Front-wheel drive cars have several advantages over their rear-wheel or all-wheel drive counterparts. For starters, they are typically cheaper to build, which translates to lower prices at the dealer. Their engines are usually transversely mounted, they don't require driveshafts, and there are no major driveline components at the rear, all allowing FWD cars to be more spacious for both passengers and cargo with smaller overall dimensions. In snowy conditions, traction is also improved with the engine's weight directly over the powered wheels.

Of course, there are downsides to front-wheel drive, mainly that the front wheels are tasked with turning and powering the car simultaneously, often resulting in significant bouts of understeer when driven with gusto. Although many FWD cars can't match the performance of similar RWD cars, that's not to say there aren't some properly quick models that send their power exclusively to the front wheels. Below are the fastest models to ever hit the pavement that make do without a driveshaft.

Looking at data from MotorTrend, Car and Driver, Hagerty, and Road and Track, we have compiled a list of the fastest front wheel drive cars by comparing the 0 to 60 MPH of each individual model.

Updated on July 07, 2023: Over the decades, numerous sports cars have come and gone that have gained a place in our hearts, so we have decided to refresh and update this list. That means instead of burying this one into the endless articles lost to the internet, the original ten sports cars can be found below, and a few new ones to help expand your excitement and knowledge.

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15 Chevrolet Impala SS

Top Speed: 150 MPH

The Chevrolet Impala experienced plenty of radical changes throughout its model years, beginning in 1958 and running, with two gaps in production, until the latest generation was killed off following the 2020 model year. One of those significant changes is underscored by the performance-oriented SS model. In the mid-90s, the Impala SS was an RWD, body-on-frame sedan, but in 2006, the SS had gone front-wheel drive, and its top speed had only improved.

Performance

The 2006 Impala SS had an ungoverned top speed cresting 150 mph, making it an unassuming-looking family sedan with the heart of a V-8 muscle car. With its eye-opening top speed and the pragmaticism and affordability of being FWD, the Impala also had double duty as a police cruiser. The 2015 Impala with the Police Package (PPV) had a top speed of 149 mph.

14 Dodge Neon SRT-4

Top Speed: 153 MPH

In its basic form, the almost forgotten Dodge Neon, also branded as a Plymouth and Chrysler, was a bean-shaped, bug-eyed little economy car that did little to raise the pulse during its original production run from 1993 to 2005. But from 2003-05, Dodge lit up the Neon with the SRT-4 model, a far more aggressively styled and powered take on the compact family car.

Performance

Powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-pot offering 215 horsepower, the SRT-4 could scoot from 0-60 mph in under six seconds and on to a top speed of almost 160 mph. The SRT-4's styling loudly announced its speedy intentions with a more aggressive front fascia, scooped hood, and a spoiler that was anything but subtle. Better still, the SRT-4 commanded just $20,000 when new, a large result of its FWD orientation.

13 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Top Speed: 155 MPH

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has been known to shoot from 0 to 60 in right around 5 seconds, but for the most part, the average driver will consistently get numbers closer to 5.2 seconds, so that is where the car will fall on the list. The Golf GTI is a popular choice among high-performance enthusiasts across the globe, as well as the drifting leagues that prefer to slide through corners rather than hug them and accelerate like a rocket off the exit.

Performance

The GTI can be equipped with a smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission so you can enjoy the experience of driving, maximizing the RPM curves as you go, or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Either way, you never want to stop once you get out on the road with a Volkswagen Golf GTI.

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12 Hyundai Sonata N Line

Top Speed: 155 MPH

To some people, the Hyundai Sonata N line is a family sedan, while others think of it as a four-door sports car. Either way you care to look at it, the car can zip from a standstill with some of the best front-wheel sports cars on the market. If you still like to live in the old-school days when fast meant muscle, the Sonata N Line could even be called a modern-day muscle car with new-age technology.

