Some sporty cars turned heads with their sleek designs. These cars may have looked like they were built for speed, but their engines told a different story.
Some were built for other purposes, like comfort or efficiency, while others were simply held back by the technology of their time. Here are 27 sporty cars that weren’t very speedy.
1. Ford Mustang King Cobra (1978)
- Top Speed: 96 mph
- Engine: 5.0-liter V8
- Horsepower: 139 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.2 seconds
This Mustang model from the late 1970s looked aggressive with its King Cobra graphics, but it didn’t pack much speed. Due to strict emissions regulations at the time, its V8 engine wasn’t as powerful as you’d expect from a Mustang.
2. Toyota Celica (1974-1977)
- Top Speed: 93 mph
- Engine: 2.2-liter 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 96 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 12 seconds
The Toyota Celica had a sporty design, and its sharp, angular body made it look like a performance car. However, the engine was relatively small and produced less power, keeping its top speed under 100 mph.
3. Mazda MX-30 (2022)
- Top Speed: 87 mph
- Engine: Electric Motor (143 hp)
- Horsepower: 143 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 9.6 seconds
This modern, all-electric SUV from Mazda has a stylish, futuristic design. While it looks sporty, its limited top speed of 87 mph and small battery make it more suited for city driving than fast highway speeds.
4. Mazda RX-8 (2004-2008)
- Top Speed: 98 mph
- Engine: 1.3-liter rotary engine
- Horsepower: 192 hp (lower trims)
- 0-60 mph: Around 7.0 seconds
Though the RX-8 had a unique rotary engine and sleek sports car styling, the lower-powered trims had a top speed just shy of 100 mph, making it slower than many expected from a sports car.
5. Mazda MX-5 Miata (1990-1993)
- Top Speed: 92 mph
- Engine: 1.6-liter 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 116 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 8.6 seconds
The first-generation Mazda Miata, while beloved for its fun handling and convertible top, wasn’t a speed demon. Its small engine and lightweight design made it fun on curvy roads but kept its top speed below 100 mph.
6. Chevy Nova (1975-1979)
- Top Speed: 94 mph
- Engine: 4.1-liter inline-6
- Horsepower: 105 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 12.2 seconds
The Nova was a popular muscle car in the 1960s and early 1970s, but by the late 1970s, stricter emissions rules had weakened its power. Despite its muscle car look, the 1975-1979 models had a top speed under 100 mph.
7. Porsche 924 (1976-1978)
- Top Speed: 98 mph
- Engine: 2.0-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 95 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.5 seconds
The Porsche 924 had the sleek, sporty design you’d expect from a Porsche, but early models were underpowered. Its small engine produced only 95 horsepower, and the top speed was under 100 mph, which disappointed many sports car fans.
8. Toyota GT86 (2012)
- Top Speed: 86 mph (limited)
- Engine: 2.0-liter flat-4
- Horsepower: 197 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 6.2 seconds
The Toyota GT86 looks like a fast sports car, and it handles well, but its top speed is electronically limited to 86 mph in certain regions. Even with almost 200 horsepower, it’s built more for fun driving rather than top-speed performance.
9. Fisker Karma (2011-2012)
- Top Speed: 95 mph
- Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (combined with electric motors)
- Horsepower: 403 hp (electric motors + engine combined)
- 0-60 mph: Around 6.1 seconds
The Fisker Karma is a luxury hybrid that looked sleek and futuristic. Despite its high horsepower from the electric motors and engine combo, the top speed is limited to under 100 mph, which makes it slower than expected for a car with such a stylish, sporty design.
10. Ferrari Mondial (1980-1982)
- Top Speed: 96 mph
- Engine: 3.0-liter V8
- Horsepower: 214 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 8.2 seconds
The Ferrari Mondial, while bearing the Ferrari name, didn’t have the speed to match its exotic appearance. The early models of this Ferrari were heavier and had less horsepower than other Ferraris, leading to a top speed below 100 mph.
11. Volvo P1800 (1961)
- Top Speed: 99 mph
- Engine: 1.8-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 100 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 13 seconds
The Volvo P1800 is known for its elegant styling and was even featured in the TV show “The Saint.” However, despite its sporty looks, it wasn’t a high-performance car in terms of speed, with a top speed just under 100 mph.
12. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (1955-1959)
- Top Speed: 74 mph
- Engine: 1.2-liter flat-4
- Horsepower: 36 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 28 seconds
The Karmann Ghia had a sleek, stylish design that made it look like a sports car. However, it shared the same small engine as the Volkswagen Beetle, so it wasn’t fast. Its top speed was far below 100 mph.
13. DeLorean DMC-12 (1981-1983)
- Top Speed: 88 mph
- Engine: 2.8-liter V6
- Horsepower: 130 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.5 seconds
The DeLorean DMC-12 is famous for its appearance in Back to the Future and its futuristic design. While it looked fast, its performance didn’t match the look. The DeLorean’s V6 engine couldn’t push it past 88 mph in real life.
