Getting a car that can accelerate to 60 miles an hour from a standstill in under five seconds is an expensive ambition. Most new cars capable of this feat come with fairly hefty price tags. If you are willing to by something used, however, it becomes a much more affordable goal.
The used market is great if you’re looking to get a great performance car on a discount. As performance cars are generally driven harder, you have to be more careful and aware when shopping. If you get things right, though, you can get a practically new sports car for less than the price of the average new car.
Scouring the used market, we’ve found ten cars that can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds. These cars aren’t too old, so they should be able to offer plenty of usable life. We outline how much they cost and just how well they perform, from their impressive powertrains to their lively handling.
to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed. All used prices were sourced from Edmunds. This model focuses on cars, excluding crossovers and SUVs.
102021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
Average Used Price: $24,449 / 0-60 MPH: 4.1 Seconds
The Model 3 is one of the most influential cars ever built, blazing a trail for electric vehicles. Part of its main appeal was that it was incredibly quick for something that was supposed to be a comfortable, everyday sedan. They have depreciated madly, though, and a used model can be picked up for a fraction of what they cost new.
425 HP
475 LB-FT
0-60 MPH
Top Speed
145 MPH
The instant torque available in an electric vehicle can not be underestimated. Put your foot down, and you’ll find you approach 60 miles an hour before you even realize how fast you’re going. When new, it could provide up to 353 miles on a single charge, but it may have lost some battery life since.
92020 Dodge Charger R/T
Average Used Price: $27,881 / 0-60MPH: 4.5 Seconds
The old Dodge Charger is by no means the perfect car. It was overweight, featured a cheaply made interior, and didn’t come with an all-wheel drive option on top trims. However, now that it’s gone, we miss it dearly. The Hemi V-8 offered in the R/T is something we especially pine after. There are rumors thatthe new Charger will bring it back, though.
370 HP
395 LB-FT
155 MPH
The drama produced by the V-8 under the hood of the R/T is what made it such an attractive option, even when it fell behind in other areas. It is a ton of fun to throw around corners, eagerly throwing the back out, and it will leave a ton of other sporty sedans in its smoke at a traffic light.
82020 Mercedes-AMG CLA35
Average Used Price: $29,967 / 0-60MPH: 4.6 Seconds
For the 2020 model year, the CLA entered a new generation, with the AMG-tuned models following suit. While the CLA35 is not as powerful as the top CLA45 model, it still offers anincredible driving experienceand an interior that is more than worthy of the three-pointed star badge.
302 HP
295 LB-FT
The CLA35 may be one of the more affordable ways to get behind the wheel of an AMG-tuned Mercedes, but it still features some impressive performance and technology. This includes the standard 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system, which is capable of sending all power to the rear-wheels.
72020 BMW M240i
Average Used Price: $32,584 / 0-60 MPH: 4.3 Seconds
If you’re looking for a BMW that putsspirited and rewarding drivingabove all else, the 2-Series is the way to go in our opinion. It has a brilliantly tuned chassis, ready to take on corners with enthusiasm. It also has one of the best silhouettes of any modern BMW, and a plethora of luxurious amenities.
8-Speed Automatic or 6-Speed Manual
335 HP
369 LB-FT
RWD or AWD
While the standard 220i is pretty engaging, delivering power from 248-horsepower inline-four quickly and smoothly, the inline-six in the M240i is too hard to resist. It is insanely fast off the line and delivers a sonorous orchestra from its exhaust while doing so. It also comes with an adaptive suspension system.
62019 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Average Used Price: $35,925 / 0-60 MPH: 3.9 Seconds
For the 2019 model year, the Camaro received a mid-cycle refresh, making it look more aggressive and attractive. Now that the future of the Camaro nameplate isshaky at best, picking up a used model could be seen as somewhat of an investment. Prices for used models have already begun to go up.
455 HP
455 LB-FT
165 MPH
Chevrolet’s small block V-8 is iconic, producing a raucous amount of power in the 2019 Camaro SS. Combine its absurd levels of acceleration with the terrifying sound coming from the optional dual-mode exhaust, and you have a beast that very few cars on the road can mess with, even by today’s standards.
52022 Volkswagen Golf R
Average Used Price: $38,206 / 0-60 MPH: 4.1 Seconds
Hot hatchbacks are a slowly dying breed, particularly in North America. However, one automaker who refuses to give up on the segment is Volkswagen, with the Golf R being the crown jewel when it comes to their performance models. It really isjoyous driving at its best.
6-Speed Manual or 7-Speed DCT
315 HP
280 LB-FT
While sometimes hot hatchbacks feel a little bit muted compared to sports coupes or sports sedans, the Golf R shatters this assumption. Equipped with a fast-shifting automatic transmission, it is faster than just about anything else at this price point. The manual still gets to 60 in 4.9 seconds, though, and is infinitely more fun.
42019 Ford Mustang GT
Average Used Price: $38,428 / 0-60 MPH: 4.3 Seconds
The Mustang is about as American as a car gets. It features sleek styling and an incredibly aggressive stance, ready to take on whatever may challenge it. The 2019 model is surprisingly comfortable and still manages to offer plenty of amenities, especially if you go with the GT.
10-Speed Automatic or 6-Speed Manual
460 HP
420 LB-FT
The main change that Ford made to the Mustang for the 2019 model year was to give their V-8 more power in the GT. It comes fitted with either a quick-shifting 10-speed or a more engaging manual transmission, with the difference in acceleration being pretty small. Either way, it handles impressively well for a coupe this heavy.
32021 Audi S4
Average Used Price: $38,477 / 0-60 MPH: 4.2 Seconds
Audi updated the A4 sedan for the 2020 model year, and the S4 received similar changes. Outside, almost every element of the sporty sedan was changed, with a 10.1-inch infotainment display being added on the inside as well. Its high-quality interior is part of what makes this used model such good value for money.
349 HP
The 2021 Audi S4 is a more grown-up sports sedan. While it isn’t quite as enthusiastic in the corners as some of its key rivals, it hasplenty of pepwhen you put your foot down. It is super beginner-friendly, and it will likely never give you the feeling that you’re losing control.
22020 Cadillac CT5-V
Average Used Price: $39,332 / 0-60 MPH: 4.8 Seconds
The Cadillac CT5 is one of the nicest-looking mid-size luxury sedans on the market, with aggressive lines and a unique design language. Its biggest fault is that it uses some cheaper bits and bobs on the inside, which is easier to look past if you’re getting it for thousands cheaper than its MSRP.
360 HP
405 LB-FT
168 MPH
While maybe not as hard-edged as the previous iteration of the CT5, it is more well-balanced. It offers a plush ride that absorbs all the bumps in the road pretty well. It also comes standard with some impressive equipment, such as adaptive dampers and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.
12021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0
Average Used Price: $40,284 / 0-60 MPH: 4.7 Seconds
The Supra faced a lot of controversy when it made its comeback with the 2020 model year for being too much of a BMW underneath its bodywork. However, if you can look past this, which shouldn’t be hard to do, you’ll find that Toyota’s coupe is one of the best modern sports cars ever built.
255 HP
While the newest Supra launched with the 2020 model, it wasn’t until the 2021 model that it was offered with a turbocharged four-cylinder. If you’re able to extend your budget, the three-liter turbocharged inline-six is much quicker, able to go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds. While hard edged enough to clip apexes, the Supra is also supereasy to live with day-to-day.
