Today’s pickup trucks have come a long way from their workaday roots. While originally designed to help farmers and tradespeople haul heavy cargo and bulky equipment, the humble pickup has grown into a very different beast since the first Ford Model TT made its debut in 1917. From luxurious pickups with plush leather cabins and massaging seats and tech-forward models featuring hands-free capability and futuristic heads-up displays to sporty 720-hp supertrucks packed with the latest in off-road gear, modern pickups are often just as versatile, and expensive, as some of the industry’s most high-end models.
The average price of a new truck has skyrocketed over the last 15 years, with Americans paying an extra 61 percent on average between 2009 and 2019. That’s an eye-opening stat for any driver, but the real shock comes when you start comparing new pickups to the sports car segment. While true high-performance models still average around $138,000, your average sports car rings in at $47,000. They might not be able to offer the same utility, passenger, and cargo space as the typical truck, and they’re certainly not suited for off-road driving or hauling a load of lumber. Still, sports cars are the obvious answer if you seek a thrilling, dynamic, affordable alternative to that new pickup. The two segments tend to draw a different set of drivers, but with pickup prices at a record high, it could be time to consider a new sports car when you set out to buy your next vehicle. Let’s see what’s driving the current pickup market and explore some affordable sports cars that can be had for less than the price of a new truck.
With Prices Like These, Why Not Buy a Sports Car?
As recently as 2016, the average price of a new pickup sold in the U.S. hovered around $36,000, but that number has risen to nearly $60,000 as 2026 models begin to hit the street. What’s behind this historic rise in pickup prices? Plenty of factors play into the trend, from inflation and marketing to increasing popularity and tariffs, but the net result is the same. Pickups now boast the highest average price of any mainstream segment, eclipsing sedans ($32,000) and SUVs ($47,850) by a considerable margin.
One of the most obvious trends driving up the average pickup prices should be pretty obvious to any driver who’s encountered one of these hulking trucks in the wild. Pickups are bigger than ever, with four-door models becoming the norm in a segment where two-door designs once ruled the road. This speaks to the pickup’s increasing popularity as a go-to family vehicle, with contemporary trucks routinely offering room for as many as six passengers. These family-friendly trucks also tend to be packed with the latest in comfort, convenience, and entertainment features, all of which drive up the average price. New EVs, off-road trims, and supertrucks like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX further inflate the mean, while luxury models like the F-150 Platinum and GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate represent an easy moneymaker for brands looking to up their average sale price.
Pickups are also known for their longevity, with the trucks being twice as likely to reach the vaunted 200,000-mile mark as the average vehicle. While this sort of reliability works in the pickup’s favor, it also leads to lower depreciation and higher resale value with fewer pre-owned pickups. This means that there aren’t many affordable options on the used market, which tends to drive the sale of new models, increasing prices and limiting availability. Longer financing terms, pandemic-related supply chain issues, and other socioeconomic factors have had a clear effect on the current market, as have tariffs. Since 1964, the U.S. has employed a so-called “Chicken Tax” that places a 25 percent tax on foreign light trucks, making it difficult for more affordable models to reach the North American market. Recent tariff trends have exacerbated the issue and left budget-minded drivers with fewer options.
That’s not to say there aren’t still some bargains to be had in the pickup segment. The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz represent the most affordable ways to enter the pickup club, with the 2025 models retailing for less than $30,000. That’s less than half the cost of the average pickup, though both trucks employ a unibody construction method that has some drawbacks in terms of towing and off-road ability. The midsize Chevy Colorado and Toyota Tacoma can each be had for under $35,000 when opting for the entry-level WT and SR trims, and feature traditional body-on-frame construction that ups their credibility when it comes time to put in a little work.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Price: $29,330
The Mazda Miata might not be the fastest or fanciest model on the market, but the roadster has long been the model against which all other value-priced sports cars are measured. While the Miata’s 2.0L I-4 engine posts a modest 181 hp, it also tips the scales at just 2,352 lbs to give it a power-to-weight ratio that’s hard to beat when you discount six-figure supercars. The Miata is the lightest vehicle in the segment by a good 500 lbs, which allows it to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in around 5.6 seconds. Add a low-slung design, rear-wheel drive, and the wind-in-your-hair appeal of a drop-top roof, and it’s easy to see why the Miata has developed such a loyal following amongst drivers who are eager to enjoy the sports car lifestyle without breaking the bank.
Best of all, the Miata’s base trim starts at just under $30,000, which should leave drivers with plenty of cash to invest in optional upgrades or aftermarket components that can make all the difference at the track. An available limited-slip differential makes a compelling case for investing in the Club trim, which only ups the Miata’s price by around $3,500 while adding a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, a nine-speaker Bose sound system, and a dedicated Track mode for the roadster’s stability control system.
Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ
Price: $30,000/$31,210
Lightweight, low-priced, and unmistakably sporty, the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ allow drivers to get their blood pumping while costing half as much as the average new pickup. While each model deserves its due, we’ve grouped the GR86 and BRZ together for one simple reason: they’re basically the same car. Toyota and Subaru collaborated on the 2+2 fastback coupe, with each Japanese automaker playing to its strengths to reduce research and development costs and give the sports car a leg up in the competitive segment.
