Most people think of street racing in high-end sports cars such as Lamborghinis, Ferraris, or Porsches. However, there is an entire world of underrated cars for street racing that can give you incredible performance at a price that is simply manageable. Hidden gems surprise even the best racers by delivering strength and speed with agility, all coming in quite budget friendly. In this blog, we take a peek at some of the best underrated cars for street racing so that you can gain an edge without breaking your wallet.
Why Choose Underrated Cars for Street Racing?
Street racing actually all boils down to the point of speed, control, and unpredictability. Unfortunately, however, not everyone has the luxury to afford a supercar or even be able to maintain the cost. That’s when the underrated cars for street racing find their appropriate places. Often-relegated vehicles by commercial racers can cut it just as well, or even better than the big guns in the racing world.
For one, these cars do not cost a fortune to acquire and can easily be modified with several minor upgrades at low cost to be real racing machines. Further, because of their low profile, they present less of a profile to law enforcers or other racers, thus providing a surprise factor when on the racing track.
Mazda Miata – Lightweight Powerhouse
Probably the least appreciated among street racing cars is the Mazda Miata. Boasting a light design and rear-wheel drive, the Miata is really very agile and fun to drive. Though it does not boast a ludicrously huge engine, it carries a light frame that makes it a strong contender in races requiring quick acceleration around tight turns.
Many street racers choose the Miata because it is user-friendly to work with. A few tweaks-the addition of a turbocharger or some suspension changes-and the Miata can run circles around twice its size. And its compactness also lets it slip through city streets like a hot knife through butter, which is a big part of street racing.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trims | Sport, Club, Grand Touring |
| Engine | 2.0L Inline-4 |
| Power (HP) | 181 HP |
| Torque (NM/RPM) | 205 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual/automatic |
| Safety | ABS, Traction Control, Lane Departure Warning |
| Starting Price | $28,000 |
Honda Civic: The Tuner’s Dream
Another highly old-timer street racing underdog is the Honda Civic. Known to be a very reliable daily driver, what the Honda Civic lacks in show is behind the scenes one of the most popular cars for street racing. Being one of the easiest vehicles out there to customize, it has a huge aftermarket for performance parts that can drastically improve its speed and handling.
The Honda Civic can rather quickly convert into an urban racing beast by merely swapping the engine for something more powerful, adding a turbocharger, or changing the suspension. Its lightweight frame and all front-wheel drive mean that it will surely make for a great entry in urban racing competitions, though it would be also quite pricey, especially to those who don’t really want to break their bank for ownership.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trims | LX, EX, Sport, Touring |
| Engine | 2.0L Inline-4, 1.5L Turbocharged Inline-4 |
| Power (HP) | 158 HP (2.0L) / 180 HP (1.5L Turbo) |
| Torque (NM/RPM) | 187 Nm @ 4200 RPM (2.0L), 240 Nm @ 1700 RPM (1.5L Turbo) |
| Transmission | CVT, 6-speed manual (Sport trim) |
| Safety | Honda Sensing (Collision Mitigation, Lane-Keep Assist) |
| Starting Price | $23,750 |
Subaru WRX: All-Wheel Drive Advantage
When you think of a car that can conquer almost every type of road, one of the last cars you might think of is the Subaru WRX, but definitely, it deserves an inclusion in the list of underrated street racing cars. With its all-wheel drive system and the turbocharged engine, the car provides exceptional grip and power, striking well in environments that require much traction, such as wet or uneven streets.
The WRX is blisteringly quick in a straight line, but it really shines in the corners thanks to its well-balanced chassis and responsive steering. It may not be as attractive as some other sports cars, but it’s a sleeper in racing circles, with phenomenal performance—at least when fitted with the right aftermarket parts.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trims | Base, Premium, Limited, STI |
| Engine | 2.0L Turbocharged Boxer-4, 2.5L Turbocharged Boxer-4 (STI) |
| Power (HP) | 268 HP (2.0L), 310 HP (STI) |
| Torque (NM/RPM) | 350 Nm @ 2000-5200 RPM (2.0L), 393 Nm @ 4000 RPM (STI) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual, CVT (Base & Premium) |
| Safety | EyeSight Driver Assist, Blind-Spot Monitoring |
| Starting Price | $31,500 |
Mitsubishi Eclipse Old-School Cool
The Mitsubishi Eclipse is the other under-rated street racing car. Not always in the public eye, this one is an inexpensive car, but don’t let its dowdy looks fool you. Particularly, the turbocharged Eclipse models, especially the GSX, are almost instantly off the line, and tight corners never offer a problem to them.
