Best Automatic Sports Cars: A Practical Selection by Segment

How This Selection Was Built

Every entry is a two-door, performance-focused car that is (or recently was) offered in the US with a two-pedal transmission from the factory. Sedans, hot hatchbacks and performance SUVs are left out, even quick ones. They belong to a different vehicle class. Cars sold only with a manual gearbox are also excluded.

This is a selection, not an exhaustive inventory, and it is not a numbered ranking. Positions would only mean something if every car were measured by the same criteria under the same conditions. Instead, the entries are grouped by market segment, from accessible roadsters up to premium performance cars, so readers can start in the tier that matches their budget and use case.

Transmission availability changes often. Automakers add, drop or restrict gearbox options by model year, trim and powertrain. Before buying, confirm that the specific model year and trim you are considering was actually built with an automatic.

What Counts as an Automatic Here

"Automatic" is used loosely in car shopping, but it covers several different designs. These designs drive differently, so knowing them helps when comparing cars.

Torque-converter automatic: the traditional design, which uses a fluid coupling between the engine and gearbox. Modern versions shift quickly and stay smooth at low speeds, which suits daily driving. Dual-clutch transmission (DCT): two clutches handle alternating gears, so the next gear is pre-selected and shifts happen very quickly. Porsche calls its version PDK. Low-speed manners can feel slightly less fluid than a torque converter in some cars. Multi-clutch automatic: some makers, including Mercedes-AMG, replace the torque converter with a wet start-off clutch. The aim is a more direct feel while keeping a conventional automatic gearset. Single-speed or limited-gear electric drive: most electric performance cars need no multi-gear transmission at all. They are two-pedal cars, but they are a separate category from combustion automatics and are not covered in this list.

Accessible Sports Cars

Mazda MX-5 Miata (ND generation)

The Miata is a lightweight, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seater. It comes as a soft-top roadster and as the RF, which has a retractable fastback hardtop. In the US, the automatic has generally been limited to certain trims, so check the specific configuration. The automatic Miata matters because it keeps what makes the car special: low weight, balanced handling and open-air driving. Those qualities remain intact without a clutch pedal.

Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ (second generation)

These closely related coupes share a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and a 2+2 seating arrangement. The small rear seats are useful mainly for bags or occasional short trips. Both have offered a torque-converter automatic on selected trims. Availability, particularly on the BRZ, has varied by model year. For buyers who want a modern, affordable rear-drive coupe with a usable trunk and an automatic, this pair is one of the few options in its segment.

Nissan Z (RZ34 generation)

The current Z is a two-seat, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe with a twin-turbocharged V6. It is sold with either a manual or an automatic. The automatic makes the Z a strong-value choice for drivers who want turbocharged six-cylinder performance and classic long-hood proportions without paying premium-segment prices.

Mainstream Performance

Ford Mustang (S650 generation)

The Mustang is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive 2+2 sold as a coupe and a convertible. The turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost is offered with an automatic only. The V8-powered GT can be ordered with either an automatic or a manual. The Mustang earns a place here for its breadth: it has a usable back seat, a choice of body configurations, a large dealer network and a wide range of powertrains. Performance-focused variants differ in which transmissions they offer, so check the version that interests you.

Toyota GR Supra (A90/A91 generation)

The fifth-generation Supra is a two-seat, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe developed alongside the BMW Z4. It launched as an automatic-only car. A manual was added later for the six-cylinder version in the US, and the automatic remains widely available. The Supra suits buyers who want a compact, hardtop sports car with turbocharged power and a quick-shifting automatic.

BMW Z4 (G29 generation)

The Z4 is the roadster sibling of the Supra. It is a two-seat, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive convertible with a fabric roof, and the automatic is its primary transmission. A manual was offered on a limited basis on the six-cylinder model for some years. The Z4 leans further toward refined open-top touring than the Supra, which makes it well suited to buyers who will spend more time on scenic drives than on track days.

BMW M2 (G87 generation)

The M2 is a compact, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe with four seats and a turbocharged inline-six. It is available with an automatic or a manual. The automatic version appeals to drivers who want a serious performance car with a rear seat that adults can occasionally use. It is also a common choice for those who drive on track and prefer to focus on braking and steering rather than shifting.

Chevrolet Corvette (C8 generation)

The C8 moved the Corvette to a mid-engine layout. It is offered only with a dual-clutch transmission, with no manual at all. It is a two-seat sports car sold as a coupe with a removable roof panel and as a retractable-hardtop convertible. Variants include a hybrid all-wheel-drive version, the E-Ray, alongside the rear-drive models. The Corvette is often the first car shoppers consider in this category. It offers mid-engine proportions and a dual-clutch gearbox at a price point traditionally associated with front-engine cars.