Subaru contributed the 228-hp Boxer-4 engine, while Toyota leveraged its racing pedigree to outfit the GR86/BRZ with its D-4S dual fuel injection system, manual transmission, and infotainment tech. The two models are pretty similar, but the suspension represents an important difference that drivers should take into consideration when sizing up the sports cars. Toyota tweaked the GR86’s suspension to provide a little extra oversteer, which should come in handy if you’re the type of driver who enjoys drifting through the corners. The two models are pretty hard to separate from a statistical perspective, although the BRZ has proved a little faster and thriftier in some testing, with a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.8 seconds to the Toyota’s 5.9 seconds and one extra MPG on the highway in manual models, and one extra MPG combined in automatic models.
Nissan Z
Price: $42,970
The Nissan Z is on the pricier side of the affordable sports car spectrum, but it’s easy to see where the extra $10,000 is going when you get a load of the 400-hp twin-turbo V6. The Nissan was fully refreshed for 2023, with the seventh-generation model embracing alluring new upgrades while retaining the Z’s distinctive body style and impressive performance credentials.
The base Sport model represents a well-rounded option, but the mid-range Z Performance trim is worth the investment, adding 19-inch wheels, new brakes, a limited slip differential, and an overhauled suspension that gives the sports car a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.5 seconds. The range-topping Nismo trim is slightly more expensive than your average pickup at $65,750, but it’s a hard option to ignore with 20 extra hp, Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tires, upsized brakes, and race-ready suspension. If there’s one downside to the Z’s Nismo trim, it would have to be the lack of a manual transmission. The nine-speed automatic might be helpful when it comes to enhancing efficiency and convenience on your daily commute, but those who really want to put the sports car through its paces will miss the control and responsiveness that only a manual transmission can offer.
Honda Civic Si
Price: $30,250
The humble Honda Civic might not be the first vehicle that jumps to mind when you picture a new sports car, but it all depends on which model you pick. While the base Civic is a paragon of efficiency and reliability, and the new Civic Hybrid can achieve up to 49 MPG combined while logging a zero-to-60-mph time of 6.2 seconds, the Civic Si allows one of America’s best-selling cars to show its sporty side with a tight, responsive ride that’ll have you looking forward to every excursion.
Like the Miata, the Civic Si makes the most of its small 1.5L engine, which produces 200 hp thanks to a turbo, with a lightweight chassis that sees the Honda tip the scales at just under 3,000 lbs. That sort of power-to-weight ratio is always a winning formula when you’re trying to up the fun factor, and makes the Si a full two seconds faster than the traditional Civic in a sprint to 60 mph. The Si’s sporty style goes a long way towards differentiating it from the base model, but the race-ready Honda still manages to encompass some of the best aspects of the standard Civic with an EPA-estimated 37 MPG on the highway. It might not turn as many heads as some of the racier models on our list, but at the end of the day, it’s hard to argue with the sort of value the Civic Si can provide.
Toyota GR Supra/BMW Z4 Roadster
Price: $56,250/$54,500
Given its reputation for balancing affordability and performance, it’s little surprise to see Toyota nab a second spot on our list. Like the GR86, the Supra taps Toyota’s in-house Gazoo Racing (GR) performance division, and that heritage is on full display. The GR Supra comes standard with a 382-hp turbocharged I-6 across the entire lineup, which means drivers won’t have to make any tough decisions in order to access the speediest trim. Toyota dropped the base four-cylinder engine for 2025 but retained the manual transmission to up the model’s appeal amongst those who prefer to row their own gears. The Supra provides plenty of thrills behind the wheel with the ability to hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, and also offers a wide range of modern comfort, convenience, and safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
Those who are looking for a Supra clone with a slightly more illustrious badge should consider BMW’s Z4 Roadster. Like the GR86 and BRZ, the GR Supra and Z4 Roadster were developed side-by-side, with each brand making a few important tweaks before releasing the vehicles to the public. The Z4 Roadster retains the turbocharged four-cylinder base engine that recently left the Supra, making it a little cheaper at $54,050 for the entry-level sDrive30i. An M-branded model makes 382-hp thanks to the same I-6 engine as the Supra, offers a manual transmission, and is the speediest model on our list with a 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph time. That extra performance does come at a cost, with the M40i retailing for $67,000, making the Supra the thriftier buy for similar performance.
If you’ve been searching for an excuse to embrace the wilder side of the modern auto market, these sports cars provide a compelling case for parting ways with your pickup. From the spritely Mazda Miata and speedy BMW Z4 Roadster to the classic Nissan Z, surprisingly swift Honda Civic Si, and the fraternal twins in the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ, there’s plenty of value and fun to be had in the sports car segment. If you really have your heart set on a midsize off-roader, full-size towing machine, or efficient compact pickup, it might just be a matter of exercising a little patience. Some analysts have speculated that we might be nearing the end of the “peak truck” era as demand begins to slip in an inflation-weary market. Nine percent of buyers were eyeing a new pickup purchase in 2023, but that number dropped to just seven percent in 2024. Sports cars might not be the right choice for every driver, especially if you’re looking for a roomy family vehicle, towing rig, or cargo-hauling vehicle that can put in a hard day’s work, but they do provide an exciting, engaging ride that few models can match.