Many fans love the Eclipse because it’s somewhat of a blank canvas—there’s ample room for modification. Whether you want to enhance the engine, upgrade the suspension, or improve the aerodynamics, the Eclipse provides an ideal base on which to start building your street racing fantasy car.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trims | GS, GS-T, GSX |
| Engine | 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4 |
| Power (HP) | 210 HP |
| Torque (NM/RPM) | 290 Nm @ 3000 RPM |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Safety | Dual airbags, ABS (basic for the time) |
| Starting Price | $28,000 (original MSRP) |
Nissan 240SX: King of Drift
The Nissan 240SX is the underrated street racing car to drift for anyone. With a rear-wheel configuration and a properly balanced chassis, the 240SX absolutely seems built with some details in mind regarding maintaining corner speed. Yet, having the tendency to gain much adoration as a drifting car, people tend to overlook its potential as a street racer, but this car can most certainly keep up well with the straight-line racing as well.
What’s more, aftermarket support for 240SX is enormous; it can easily be made into a high-performance racing machine. Moreover, with a relatively low cost and high availability, it is very popular among racers who seek to get the most bang for their buck.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trims | SE, LE |
| Engine | 2.4L Inline-4 |
| Power (HP) | 155 HP |
| Torque (NM/RPM) | 217 Nm @ 4400 RPM |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic |
| Safety | Dual airbags, basic ABS |
| Starting Price | $20,000 (original MSRP) |
Toyota MR2: Mid-Engine Magic
Among the most unique underrated cars for street racing is the Toyota MR2, a mid-engine sports car perfect for tight urban racing environments. The lightness of its design and the responsiveness of the steering help it hold through streets so strongly yet at the same time, a mid-engine layout is given for optimal weight distribution for stability.
It also has a big aftermarket community, meaning there’s an almost endless supply of performance upgrades to take what is already a pretty impressive car to a whole new level. While it might not be the first car that comes to mind for street racing, it’s definitely one to watch out for.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trims | Base, Turbo |
| Engine | 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4 |
| Power (HP) | 200 HP |
| Torque (NM/RPM) | 275 Nm @ 3200 RPM |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Safety | Driver and passenger airbags, ABS |
| Starting Price | $29,000 (original MSRP) |
Ford Mustang Foxbody – Classic Muscle
While the Ford Mustang is a typical household name when the world of muscle cars is concerned, the Foxbody Mustang happens to be one of the most underrated cars for street racing. This particular model, which started coming into production in 1979 and ran all the way through 1993, features a lightweight frame with an incredibly brawny V8 for that raw power that street racing demands.
The Foxbody is very tunable; that is, with the performance parts available, its speed, handling, and acceleration can be upped to a really great degree. Although this has a classically beautiful muscle car look that seems utterly out of place in a modern street race, don’t let that fool you—the right upgrades on this bad boy and it’ll be dominating the streets in no time.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trims | LX, GT, Cobra |
| Engine | 5.0L V8 |
| Power (HP) | 225 HP |
| Torque (NM/RPM) | 400 Nm @ 3200 RPM |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic |
| Safety | Basic safety features (seatbelts, no airbags in early models) |
| Starting Price | $14,000 (original MSRP in the late 80s) |
Hyundai Genesis Coupe: New Generation Performance
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is another underappreciated car for street racing. Options include rear-wheel drive with all turbocharged engine choices, and this car should provide a great balance of power, handling, and style. It would be easy to modify for better performance if desired, so street racers of every persuasion may appreciate the Genesis Coupe.
Its design with a powerful engine makes it one of the most competitive races in the race track, while affordability has given it as one of the prime choices for those racers wishing for a new-age car but on an affordable budget.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trims | 2.0T, 3.8 R-Spec, 3.8 Ultimate |
| Engine | 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4, 3.8L V6 |
| Power (HP) | 274 HP (2.0T), 348 HP (3.8L V6) |
| Torque (NM/RPM) | 373 Nm @ 2000 RPM (2.0T), 400 Nm @ 5300 RPM (3.8L V6) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual, 8-speed automatic |
| Safety | ABS, Stability Control, Front and Side Airbags |
| Starting Price | $26,950 |
Conclusion: Why Underrated Cars for Street Racing Deserve a Second Look
It doesn’t really have anything to do with street racing when it comes to the flashiest or most expensive car. Often, the best performing vehicles are those which fly under the radar, with unbeatable value and the potential for high performance upgrades. Light as the Mazda Miata can be, turbocharged Subaru WRX, these underrated cars for street racing can surprise anyone on the asphalt.
The nice thing about picking an underrated car for street racing is the possibility of getting that adrenaline rush of racing without needing to break a bank. With the right mods and driving skills, any one of these underdogs can compete with the best and leave its competition in the dust. Next time you think about street racing, take a look again at one of the cars on this list-you might just find yourself behind the wheel of a winner.
