Sometimes merely getting there is not enough; you want to get there really, really quickly. After all, there's nothing like the thrill you get from a car that leaps off the line.
The five picks listed below really know how to hustle. Each rockets from 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds.
You won't find any high-priced supercars in the bunch. We limited our choices to models that are relatively affordable, with price tags of less than $50,000. Another plus is that most of these choices acquit themselves pretty well on the daily commute, offering reasonable amounts of comfort and utility. Our picks are listed in alphabetical order.
1: Chrysler 300 SRT8
With a cabin that's quiet as a synagogue and brimming with exceptional craftsmanship, the Chrysler 300 is one of the most impressive full-size sedans on the market. Step up to the SRT8 and this already compelling package is sweetened with a more powerful engine: a 6.3-liter V8 good for 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The SRT8 makes the 0-60-mph dash in a quick 4.7 seconds. Feature content is generous and ride quality is positively Germanic; just keep in mind that with the optional 20-inch wheels, things get noticeably firmer. The SRT8 starts at $47,170.
2: Dodge Challenger SRT8 392
Endowed with a roomy cabin and a trunk that gives up a very spacious 16.2 cubic feet (more than you'll get with many midsize sedans). the Challenger is perhaps the most livable muscle car on the market; in the SRT8 392 trim, it's also one of the quickest. This Dodge bullets from 0-60 mph in a scant 4.5 seconds, motivated by a 6.4-liter V8 that kicks up 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Though handling isn't as sharp as that of rivals like the Mustang, the payoff is ride quality that's smooth as Amish cream. The SRT8 392 starts at $43,995.
3: Ford Mustang Boss 302
The Ford Mustang is one of the most well-rounded pony cars available; when powered by the burly V8 engine found in the top-of-the-range Boss 302 trim, it's also a breathlessly quick performance machine capable of darting from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The Boss 302's 5.0-liter V8 serves up power output of 444 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque; handling is nimble as it gets in this segment and the coupe's trunk offers decent capacity, at 12.3 cubic feet. Unfortunately, the Boss 302 model isn't quite as bargain-priced as other Mustang trim levels; it starts at $40,310.
4: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
The Lancer Evo is just a humble Mitsu Lancer that's been given the best kinds of upgrades. It's dressed up with a kickass all-wheel drive system, chassis reinforcements, supersized brakes, a sport-tuned suspension system, a bevy of aerodynamic enhancements, and -- most importantly -- a real bruiser of an engine: a turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out 291 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. It all comes together to create a machine capable of generating some incredible performance numbers; an Evo GSR that we tested leaped from 0-60 mph in a stunning 4.9 seconds. Downsides include ho-hum materials quality and a small trunk (7 cubic feet), along with ride quality that tends to be on the stiff side of the spectrum. The Lancer Evo starts at $34,495.
5: Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The Impreza WRX STI has certain drawbacks, like a mediocre cabin and an unimpressive sound system. One thing you can't complain about, though, is its quickness: Motivated by a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder good for 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque, this little sedan scrambles to 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.5 seconds. Ride quality is decent enough considering the power underfoot, and all-wheel drive is, of course, standard. Pricing on the Subaru Impreza WRX STI starts at $34,095.
Which quick picks would you add to this list?
teampenske3 says:
05:42 AM, 01/ 8/12
Throw in the Camaro SS for the musclecar trifecta, and the Charger SRT8, which is more or less the same as the 300. The one car that is sadly missing, for obvious reasons, is the Pontiac G8.
Also, you're forgetting the least expensive M car, the BMW 1M Coupe.
With regard to the Far East, depending on who's testing, I believe the Nissan Z can get to 60 in under 5.
hubblehornz66 says:
05:53 AM, 01/ 8/12
for i am sort of surprised that the lancer is in this list as well as its "rival" the Impreza. but when you think about it the lancer and the subaru are/can be rally cars and thos type of cars are really good at there acceleration. I am really proud of chrysler for improving there lineup this year, so i do believe that the chrysler should be fist..however it always does seem pretty heavy. but whatever it works.
HH
66
huyracing says:
06:07 AM, 01/ 8/12
uh, corvette? and you can group the mopars together into one...
questionlp says:
08:51 AM, 01/ 8/12
Base Audi TT S coupé and S4 saloon start at under $50K and should do 0-60 MPH at under 5 seconds.
saunupe1911 says:
09:26 AM, 01/ 8/12
Very misleading and inaccurate article.
