Looking to get into the wonderful world of track days? From practical hatchbacks to sporty coupes to roadsters, these are the best beginner track cars.
2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Price: $31,665
Yes, the Miata is the most painfully obvious choice, but it might be the best car for the job. They're still cheap to buy, reliable, imminently tunable, and an absolute blast to drive. Short of getting one with an automatic, you simply can't go wrong with a Miata.
2026 Toyota GR86
Price: $32,395
If you want a new car you can daily drive and take to the track, you could do a lot worse than the Toyota GR86. It's not the most powerful car in the world, but it has just enough thrust for joyous drifting, plus a robust aftermarket means you can turn one into whatever you want.
At One Point, Toyota Offered a Free Track Day to Every GR 86 Buyer
2026 Honda Civic Si
Price: $32,690
Whether you're shopping for a fun commuter or an occasional track-day toy, you can't go wrong with the Honda Civic Si. An exceptional interior, a wonderful manual shifter, and bulletproof reliability means you can lap for days on end without worry. Plus, it's ideal for learning the ins and outs of front-wheel-drive car control.
2026 Subaru WRX
Price: $33,690
If you want a car that can truly do it all, it's hard to go wrong with the all-wheel-drive WRX. Aside from being a great all-weather daily-driver, it's economical, spacious, and, with a few small brake upgrades, capable enough to hold its own on track.
2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Price: $35,865
The Volkswagen GTI is the perfect hatchback for someone who doesn't want compromise. It's highly practical and spacious, and provides fantastic driving dynamics on the road and on the track. We miss the manual, but at least the previous generation’s messy infotainment system is gone.
2026 Hyundai Elantra N
Price: $36,345
There is no better performance value on the market right now than the Hyundai Elantra N. It's nearly as quick as a Civic Type R on track, for over $10,000 less. Plus, you get a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty.
2026 Subaru BRZ
Price: $37,055
Though we prefer the driving dynamics of the BRZ's Toyota sibling, the GR86, the BRZ is another fantastic choice. It's nearly as fun and just as balanced, plus it shares most parts with the GR86, meaning aftermarket support is vast.
2026 Toyota GR Corolla
Price: $41,115
Toyota’s three-cylinder hatchback is one of the strangest cars on the market today, with a high-strung turbo three-cylinder engine and a trick all-wheel-drive system. It is not quite the pure sports car that the GR86 is, but the five-door hatch is packed with character even with the new, optional automatic.
2026 Honda Civic Type R
Price: $48,090
Don't think the Civic Si will cut it for you? There's also the Civic Type R. Highly upgraded and more focused, it's one of the most satisfying front-wheel-drive cars on the market right now, with sublime inputs and plenty of speed.
2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Price: $66,075
Any Mustang is fun, but the Dark Horse is the one designed for track use. Buyers looking for even more power can check out the upcoming Dark Horse SC, although it is not exactly affordable.
2026 Nissan Z NISMO
Price: $66,945
Nissan’s track-focused Z variant is a big improvement on the handsome current-generation Z sports car. A previous lack of a manual was a big drawback, but Nissan seems to be rectifying that mistake soon.
2026 Audi RS3
Price: $67,395
Audi’s all-wheel drive road cars are not exactly built for the track first, but the current RS3 is serious fun on a closed course. The five-cylinder engine has always been a highlight, but the latest RS3 packs plenty of character outside of its unique engine.
2026 BMW M2
Price: $69,550
The BMW M2 lives on, and it might live on until the end of the decade. Just as it has since it was first introduced, the M2 still packs a variant of the same S58 inline-six engine used in the punchier M4.