14. Honda CR-Z (2010-2016)
- Top Speed: 91 mph
- Engine: 1.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid
- Horsepower: 122 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 9.7 seconds
The Honda CR-Z was a sporty-looking hybrid with an eco-friendly design. Even though it looked quick, it was built for fuel efficiency rather than speed, with a top speed of only 91 mph, making it slower than most modern sports cars.
15. Hyundai Coupe (2002-2008)
- Top Speed: 96 mph
- Engine: 1.6-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 104 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.5 seconds
Also known as the Tiburon in some markets, the Hyundai Coupe had a sporty appearance. However, its lower-powered models, especially the ones with the smaller engines, had a top speed under 100 mph, making it more of a sporty looker than a performer.
16. Smart Roadster (2003-2005)
- Top Speed: 90 mph
- Engine: 0.7-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder
- Horsepower: 80 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.9 seconds
The Smart Roadster was a tiny, fun-looking car with a unique design. It was lightweight and compact but had a small engine, limiting its top speed to 90 mph. Despite its sporty look, it wasn’t built for high-speed driving.
17. Chevrolet Camaro (1975-1979)
- Top Speed: 97 mph
- Engine: 5.7-liter V8
- Horsepower: 145 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.2 seconds
By the late 1970s, emissions regulations had tamed the power of the Camaro. Even though it had a big V8 engine and muscle car styling, the engine was underpowered compared to earlier models, leading to a top speed below 100 mph.
18. Hyundai Veloster (2012-2013 Base Model)
- Top Speed: 94 mph
- Engine: 1.6-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 138 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 9.5 seconds
The Hyundai Veloster has a sporty, unique design with three doors and a fun look, but the base model didn’t pack much power. Its top speed of 94 mph was less than many would expect from its aggressive styling.
19. Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider GS (2003-2005)
- Top Speed: 95 mph
- Engine: 2.4-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 147 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.1 seconds
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider GS had a sleek, convertible design, making it look like a fast sports car. However, the GS trim with its smaller engine wasn’t built for speed, with a top speed under 100 mph.
20. Audi 100 Coupe S (1970-1972)
- Top Speed: 99 mph
- Engine: 1.9-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 113 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.5 seconds
The Audi 100 Coupe S had a stylish fastback design, which made it stand out in the early 1970s. Even though it looked sporty, its performance was more modest, with a top speed just under 100 mph.
21. Lancia Scorpion (1976-1977)
- Top Speed: 96 mph
- Engine: 1.8-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 81 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 11.6 seconds
Lancia Scorpion’s exotic, wedge-shaped design promised speed, but the reality was different. It had a small engine and limited horsepower, resulting in a top speed of only 96 mph, disappointing for such a sleek car.
22. Porsche 914 (1970-1976 Base Model)
- Top Speed: 99 mph
- Engine: 1.7-liter flat-4
- Horsepower: 80 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 13 seconds
While being a mid-engine sports car, the Porsche 914 wasn’t as fast as other Porsches. The base model with the smaller engine could only manage a top speed of 99 mph, which was less than most Porsche fans expected from its sporty look.
23. Pontiac Fiero (1984 Base Model)
- Top Speed: 92 mph
- Engine: 2.5-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 92 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 10.8 seconds
The Pontiac Fiero looked like a futuristic sports car, but its early models had a small engine and limited power. The base Fiero had a top speed of 92 mph, making it slower than its sporty design suggested.
24. Mitsubishi FTO (1994-2000 Base Model)
- Top Speed: 95 mph
- Engine: 1.8-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 123 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 9.5 seconds
The Mitsubishi FTO had a sleek and sporty design that suggested quick performance. However, the base model with the smaller 1.8-liter engine was more about style than speed, with a top speed of just 95 mph.
25. Volkswagen SP2 (1972-1976)
- Top Speed: 100 mph (often tested slightly below)
- Engine: 1.7-liter flat-4
- Horsepower: 75 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 16 seconds
The Volkswagen SP2 was a stylish sports car produced in Brazil, but it was underpowered. With only 75 horsepower, the top speed was just around 100 mph but often recorded slightly below in real-world tests, making it slower than its sleek design suggested.
26. Fiat X1/9 (1972-1989 Base Model)
- Top Speed: 97 mph
- Engine: 1.3-liter inline-4 (early models)
- Horsepower: 63 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 13.5 seconds
A small, mid-engine sports car, the Fiat X1/9 featured sharp, sporty looks. While it handled well, the early models were not fast. The top speed of 97 mph made it more fun to drive at lower speeds rather than a high-speed performer.
27. Renault Caravelle (1958-1968)
- Top Speed: 80 mph
- Engine: 1.1-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 48 hp
- 0-60 mph: Around 20 seconds
The Renault Caravelle had a classy, convertible look that made it seem like a fast sports car. However, with its small engine and limited horsepower, the top speed was only 80 mph, making it more suited for cruising rather than speeding.
Even though they didn’t deliver on speed, these cars still left their mark with their eye-catching looks and special features.
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.