2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata

between the road and the driver, providing a level of connection that has been insulated away in larger and more powerful contenders in this segment. Combine this visceral sensation of driving with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that is happy to rev to redline as it produces 155 horsepower (especially when choosing the 6-speed manual over the 6-speed automatic transmission), and you've got a recipe for lightning in a bottle.

This car is a throwback to the kind of engaging and accessible sports car formula that has been largely usurped by high-horsepower rockets tethered to the Earth by wide, sticky tires and electronic nannies rather than a driver's wits. Should the Miata's convertible top not fit your year-round driving requirements, then you should consider the MX-5 Miata RF, or 'retractable fastback' model. It supplies a folding hardtop, splitting the difference between open-air fun and all-weather practicality. Whichever route you choose, the Mazda MX-5 Miata remains our pick for anyone seeking a sports car that relies primarily upon its driver, rather than a suite of software, to spike your adrenaline. The car’s affordable $26,185 starting price certainly doesn't hurt its case, either.

If you have an unquenchable need for speed, or prefer to drive something that doesn’t threaten your fragile masculinity, perhaps one of our runners-up might be a better choice. If that’s true, we also recommend the following models, listed in alphabetical order.