While affordable performance cars aren’t as numerous as they used to be, there are still some great options available to buy new in 2026. But there are now fewer brands that are pulling all the weight. There was a time when all the brands listed below offered performance models, but they have now decided to sell only mainstream or luxury models. It’s a shame, too, because all of these brands have rich histories littered with performance models that would lend credibility to new attempts at performance. Yet, all six appear to have no real performance models in the pipeline, at least in America. Let’s go through each brand and discuss what their lineups look like today and how far they’ve fallen from their more enthusiast-focused years.
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