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Cars · Top 10

Top 10 Sports Cars 2001

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
2001 Dodge Viper GTS
Direct answer

The 2001 Dodge Viper GTS is the best sports car of 2001, followed by the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Porsche 911 Turbo. The ranking is based on real-world performance—horsepower, 0-60, pedigree—balanced against price-to-performance value.

At a glance

#PickHorsepowerBest for
12001 Dodge Viper GTS450 hp @ 5,200 rpmbuyers who want the loudest, most analog American V10 of the era
22001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06385 hpanyone who wants supercar-beating speed without the supercar bill
32001 Porsche 911 Turbo (996)415 hp @ 6,000 rpmsomeone who wants 911 everyday usability with turbo violence on tap
42001 Ferrari 360 Modena394 hp (400 PS)buyers chasing the prancing-horse badge and Pininfarina lines
52001 Acura NSX290 hp @ 7,100 rpm (3.2L manual)drivers who want a daily-drivable, all-aluminum mid-engine exotic
62001 BMW M3 (E46)333 hpanyone who wants one car for commuting, track days, and winding roads
72001 Lotus Esprit V8350 hp @ 6,500 rpmcollectors who want a hand-built, wedge-shaped British oddball
82001 Honda S2000240 hp @ 8,300 rpmdrivers who want the highest-revving, most precise shifter of the decade
92001 Audi TT 225 Quattro225 hp @ 5,900 rpmbuyers who want Bauhaus styling and all-weather grip in a coupe
102001 Mazda MX-5 Miata142 hpanyone who just wants cheap, light, top-down driving fun

Pick by what you want

Best overall
2001 Dodge Viper GTS
Best value
2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Best daily driver
2001 Acura NSX
Best for track and street
2001 BMW M3 (E46)
Best budget fun
2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The ranking

1

2001 Dodge Viper GTS

2001 Dodge Viper GTS
Answrs VerdictBiggest engine, biggest attitude, zero electronic safety net.
Horsepower: 450 hp @ 5,200 rpmEngine: 8.0L V100-60 mph: 4.1 sec (est.)Price when new: $70,450 MSRP

The Viper GTS packs a 450 hp 8.0L V10 and hits 0-60 in 4.1 seconds (est.). At $70,450 MSRP, it delivers supercar muscle for far less than European exotics. It's the loudest, most analog American V10 of the era.

Go ifbuyers who want the loudest, most analog American V10 of the era
Skip ifyou want modern driver aids or AC that actually keeps up
Why #1 over #2: It beats the Corvette Z06 with 450 hp vs 385 hp and a 4.1-second 0-60 vs 4.5 seconds.
2

2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Answrs VerdictThe giant-killer: Ferrari-rivaling pace for a third of the price.
Horsepower: 385 hpEngine: 5.7L LS6 V80-60 mph: 4.5 secPrice when new: $47,500 base

The Corvette Z06 uses a 385 hp 5.7L LS6 V8 to reach 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. At $47,500 base, it offers supercar-beating speed without the supercar bill.

Go ifanyone who wants supercar-beating speed without the supercar bill
Skip ifyou need a back seat or soft ride
Why #2 over #3: It out-accelerates the Porsche 911 Turbo with a 4.5-second 0-60 vs 4.2 seconds, but costs far less at $47,500 vs $111,000.
3

2001 Porsche 911 Turbo (996)

2001 Porsche 911 Turbo (996)
Answrs VerdictThe water-cooled Turbo that could out-accelerate Ferraris in the rain.
Horsepower: 415 hp @ 6,000 rpmEngine: 3.6L twin-turbo flat-6, AWD0-60 mph: 4.2 secPrice when new: $111,000 MSRP

The Porsche 911 Turbo (996) has a 415 hp 3.6L twin-turbo flat-6 with AWD and hits 0-60 in 4.2 seconds. At $111,000 MSRP, it blends everyday usability with turbo violence.

Go ifsomeone who wants 911 everyday usability with turbo violence on tap
Skip ifyou want a lightweight, analog driving feel
Why #3 over #4: It out-accelerates the Ferrari 360 Modena with a 4.2-second 0-60 vs 4.5 seconds, and costs less at $111,000 vs $147,988.
4

2001 Ferrari 360 Modena

2001 Ferrari 360 Modena
Answrs VerdictFirst all-aluminum Ferrari monocoque, still the Modena benchmark.
Horsepower: 394 hp (400 PS)Engine: 3.6L V80-60 mph: 4.5 sec (manual)Price when new: $147,988 base coupe

The Ferrari 360 Modena features a 394 hp 3.6L V8 and does 0-60 in 4.5 seconds (manual). At $147,988 base coupe, it's the prancing-horse benchmark with Pininfarina lines.

Go ifbuyers chasing the prancing-horse badge and Pininfarina lines
Skip ifyou're on any kind of real-world maintenance budget
Why #4 over #5: It beats the Acura NSX with 394 hp vs 290 hp and a 4.5-second 0-60 vs 4.8 seconds.
5

2001 Acura NSX

2001 Acura NSX
Answrs VerdictThe supercar you could drive to work and to the track.
Horsepower: 290 hp @ 7,100 rpm (3.2L manual)Engine: 3.2L V6 VTEC0-60 mph: 4.8 sec (manual)Price when new: $84,100 coupe

The Acura NSX has a 290 hp 3.2L V6 VTEC and reaches 60 mph in 4.8 seconds (manual). At $84,100 coupe, it's a daily-drivable, all-aluminum mid-engine exotic.

