High performance and reliability don’t always go hand-in-hand — especially at lower prices. There is no such thing as a new sports car with 400+ horsepower for cheap. The current Nissan Z coupe counts for something, but even it starts at over $40k today. That said, many high-horsepower models sacrifice reliability in the name of performance. In order to find relatively affordable cars with around 400 horsepower and decent reliability, we have to move to the used market.
Giving up the idea of buying a brand-new car doesn’t have to be a sacrifice itself, though, since the used market offers so many better options. For under $30,000, buyers can get their hands on a handful of relatively reliable sports cars with the perfect amount of power. Of course, used car prices can vary depending on a variety of factors, so the models in this list use averages from sales, auctions, and listing data across the United States. While the true “perfect” horsepower figure may be up for debate, it’s hard to beat the idea of near-400 HP and relatively low maintenance for an affordable price.
Used car prices vary depending on the car’s location, mileage, number of owners, title status, mechanical and cosmetic conditions, and more. This list is organized by price from the cheapest to the most expensive average.
5
2019 Ford Taurus SHO
Average Used Price: $17,900
2019 Ford Taurus SHO Specs Overview
Powertrain
3.5L twin-turbo V6
Horsepower
365 hp
Torque
350 lb-ft
0-60 mph
~5.5 seconds
Top Speed
135 mph (limited)
Our first point of discussion is an easily-forgotten sedan that flies under the radar, despite its impressive power output. The Ford Taurus SHO did little to cosmetically distinguish itself from the rest of the boring lineup, but anyone who drives one will be pleasantly surprised by its punchy acceleration. It’s powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that’s rated at 365 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque. However, some sources suggest it’s under-rated, and its true power comes closer to 400 HP.
This is the cheapest option on the list by far with an average price of only $17,900, according to CarBuzz’ price trends data. Kelley Blue Book supports its low valuation; the 2019 Taurus’s SHO trim level has a fair purchase price of $19,550 at the time of writing.
Some forums online include discussion about the Taurus being unreliable, but most reputable sources disagree. For example, RepairPal gives the model a 4 out of 5 for reliability with an average annual repair cost of $697 (right in the middle of its class). There are also only ten customer complaints logged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), and two recalls regarding issues that don’t affect mechanical reliability.
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4
2020 Kia Stinger GT
Average Used Price: $27,900
2020 Kia Stinger GT Specs Overview
Powertrain
3.3L twin-turbo V6
Horsepower
365 hp
Torque
376 lb-ft
0-60 mph
4.7 seconds
Top Speed
167 mph
Kia isn’t exactly known as a performance brand these days, which is partly why the Stinger GT is overlooked by used car buyers. Using a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 from the Lambda engine family, Kia gave its sporty four-door 365 HP and 376 lb-ft of torque. Buyers could choose either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive when it was new, with the AWD variant gaining a slightly quicker zero-60 mph sprint.
The 2020 Stinger was available in multiple variants, including the GT-Line, GT, GT1, and GT2, but all the true GT trims (excluding the GT-Line) were equipped with the same powertrain with the same output. No matter which GT trim you choose, the 2020 model year is currently hovering around the high-$20,000s mark, with low-mileage examples going for a touch over $30k according to CarBuzz’ price trends data. Kelley Blue Book also places the 2020 Stinger GT2 sedan at a fair purchase price of $26,700 today.
Buyers who opt for the 2020 Stinger are in for a treat, because it’s one Kia that won’t let you down. There are currently 16 customer complaints to the NHTSA, and 6 recalls. While there aren’t many complaints, buyers should be aware of current/previous owners’ complaints regarding bad fuel pumps and some electrical issues. Since there are only 16 complaints in total after the car has been on the road for six years, we wouldn’t be too worried as long as the previous owner(s) took care of the recalls.
