10 automatic sports cars that are better than a stick shift

Most automotive enthusiasts will agree that a true sports car should have a manual transmission. While shifting through gears creates a special bond between the driver and the road, modern automatic transmissions offer rapid changes that humans can’t match. Some people say they take the fun out of driving, but these sports cars with automatic transmissions prove they can be just as fun — if not better — than a stick shift.

There are plenty of performance cars offered with automatic transmissions, but some, such as the iconic Ford Mustang, are best left alone. Even with a 10-speed transmission, the car can be difficult to drive. The cars on this list are enjoyable, and the automatic transmission feels natural.

10

Hyundai Elantra N

0-60 mph: 5 seconds

Hyundai

The Hyundai Elantra N is an unexpected entrant on this list. It’s an affordable sedan bringing impressive handling and a respectable 0-60mph sprint. The wet dual-clutch transmission handles torque well, allowing drivers to push the Elantra hard and feel gear changes similar to a stick shift. Plus, its unique appearance grabs attention.

Hyundai Elantra N performance specs

9

Volkswagen Golf R

0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds

Volkswagen

Let me be the first to admit that driving a manual Golf R is barrels of fun, but the DSG gearbox in the automatic is excellent. Again, it’s not overly expensive for the performance you get, and the exhaust notes are perfect.

Volkswagen Golf R performance specs

The biggest advantage of the automatic Golf R is effortless launch control. You simply plant your foot on the accelerator and let the car do all the heavy lifting to reach 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds. Attempting this with a stick shift is stressful, and can cause serious damage to the car if not done correctly.

8

Lexus IS 500 F Sport

0-60 mph: 4.4 seconds

Lexus

As well as building some of the most reliable cars of all time, Lexus knows a thing or two about performance. The fierce IS 500 F-Sport utilizes a 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine mated to an eight-speed direct-shift automatic for smooth power delivery. It’s equally suited to casual drives around town, or setting new lap times on track. The IS 500 also has bragging rights as the cheapest V8-powered sedan on sale in 2025.

Lexus IS 500 F Sport performance specs

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7

Nissan Z Nismo

0-60 mph: 4.3 seconds

Nissan

Interestingly, the 3.0-liter V6 engine used in the Nissan Z Nismo was originally built for Infiniti vehicles. However, the team at Nismo designed a nine-speed automatic transmission to make a unique sports car by Nissan. Though it’s not particularly quick, the Z is a bundle of joy, and the automatic transmission makes it even more special.

Nissan Z Nismo performance specs

6

Toyota GR Supra

0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds

Toyota

When Toyota brought back the Supra after a long hiatus, it ruffled a few feathers. Despite keeping the long nose double-bubble roof, fans were upset by the use of BMW’s 3.0-liter B58 engine and eight-speed ZF transmission. However, you’ll find the ZF transmission in many sports cars because it’s brilliant. Plus, it encouraged Toyota’s pledge to keep building sports cars with help from other manufacturers.

Toyota GR Supra performance specs

5

Porsche 911 Carrera

0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds

Porsche

Throughout history, Porsche has been setting — and exceeding — expectations of what a sports car should be. Previous generations of the 911 were incredible, but that isn’t good enough for the German automaker.

Porsche 911 Carrera performance specs

While a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine producing 388 hp seems small against the $120,000 price tag, it’s all about the driving dynamics. Porsche’s eight-speed PDK transmission is perfection. No human can replicate the gear shifts like this does, which makes this well-balanced coupe ideal for smashing track records.

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4

BMW M2

0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds

BMW

The BMW M2 is a compact flying machine. Despite gaining weight during its last facelift, this might be the best M car available. Admittedly, sales figures show the vast majority of these are sold as a manual, but make no mistake, the eight-speed sport transmission is every bit as engaging. Fitted with the automatic, an M2 can match the Porsche 911 in a 0-60 mph sprint.

BMW M2 performance specs

3

Mercedes-AMG GT 55 coupe

0-60 mph: 3.8 seconds

Mercedes-AMG

While most mass-produced sports cars wedge a tuned engine into an existing chassis, Mercedes-AMG models are assembled around a hand-built engine. Every AMG that rolls off the production line has an engine that a single engineer has worked on and signed off. This accountability helps the brand maintain the high standards that earned a place in Aston Martin cars, and means the entire body of the car is designed to fit that engine, with specific parts to handle its power.

Mercedes-AMG GT 55 Coupe performance specs

The AMG GT 55 features a limited slip differential in the rear, which enables drift mode to kick the tail out to a controlled drift. Even novice drivers will look like pros. When speed and precision are key, the Speedshift nine-speed MCT transmission knows exactly when to change gear for the best results.

2

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds

I probably don’t need to explain how iconic the Corvette is. However, it began life as a manual, so you can imagine the outcry when Chevrolet made it an auto. Thankfully, the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is responsive with the right amount of aggression. This is most fun as a track car, but the whopping 6.2-liter V8 and seamless gear shifts push the Stingray to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. This might make the Corvette a supercar. Do you agree?

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray performance specs

1

Jaguar F-Type R

0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds

Jaguar is a proudly British manufacturer which has supplied cars to the royal family for years. They also star on the big screen alongside fictional superspy James Bond. The F-Type R is certainly a worthy replacement for his Aston Martin cars, especially with a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine churning out 575 hp.

Jaguar F-Type R performance specs

Engineers toyed with a manual transmission in rear-wheel-drive, but even the most experienced drivers struggled to tame it. Ultimately, it was too dangerous to sell to the public, so only an AWD configuration is available, with an eight-speed automatic transmission. During my week-long test, I didn’t grumble about this. In fact, when I felt the power, I was thankful for it.