Premium and High-Performance

Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster (982 generation)

The 718 models are mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seaters. The Cayman is a coupe and the Boxster is a roadster. Many versions were offered with Porsche's PDK dual-clutch transmission, though some performance-focused variants were manual-only or offered PDK selectively. Production of the combustion-engine 718s has been winding down, so many buyers will find these cars through dealer inventory or the used and certified pre-owned market. Their significance lies in mid-engine balance and precise steering, combined with one of the most respected dual-clutch gearboxes.

Porsche 911 (992 generation)

The 911 keeps its signature rear-engine layout and is offered with rear- or all-wheel drive. It comes as a 2+2 coupe, a cabriolet or the Targa, with its distinctive roof. Most versions use PDK, and a manual is available only on selected models. The 911 belongs on any list of automatic sports cars because PDK is central to its modern character. It also covers an unusually wide span, from comfortable daily-driver configurations to track-focused models.

Mercedes-AMG GT (C192 generation)

The current AMG GT is a front-engine coupe. Unlike its two-seat predecessor, it has 2+2 seating, and all-wheel drive is used on most versions. It uses AMG's multi-clutch automatic. The GT suits buyers who want grand-touring comfort and everyday usability in a car with genuine high-performance credentials.

Lotus Emira

The Emira is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seater. The four-cylinder version comes with a dual-clutch transmission, and the V6 version has offered a choice of manual or conventional automatic. The Emira is relevant because it brings Lotus's focus on handling and steering feel to a car that can be driven without a clutch pedal. Few lightweight-oriented mid-engine cars offer that option.

Lexus LC 500

The LC 500 is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive 2+2 sold as a coupe and a convertible. It uses a naturally aspirated V8 and a torque-converter automatic. It sits at the grand-touring end of the sports car spectrum. It is a strong fit for buyers who value design, refinement and engine character over outright lap times, and who want an automatic that is smooth in traffic and on long highway drives.

A Note on Exotic Cars

In the exotic segment, from makers such as Ferrari, McLaren and Lamborghini, the question of automatic availability largely disappears. Their current-generation models are generally sold with dual-clutch transmissions only, and many now include hybrid assistance. These cars are automatic sports cars by default, but their price, ownership costs and specialist servicing put them in a different buying category from the rest of this list.

Quick Comparison

Model | Generation | Powertrain layout | Body and seating | Automatic type; Mazda MX-5 Miata | ND | Front-engine, RWD | Two-seat roadster or retractable hardtop (RF) | Torque converter, selected trims; Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ | Second generation | Front-engine, RWD | 2+2 coupe | Torque converter, selected trims; Nissan Z | RZ34 | Front-engine, RWD | Two-seat coupe | Torque converter; Ford Mustang | S650 | Front-engine, RWD | 2+2 coupe or convertible | Torque converter; Toyota GR Supra | A90/A91 | Front-engine, RWD | Two-seat coupe | Torque converter; BMW Z4 | G29 | Front-engine, RWD | Two-seat roadster | Torque converter; BMW M2 | G87 | Front-engine, RWD | Four-seat coupe | Torque converter; Chevrolet Corvette | C8 | Mid-engine, RWD (AWD hybrid E-Ray) | Two-seat coupe or convertible | Dual-clutch only; Porsche 718 Cayman / Boxster | 982 | Mid-engine, RWD | Two-seat coupe or roadster | Dual-clutch (PDK), most versions; Porsche 911 | 992 | Rear-engine, RWD or AWD | 2+2 coupe, cabriolet or Targa | Dual-clutch (PDK); Mercedes-AMG GT | C192 | Front-engine, mostly AWD | 2+2 coupe | Multi-clutch automatic; Lotus Emira | First generation | Mid-engine, RWD | Two-seat coupe | Dual-clutch (four-cylinder) or torque converter (V6); Lexus LC 500 | First generation | Front-engine, RWD | 2+2 coupe or convertible | Torque converter

How to Choose Among Them

Match the transmission to your driving. Torque-converter automatics tend to feel smoother in stop-and-go traffic. Dual-clutch units usually feel sharper on a back road or a track. Decide on seating early. A true two-seater and a 2+2 with small rear seats suit very different lifestyles, even when performance is similar. Consider powertrain layout. Front-engine cars usually offer more luggage space and familiar handling. Mid- and rear-engine cars trade some practicality for traction and balance. Check the exact model year and trim. Automatic availability can differ between trims of the same model and can change from one year to the next. Test the manual mode. Paddle-shifter response, rev-matching behavior and whether the car holds a gear in manual mode vary widely. They shape how engaging the car feels. Think about long-term ownership. Dual-clutch and multi-clutch transmissions can have different service requirements from conventional automatics, so review the maintenance schedule for the specific car.

The right choice depends less on which car is fastest and more on how it will be used. A commuter who wants weekend fun may be happiest in an automatic Miata or GR86. A driver planning regular track days may lean toward a Corvette, M2 or 911 with a quick-shifting gearbox. A buyer focused on long-distance comfort may find the LC 500 or AMG GT a better match.