The ten best unlikely driver’s cars you can buy

The performance car pantheon comprises machines of all kinds, with a body style and powertrain configuration to appeal to virtually every taste and need.

Not everyone wants to drive a low-slung impractical sports car every day though and, even if you do, sometimes the circumstances of life call for something a little more responsible.

So if it’s time to grow up, but not to grow old, here are ten engaging cars that deliver a driving experience you might not expect by looking at them, or their positioning.

In no particular order, MOTOR presents the ten most unlikely driver’s cars on sale.

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Hyundai i30 N-Line

• PRICE: $29,420
• PWR: 114kW/tonne
• Engine: 1591cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo

In its pre-update SR-badged guise, the Hyundai i30 was seemingly the default answer to any warm hatch question. Today, the segment is as packed and as closely fought as ever, but Hyundai’s keenly positioned N-Line is still well worth your consideration.

Much of the winning formula remains, as the attractive list price affords you a gutsy turbocharged 1.6-litre inline-four, a segment-leading 150kW/265Nm, and generous levels of standard equipment.

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It’s more accessible in its talents and will spur smiles on a challenging road while nailing the brief as a pragmatic hatchback.

Factory Michelin Pilot Sport 4s and 305mm front brakes signal real sporting intent and the Korean hatch follows through with excellent body control. Front-end grip is tenacious and ultra-progressive in the way its controls lighten to communicate when its limits of grip are tested.

Damping is firm, but it’s liveable and well-controlled. Steering, too, is nicely weighted, precise and direct; with a tactile front-end that firms nicely with speed.

Opting for the six-speed manual also sees the list price dip below $30k, but even the seven-speed dual-clutch is an effective and fun unit to engage with, delivering solid and decisive shifts through its paddles or tiptronic shifter. The full-fat i30 N is still the range’s enthusiast hero, but the N-Line captures a lot of that magic for a smaller price. It’s more accessible in its talents and will spur smiles on a challenging road while nailing the brief as a pragmatic hatchback.

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BMW X3 M40i

• PRICE: $113,900
• PWR: 146kW/tonne
• Engine: 2998cc inline-6, DOHC, 24v, turbo

Sport utility vehicles have never been sportier, but high riding haulers with straight-line performance aren’t exactly a new idea. In recent vehicle generations, however, real strides have been made in the development of SUVs that have spawned some genuinely fun and rewarding vehicles.

The outgoing BMW X3’s M40i was a great example of the astounding rate of progress within the fast four-by-four arena. A distinctly rear-biased xDrive system, variable torque split and rear differential make the most of the B58’s broad power band.

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Also, 265kW and a 4.7-second sprint from 0-100km/h is nothing to scoff at from a full-size 1810kg SUV. A good useable chunk of the maximum 500Nm is on tap from as low as 1520rpm, too. It’s seriously rapid in a straight line with a crackling soundtrack that seems more M-badge than X-badge.

You can’t overcome physics though and, close to the limit, the X3 will always give ground to an equivalent wagon or saloon. For some, however, life simply calls for an SUV and, if that’s the case, you’re no longer penalised in the fun or dynamics department in the way you once were.

Need an SUV but haven’t given up on life? The X3 M40i is a charmer and one that makes even more sense as a nearly-new purchase.

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Peugeot 508

• PRICE: $57,490
• PWR: 115kW/tonne
• Engine: 1598cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo

Peugeot’s 508 is an underrated car that definitely deserves more recognition from the driving cognoscenti.

Available overseas in 133kW or 169kW variants, Australia is treated to a single-spec range of the sportier GT. At $57,490, the 508 GT undercuts both the entry level C-Class and 3 Series by about $13k. It’s lighter than all bargain options of the German Big Three and, in most metrics, is an objectively superior car.

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Fighting from the weight class of a warm hatch (1430kg), the fashionable Frenchie feels sprightly and light on its feet. Peugeot steering is distinct in its light- and lightning-quick steering, and the 508 is no exception. Don’t let its front-drive layout deter you.

Bolstered by the GT’s adaptive dampers, big brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, the front-end grip is immense. Body control? It’s as good as you’ll get with any sedan at this price point and the ride is so supple that the 508 will cover ground on so-so roads where others would be backing off. As a package, it feels much costlier than it is.

