For years, the race to 60 mph defined automotive performance, but electric vehicles are changing the rules. With instant torque and near-silent acceleration, even mainstream EVs now boast sports-car–rivaling sprint times. Yet as these figures become commonplace, they’re starting to lose their meaning.
Today, what separates a great EV from a forgettable one isn’t how quickly it launches off the line, but how it feels once it’s in motion. Steering precision, suspension tuning, and driver engagement are taking center stage again, forcing automakers to rethink what true performance means in an era of effortless speed.
Still, this is one area where internal combustion cars continue to shine. The visceral sound, mechanical feedback, and shifting involvement of gas-powered performance cars remain unmatched, a reminder that while EVs have redefined speed, they haven’t yet replicated the emotional thrill of driving.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources.
Even tame, affordable electric cars are rocket ships off the line
Zero to sixty times have been used for decades to market new cars, showcasing that they’re sporty and thrilling because they accelerate quickly. However, in this new electric-powered age, those figures are slowly but surely starting to lose their meaning. Even family-focused vehicles are capable of pinning you to your seat, which is great but begs the question, how quick is quick enough.
Quick yet affordable electric vehicles
Model
Starting MSRP
Zero to 60 MPH
Nissan Leaf
$29,990
6.9 Seconds
Hyundai Ioniq 5
$35,000
7.4–3.0 Seconds
Tesla Model 3
$36,990
4.6–2.8 Seconds
Hyundai Ioniq 6
$37,850
6.2–4.3 Seconds
Kia EV6
$42,900
6.7–3.2 Seconds
Above is a table that shows some of the most popular affordable EVs on the market. While more expensive than the average ICE vehicle, Americans are spending more than $50,000 on average on a new car, so these are well within the realms of affordability. While sometimes the acceleration of the base model isn’t astounding, they are still pretty quick, and would beat a bevy of sports cars from not that long ago.
You also don’t usually have to spend all that much more to increase performance, with the next tier up from the base model usually adding another motor and all-wheel drive, which results in much quicker acceleration. The top ends of these affordable commuter EVs are absolutely ridiculous, with many capable of out accelerating some of the most accomplished ICE sports cars pretty effortlessly. Supercar levels of acceleration are now more accessible to the average person than ever before.
Why does this devalue 0-60 times?
The point that we’re trying to make isn’t that zero to 60 times hold no value, but more that they’re much less important now than ever before. If acceleration is the most important factor to you when buying a new car, then why would you ever consider a super expensive ICE sports coupe or sedan when there are a bevy of electric vehicles that will just beat you without even breaking a sweat.
It means less and less when sports car manufacturers tout super low zero to 60 times, because speed is now accessible. Your twin-turbo V-8 coupe gets to 60 miles an hour in 3 seconds? So does a Hyundai family SUV.In a world where insane acceleration is affordable and accessible, automakers need to focus on other things to convince us that their car is worth buying.
This phenomenon is occurring in internal combustion vehicles too
Credit: Mazda
While it is clear that electric vehicles have the edge when it comes to acceleration, internal combustion cars are getting quicker and quicker by the day as well. Where it was once relatively impressive that you family vehicle could get up to 60 miles per hour in under ten seconds, cars that take eight seconds to get there are now considered to be sluggish. Affordable sports cars are also getting quicker, meaning you don’t have to spend a ton to gain access to off-the-line performance.
Family cars are getting quicker
Model
Starting MSRP
Zero to 60 MPH
Mazda 3
$24,550
7.0–5.6 Seconds
Honda Accord
$28,295
7.3–6.7 Seconds
Hyundai Sonata
$27,300
7.3–5.4 Seconds
Ford Escape
$30,350
7.7–5.8 Seconds
Dodge Hornet
$31,400
5.7 Seconds
We admit that most family cars aren’t as exceptionally quick as EVs, and they’re not likely to ever be. However, people who like to drive and want a reasonable amount of power on tap now have more options than ever before in the super mainstream areas of the automotive market. Most of the above vehicles are capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in similar amounts of time as the likes of the BMW 330i or the Audi A5.
Premium cars that demand premium prices are no longer able to simply rely on zero to 60 times to market their vehicles. When you get a mainstream Hyundai model that can keep up with a BMW off the line, acceleration begins to hold less value in the marketing of high-end cars. Even to enthusiasts who value performance above all else, there has to be another reason to choose a premium badge over a mainstream one.
Tons of choice for affordable sports cars
Model
Starting MSRP
Zero to 60 MPH
Mazda MX-5
$29,830
5.5 Seconds
Ford Mustang Ecoboost
$32,320
4.5 Seconds
Subaru BRZ
$33,210
5.5 Seconds
Hyundai Elantra N
$34,350
5.1 Seconds
Volkswagen GTI
$34,590
5.6 Seconds
Taking our point from above a step even further, there are more and more internal combustion sports cars that are both affordable and quick. For under $40,000 you can get a sporty coupe, hatchback, or sedan that delivers a zero to 60 time of under six seconds. While more premium sports cars are definitely quicker, the gap is shrinking. An Ecoboost Mustang that costs pretty close to $30,000 is within a tenth of a second of a near-$80,000 Porsche 718 Cayman.
While this showcases how acceleration is holding less meaning, it also leads us into the next section, where we explore what actually matters. If quick acceleration is slowly but surely becoming universal, what should you look for when buying an enthusiast car?
There is a ton of nuance to good sporting cars, going well beyond the figures on a spec sheet
Credit: Porsche
As acceleration continues to become more and more accessible, other factors are becoming more and more important to enthusiasts. Arguably, these things should have always defined real enthusiast cars. Rather than looking at a spec sheet and seeing which vehicle gets up to speed a couple tenths of a second faster, driving feel, feedback, and engagement are the things that should be most important.
The feel of a real sports car
Electric cars have made speed affordable and simple. You put it in its sportiest drive mode, put your foot down, and go fast. While this will definitely satisfy some buyers, there is much more to an enjoyable car than going quick in a straight line. A finely tuned chassis, strong brakes, high levels of engagement, and a steering wheel that lets you communicate with the road are some examples of what we’re talking about here.
While quick EVs can be fun, they are a one-trick-pony. In their current state, EVs are heavy and often automakers forget that drivers want the steering to feel well weighted and communicative. It’s far more fun, in our eyes, to take another second or two to get up to sixty if we can create a relationship with the car.
The Mazda MX-5, Subaru BRZ, and Porsche 718 perfectly demonstrate our point. They are dedicated sports cars, but they aren’t as quick as some of the fastest EVs. We’d still choose them in a heartbeat, though. These cars make you feel like you’re in control of everything. They let you drive them rather than them driving you. This engagement is what future electric cars with performance aspirations focus on, rather than trying to have the most impressive spec sheet.
