Of All the Coupes On the Market, These Are the Best Buys

Coupes are considered sportier than their sedan counterparts, sacrificing interior space and passenger capacity in the name of style. Commonly used for sports cars and premium luxury cars, the coupe bodystyle originally had just two doors, but the definition has widened to include four-door vehicles and even SUVs. Whether it’s a two-door luxury car or a sporty SUV, the common denominator among vehicles classified as coupes is their sloping roofline.

If you want to forgo the practicality of a sedan in favor of a stylish yet more cramped coupe, we have named the best coupes to choose from. We’ve ranked coupes across multiple categories based on their iSeeCars quality score that takes into account long-term reliability, value retention, and highest average safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

History of the Coupe

While a sedan has historically had four doors, the coupe has typically had two. For a long time, a coupe was a pillarless, two-door, fixed-roof vehicle that could either have a separate trunk lid or hatchback design with opening rear glass. Vehicles like the Toyota 86 and Ford Mustang, represent the traditional coupe design. Common attributes of these cars include longer doors, reduced interior space, cramped (or no) back seats, and smaller rear windows. 

In today’s market, the coupe has evolved to match changing consumer trends. While sales of traditional coupes have diminished since their heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, many modern sedans and SUVs that are branded as coupes have been popular choices among buyers who want stylish and sporty vehicles. 

Best Coupes: Luxury Cars

Luxury cars typically come in multiple bodystyles including sedans, hatchbacks, coupes, or convertibles. These are the best luxury coupes for drivers who want a premium, yet sporty ride.

The best luxury coupe is the Audi A5, which is a small and sporty luxury car that comes standard with a 261-horsepower turbo-four engine and all-wheel drive. Along with the coupe, its also available as a convertible or as a sportback four-door hatchback. The A5 comes standard with a panoramic sunroof and tri-zone climate control, LED headlights, and a power trunk lid. Standard safety features include forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The A5 gets respectable gas mileage, with an estimated 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

A pair of Lexus vehicles earn the next two spots including the Lexus RC 300 and the Lexus LC 500. The Lexus RC 300 small luxury car is only offered in the coupe bodystyle and comes standard with a 241-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder, while a more powerful 260-horsepower V6 is also available for added power. The Lexus LC 500 is a sporty midsize car that more closely resembles a sports car than a luxury car. It has two powertrain options including a 471-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 engine and a 354-horsepower hybrid. Rounding out the top five are the Mercedes-Benz C-Class small car and the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Best Coupes: Sports Cars

When you hear the term “coupe,” sports cars often come to mind. If you want a high-performance vehicle, these are the best sports coupes to choose from.

The Ford Mustang ranks first. The Mustang’s simple and robust rear-wheel drive platform and durable engine options endure the use and abuse of both fun and functional car shoppers. The Mustang comes standard with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. There are three V8 engine choices, including two 5.0-liter V8s with 460 horsepower or 480 horsepower in the GT or Mach 1, respectively. There’s also a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 with 760 horsepower offered in the Shelby GT500. 

The second-ranked best sports car coupe is the Chevrolet Camaro, which is available as a coupe or a convertible. The Camaro has four engine choices ranging from its standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The Camaro is praised for its responsive steering and swift acceleration. With an MSRP starting at $25,000, the Camaro provides a relatively affordable option for sports car ownership.