You don’t have to give up any of your limbs to get a sports car in Canada, but maybe just ask permission from your spouse before you sign on the dotted line.
If you are shopping for a rear-wheel-drive, two-door car and have less than $45,000 to spend, you have options from American and Japanese automakers.
Keep in mind, the Dodge Challenger has been discontinued for 2024, so it doesn’t appear on this list.
Also, because it’s important to save the manuals, we indicate which of these vehicles comes with three pedals.
The list is arranged from most to least expensive. But first, a disclaimer.
The following article is neither a review nor a recommendation, it is simply a list of what’s available. Starting advertised price is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), including fees and levies. Price after tax is what you may expect to pay. Fees, levies and taxes may differ province to province. This list is based on Ontario prices. Dealers may set their own prices. This list doesn’t include manufacturer or dealer discounts, special offers or incentives. Check with your local dealer for an exact price. Inventory issues may impact vehicle availability.
Mazda MX-5 RF
Starting advertised price: $44,619
Price after tax: $50,419.47
Manual transmission standard
The MX-5 RF (pictured up top) is essentially the same car as its soft-top variant, which appears a little lower on this list, but the RF is a hard-top convertible roadster. It comes standard with many of the same goodies as the soft-top, but adds things like nine Bose speakers with AudioPilot 2 noise compensation technology, a sport suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers (manual transmission only) and more. With this hard-top variant, if you select the GT model or a few additional options, you’ll quickly find yourself exceeding $45,000.
Build yours on the Mazda Canada website.
Chevrolet Camaro
Starting advertised price: $43,130
Price after tax: $48,737
Manual transmission standard
The 2024 model is the last year of the current generation of the Camaro. The base model gets you a 3.6 L V6 engine with a 335 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque connected to the rear wheels through a manual six-speed transmission with a hill hold feature. It comes standard with 18-inch wheels, a sports-focused interior and aggressive exterior styling.
Build yours on the Chevrolet Canada website.
Ford Mustang
Starting advertised price: $39,415
Price after tax: $44,539
Manual transmission not available on base model
Mustangs have been shredding North American roads since 1964 and it doesn’t appear that Ford nor customers are planning to give up on this pony car anytime soon. With the base vehicle, you get a 2.3 L EcoBoost engine with 315 hp and 350 lb- ft. of torque mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, you have to move up to the $50,695 GT to be able to row your own gears. The base model comes standard with 18-inch wheels, plenty of tech, including a blind-spot warning system and a driver-centric cockpit.
Build yours on the Ford Canada website.
Mazda MX-5
Starting advertised price: $37,619
Price after tax: $42,509.47
Manual transmission standard
This little car, formerly called the Miata, comes standard with a Skyactiv-G 2 L engine, good for 181 hp and 151 lb.-ft. of torque, 17-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake handle. A six-speed manual transmission is the only gearbox available on the base model and comes standard on the higher trims.
Build yours on the Mazda Canada website.
Toyota GR86
Starting advertised price: $35,342.58
Price after tax: $39,937.12
Manual transmission standard
The Toyota GR86 is a small, lightweight sports car that seats four and is available on a budget. It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission and a 2.4 L boxer engine good for 228 hp. Toyota engineers tuned the car to make it easy to let loose and get the rear wheels to spin when taking corners.
Build yours on the Toyota Canada website.
Subaru BRZ
Starting advertised price: $34,267
Price after tax: $38,721.71
Manual transmission standard
If this car looks like a repeat from one above, you are right. The GR86 and BRZ are twins. With the BRZ, you essentially get the same vehicle as the Toyota, except with the Subaru badge on the on the hood and its own front-end design. The base model comes standard with Subaru’s Vehicle Dynamics Control with Track mode, automatic dual-zone climate control and a few other goodies. Whereas the Toyota lets loose easily, Subaru engineers focused on precise steering with the BRZ, according to online reviewers.
Build yours on the Subaru Canada website.
Note from the Empty Tank team: This article was updated Feb. 24, 2024 to list the current prices for the Mazda, Toyota and Subaru vehicles as 2024 prices hadn’t been made available at time of initial publishing.
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