If you’re after an accomplished and capable mid-size sedan that stands out from the crowd, we’d recommend checking out the Peugeot 508. Oh, did we mention you can get a wagon, too

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Jaguar i-Pace

• PRICE: $137,848
• PWR: 143kW/tonne
• MOTORS: Twin synchronous permanent magnet

We know it’s an EV, but if you thought that an electric future was one of alien vehicles devoid of enjoyment and fun, the Jaguar i-Pace has some words for you.

Synchronous permanent magnet electric motors are featured on both front and rear axles, creating all-wheel drive and a combined output of 294kW and 696Nm. Those are serious numbers, which are delivered with the intensity of a light switch.

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But rapid acceleration and big outputs are part and parcel for the EV experience. The i-Pace, however, impresses with how car-like it feels to drive. The battery pack is contained within the chassis floor, yielding a tremendously low centre of gravity and 50:50 weight distribution.

With its four wheels pushed as far outboard as possible, the electric Jag will hook into corners, and clamber with all its paws on exit as you power down post-apex. It’s an addictive, confident corner carver and is a genuinely quick tool to cover ground with.

There is still range anxiety to contend with, which is especially right-foot dependent in the case of EVs, but if you’re ready to make the switch: consider this a driver’s choice.

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Skoda Octavia RS

• PRICE: $47,790
• PWR: 124kW/tonne
• Engine: 1984cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo

The Skoda Octavia ticks a lot of boxes for motoring journalists, which is why you’re privy to finding one in the personal garages of many industry writers. There’s got to be something to that.

It’s a proven mechanical package: based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, powered by the Golf GTI’s full-fat 180kW EA888 four-cylinder turbo, and matched with the seven-speed DSG gearbox, yet the Octavia is a small-volume player in the local market.

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Subsequently, the range is simple with just two variants, but even the standard model comes generously equipped for its price with standard-fit LSD and Pirelli P Zeros speaking to local buyers’ propensity for high-spec and high-performance variants.

It may present as a simple Golf-twin on paper but, in many ways, the Czech emerges as a more mature option. The DSG calibration, in this application, feels less aggressive than elsewhere in VAG, but the LSD can struggle to contain the front-end on corner exit.

It still feels properly rapid and rewarding to guide through back-roads, delivering an experience beyond its family companion positioning.

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Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport

• PRICE: $23,895
• PWR: 94kW/tonne
• Engine: 1986cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v

The latest-generation Toyota Corolla marked an exciting return to form for the humble but historic nameplate. The new TNGA architecture delivers a 60 per cent improvement to torsional rigidity, while also housing a new multi-link suspension out back as well as a wider track and extended wheelbase.

The new 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine delivers 125kW/200Nm, is lighter than the old 1.8, and will feverously spin the tacho up to a 6850rpm redline. Don’t bother with the CVT, the Ascent Sport is only offering in the Corolla range that you can option with three pedals and an H-pattern.

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In doing so, the ’Rolla becomes an enthusiastic and engaging urban pedaller with great chassis balance and direct, linear steering. It’s not a car that serves up its dynamic payoff on a platter, instead requiring you to work for it by carefully balancing braking, gearing, steering and relatively modest tyre grip to maximise momentum through corners.

If you lament the loss of pared-back simplistic driver’s hatches of yesteryear, the humble hire-spec Corolla may provide an honest modern rendition of the notion. It even has rev-match technology.

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Audi TTS

• PRICE: $101,200
• PWR: 165.5kW/tonne
• Engine: 1984cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo

The stylish Audi TT coupe, for whatever reason, has always remained decidedly unfashionable amongst the vocal church of ‘real’ driving enthusiasts. Its image problems began with the first generation of 1998, and the latest iteration’s Mk7 Golf R-related underpinnings were hard to reconcile for many when commanding double the price of the royal hot hatch.

Looked at another way, the stereotyped hairdresser’s car is almost $20k cheaper - yet faster - than a Porsche 718 Cayman. The TTS delivers an experience far greater than it’s often given credit for.