Go ifdrivers who want a daily-drivable, all-aluminum mid-engine exotic
Skip ifyou want the newest tech or back seats
Why #5 over #6: It out-accelerates the BMW M3 with a 4.8-second 0-60 vs 4.8 seconds, but offers mid-engine exotic layout.
6

2001 BMW M3 (E46)

2001 BMW M3 (E46)
Answrs VerdictThe benchmark driver's car: a race-bred six in a usable coupe.
Horsepower: 333 hpEngine: 3.2L S54 inline-60-60 mph: 4.8 secPrice when new: $45,975 base

The BMW M3 (E46) uses a 333 hp 3.2L S54 inline-6 and hits 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. At $45,975 base, it's a race-bred six in a usable coupe.

Go ifanyone who wants one car for commuting, track days, and winding roads
Skip ifyou want a 2-seat layout or convertible-only focus
Why #6 over #7: It beats the Lotus Esprit V8 with a 4.8-second 0-60 vs 4.3-4.5 seconds, but costs far less at $45,975 vs $149,900.
7

2001 Lotus Esprit V8

2001 Lotus Esprit V8
Answrs VerdictA Bond-car wedge with real twin-turbo V8 bite, built to order.
Horsepower: 350 hp @ 6,500 rpmEngine: 3.5L twin-turbo V80-60 mph: 4.3-4.5 secPrice when new: $149,900 MSRP

The Lotus Esprit V8 has a 350 hp 3.5L twin-turbo V8 and does 0-60 in 4.3-4.5 seconds. At $149,900 MSRP, it's a hand-built, wedge-shaped British oddball.

Go ifcollectors who want a hand-built, wedge-shaped British oddball
Skip ifyou value reliability or parts availability
Why #7 over #8: It out-accelerates the Honda S2000 with a 4.3-4.5-second 0-60 vs under 6 seconds, and has 350 hp vs 240 hp.
8

2001 Honda S2000

2001 Honda S2000
Answrs VerdictA screaming 9,000-rpm four-cylinder in a near-perfect 50/50 roadster.
Horsepower: 240 hp @ 8,300 rpmEngine: 2.0L DOHC VTEC 4-cyl0-60 mph: under 6 secPrice when new: $32,300 base

The Honda S2000 packs a 240 hp 2.0L DOHC VTEC 4-cyl and hits 0-60 in under 6 seconds. At $32,300 base, it's the highest-revving, most precise shifter of the decade.

Go ifdrivers who want the highest-revving, most precise shifter of the decade
Skip ifyou want low-end torque or a usable trunk
Why #8 over #9: It beats the Audi TT 225 Quattro with a sub-6-second 0-60 vs 6.7 seconds, and costs less at $32,300 vs $39,450.
9

2001 Audi TT 225 Quattro

2001 Audi TT 225 Quattro
Answrs VerdictBauhaus design icon with quattro grip for year-round driving.
Horsepower: 225 hp @ 5,900 rpmEngine: 1.8L turbo 4-cyl, quattro AWD0-60 mph: 6.7 secPrice when new: $39,450

The Audi TT 225 Quattro has a 225 hp 1.8L turbo 4-cyl with quattro AWD and does 0-60 in 6.7 seconds. At $39,450, it offers Bauhaus styling and all-weather grip.

Go ifbuyers who want Bauhaus styling and all-weather grip in a coupe
Skip ifyou want rear-wheel drive purity or a back seat
Why #9 over #10: It out-accelerates the Mazda MX-5 Miata with a 6.7-second 0-60 vs 7.7 seconds, and has 225 hp vs 142 hp.
10

2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata

2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Answrs VerdictGuinness-record best-selling roadster, and still the best-value one.
Horsepower: 142 hpEngine: 1.8L inline-40-60 mph: 7.7 secPrice when new: $21,700 base

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has a 142 hp 1.8L inline-4 and reaches 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. At $21,700 base, it's cheap, light, top-down fun.

Go ifanyone who just wants cheap, light, top-down driving fun
Skip ifyou need real power or highway-passing urgency

How we ranked these

The order was decided by real-world performance—horsepower, 0-60, pedigree—balanced against price-to-performance value. Halo supercars come first, then the best-value drivers. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What was the best value 2001 sports car?

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 delivered 385 hp and a 4.5-second 0-60 time for a $47,500 base price, matching far pricier exotics for a fraction of the cost.

What was the most powerful 2001 sports car?

The Dodge Viper GTS led the field with 450 hp from its 8.0L V10, more than any other 2001 sports car on this list.

What's a cheap, fun 2001 sports car to buy today?

The Mazda MX-5 Miata started at just $21,700 new with 142 hp, making it the most affordable true sports car of 2001.

Horsepower at a glance

2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata142 hp
2001 Audi TT 225 Quattro225 hp
2001 Honda S2000240 hp
2001 Acura NSX290 hp
2001 BMW M3 (E46)333 hp
2001 Lotus Esprit V8350 hp
2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06385 hp
2001 Ferrari 360 Modena394 hp
2001 Porsche 911 Turbo (996)415 hp
2001 Dodge Viper GTS450 hp
Horsepower, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.