What Counts as a Sports Car in 2026? CR Sparks an Old Debate

Consumer Reports’ 2026 list of best sports cars rekindles the age-old question of what defines a sports car, tracing back to the SCCA’s original two-seat, soft-top, race-possible criteria while noting modern entries like the Hyundai Ioniq 5N and Honda Civic Si that blur the lines; purists point to traditional two-seaters such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Corvette as true sports cars, while others argue that high-performance sedans, coupes, or even some electrified crossovers can fit the spirit of a sports car, suggesting the definition may need updating.