10 Safest Sports Cars For Thrilling Driving

Speed is one of the biggest draws when it comes to sports cars, but which ones offer the safest driving experience?

People have several expectations when it comes to sports cars; power, speed, beauty, and, perhaps most importantly, the driving experience. A sports car needs to excite the driver, it needs to thrill and exhilarate them. To do so, these cars may prioritize performance over comfort.

However, sports cars must also keep occupants safe.

Over the years, car companies have made great strides to keep their machines safe, from the introduction of seatbelts and airbags to electronic assists, all in the name of protecting drivers. These are some of the safest sports cars for a thrilling driving experience.

The Dodge Challenger has been around for decades, developing a reputation for being an absolute beast of a machine. With the most recently unveiled 2023 Dodge Challenger Demon 170 model producing over 1,000 hp, becoming the fastest muscle car ever produced with a 0-60 of 1.66 seconds and a top speed of 203 mph, it's clear that Dodge is not slowing down with their production of bafflingly exciting muscle cars.

On top of that, Dodge Challengers have performed well in recent IIHS safety tests, lengthening their side airbags and providing good protection to the head, chest, and leg areas in particular during crash tests.

The American sports car Chevrolet Corvette C8 was the first mid-engined Corvette produced by the manufacturer since the 1950s. The Z06 model comes from a 5.5-liter V8 engine producing up to 670 hp, a front splitter with stall gurneys underneath that reduce drag, and an electronic limited-slip differential and adaptive suspension that makes driving the C8 a joy for any enthusiast.

Safety features present on the C8 include both front and side airbags, anti-lock braves, stability control, and pretensioners that will tighten seatbelts to put occupants in the safest possible position in the event of a crash.

The iconic Porsche 911 needs no introduction. The Carrera S model puts out 444 hp, doing 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 191 mph with the right tires and track conditions. Porsche's active suspension management system and aerodynamic design make modern 911s a dream to corner, offering some of the best driving experiences possible today.

To keep the car on the road, Porsche's enhanced stability management featuring ABS, ASR, and ABD come into play, and in the event of a crash, side, front, and overhead airbags deploy to protect the driver and passengers. The seatbelts also have pretensioners for optimal safety during a crash.

Based on the Modular Sports System platform also used by the Lamborghini Huracan, it was clear as day that the latest Audi R8 V10 models would offer an invigorating driving experience when Audi unveiled the Type 4S at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Since then, the model has undergone further changes to improve its performance, including the addition of larger carbon-ceramic brakes, a new steering rack system, a reshaping of the air intakes and side skirts that give the car a more aggressive appearance, and the fitting of a new V10 engine that produces up to 602 hp.

The latest Audi R8 Coupe comes fitted with front, side, overhead, and knee airbags, ABS, traction control, stability control, tire pressure monitors, backup cameras, and parking aid.

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Introduced in 2001 to replace the Vantage, the V12-powered Aston Martin Vanquish has gone on to win the hearts of car enthusiasts everywhere. The sleek design and performance of the car even caught the eye of James Bond, who drove the V12 Vanquish in the 2002 movie Die Another Day. It's easy to see why a car as cool as the Vanquish would appeal to Bond, and it's only improved since then.

The latest version of the car, the Vanquish S Coupé released in 2017, can do 0-60 in less than 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 201 mph thanks to its 5.9-liter V12 producing up to 595 hp.

Though reliability was an issue with the original Vanquish, Aston Martin has continued to improve the model over the years, substituting the 6-speed gearbox for an 8-speed gearbox, improving the lifespan of electronics, adding dynamic stability control and torque control, and reengineering their VH platform to improve the car's strength. For additional safety in a crash, Aston Martin also included seatbelt load limiters and side, front, pelvis, and thorax airbags.