3
2021 Genesis G70 3.3T
Average Used Price: $28,100
2021 Genesis G70 3.3T Specs Overview
Powertrain
3.3L twin-turbo V6
Horsepower
365 hp
Torque
376 lb-ft
0-60 mph
4.5 seconds
Top Speed
167 mph
Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury division, which also shares parts with Kia often. Keeping that in mind, we’re not surprised to see that the 2021 Genesis G70 uses the same powertrain with the same outputs as the Stinger we just talked about. That said, the G70 is slightly more expensive, since it’s a far more luxurious ride. When it was new, buyers could choose either a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, or the more potent 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6.
According to CarBuzz’ price trends, the 2021 G70 3.3T with rear-wheel drive is currently worth about $28,100 at the time of writing. For reference, Kelley Blue Book lists the same model’s 3.3T trim level at a fair purchase price of $25,400 today. With prices that low, we’d rather buy a used G70 than a new BMW M340i.
This luxury sports sedan is proving reliable, too. The NHTSA only logs four customer complaints for the 2021 model year, and four recalls. Of those recalls, the two most notable include a loss of drive power from fuel pump failure that was issued in July 2024 (affecting 54,647 units), and a recall for a potential engine fire from an oil leak that was issued in March 2024 (affecting 28,439 units).
2
2020 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400
Average Used Price: $30,100
2020 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 Specs Overview
Powertrain
3.0L twin-turbo V6
Horsepower
400 hp
Torque
350 lb-ft
0-60 mph
4.5 seconds
Top Speed
155 mph (limited)
The Infiniti Q50 Sport is already a comfortably powerful luxury sedan, but the Red Sport 400 variant ups the ante. It uses the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 as the standard model. However, Infiniti tuned its most extreme variant for 400 HP exactly, hence the name, allowing it to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.5 seconds. It was available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, with the AWD variant gaining superior traction for a slightly quicker dash. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 miles per hour.
The Red Sport 400 variant was available for the 2016 through 2024 model years; the newest year you can find on the used market for around $30k is from 2020. That said, buyers can most likely find older model years for cheaper these days, as they’ll usually have higher mileage and possibly multiple owners.
As far as reliability goes, the Q50 is a solid luxury sedan. Its 3.5L engine is robust, despite the increase in power over its standard variants. The NHTSA only logs three customer complaints for the 2020 model year, and the 2020 Q50 doesn’t have a single recall. For $30k, buyers really can’t go wrong with this model. Here’s what our road tester had to say about the Q50 Red Sport 400’s driving experience:
“The power comes early with little lag and the torque is long, linear, and satisfying. There’s no histrionics from the exhaust, just a snarl mixed in with the intake noise from the turbos up front. When overtaking someone dawdling along well under the limit, it doesn’t feel like you’re being obnoxious as you would with an exhaust much louder.”
– Ian Wright, Senior Road Tester, CarBuzz (2019 Infiniti Q50 Drive Review)
1
2014 Chevrolet SS
Average Used Price: $34,700
2014 Chevrolet SS Specs Overview
Powertrain
6.2-Liter V8
Horsepower
415 hp
Torque
415 lb-ft
0-60 mph
4.5 seconds
Top Speed
~163 mph
Our last model is currently pushed a little over our $30k budget, but we felt it was appropriate to list here due to its performance and reliability. If your budget has some wiggle room, then the 2014 Chevrolet SS sedan could be the best bang for your buck. Under the hood is a 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 — the same “LS3” V8 found in the 6th-generation Corvette and 5th-generation Camaro, among other General Motors models.
Chevy SS sedan prices are still fairly high. It was on sale in the U.S. from 2014 through 2017, with the oldest model year losing the most value so far. That said, CarBuzz’ price trends places its average value at around $34,700 today, while Kelley Blue Book gives it a fair purchase price of $22,200. Taking a glance at current auctions and listings tells us the sports sedan is closer to the $30k mark, though.
Despite the LS3 engine’s known reliability and widespread use for engine swaps and race builds, the 2014 SS sedan still has some issues reported. The NHTSA currently logs 51 customer complaints and 9 recalls for this model year. The vast majority of complaints include a loss of steering assist while driving, and others report that the seat belt anchor fell out of the pillar. There have been recalls issued for both of those problems.
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Sources: Chevrolet, Infiniti, Genesis, Kia, Ford, Kelley Blue Book, NHTSA, RepairPal
