This year is turning out to be the year of the sportscar. With the introduction of the MX-5 RF 30th Anniversary Edition and the impending arrival of the much-awaited Toyota Supra next week, at least six “affordable” sportscars / sports sedans have entered the market: BMW Z4, Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, Hyundai Veloster N, Kia Stinger GT, Lexus RC F.

With that, it’s an opportune time to analyze this growingly crowded market—performance-related automobiles priced from two million to ten million pesos—and see which one actually offers the “best bang for the buck.”

Discounting brands that quote prices only “upon application” (Porsche, Jaguar, etc.), and those who’re being phased out (C 250 AMG, SLC 300), it’s easy to assemble a line-up of 25 vehicles that offer some sizzle.


In this list, the most affordable is the Hyundai Veloster 1.6 GLS (P 1,798,000), while at the other end is the BMW M4 (P 10,490,000). However, this only tells a part of the story. Once the list is arranged by power, the Nissan GT-R takes the top spot with 570 horsepower while the Abarth 595 is dead last with 145 horsepower.

That said, if buyers were to equate value with “peso per horsepower,” the Subaru WRX comes out best. Buyers need to only shell out P 7,201.49 per horsepower compared to the BMW M4’s mouth-watering P 24,682.35 per horsepower. The Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 also comes across as better value at P 7,560.87 per horsepower compared to its 2.3 EcoBoost sibling’s P 9,025.81. Ditto with the WRX, which makes the WRX STI’s P 9,009.84 expensive by comparison. And in more battle of the siblings, the Toyota 86 outclasses the Subaru BRZ by P 540 per horsepower, while the Supra is actually P 2,352.94 per horsepower more affordable than the BMW Z4 M40i.

Despite the Nissan GT-R’s outright grunt advantage, it’s easily just mid-field in terms of value at P 12,894.74 per horsepower beaten even by the Lexus RC F. That said, it outshines the Toyota Supra, Mazda MX-5 RF 30th Anniversary Edition, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, and the Lexus LC 500.

Of course, for people buying a performance-oriented car, horsepower is just one measure. Others look at design, brand prestige, handling, and in the case of the Mazda MX-5 RF 30th Anniversary Edition, exclusivity.

If you feel the need to geek out a bit, you can check the chart below, it might make for some good bar or coffee break conversation later.