The Mustang 5.0 consistently gets under 5 secs. IL is the only media source that didn't during their testing.
Also throw in the Charger SRT8 and Camaro SS.
cr_driver says:
10:46 AM, 01/ 8/12
Wrong Saunupe.
http://www.insideline.com/ford/mustang/2011/2011-ford-mustang-gt-50-full-test-and-video.html
0.60 in 4.8s
With 1 foot of rollout in 4.5s
torsion says:
11:01 AM, 01/ 8/12
Best I can tell, the last review IL did of the STI reported a 0-60 of 5.5 seconds... was it retested later?
saunupe1911 says:
11:07 AM, 01/ 8/12
@cr_driver,
First,
Yeah but they never got it under 5 secs during the track/straightline tests. That's what I'm referring to. The full test almost seems like a fluke.
Secondly,
That link proves just how inaccurate this article is. Not only is the 5.0 capable of low to mid 4 sec 0-60, but it's also one of (if not the CHEAPEST) car under 5 seconds.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE LINK
cr_driver says:
11:38 AM, 01/ 8/12
Cool Saunupe. Love the 5.0 perfomance.
As for this type of lists that randomly appear here, don`t really care much.
ddark13 says:
03:21 PM, 01/ 8/12
should be top 10 cars. i would throw in the audi a5 and 335i.
blueguydotcom says:
03:24 PM, 01/ 8/12
WRX is a sub 5 second car too. That'd easily be the cheapest of this bunch.
skyggge says:
03:39 PM, 01/ 8/12
If you really want to rub up against the $50k barrier, 2012 GT500 blows all of these out of the water.
huyracing says:
04:01 PM, 01/ 8/12
seriously, not much thought went into this blog post. might as well be "5 new cars I like right now"
altimadude05 says:
06:01 PM, 01/ 8/12
Do people actually buy a car based solely on how fast it is? Seems rather...one dimensional.
lmbvette says:
05:04 AM, 01/ 9/12
@altimadude05 says:
"Do people actually buy a car based solely on how fast it is? Seems rather...one dimensional."
YES! I bought the fastest sedan that I could afford, a CTS-V. ;-)
hooklyn says:
08:41 AM, 01/ 9/12
Lets do this alphabetically;
Audi
- S4 - 4.4 seconds to 60 - From $47,300
- TT-S - 4.8 seconds to 60 - From $47,000
BMW
- 1-Series M - 4.6 seconds to 60 - From $46,135
- 135i - 4.7 seconds to 60 - From $39,300
- 335i - 4.8 seconds to 60 - From $45,100
Chevy
- Camaro SS - 4.6 seconds to 60 - From $31,850
Hyundai
- Genesis R-Spec 5.0 - 4.8 seconds to 60 - From $46,500
Nissan
- 370z - 4.8 seconds to 60 - From $31,450
And then some other models of cars you did list;
- Mustang GT - 4.4 seconsd to 60 - From $29,710
- Impreza WRX - 4.8 seconds to 60 - From $25,495
hooklyn says:
08:44 AM, 01/ 9/12
@ altimadude05
People with small penises buy cars based solely on straight line speed. That or 16-year-olds...
haha
hooklyn says:
08:50 AM, 01/ 9/12
@ skyggge
GT500 - 4.1 seconds to 60 - From $48,810
It does fit within the criteria. I too thought they listed for more than $50k. That is why they are not on my above list.
The second you get over $50k though;
TT-RS - 3.6 seconds to 60 - From $56,850
The quickest car 0-60mph under $90k (GT-R)
The quickest car in the 1/4 mile under $75k (Z06 - equal from 0-60 though)
csubowtie says:
12:01 PM, 01/ 9/12
Chevy Corvette Coupe. 0-60: 4.1 sec. From $49,525 (2012 price).
rsrtampa says:
12:34 PM, 01/ 9/12
@ hooklyn: Thank you for a real list rather than the few that I like list from the author! I drive a loaded 135i and did not pay over 50k.
sohcammer says:
03:58 PM, 01/ 9/12
2012 Boss Mustang 0-60 in 3.93 & 3.97s by 2 independent testers.
Market Value with the Recaros & Torsen, $44,000
not the more misleading base price.
dyzio says:
03:57 PM, 01/19/12
@hooklyn - your list is more complete ... why they didn't do it properly in a first place ?!?
but...
How about that ?!?:
TTRS 2.5 TFSI Quattro 4,6 s (S Tronic 4.3 s)