BMW produces crossovers and SUVs in all niches, but the Bavarian brand continues to fight the good fight with the BMW M2. It’s been said before, but the performance coupe remains somewhat of a unicorn in a world that seeks to overrule gas-powered, manual-transmission sports cars. An important tool in the M2’s arsenal is its S58 engine – the flagship version of the powerful and reliable B58 engine family.
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It also amazingly offers a driver-oriented manual transmission (a swift automatic is available too). It evokes memories of the old E46 M3, a compact, lighter alternative to the modern M3 and M4. For all intents and purposes, the 2024 BMW M2 has all the makings of a perfect, all-around sports coupe. However, there are some caveats, such as its divisive exterior styling or price.
It isn’t the only item of its kind on sale, however. While there aren’t many rival models replicating the M2’s exact specs, various alternatives from other brands offer a good measure of the M2’s secret sauce and, in many cases, for a good deal less cash.
Vehicles on this list were selected by virtue of being sports coupes or convertibles with manual gearboxes and rear-wheel drive. Information on this list is based on manufacturer-supplied data. Vehicles are ranked from least to most powerful, providing a range of options from “enjoy the chassis” to “mo power baby!” with a manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive.
10 Mazda MX-5 Miata – 181 hp ($28,985 – $37,010)
Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible / RF
Engine
2.0-liter, NA I4
Power
181 hp
Torque
151 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Front-mid-engine, RWD
Transmission
6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
It’s a small kindness that the Mazda Miata (the gold standard for affordable, fun, and pure sports cars) is still available in 2024 with a free-revving 2.0-liter engine. Not yet bogged down by hybrid hardware or batteries, critics might point out that the Miata is stuck in the past. However, this is exactly what makes the MX-5 special today. Like previous NA, NB, and NC generations of the cheap rear-drive sports car, the latest model focuses on accessible fun over spec-sheet supremacy.
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The biggest change for this generation is the addition of the ‘RF’ variant – a metal folding roof that adds new styling with buttresses at the back, as well as improved sound deadening when it’s up. But it also brings with it a 110-lb weight penalty and a sizable price increase: the Mazda MX-5 RF starts at $37,000, $3,000 more than the most expensive convertible model. Either way, both variants feature near-50:50 weight distribution and sharp handling with roof-down action for a reasonable price. For a fixed-roof take on the Miata and two (small) rear seats, the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ also fit the bill, with more power, too.
9 Subaru BRZ – 228 hp ($30,195)
Subaru BRZ
Engine
2.4-liter, NA H4
Power
228 hp
Torque
184 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Front-engine, RWD
Transmission
6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
It may have half the power of the BMW M2, but the Subaru BRZ represents great value for money in a format that’s useable on the road with all the features you would expect from a real sports car. The BRZ has a free-revving, naturally aspirated engine, sending its power to the rear wheels via a standard 6-speed manual transmission. Interestingly, an automatic gearbox is an option on only the middling ‘Limited’ trim. Subaru’s junior sports car focuses on handling over outright power in an attractive package spread over various trim levels, including the STi-inspired Subaru BRZ tS. The tS trim offers STi-tuned sports suspension with Hitachi dampers up front, Brembo brakes, and other cosmetic upgrades, including an STi color scheme and unique digital gauge cluster design. There’s just no turbo on offer here. Like the Mazda, the BRZ – and its mechanical twin, the Toyota GR86 – offer reasonable sports car thrills for a reasonable price.
8 Toyota GR86 – 228 hp ($29,300)
Toyota GR86
Engine
2.4-liter, NA H4
Power
228 hp
Torque
184 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Front-engine, RWD
Transmission
6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
Many are already familiar with the GR86/BRZ shared platform, and for those who aren’t, the similarities are clear when parked side by side. The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are mechanical twins, with cosmetic differences and distinct trims, as well as slightly modified chassis setups – the biggest difference is between the bumpers, lights, and badging. Either way, the good news is that the GR86 offers the same rear-wheel drive setup and manual transmission as the BRZ, along with a price that is about half that of the BMW M2. It does have half the power of the M2 as well, at only 228 hp, but like its twin, the GR86 is set up for moderate thrills over pure muscle, offering sublime handling and well-judged looks, especially with the updated styling that came about for 2022.
