The Best Honda Sports Cars of All Time
We rank Honda's most notable, desirable, and gorgeous cars. Updated annually or whenever a new entrant is released.
About Our Selections
The automobile industry is known for possessing brand preferences among consumers, ultimately deciding whether some manufacturers sink, or soar based on popularity alone.
Some Companies have flourished by tapping into mainstream consumer demand, while others thrive on quality production alone; however, one exception exists: Honda.
The Japanese car manufacturer has dramatically influenced the automotive world through their dependable vehicles as well as their exceptional lineup of vintage and modern-day sports cars. Honda never fails to deliver thrilling driving experiences, from agile pocket rockets to breathtaking supercars.
Honda creates engineering marvels with utmost finesse without sacrificing reliability. One manifestation of this brand's greatness includes the magnificent S800, which remains Honda's highest-revving sports car of all time. Not too shabby for a car manufactured in the 1960s. Also, the first-generation, mid-engine NSX, remains an enthusiast's favorite thirty years after its release.
Today we will focus on eight impressive automobiles manufactured by Honda. We will explore Honda's most notable and desirable cars, the best performing and the best looking, highlighting the top models of each category and why these cars matter.
In this list, we celebrate the best cars from the Japanese automaker and honor their contributions to the automotive world.
The Most Notable & Desirable Honda's Ever Made
These Honda models were selected based on their collector's status, inherent value, or landmark impact on the industry.
First-Generation Honda NSX
Arguably the quintessential JDM sports car
What Makes It Special
In 1990, Honda’s groundbreaking sports car, the NSX, redefined the supercar concept by combining beauty, power, and innovation.
Underneath its sleek and aerodynamic exterior lies a 3.0 liter V6 engine with 270 horsepower sent to the rear wheels. Its lightweight aluminum body construction and advanced suspension system provided exceptional handling and agility.
The NSX pioneered variable valve timing, titanium connecting rods, and a drive-by-wire throttle system. However, what truly set the NSX apart was its outstanding balance and driving experience.
Honda achieved near-perfect weight distribution through meticulous engineering. At the same time, their innovative aluminum monocoque chassis delivered unmatched rigidity, creating a car that responded effortlessly to every input from the driver for an exhilarating and precise driving experience.
The NSX also excelled in driver comfort, with an ergonomic cockpit design, advanced climate control features, and excellent visibility, making it practical for everyday use while providing an enjoyable driving experience. Even today, the NSX remains an icon in automotive engineering - symbolizing Honda's dedication to pushing boundaries and redefining what is possible.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 3.0L DOHC V6
Power: 270 hp
Torque: 210 ft-lbs @ 5,400 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed auto
Accomplishments, History, & Racing Achievements
The NSX had an impressive achievement at the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans by finishing 5th overall and 1st in the GT2 class. This was the first time a Japanese finished in the top 5 at Le Mans, which helped solidify NSX's reputation as a world-class sports car.
The NSX also won the British GT Championship in 1995 and the American Le Mans Series in 1996 and succeeded in other racing series, including the IMSA Camel GT Championship, the FIA GT Championship, and the Super GT Championship.
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Honda CRX Si
A pure, straightforward hot hatch
What Makes It Special
Honda introduced the CRX Si in 1985, incorporating fuel injection into the standard CRX's carbureted engines (1.5 liters, four cylinders). With this update, horsepower increased from 76 to 91 horses. However, Honda continued making advancements, leading to impressive results that helped establish the regular CRX and its hotter variant, the Si, as truly exalted standards.
One notable upgrade occurred a few years later, in 1988, when Honda completely replaced the previous torsion bar front/semi-independent rear suspensions found on earlier versions - opting for fully independent double wishbones on all four wheels.
This change brought better ride quality while enhancing the feeling of athleticism and agility among drivers. Furthermore, these changes more than satisfied customer expectations with a newly improved 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection (that pumped out a whopping 105 horsepower and torque of 98 lb-ft). As if this wasn't enough, the '88 Si, paired with its five-speed manual transmission, reached up to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 1.6L SOHC Inline-Four
Power: 105 hp
Torque: 98 ft-lbs @ 5,000 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Accomplishments, History, & Racing Achievements
Honda won the Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) GT-4 class with the CRX in 1985, 1986, and 1987.
The CRX won numerous individual races in the same period, including the SCCA Runoffs.
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Honda Prelude Type SH
The high-revving, sports coupe underdog
What Makes It Special
Among the most popular sports cars from Honda, the Prelude may not be the first model to come to mind. However, the Prelude’s range-topper, the Type SH (Super Handling), which featured a refined design and chassis, has consistently gained popularity among Honda enthusiasts thanks to its agile handling and solid powertrain.
