The Most Underrated Performance Cars Made Between 2010 And 2020

We don’t always say it, but it’s very possible the past decade and a half has been the best era in performance car history. Just think about it for a second: muscle cars reached new heights thanks to models like the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Mustang Shelby GT500, exotic automakers broke more boundaries than we can count, and off-road performance took a serious step up thanks to Stellantis putting that Hellcat V8 in everything and Ford taking its Raptor sub-brand seriously.

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These were only some of the hits too, as there were so many performance cars from so many different brands, quite a few slipped under the radar. We wanted to take a look at ten underrated performance cars of the 2010s that you may have forgotten about or simply didn’t give enough of a look while they were around. We have a feeling all of them will be future classics at some point if they haven’t already entered that territory, that is.

Nissan 370Z NISMO

Production Years: 2009–2020

Engine	3.7-liter NA V6
Horsepower	350 hp
Torque	276 lb-ft
Transmission	6-speed manual 7-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive

The Nissan 370Z NISMO is the first car on this list due to its age, but don’t think it isn’t highly capable. The 370Z was always a unique car because it offered Japanese performance at an affordable price point when few of its competitors were doing it. The brand decided to up the ante in 2009 with the introduction of the Nismo version, which added new performance bits like brakes, wheels, tires, and an aggressive body kit that made it look the part.

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Additionally, it now made more power, with the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 from Nissan’s long-running VQ engine family now pumping out 350 horsepower and sending it to the rear wheels via either a manual or automatic transmission. Its price wasn’t terrible either, but due to a mix of factors, it never sold very well and is always a nice surprise to see on the road.

Base Trim Engine: 3.7L V6 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
Base Trim Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 350 hp
Base Trim Torque: 276 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm
Fuel Economy: 17/26 MPG

Infotainment & Features

5 /10

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Fiat 500 Abarth

Production Years: 2012–2019

Engine	1.4-liter turbocharged I4
Horsepower	160 hp
Torque	183 lb-ft
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed auto
Drivetrain	Front-wheel drive

Don’t be fooled by recent headlines, because no matter how hard Fiat tries, it just hasn’t been able to make its cars a success in the US. It isn’t for lack of trying, however, as the newest 500e is a much better electric offering than before, and the zany 500 Abarth was a genuine riot. The brand took the tiny city car and gave it an aggressive look, suspension, and a 160-horsepower turbocharged engine that sounded the part due to the lack of a muffler.

The car just begged to be thrown around, but it wasn’t remotely practical for most buyers, and it was absolutely punishing on anything but pristine pavement. While its Italian provenance may be cause for concern, the 500 Abarth guarantees a good time, and we hope the new one does the same.

Base Trim Engine: 1.4L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Base Trim Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 160 hp
Base Trim Torque: 170 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm
Fuel Economy: 28/33 MPG
Model: 500
Segment: Subcompact Hatchback

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Jaguar XFR-S

Production Years: 2013–2015

Remember the XFR-S? It was Jaguar’s attempt at truly competing head-to-head with the BMW M5 and Audi RS7, and what an attempt it was. The brand took its goal seriously, so it took the already impressive XFR, and retuned the engine, extracting more power and torque to the tune of 550 horsepower and 502 lb-ft.

Engine	Supercharged 5.0-liter V8
Horsepower	550 hp
Torque	502 lb-ft
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive

To handle that extra power, the suspension was completely revised, giving it truly impressive moves given its size, but not making it too harsh to take away its practicality. It also wore a more impressive body kit, which came with a bold rear wing that may turn some buyers off, but we think is cool. Never meant as a high-volume car, it came with a $100,000+ price tag and low production numbers, and there was even a wagon variant we never received here.

Other Trims

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Audi TT RS

Production Years: 2012–2020

Engine	2.5-liter turbocharged I5
Horsepower	394 hp
Torque	354 lb-ft
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Drivetrain	All-wheel drive

The death of the Audi TT was another bitter pill to swallow, and another reason you should pick up the high-performance TT RS from the 2010s if you want to stand out from the pack. Why? Well, it’s one of the oddest sports cars in recent memory. First, it uses a turbocharged five-cylinder engine, one of the most awarded engines of all time we might add, which in the last generation made a respectable 394 horsepower.

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While its appearance wasn’t as bold and interesting as that of the first generation, it went like the clappers, and, of course, you can’t forget the quattro AWD system which really set it apart. This unique combination makes it the perfect sports car for anyone living in a snowy climate, so don’t knock it.

Base Trim Engine: 2.5L Turbo Inline-5 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 7-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 394 hp
Base Trim Torque: 354 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Fuel Economy: 20/29 MPG

Infotainment & Features

9 /10

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Chevrolet SS

Production Years: 2013–2017

Engine	6.2-liter NA V8
Horsepower	415 hp
Torque	415 lb-ft
Transmission	6-speed manual 6-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive

Okay, we realize the Chevrolet SS may be a bit of a controversial choice for this list. During its life, it was extremely underrated, but ever since it died, there has been no shortage of fans singing its praises, raising its notoriety substantially. We’re not going to stop now, because Chevrolet’s rebadged sedan from Down Under is one of the best vehicles released by Chevy in a long time.

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The formula is simple: combine a naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 into a comfortable RWD sedan with a six-speed manual (or auto) and Magnetic Ride suspension. The result is a perfectly practical option that will get your blood pumping in a heartbeat with one good downshift, and it deserves all the praise it gets.

