Fun cars have not disappeared from Australian showrooms, they have just got fewer and dearer. If you want something you drive for the sake of driving, eight new cars from four Japanese makers and one German one cover the field from just under $50,000 to $85,000 drive-away.
Every price and power figure below was read from the manufacturer's own Australian website on 30 October 2026. Mazda, Toyota and Volkswagen price by postcode, so their figures are the recommended drive-away prices for Melbourne 3000. Subaru shows its recommended drive-away prices for Sydney 2000. Honda sells at one national drive-away price. Your number will move a few hundred dollars either way depending on where you register the car.
The short answer
Cheapest real sports car: the Mazda MX-5 Roadster from $49,412 drive-away. Best coupe for the money: the Toyota GR86 from $51,429, or its twin the Subaru BRZ from $52,936. Best all-weather pick: the Subaru WRX from $54,086, the cheapest all-wheel-drive car here. Best hot hatch under $70,000: the Toyota GR Yaris from $60,965. The one that does everything: the Volkswagen Golf GTI at $65,554. Most power: the Honda Civic Type R at $85,000.
1. Mazda MX-5 Roadster: from $49,412 drive-away
The cheapest way into a proper rear-wheel-drive sports car in Australia, and the only convertible on this list. Mazda's own figures: a 2.0 litre four-cylinder with 135kW and 205Nm, a six-speed manual or automatic, and 6.8L/100km combined for the manual. A limited-slip differential is standard on every grade.
The Roadster starts at $49,412 drive-away in Melbourne, the Roadster GT is $56,343 and adds heated leather seats and Bose audio, and the Roadster GT RS is $62,595 with Bilstein dampers, Brembo front brakes, BBS forged wheels and Recaro seats. Mazda's warranty is five years with unlimited kilometres.
It is the least powerful car here by a distance, and that is the point. Light, small and honest, it is quick enough to be fun at legal speeds. Two seats and a small boot mean it is a second car for most households. Our older MX-5 RF GT review covers the folding hard-top version.
2. Toyota GR86: from $51,429 drive-away
A front-engine, rear-drive coupe with a 2.4 litre four-cylinder making 174kW and 250Nm, per Toyota. That is 39kW more than the MX-5 for about $2,000 extra, plus a fixed roof.
Toyota's drive-away price starts at $51,429 for the GT in Melbourne, with a manual or an automatic with paddle shifters. It was developed alongside the Subaru BRZ and the two quote identical outputs, so the choice between them comes down to price, the badge and which dealer is closer.
3. Subaru BRZ: from $52,936 drive-away
The GR86's twin. Subaru lists the same 174kW and 250Nm, a manual or an automatic, and a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty. The BRZ Coupe S manual is $52,936 drive-away and the tS manual is $56,716, both Subaru's recommended drive-away prices for Sydney 2000.
On paper the GR86 is slightly cheaper, but the two prices use different postcodes, so get a quote on both before you decide. Our 2022 Subaru BRZ review drove this generation at launch.
4. Subaru WRX: from $54,086 drive-away
The only sedan here and the cheapest all-wheel-drive car on the list. Subaru quotes 202kW and 350Nm from its turbocharged engine. Recommended drive-away prices in Sydney: $54,086 for the WRX manual, $56,916 for the Sport Lineartronic automatic, $59,856 for the RS manual, $62,481 for the RS Sport Lineartronic, and $68,256 for both the tS Spec B and tS Sport Lineartronic.
Four doors, a usable boot and all-wheel drive make it the easiest car here to justify as the only car in the garage. Warranty is five years and unlimited kilometres. If you are holding out for a manual STI, read our WRX STI manual teaser story first: an Australian launch is not confirmed.
5. Toyota GR Yaris: from $60,965 drive-away
A rally car for the road. Toyota's 1.6 litre turbocharged three-cylinder makes 221kW and 400Nm, and drives all four wheels through the GR-FOUR all-wheel-drive system, which lets you change the front-to-rear torque split. There is a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic.
The GR Yaris GT starts at $60,965 drive-away in Melbourne. That is about $11,500 more than an MX-5 for 86kW more power and all-wheel drive. It is a small three-door, so the back seat is for occasional use. See our GR Yaris Rallye review for the earlier car.
6. Volkswagen Golf GTI: from $65,554 drive-away
The sensible one. Volkswagen lists 195kW and 370Nm, 7.2L/100km, and a seven-speed DSG automatic: there is no manual. Volkswagen's manufacturer's recommended drive-away price for the MY26 GTI is $65,554 in Melbourne, and it is running 0.0 per cent finance on selected GTIs to 31 December 2026 (conditions apply, check the deposit and term with the dealer).
Five doors, a proper back seat and a five-year warranty make it the hot hatch you can actually live with every day. It is the only European car on this list. For the smaller sibling, see our Polo GTI review.
7. Toyota GR Corolla: from $73,986 drive-away
The GR Yaris drivetrain in a five-door body: the GR Corolla. Toyota quotes the same 221kW and 400Nm, GR-FOUR all-wheel drive, a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, and 213 litres of cargo space. The GR Corolla GTS is $73,986 drive-away in Melbourne.
It costs about $13,000 more than a GR Yaris for two extra doors and a bigger cabin. If you need the doors and want all-wheel drive, it is the only car here that offers both in a hatch.
8. Honda Civic Type R: $85,000 drive-away
The most powerful car on this list. Honda quotes 235kW and 420Nm, a six-speed manual only, and drive to the front wheels. Honda sells at one national drive-away price: $85,000.
It is the dearest car here by more than $11,000, and it is a practical five-door hatch. Buy it if you want the most power on this list and you only ever want to change gear yourself.
Which one should you buy?
Weekend toy on the smallest budget: the MX-5. Roof down, light, cheap to run, and the most fun per dollar here.
Rear-drive coupe with a fixed roof: the GR86 or BRZ. Get a quote on both, as they are the same car underneath.
One car that does everything, every day: the Golf GTI or the WRX. The GTI is the hatchback, with a 0.0 per cent finance offer to 31 December. The WRX is the sedan, costs less and has all-wheel drive.
Most performance under $75,000: the GR Yaris if you can live with three doors, the GR Corolla if you cannot.
Want the biggest numbers and a manual: the Civic Type R.
What we left out
Other performance cars, such as the Ford Mustang, are not ranked here because we did not verify a current manufacturer drive-away price for them on 30 October. We will add them when we can check the numbers at the source. If you would rather go electric, start with our cheapest EVs and longest range EVs guides, and if this is your first car, our best first car guide is the better place to start.