7 Porsche 718 Cayman / Boxster – 300 hp ($72,800 – $74,900)
Porsche 718 Cayman / Boxster
Engine
2.0-liter, turbocharged H4
Power
300 hp
Torque
280 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Mid-engine, RWD
Transmission
7-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
Porsche’s 718 Cayman and Boxster are twins, with the coupe or convertible roof being the main feature to choose from in the showroom. Porsche gives the two models the same specs and even the same performance figures. The ‘718’ name refers to Porsche’s racing history, specifically the brand’s victory at Targa Florio in 1959 and 1960. Both of these cars offer big punch from the 2.0-liter, turbocharged flat-four engine, and the mid-engine setup that has been a feature since the first Boxster model back in 1996. Classic sports car fans can rejoice in the exciting cocktail of a rear-wheel drive sports car with a standard manual transmission and one of the sharpest chassis setups around.
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The high entry price is second only to the Lotus Emira in this list, but there’s no denying the brand’s appeal and considerable heritage. For those who need more power in their mid-engine Porsche, the S and GTS 4.0 models offer 350 hp and 394 hp, respectively, thanks to their 2.5-liter, turbocharged H4, and 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated H6. A good way of choosing between the Porsche Boxster and the Cayman is the trunk space on offer: the Boxster has half the storage space remaining thanks to its collapsible roof (4.4 cu-ft vs 9.7 cu-ft).
6 Toyota Supra 3.0 – 382 hp ($55,400)
Toyota Supra
Engine
3.0-liter, turbocharged I6
Power
382 hp
Torque
368 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Front-engine, RWD
Transmission
8-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
The Toyota Supra has become a legitimate contender for the BMW M2 with a good dollop of power and the crucial addition of rear-wheel drive. While the Supra – also available with a 2.0-liter engine / automatic transmission configuration – looks different from the M2 on the outside, it shares a surprising amount under the skin. It uses a BMW B58 engine. The B58 offers less power than the S58 in the M2, but the Supra is 400 lbs lighter at 3,400 lbs. The Toyota Supra of this generation is more powerful and faster than the iconic A80 generation Supra, as well as being only 38 lb-ft down on the M2. The price of the 3.0-liter Supra starts at $55,000, which is also $8,000 less than the BMW M2.
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5 BMW Z4 M40i – 382 hp ($66,450)
BMW Z4 M40i
Engine
3.0-liter, turbocharged I6
Power
382 hp
Torque
369 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Front-engine, RWD
Transmission
8-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
The BMW Z4 shares its mechanicals, some of its interior, and other parts with the Toyota Supra. However, despite being mechanically similar, they are not identical in the same way as the GR86/BRZ. The styling, folding roof, and pricing of the BMW are different from that of the Toyota, but the specs under the hood are the same. It shares the same rear-wheel drive format with a manual transmission that can be swapped out for an automatic if you’re so inclined, and given the ethos of the Z4, it could be a choice many decide to make. Every model – including the lower-powered sDrive30i – receives the same folding soft top roof, which can be raised or lowered in 10 seconds at up to 30 mph, while the Z40i gets M Sport Brakes as standard. While the Toyota Supra’s focus may be mostly on sporty characteristics, the BMW Z4 is also a great junior GT with a luxurious interior and refined styling.
4 Nissan Z – 400 hp ($42,970)
Nissan Z
Engine
3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6
Power
400 hp
Torque
350 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Front-engine, RWD
Transmission
9-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
When the Nissan Z returned for the 2023 model year, it brought with it a new, albeit retro-inspired theme inspired by the original 240Z. It replaced the aging 370Z (Z34) while retiring that car’s 3.7-liter, naturally-aspirated V6. The new Z model – now called the RZ34 – brought twin-turbo power in the form of the VR30DDTT V6 engine, which offers 400 hp in the standard car. A classic rear-wheel drive setup is also standard, another feature that goes back to the first Z cars at the start of the 70s.