Base Trim Engine: 6.2L V8 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 415 hp
Base Trim Torque: 415 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm
Fuel Economy: 14/22 MPG
Segment: Midsize Sedan

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Volvo S60 Polestar

Production Years: 2014–2018

Engine	3.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-6
Horsepower	350 hp
Torque	369 lb-ft
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Drivetrain	All-wheel drive

We’re still bummed about the death of the S60 in the US. This compact Swedish sedan has always played second fiddle to all the other European compact luxury sedans on the market, such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and this eventually caught up with it. Volvo definitely tried to get buyers excited about it, however, and the Polestar versions of the mid-2010s were as solid an attempt as any.

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Based on the second-generation S60, the Polestar high-performance versions saw the addition of Öhlins dampers, a larger turbocharger, a rear-biased AWD system, Brembo brakes, and more. It was a highly compelling package, one that drove better than many competitors even if it wasn’t as fast, and we still love the brilliant shade of bright blue.

Base Trim Engine: 2.0L Twincharged Inline-4 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 362 hp
Base Trim Torque: 347 lb-ft @ 3100 rpm
Fuel Economy: 20/27 MPG

Infotainment & Features

7 /10

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Cadillac ATS-V

Production Years: 2016–2019

Engine	3.6-liter twin-turbo V6
Horsepower	464 hp
Torque	445 lb-ft
Transmission	6-speed manual 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive

It’s well known now that Cadillac can create some fantastic performance sedans, but this was truly cemented with the introduction of the last generation CTS-V and ATS-V. The CTS-V tends to get all the love, but the ATS-V Coupe was just as fantastic, as it was the father of the current CT4-V Blackwing.

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Available in Coupe or Sedan body styles, it combined a twin-turbo V6 with an excellent chassis and suspension that provided excellent feedback without compromising comfort around town. While the exterior looked the part, the interior left something to be desired, and this continues with the models to this day. Despite being so similar to the current CT4, the ATS doesn’t get talked about much, and we think it’s a gem worth your attention.

Base Trim Engine: 3.6L Turbo V6 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
Base Trim Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 464 hp
Base Trim Torque: 445 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Fuel Economy: 16/23 MPG

Infotainment & Features

7 /10

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Lexus GS F

Production Years: 2016–2020

Engine	Naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8
Horsepower	467 hp
Torque	389 lb-ft
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive

Few companies have gotten the mileage out of a powerplant that Lexus has gotten out of its naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. This engine has been found in a myriad of Lexus offerings over the years, including the GS F, which definitely deserves more respect than it gets. For some reason, Lexus decided to roll back the clock in the mid-2010s, and stuff its executive sedan with a thumping, naturally aspirated V8 sending power only to the rear wheels.

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And we don’t see them sticking around for much longer.

It didn’t just stop there, however, as it featured a bunch of chassis and suspension upgrades to handle that new power and offer up a genuinely exciting driving experience. It could be the composed, comfortable daily driver when you wanted it to be, but dip into the throttle, and you’ll realize you’re driving something special. It was a car that was never going to last, but that doesn’t mean we don’t miss it all the time.

Base Trim Engine: 5.0L V8 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 467 hp
Base Trim Torque: 389 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Fuel Economy: 16/24 MPG

Infotainment & Features

6 /10

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Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400

Production Years: 2017–2020

Engine	3.0-liter twin-turbo V6
Horsepower	400 hp
Torque	350 lb-ft
Transmission	7-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive

The Q60 as a whole never received much love during its life, and while that was mostly deserved, the Red Sport 400 variant is likely worth another look. The model as a whole was only discontinued a couple of years ago, but it goes back to 2017, featuring the twin-turbo V6 now found under the Nissan Z.

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Besides this, the sports car offered larger brakes and a revised suspension, but it was mostly understated and hard to pick out from the lesser Q60s. This could be a benefit depending on the buyer, as is the reality that it’s more of a grand tourer than the sports car its looks suggest. It’s simply a perplexing but attractive vehicle with available AWD that could make a cool alternative to the new Z.

Base Trim Engine: 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 7-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 300 hp
Base Trim Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
Fuel Economy: 19/28 MPG

Infotainment & Features

7 /10

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Cadillac CT6-V

Production Years: 2019–2020

Engine	4.2-liter Blackwing twin-turbo V8
Horsepower	550 hp
Torque	640 lb-ft
Transmission	10-speed automatic
Drivetrain	All-wheel drive

The final model on this list is another Cadillac, and boy is it a doozy. It barely makes it onto this list, only arriving in 2019, but it was soon canceled in 2020 when Cadillac decided it needed to head in a different direction, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting. The CT6-V was the brand’s answer to the high-performance full-size luxury sedans of the world, and it was beautiful enough and powerful enough to compete well.

The Rise And Fall Of The Short-Lived Cadillac Blackwing V8 Engine

Cadillac’s highly-anticipated engine fell off the face of the earth without a trace. So, what happened to the Blackwing V8?

Under the hood was a unique, 4.2-liter twin-turbo “Blackwing” V8 that produced 550 horsepower and a whopping 640 lb-ft of torque. This was the only vehicle this superb powerplant was ever used in, and if you read any review you’ll quickly see that that was a travesty. The car could turn too, and had interior luxury that impressed. The car was so great in so many respects, and we have no doubt many used buyers would be impressed by what it has to offer.