pocket.

Mini Cooper S specifications:

What’s good:

• Compact size
• Agility
• Power-to-weight ratio

What’s not good:

• Restricted interior space

Also Read : Best Sports Cars in India in 2024

2. Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+

Let’s move from one hatchback to another. This time an Aufecht, Melcher, and Großaspach (AMG), the Mercedes-Benz division that is known to produce stellar performance vehicles. This kid from the German block is tweaked by folks at Affalterbach. We are talking about the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+. This performance hatchback defines a new ceiling for how manic-friendly the smallest Mercedes car can be. 

Powering the A 45 S AMG is a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with forced induction, belting out a peak power output of 421 bhp and max torque of a whopping 500 Nm. The hatchback can reach the 100 km/h mark on the speedo in just 3.9 seconds, while the top speed is limited to 270 km/h.

The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ comes equipped with a potent AWD system, facilitating a power split between the front and rear wheel that is dynamic but is 50:50 for most of the time. The A4 45 S also gets a drift mode to attack corners sideways and conquer the apex in style. The transmission on duty is an 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox that offers quick shifts.

Talking of features, the A 45 S 4Matic+ is loaded to the gills. A panoramic glass panel houses two 10.25-inch displays, serving as an infotainment unit and instrument cluster. The UX is so clever and full of details that figuring out all of its configurations will take over a month. For this packet of sheer performance, you’ll have to spend ₹93.40 lakh, ex-showroom.

Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ specifications:

What’s good:

• Drift mode
• Tech onboard
• Practicality of 4 doors
• Power delivery

What’s not good:

• Design fails to justify its price tag

Also Read : Cheapest Mercedes Cars in India

3. BMW M340i

Bavarians enjoy a reputation for making the most dynamic cars among all Deutsche carmakers. Consequently, they offer a solution for individuals with tight budgets but with a desire for a perfect balance of practicality and performance – the BMW M340i. 

Based on the BMW 3-Series’ architecture, the M340i is a sleeper with the potential to awaken your inner child, devil side, and even your neighbours with an exhaust muffler swap! Addressing the value quotient first, the BMW M340i is priced at ₹72.90 lakh, ex-showroom.

Speaking of mechanics, the powerhouse on the BMW M340i is a straight-six turbo-petrol with capabilities to produce 374 bhp. The peak torque output stands at 500 Nm, propelling the performance saloon to the 100 km/h mark from a standstill in only 4.4 seconds. The top speed is restricted to 250 km/h. The xDrive all-wheel-drive configuration on the BMW M340i can easily distribute power between front and rear differentials.

Also, there are several distinctions between the M340i and a regular 3-Series. It features M-specific brakes, suspension, an active differential, and more. All of this equipment makes it the perfect sleeper on sale in the Indian automotive market and undoubtedly the most lucrative affordable sports car in India in 2024.

BMW M340i specifications:

What’s good:

• Interior space
• Usable performance
• Immensely practical

What’s not good:

• Not many distinctions from other 3-Series variants in terms of design

Also Read : Best BMW Cars In India in 2024

4. Audi S5 Sportback

While every brand has its legacy of delivering a specific flavour to its cars, Audi is slightly different and is great at making both pompous luxury cars and their fast-practical avatars. Now, one that ticks boxes to fit on our list of top 5 cheapest sports cars in India is the Audi S5 Sportback which comes at a sticker price of ₹75.80 lakh, ex-showroom. While the performance is the subject of discussion, the Audi S5 Sportback’s design is a factor to be considered.

The cocktail of a coupe-like roofline, frameless doors, slender headlamps, and diamond-cut 19-inch wheels can make you go weak in your knees. Furthermore, the Turbo Blue paint scheme just makes the Audi S5 Sportback look bright and every bit eye-catching. It is powered by a 3.0L turbocharged V6 petrol engine, thrusting out 354 bhp and 500 Nm as its max power and torque output, respectively. Channelling power to wheels is an eight-speed automatic transmission. Resultantly, the 0-100 km/h timing stands at 4.8 seconds, while it tops out at 250 km/h.

