Skip to main content

Believe it or not, there are plenty of sports cars in the market that let you have your cake and eat it too. That is to say that these cars are fun to drive while doing double duty as a practical daily hauler. Yes, you can take the kids to school and run the rest of your errands in a sports car. It just depends on which one.

Check out these seven practical sports cars that you can buy in 2023. Just be careful; you may end up getting one soon after justifying its daily drivability.

1. 2023 Toyota GR86

2023 Toyota GR86 Orange
2023 Toyota GR86 | Toyota

We drove the 2023 Toyota GR86, and we think that it is the epitome of what a practical sports car should be. It’s fun to drive, fuel-efficient, affordable, and it has a tiny backseat for the kids. There’s also a decent-sized trunk to fit your groceries or even a carry-on bag, and the front cupholders are large enough for a large water bottle.

There’s also a rev-happy, 228-hp 2.4-liter engine under the hood that can be mated to a six-speed manual transmission to transmit the power to the rear wheels. Now, do you see why it could be a perfect practical sports car?

2. 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary Edition | Mazda

Ask any driving enthusiast for a recommendation on a good sports car to get, and they will likely mention the Mazda MX-5 Miata at some point. Like the Toyota GR86, the Miata offers a lot of fun and a decent amount of practicality in a pint-sized car. Its trunk is barely large enough to fit a carry-on, and its cabin is barely large enough to fit two American adults comfortably. But it’s a ton of fun to drive with its rear-drive setup and energetic engine, which is why it’s such a crowd favorite.

3. 2023 BMW 8 Series

BMW 8 Series
BMW 8 Series | BMW USA

If you’re planning to take a long trip, the 2023 BMW 8 Series is what you’ll want to drive. Inside, there’s a comfortable and luxurious interior with plush Merino leather seats and all of the tech features you could want, including two large LCD screens and an iDrive infotainment system. Under the hood, there’s an available 617-hp V8 engine that offers a ton of power and driving fun. There’s plenty of room for two on the inside as well – what more could you ask for?

4. 2023 Ford Mustang

This Stealth Edition 2022 Ford Mustang has a usable trunk and an optional SYNC 3 infotainment system.
2022 Ford Mustang | Ford

There’s almost no other American car as iconic as the Ford Mustang. The 2023 model offers a choice of powerful and efficient engines that you wouldn’t expect from a sports car. Additionally, the seats are comfortable, there’s enough trunk space for a couple of carry-on bags, and the base model can get up to 32 mpg on the highway. No wonder the Mustang is such an icon.

5. 2023 Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R blasts down a track straight, showing off its rear styling.
Nissan GT-R | Nissan

While we wouldn’t normally recommend the 2023 Nissan GT-R as a daily driver due to its supercar traits, there’s no denying that it’s practical. The GT-R has enough room for two adults in its cabin as well as two small children. There’s a usable trunk, and its adaptive suspension can be toned down enough for normal road use. And while having 600 hp sounds like overkill, it’s more than enough to put a smile on your face every time you drive the car – even if it’s every day.

6. 2023 Dodge Challenger

A 2023 Dodge Challenger Widebody looks like a heavy car, like this one showing off its flared fenders and wide tires.
R/T Scat Pack Widebody | Stellantis

The Dodge Challenger will bow out after the 2023 model year, but we’re sure we’ll see some incarnation of it in the future. For now, the Challenger offers a spacious and surprisingly comfortable interior with large front seats.

There’s also a spacious trunk out back that can fit larger items than you would expect. And the Challenger is fuel-efficient and fun – as long as you get the trim level with the V6 engine. The ones with the larger V8 engine are mostly just fun. But that’s not a bad thing.

7. 2023 Maserati Gran Turismo

Maserati Gran Turismo
2023 Maserati Gran Turismo | Maserati

The 2023 Maserati Gran Turismo exudes style, comfort, and power. Its interior is well-crafted and provides plenty of room, while its 542-hp turbocharged V6 engine provides a decent amount of fuel efficiency for long drives. It’s also very stable for highway cruising. According to Hot Cars, “the car’s generous size and weight help it to provide more stability when driving while drivers can switch between sport and normal modes depending on their personal preferences.”

Practical sports cars for 2023

If you’re looking for a sports car that allows for plenty of driving fun every day in addition to some livable practicality, these seven cars have you covered. Just don’t blame us if you end up picking up one of these cars sometime soon. They’re really just that good.