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The chassis is wonderfully taut, cornering flat and hard. Steering is light in typical Audi fashion, but it’s incredibly direct and effective once you key into it.

The lighter four-pot up front makes the car feel even more urgent to reach apex on turn-in and, as your hip point sits incredibly centrally, it delivers that satisfying ‘pivot around you’ feeling.

It’s a truly poised and capable coupe and while it lacks the rear-biased character some may be seeking, it’s a serious traction monster from a dig or on the move. And when the going gets wet, it’s a genuine giant-killer.

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Lexus IS350

• PRICE: $75,000
• PWR: 138kW/tonne
• Engine: : 3456cc V6, quad-OHC, 24v

Most buyers don’t end up choosing the Lexus IS350 from the crowded litter of sporty C-segment saloons on offer today. Yet, there’s more for the keen driver hidden beneath those crisp lines than you might expect.

As the range’s flagship model, the IS350 swings in with a respectable 233kW/378Nm 3.5-litre quad-cam V6, representing a 50kW advantage over the cheaper turbo-four model for just a $2k premium.

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Its engine tech, gearbox logic and some other elements, date the Lexus in the face of younger C-Class and 3 Series rivals, but spend some time with it and it coalesces as a surprisingly rewarding road car to drive fast.

The chassis is inherently well-balanced and, while it lacks the hurried rush of its turbocharged contemporaries, the naturally aspirated mill encourages - and rewards - you to seek out the upper regions of the rev range.

It’s a deftly engineered sedan that won’t flatter your talents in the way others might, but it requires you to be more aware of how you’re driving and the inputs you’re making. A thinking man’s driver’s car? This might be it.

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Ford Mustang 2.3

• PRICE: $54,690
• PWR: 137.5kW/tonne
• Engine: 2261cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo

It may pack half the cylinders you’d expect, but the four-pot Ford Mustang is by no means half the car. In many ways in fact, the frugal fastback might just be the more interesting car to tackle a twisty road in.

The 236kW, longitudinally mounted turbocharged inline-four weighs almost half that of the big 5.0-litre and gives the entry-level ponycar a superior weight distribution, and a discernibly more responsive front end. The V8 GT may have the character and the soundtrack, but is encumbered by the weight of its steering while the 2.3’s rack feels delightfully light by comparison.

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It’s not as fast as the V8 but it doesn’t ‘feel’ significantly slower when you’re on a winding road. Power delivery is punchy with around 90 per cent of useable torque accessible between 2500 and 5300rpm.

For the three-pedal purists out there, it’s also the cheapest manual turbocharged coupe you can still buy. The pedals aren’t perfectly heel-toe compatible, but the six-speed features a very effective auto-blip feature and a burly shift action. It’s a far more involving option than the 10-speed auto.

Forget what you thought about the four-pot pony car. Sure it’s not a V8 but there are a lot of redeeming qualities to be found.

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Kia Picanto S

• PRICE: $15,190
• PWR: 62.5kW/tonne
• Engine: 1248cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v

The most discerning performance car buyers are increasingly demanding ‘race cars for the road’, but an old adage says that the best race car is actually a cheap, light and low-powered one.

So, is the Kia Picanto S secretly the 911 GT3 you’ve been dreaming of? Its sub-tonne kerb weight and three-pedal manual gearbox should certainly appeal to the driving purists. Yes, it might be an underpowered budget city car, but that’s exactly the appeal.

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With just 62kW in its arsenal, you’re able to extract 100 per cent of its performance virtually 100 per cent of the time. The act of rowing gears through its light and positive five-speed gearbox is even more satisfying when you’re not fast enough to fear attracting the local constabulary.

Even the steering is a treat, remaining light and effortless at low speeds before adding weight as the pace increases. It’s a go-kart compared to the size of modern traffic, and seems expertly suited to life as an inner-city urban dweller.

If it’s cheap thrills you’re after, the humble Picanto offers huge fun for a relative pittance. Dep Ed Cameron Kirby says it’s still one of his favourite long-termers, proving big things do come in small packages.

Fun fact: you can replace the whole car for less than the parts and labour involved in replacing the front carbon-ceramic rotors on a Mercedes-AMG GT R.

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