The Prelude Type SH featured a new Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS), a small automatic gearbox mated to the car's differential that sends torque to the wheel that needs the most power to optimize traction.
The Honda Prelude SH offers fun driving dynamics due to its tight chassis and naturally aspirated 2.2L DOHC VTEC inline-four engine with 200 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. Its engine configuration offered five extra horses compared to earlier versions from 1997 or 1998. However, the overall rev limit is lower than other VTEC engines.
The Prelude Type SH equips a proficient five-speed manual gearbox with excellent spacing between the ratios, bringing ease of use for those who value smooth, sporty pleasure versus aggressive, sporty driving.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 2.2L DOHC VTEC Inline-Four
Power: 200 hp
Torque: 156 ft-lbs @ 5,250 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Accomplishments, History, & Racing Achievements
Although the Honda Prelude Type SH didn't achieve remarkable success in racing, it garnered admiration from amateur racers, who found it a popular choice in club racing events.
The Prelude Type SH has become increasingly sought-after among the brand´s enthusiasts in recent years thanks to its impressive performance, handling, and reliability.
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The Best Performing Honda Sports Cars Ever Made
In the automotive industry, few brands can pride themselves on producing high-performance, reliable, and affordable sports cars as Honda does.
Second-Generation Honda NSX
A legend reborn
What Makes It Special
Sold in the U.S. under Honda's luxury and performance division, Acura, the new Honda NSX Type S generation features striking styling and top-class performance thanks to its hybrid powertrain and sharper handling. In addition, the new NSX is packed with advanced technology, including a torque vectoring system, adaptive suspension, and a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. The result is a truly exhilarating driving experience.
The new generation NSX achieves this performance through technological improvements such as Sport Hybrid Super Handling All Wheel Drive (Sport Hybrid SH AWD). Additionally, hybrid electric motors enhance acceleration, braking, and cornering abilities and ensure energy efficiency.
A rear-mid-mounted 3.5-liter 24-valve twin-turbocharged V6 DOHC engine powers this supercar, perfectly harmonizing with the nine-speed dual-clutch transmission. The engine is mated to two AC motors on each axle, producing a whopping 600 hp and 492 lb-ft of torque together, making the NSX one of the market's most powerful hybrid sports cars. The new NSX can go from 0 to 60 in a blistering 2.9 seconds. The quarter-mile is within 11.0 seconds, reaching a top speed of 191 mph.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 3.5L DOHC Twin-Turbocharged V6
Power: 600 hp
Torque: 492 ft-lbs @ 6,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed Dual-Clutch
Accomplishments, History, & Racing Achievements
Although the new generation Honda NSX may have yet to make significant strides in racing, it has succeeded in several smaller races.
In 2017, an NSX emerged victorious in the GT class at the Road Americas Pirelli World Challenge Championship race. The NSX also claimed first place in the Long Beach Grand Prix GT class in 2018 and clinched a GT class win at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2019.
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2005 NSX Type-R
An edgy, rawer racer
What Makes It Special
The 2002 Honda NSX Type R portrays a daring and forceful demeanor compared to the standard model, embodying the spirit of a formidable racer. Thanks to its power, handling, speed, and precise steering, the NSX-Type R is an all-rounder that could sprint from 0 to 60 in a mere 5.7 seconds.
Although engineers made compromises to balance raw performance and daily drivability for the NSX released in 1991, the 1992 debut of the NSX-Type R was tailored for drivers searching for an uncompromising racing experience. The revised 2002 version featured a 3.2-liter mid-engine V6 with 290 horsepower. Its high-revving engine contains innovative production technologies, including titanium connecting rods, forged pistons, and the VTEC valve train.
Honda also reduced weight on an already light aluminum-bodied NSX. The seats were carbon-kevlar Recaro, with relatively light and straightforward steering and a shift knob made of titanium, plus all the windows, the rear glass, and the windshield were thinner.
But that was not all; Honda nixed the AC and made the stereo an optional commodity, which wasn't available in standard versions. This reduced the car's weight by about 265 pounds from the standard NSX.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 3.2L DOHC 24-valve V6
Power: 290 hp
Torque: 224 ft-lbs @ 5,300 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Accomplishments, History, & Racing Achievements
The NSX Type R raced in Japan's Super GT racing series in the GT500 category and achieved notable victories against higher-performance vehicles.
The NSX Type-R also won the GT500 championship title in 2002.
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2023 Civic Type R
The most powerful Honda production car in the U.S.
What Makes It Special
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is the most powerful Honda production vehicle ever sold in the U.S. and its release coincides with the Civic Type R and the Civic's 25th and 50th anniversaries, respectively.
One of the notable features of the new Civic Type R is its exterior design, which emphasizes unity and integration. Elements such as the front and rear bumpers, rear doors, and wheel arches have been exclusively developed for this model.
