10 New Front-Wheel Drive Cars That Are Tons Of Fun To Drive (SNIPING)

Gearheads who love going fast and the thrill of driving around in a sporty car would never choose a front-wheel driven car as their first option. Over the decades, FWD cars have built up a reputation for not being the fastest accelerating, which is, sadly, true. After all, when the front wheels have to drive the car as well as steer them, it limits how much power can be sent to them. Often, FWD cars tend to have their rear ends fish out when they are ridden hard.

Thus, the common belief regarding a front-wheel drivetrain is that it is best left for dull commuters and sedans that will never see a sporty mile in their life. This is why the bulk of auto manufacturers choose a rear-wheel or an all-wheel drive setup for their sporty cars, in order to deliver the best performance and acceleration in their machines. However, everybody loves exceptions to the norm in the automotive industry, and there certainly are a bunch of FWD cars that deliver the thrill of the drive. That said, here are ten new front-wheel drive cars that you could bring home and still have a lot of fun driving around.

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10 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Volkswagen Golf is one of the most renowned hatchbacks across the world, and not without reason. Thus, one might be forgiven for thinking the Golf R and the GTI would be miles apart in how they drive. That’s not the case, however, as the GTI is one of the hottest hatches on the market today, making the Golf R seem rather redundant.

The quickest German FWD car you could get, the GTI hits the 60 mph mark from naught in just 5.2 seconds, topping out at 155 mph. In fact, this year, the GTI gets a power bump to its 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine, which has increased horsepower from 228 to 241 hp, and torque went from 258 to 273 lb-ft of torque. With dynamic wheel centers, diffusers, and spoilers on offer from VW, the GTI is an exciting FWD hot hatch that is worthy of consideration.

9 Audi A3

Audi isn’t far behind when it comes to an exciting FWD car. One of the most remarkable FWD sedans money can buy, the Audi A3, sadly, is far from the fastest. With a 6.6-second 0 to 60 time, the Audi A3’s speedometer tops out at 130 mph, a far cry from the higher top ends of some other cars on this list, but more on them later.

The A3 sedan houses a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine which comes mated to a 48-volt electric motor, which, combined, develops 201 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph time might go down to 6.3 seconds in the Quattro variant, but the FWD A3 is plenty of fun on its own, thanks to a responsive 7-speed automatic gearbox.

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8 Volvo S60

The Volvo S60 sedan comes with mild-hybrid technology in its 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine. The Volvo has the lowest top speed of the bunch at just 112 mph. However, the FWD sedan’s 0-60 time keeps it up with its peers, which is 6.3 seconds.

The horsepower on the Volvo S60 is 247 hp, with 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine runs on premium gas, and while it isn’t the fastest, there’s plenty of fun that can be had in the Volvo S60. On any given regular day, the S60 remains one of the most disciplined premium sedans on the road.

7 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Coupe

The 250 Coupe from the house of Mercedes-Benz is the base model in the CLA lineup. It is also the only CLA model that Mercedes offers with a front-wheel drivetrain. Despite being a base trim, the CLA 250 Coupe runs from naught to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph.

Outfitted with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (we’re sensing a trend here), the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Coupe produces 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Of course, the Silver Arrows on the hood of the CLA 250 make it one of the most premium offerings on this list, with the driving dynamics remaining remarkable.

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6 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

The 2022 BMW 228i Gran Coupe has the same performance to 60 mph as its Mercedes and Volvo counterparts, crossing the mark in 6.3 seconds. Keeping up with the Merc, the 2-Series Gran Coupe, too, has an electronically-limited top speed of 130 mph. However, its price tag makes it a better choice than its peers.

In 2022, the 228i Gran Coupe from the Bavarians costs $2,500 less than the Mercedes. The BMW, too, runs on a turbocharged inline-4 engine which develops 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Performance figures aside, it is a great FWD car to have in your driveway, and could always be used to travel with the family, while also being able to give the thrill-seekers something to write home about when driven hard.

5 Hyundai Veloster N

There is no denying that the Hyundai Veloster N is one of the most fun FWD cars on the market today. A peppy and responsive ride ensures that the Veloster N is equally thrilling to drive on the interstate as well as the nearby track. In fact, the Veloster N is the fastest FWD car that you could bring home in 2022.

Thanks to the N performance badge and everything that comes with it, the Veloster N is capable of reaching the 60 mph mark in just 4.8 seconds. It tops out at 155 mph, owing to the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine which churns out 275 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. In fact, if that’s (somehow) not enough for you, the 8-speed DCT variant will take torque all the way up to 278 lb-ft, albeit for a $1,500 premium.

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4 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP

The Mini Cooper has always been a fun car to drive, boasting a remarkable power-to-weight ratio. In 2022, if you want the fastest Mini out there, the John Cooper Works GP Edition won’t let you down. Mini prides over the JCW GP for being the fastest car they’ve ever built. However, the car’s suspension doesn’t make it the most street-friendly, as it has been developed to go the fastest around a track.

Capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, the Mini Cooper JCW GP has a top speed of 149 mph. Compared to the standard 2-door hardtop variant, the JCW GP also comes with a larger 8.8-inch infotainment screen, and its stylish exterior design makes it quite the looker. While not a traditional commuter by any means, the Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP is an absolute thriller of an FWD hatch.

3 Hyundai Elantra N

Another great Hyundai on the list, the Elantra N is the choice for you if a hatchback doesn’t suit your needs. The Elantra N is outfitted with the same turbo 2.0-liter engine as the Veloster, but it drives better. The remarkable driving experience of the Hyundai Elantra N makes it one of the fastest FWD cars today, propelling it from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds.

Like its hatchback cousin the Veloster N, the Elantra N, too, tops out at 155 mph, and standard horsepower, too, is the same at 276 hp. However, the N Grin Shift feature on the Elantra N gives it a small power bump, taking horsepower up to 286 hp as well. As affordable as it is exciting to drive, the Hyundai Elantra N is most certainly a car you should have on your shortlist.

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2 Hyundai Kona N

Hyundai sure seems to have the right formula down when it comes to FWD cars, being as this is their third car on this list. Also, the only crossover, the Hyundai Kona N has the same 276 horsepower as the Veloster N and the Elantra N, topping out at 150 mph. With a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds, the Hyundai Kona N is not one to be left behind by its hatchback and sedan counterparts.

The Kona N comes with a special ‘N’ 8-speed automatic transmission, running on 289 lb-ft of torque. Seeing how trendy crossovers are in the market today, the Kona N manages to return a decent fuel efficiency with 23 miles to the gallon. The N Grin Shift mode present on the Kona N, like on the Elantra N, is capable of pushing power up to 286 hp, although it is for a limited 20-second period.

1 Honda Civic Type R

Any discussion about the fastest FWD cars must always include the Honda Civic Type R. After all, this car held the crown for being the fastest FWD car at the Nürburgring until Renault’s Mégane RS Trophy-R dethroned it from its place. The Type R Civic is also one of the more practical sport hatchbacks you could get. With a top speed of 169 mph, it is one of the most powerful FWD cars on this list, and accelerates from 0 to 60 in 5.0 seconds, thanks to the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4.

The Honda Civic Type R is ready to come in an all-new avatar for the 2023 model year, with an updated version of the inline-4, ready to be the fastest Civic Type R Honda has ever made. The 2023 Civic Type R is going to have 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, a bump of 9-hp and 15 lb-ft of torque over its predecessor. Of course, you could always pick the Honda Civic Si if a hatchback body type isn’t for you, which offers nearly the same power and thrill but with the comfort of a 4-door sedan.