RELATED: Here's What Happened To James Bond's Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

With a name meaning hurricane, named after a Spanish fighting bull from the 19th century famous for its courage, the Lamborghini developed the Huracan as a replacement for the Gallardo. They packed the Lamborghini Huracan with technology, including Lamborghini dynamic steering that allows drivers to switch between different steering modes, and ANIMA (Adaptive Network Intelligence Management), which electronically manages the engine, suspension, transmission, and dynamic steering system. The Performante edition of the car, perhaps the best Lamborghini ever made, features the manufacturer's new aerodynamic system and an engine with a total output of 631 hp.

The Huracan also comes with a lot of safety features including side and front airbags, traction control, stability control, brake assists, tire pressure monitors, crash sensors, side and front impact beams, and a centrally mounted fuel tank.

Though McLaren made improvements on the day-to-day use of the car (more interior and luggage space) when developing the McLaren 570S, they still went ahead and built it around the same 3.8-liter turbocharged V8 engine used in their P1 and 650S models, both of which were impressive machines in their own right. The rear-mid mounted engine delivers 562 hp, pushing the car to achieve 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 204 mph. McLaren themselves even refer to the car as 'the ultimate sports car experience'.

The car's mid-engine design and low center of gravity make it hard to roll, it has front impact beams, traction control, stability control, and multiple airbags, and can go from 60 mph to a standstill in less than 100 feet. The safety of the McLaren 570S spoke for itself when automotive journalist Sean Evans was in an accident that sent the car hurtling off California State Route 33. He survived, and the car looked intact.

Enthusiasts placed high expectations on the Ferrari 488 when unveiled, being the successor to the Ferrari 458, but it is now often hailed as the best modern mid-engined Ferrari. The first mid-engined Ferrari with a turbocharged V8 engine since the Ferrari F40, and offering extreme performance and thrills, Ferrari designed the 488 with their classic models in mind. The carmakers focused on increasing aerodynamic performance without increasing drag and shaping the body to increase airflow and reduce pressure. The engine delivers 661 hp, giving the car a top speed of 205 mph pushing it from 0-60 in less than 3 seconds. It's safe to say the 488 did not disappoint, with Jeremy Clarkson even declaring it his supercar of the year in 2019.

The car comes equipped with 4 airbags, ABS, traction control among other electronic safety measures, and a lightweight high-performance chassis that acts as the centerpiece of its safety features due to its torsional rigidity and beam stiffness.

The Bugatti Chiron, unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, is the successor to the well-loved and historically special Bugatti Veyron. With big boots to fill, Bugatti had to ensure that the Chiron provided one of the most thrilling driving experiences yet. To do so, they carried over some aspects of the Veyron, including its quad-turbocharged W16 engine. However, they improved upon it, and the Bugatti Chiron, compared to its rivals and predecessors, performs exquisitely.

The Chiron was also designed to meet the world's most stringent safety standards. Bugatti developed new airbags, of which there are six, that can deploy from behind carbon fiber housing for the seat and passenger bags. The car also features a high-rigidity monocoque, an adaptive chassis, carbon-silicon brake discs, and several electronic systems, including ABS and traction control, to keep drivers on the road.

With a name translating to 'to reign', Koenigsegg unveiled the Regera hypercar at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, where they sold most of its 80 units. While also offering the performance expected from a Koenigsegg vehicle, Koenigsegg set out to make the Regera more comfortable and luxurious than their previous models. They wanted to produce a car that would offer excitement and fun while also keeping their customers comfortable on the ride. The 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine in the Regera offers 1,500 hp with the assistance of electric motors. They also implemented their drive direct system to reduce weight and added an active rear wing and independent active front flaps. However, they also designed a new subframe to reduce noise and vibration in the interior and included various entertainment features in the car.

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To keep drivers safe as they seek their thrills in the Regera, Koenigsegg fitted it with an electronically adjustable suspension, aluminum uprights that meet SKF LeMan specifications, an engine control module, power assisted brakes, adjustable traction control, front and side airbags, stability control, an active chassis, and tire pressure monitors, among many other safety features.

A lifelong car fanatic with a love of all things motorsport related. From racing karts as a kid, to passing the hours by in car-sims today, Hayden grew up around garages and lives for the smell of petrol and burning rubber. His frequent haunts these days are Assetto Corsa, GT7, and iRacing.