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More power is on offer thanks to the Nismo variant, which boosts power to 420 hp and 384 lb-ft (20 hp / 34 lb-ft over the standard engine), but also includes Nismo wheels, upgraded brakes and suspension, as well as a limited-slip differential and other cosmetic upgrades. Rowing the gears yourself isn’t possible with the Nismo trim, because Nissan decided the snappy 9-speed was the fastest way to swap cogs. Other trims offer the 6-speed manual for real driving thrills. An LSD is also available on the ‘Z Performance’ trim that sits above the entry-level ‘Z Sport’ trim; the extra $10,000 for the Z Performance trim is worth it due to the upgraded braking, 19″ Rays rims, additional cosmetic features like the front chin spoiler, leather seats, a larger infotainment screen and upgraded 8-speaker stereo.
3 Lotus Emira – 400 hp ($105,400)
Lotus Emira V6
Engine
3.5-liter, supercharged V6
Power
400 hp
Torque
309 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Mid-engine, RWD
Transmission
6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
Like many other premium and sports car manufacturers, Lotus is undergoing a similar shake-up during the electric car revolution. It introduced the Eletre hyper SUV and Emeya hyper GT four-door following the Emira. Unlike those cars, the Lotus Emira is a classic Lotus, a mid-engine sports car with a supercharged V6 and exotic styling. It follows the Evora and uses the same Toyota 2GR-FE engine.
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This will be the last gas-powered Lotus sports car, likely to be followed by a fully-electric model. The Emira set list includes a manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, and a good dollop of power, but there’s another variant: the Emira i4. This entry-level version sports an AMG-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that makes 360 hp / 317 lb-ft – but it only comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, just like the Mercedes-AMG A45 S hot hatch that also used this engine. The Emira is expensive, starting at more than $100,000 for the V6 model, but if this is the last Lotus sports car with an internal combustion engine, it’s also the perfect end to the brand’s classic sports car legacy.
2 Chevrolet Camaro SS – 455 hp ($41,295)
Chevrolet Camaro SS
Engine
6.2-liter, NA V8
Power
455 hp
Torque
455 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Front-engine, RWD
Transmission
10-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
The big, bad antithesis to the BMW M2 is the Chevy Camaro – a brutish pony car with an optional V8 pushrod engine up front and rear-wheel drive. There’s so much to love about the Camaro SS trim and its 455-hp engine, a mill that was also available on the LT1 trim. At the other ends of the trim spectrum, other engines were available, such as the entry-level 2.0-liter turbo-I4 or the ZL1’s 650-hp, supercharged V8, as well as a 3.6-liter V6. General Motors’s Camaro followed the Dodge Challenger and Charger in being retired after this generation, leaving the Mustang as the only model to continue the pony car tradition. The Camaro’s last year is 2024. Its last hurrah is the Collector’s Edition, available on trims across the range. It includes Panther Black paint, black striping, and the wing from the ZL1, as well as the front splitter from the 1LE performance pack, among other goodies and upgrades. It extends to the ZL1 model, although only for 350 examples, making it a valuable future collector’s item.
1 Ford Mustang GT – 480 hp ($42,460)
Ford Mustang GT
Engine
5.0-liter, NA V8
Power
480-486 hp (w/performance exhaust)
Torque
415-418 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Front-engine, RWD
Transmission
10-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
BMW M2 fans might not be convinced, but there’s a reason the Ford Mustang is one of America’s most beloved exports and arguably the most iconic muscle car ever. It’s the only muscle car on sale, and there’s a reason it’s on this list, too. It also offers the firepower to beat the M2, along with an optional manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. Now in its seventh generation (S650) and with the Coyote V8 in its fourth generation, a long list of updates and upgrades were made to the ‘Stang for the new model, including a heavily reworked interior with a new standard 12.4-inch infotainment system, an optional electronic drift brake, and a long list of optional performance upgrades.
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It’s ultimately the 500-hp Ford Mustang Dark Horse that packs the biggest kick, but for the money, the Ford Mustang GT offers a lot for its initial MSRP of just $42,000. Critics will point out that the Mustang’s dynamics and handling won’t cut it against the M2, while the interior and refinement are also on a different level. But the BMW M2 and Ford Mustang are more alike in spirit than we’d like to think – both are raucous muscle machines, it’s just that one has better dress sense than the other. We’ll let you decide which.