The more prominent and lower grille is attached to the hood to optimize airflow to the engine. Its side spoilers have been incorporated behind the front wheels, while a more prominent rear diffuser is integrated into the underbody.
The new rear wing generates more downforce than its predecessor, and its placement at an angle helps minimize air resistance. Underneath the hood lies an evolved version of the previous generation's 2.0-liter turbo engine delivering an impressive output of 329 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque.
The new Civic Type R can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 170 mph.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 2.0L DOHC VTEC Turbocharged
Power: 329 hp
Torque: 309 ft-lbs @ 2,600 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Accomplishments, History, & Racing Achievements
In 2012, the Civic Type R set the fastest lap time for a front-wheel drive car at Nürburgring Nordschleife with an impressive time of 7:43.8. It also won the TCR International Series and TCR Europe championships in 2018 and 2019 and the TCR Asia championship title in 2020.
The Civic Type R has garnered wide recognition and acclaim from esteemed automotive journalists with honors such as Car of the Year by Top Gear and Best Hot Hatch by Auto Express.
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The Best Looking Honda Cars Ever Made
Throughout its history, Honda has proven that high performance and reliability are not at odds with gorgeous styling.
1967 Honda S800
The perfect roadster recipe
What Makes It Special
The S2000 could fit in any of the three categories on this page. This car is notable and desirable thanks to its chassis, which has an ideal 50/50 weight distribution and a solid powertrain, exemplifying Honda's significant breakthroughs in engineering innovation. Still, it also delivers incredible performance and has gorgeous styling.
In 1999, Honda introduced the head-turning S2000 convertible, an innovative masterpiece with an unassuming yet cutting-edge design and unmatched performance features. Sporting a superior heart that pushed out an impressive output of 234 horsepower across all markets except Japan (where customized configurations enabled ten extra horsepower), alongside a constant torque rating of between 153 and 160 lb-ft., powering up this ride entailed engaging six speeds within the manual transmission before finally transmitting the power down through the rear axle.
Inside this dream vehicle's hood lies supreme engineering expertise that reliably delivers maximum power-band output at RPM levels up to 8,300, redlining at astonishingly high limits of around 9,000 rpm.
Despite feeling sluggish at low-end (especially compared to high-end performance levels), the S2000 transforms into a high-performing beast when you hit the peak of the tachometer, thanks partly to Honda's VTEC technology.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 2.0L DOHC VTEC Inline-Four
Power: 240 hp
Torque: 153 ft-lbs @ 6,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Accomplishments, History, & Racing Achievements
Although initially designed as a sports car for everyday use, the S2000's remarkable performance and well-balanced chassis have made it immensely popular among racing enthusiasts, boasting a good reputation in motorsports.
The S2000 succeeded in numerous road racing series around the globe, including the Super Taikyu endurance championship in Japan and the British GT Championship.
In 2004, the S2000 shattered records at the renowned Tsukuba Circuit in Japan, solidifying its status as one of the fastest production-based cars on that track.
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1967 Honda S800
The highest-revving Honda ever
What Makes It Special
From 1966 to 1970, Honda manufactured an exceptional sports car that inspired Honda’s VTEC engines, the S800, as this magnificent vehicle could rev at 9,500 rpm, making it the highest-revving Honda to date. The car had only two doors and seats for two; options were a coupe or a roadster/convertible body style.
Building on the success of its predecessor, the renowned S600 model famed for having a redline rate of knots at approximately 9500 RPMs, Honda engineers implemented their technical expertise alongside trendy British sports influences to bring forth a marvelously unique car that piqued interest worldwide toward Japanese-made vehicles that many European automakers then underrated.
Honda employed an impressive DOHC inline-four engine, tremendously compact yet potent enough to produce output reaching up to seventy horsepower through an all-synchromesh four-speed transmission delivering power exclusively to the rear wheels.
The S800 was Honda’s first production car to hit 100 mph and was coveted among muscle-car enthusiasts then. The S800 was a sensation; Honda produced 11,536 examples before ceasing manufacturing operations in 1970.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 0.8L Inline-Four
Power: 71 hp
Torque: 49 ft-lbs @ 6,000 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Accomplishments, History, & Racing Achievements
In 1967, a team of Honda S800s participated in the Suzuka 12 Hours endurance race in Japan, showcasing the car's reliability and agility, securing a class victory. The S800 raced in the Nurburgring 84-hour endurance race held at the famous Nurburgring circuit in Germany.
The S800 contributed to building Honda's reputation as a manufacturer of well-engineered and performance-oriented vehicles. It's highly regarded among collectors and enthusiasts for its historical significance and unique engineering features, making it a sought-after classic car in the automotive community.
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