Audi S5 Sportback specifications:

What’s good:

• V6 growl
• Gorgeous design
• Coupe-like elements

What’s not good:

• Performance could’ve been better

5. BMW M2 Coupe

To end this list, we were confused between two cars - Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic and BMW M2. The latter is the real deal. A product designed exclusively to talk about performance. The BMW M2 Coupe is priced at ₹99 lakh, ex-showroom. Consequently, it is the most performance-centric car you can buy on this side of the ₹1 crore mark.

The BMW M2 is powered by a straight-six turbo-petrol tuned to dish out 460 bhp of peak power and 550 Nm of max torque. This 2-door sports car further features the option of a 6-speed stick shifter if the 8-speed AT looks boring to you. Arsenal to go fast includes M compound brake callipers, M active differential, and M adaptive suspension. The 0-100 km/h sprint only takes 4.1 seconds with the automatic gearbox, while the manual gearbox version takes 2 milliseconds more. The BMW M2 maxes out at 285 km/h.

BMW M2 Coupe specifications:

What’s good:

• Compact size
• Agility
• Power-to-weight ratio
• Option of manual transmission

What’s not good:

• Steering feels over-assisted

Factors Influencing the Affordability of Sports Cars

Affordability plays a key role during a car-buying exercise. After all, if budget constraints never came into existence, automotive enthusiasts would be buying the hypercars of the highest order. But with these financial limitations on our hands, we are talking about the cheapest sports cars on sale in India. 

Speaking of factors that affect the price of a car, high import taxes and duties keep the price of sports cars on the higher side. Although local assembly of sports cars has brought the price down substantially, they remain out of reach for most. Additionally, the kind of development cost required to design and fabricate engines delivering high performance further increases the overall cost. Also, powerful engines aren’t frugal. Thus, affordability doesn’t solely rely on the cost of a car but also on its fuel consumption.

Criteria for selecting a sports car

The key criteria for selecting a car remains its price point. But for sports cars, performance plays a crucial role. The performance metrics include peak power and torque outputs, top speed, and 0-100 km/h timing. For a few, the design and features are also part of the car-buying decision. Another major deal breaker or maker remains maintenance costs.

Future trends in affordable sports cars

Sadly, the affordable sports car segment is slowly dying. The breed is heading towards extinction. Earlier, brands participated in the segment with loud and full-blown models like the Mercedes-Benz CLK, Audi TT, and more. In the future, tuned versions of entry-level cars are expected to dominate the entry-level sports car space. With the paradigm shift from ICE to electric powertrains finally taking place, we can expect electric sports cars in the coming days. But if you patronise big-powerful straight-6 or V6 engines, then it is the ideal time to get a machine from this list.

Conclusion

The passion for speed can only be fulfilled with the achievement of bigger digits on the speedometer. The feeling of fulfilment in this case cannot be replaced with the idea of virtual ownership or feeling. Considering that inflation has increased the prices of cars and soon big-block internal combustion engines will be replaced by downsized hybrid power plants or fully electric powertrains, it is the perfect time to get your hands on a set of wheels that satiate your thirst for going fast every time you wish for it. 

And our list of the top 5 cheapest sports cars in India, has a top ceiling of ₹1 crore. Therefore, it manages to cater to the demands of people who are looking for affordable yet practical sports cars that they live with daily.

FAQs

Q. What are the things to keep in mind when buying a sports car?

The cost of ownership should be the primary consideration before buying a sports car. Also, every car has its own set of flaws, which should be chalked down before signing the cheque.

Q. What is the cheapest sports car that you can buy in India?

Ideally, it is the BMW M2 Coupe, but considering the overall performance of the Mini Cooper S, it is also considered a sports car, and its prices start from ₹42.53 lakh, ex-showroom.

Q. Are sports cars practical in India?

Not all sports cars are practical in India, but certain sets of wheels do make sense as an everyday vehicle, like the Mini Cooper S and BMW M340i.

Q. What insurance considerations should I keep in mind?

Since most of these cars are a CBU import in the country, the import duty paid on them is not a part of the IDV (Insured Declared Value).

Q. How do I maintain a sports car on a budget?

Well, maintaining a sports car is easy. Ensure that you get it serviced on time and possess mechanical sympathy for it to keep your overall maintenance costs in check.