JΟΥ RIDES

A QUARTET OF PERFORMANCE COUPES PROVE THAT DRIVING FUN IS NOT DEAD. FAR FROM IT.

- DAN EDMUNDS

WE'D LIKE ΤΟ ΗΕLP YOU HAVE MORE FUN.

If you have $60,000 to spend on a performance car, you're clearly looking to smile more. This comparison test is designed to find what sparks joy. Fortunately, the performance cars at this price point are all grin machines.

The Nissan Z is the newest entertainer in the segment, and its launch is one of the most anticipated of the year. In addition to its 400-hp twin-turbo V-6, manual gearbox, and tidy size, the Z is priced right. A 2023 Nissan Z Performance starts at $51,015 without options, which are limited to paint and a few skippable trifles. Our Passion Red test car sits at $53,610.

Toyota's GR Supra is the Z's most obvious competitor. The Supra 3.0 comes with a 382-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, which makes an excellent foil for the Z's same-size V-6. Right now the Supra comes only with an automatic-a manual is on the way-which gives the Z an advantage because a manual will always be more fun. The Supra 3.0 Premium we wrangled for this test starts at $56,065, with our test car's price rising to $57,260 owing to its lone option, the Driver Assistance package.

BMW's M240i xDrive isn't a two-seat sports car, but it's here because it has the Supra's 382-hp heart planted in a coupe with a back seat and trunk. A slightly more practical alternative to the Z and Supra, the M240i also comes standard with all-wheel drive, ensuring idiot-proof acceleration. A $49,545 base price undercuts the Z Performance, but our M240i ran all the way up to $59,270 with options. Only about $2400 of that extra outlay is relevant to performance, though.