Performance

Just like many sports car configurations, the Sonata N Line has a stiffened suspension system to help when traveling through corners at high speeds. Which, of course, makes the ride a little less comfortable when using the car as a daily driver. Another common problem, if you want to call it that, is the front wheels when hammering the accelerator pedal. The issue; the tires like to spin. Burning rubber is a fun recreational sport, but it does not help when you need to launch.

11 Volkswagen Scirocco

Top Speed: 155 MPH

The Volkswagen Scirocco may not be one of the most popular sports hatchbacks produced by the carmaker, giving way to the Golf GTI, but it definitely deserves your attention. Under the hood can be found the familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, but the one in the Scirocco pumps out a little more horsepower than the one found in the Golf GTI.

Performance

Unfortunately, since the Volkswagen Scirocco was designed with a front-wheel drive system rather than all-wheel drive like many sports car drivers prefer these days, it has been forgotten by all but the most deserving high-performance Affecinanoto. If you happen to be one of those people, congratulations because you have a unique sports car worth holding on to.

10 Hyundai Elantra N

Top Speed: 155 MPH

The Hyundai Elantra N is another four-door sedan that you would not think to find on a list of the quickest sports cars, but the N version of the car takes it to the next level, turning it into a high-performance version of the daily driver. For those who truly enjoy the driving experience, you can opt for a six-speed manual. Otherwise, you will have to sit back and enjoy the smooth shifting of the eight-speed automatic.

Performance

Like many modern sports sedans on the market, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N comes with a host of safety technology, including pedestrian detection and emergency braking, lane-departure detection, and adaptive cruise control. Basically, you can get all the innovative technology of today with the sports car fun of yesterday.

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9 Audi TT

Top Speed: 155 MPH

So long to the Audi TT, how we will miss ye. Audi's compact and funky-styled little corner carver has been around in various fashions since 1998. Still, after 25 years, the TT isn't just leaving the U.S. but is now bowing out of production altogether. But it will leave a legacy of being an athletic roadster/coupe and one of the fasted FWD models to hit the road.

Performance

Later front-wheel drive models were electronically limited to 155 mph, though interestingly, the TT will leave the market solely as an AWD model. The 2023 TT and its TTS, TT RS, and Heritage Editions come standard with Quattro all-wheel drive.

8 MazdaSpeed 3

Top Speed: 155 MPH

The front-wheel driven, light, and nimble MazdaSpeed 3 is a sports hatchback ready for business. Unlike the MazdaSpeed 6, it allows the driver the ability to feel the road through the electrohydraulic rack-and-pinion steering. That means that you, the driver, are in complete control. No relying on modern technology to get you down the race track.

Performance

Since Mazda is not among the most popular nameplates on the street racetracks, you could have a sleeper car that wins. Obviously, the true gearheads that know their business will already know the reputation that the vehicle has, but until you take it to them on the track, it is all just numbers to them.

7 Hyundai Veloster N

Top Speed: 155 MPH

The Hyundai Veloster N is a hot hatchback that made a unique and notable splash during its run from 2020-22. The N is the hottest version of the quirky, three-door Veloster, and it set the foundation for Hyundai's current lineup of N performance cars, including the Elantra N, Kona N, the upcoming Ioniq 5 N, and other models not available in the U.S.

Performance for a 2021 Hyundai Veloster N

The Veloster N offers a top speed of 155 mph through its 275-horsepower turbo-four, and its appropriately named Grin Shift upped its torque through an over-boost system true to its hooligan spirit. With features like adaptive dampers, a limited-slip diff, rev matching, and other performance upgrades, the Veloster N underscored that front-wheel drive cars were still capable corner carvers.

RELATED: 10 Fastest RWD Sports Cars In 2023, Ranked

6 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

Top Speed: 158 MPH

Like the Impala of the mid and late 2000s, the Chevrolet Cobalt certainly didn't look the part of a barn-stormer, but that's only if you don't include the Cobalt SS version. The Cobalt SS was offered from 2005 to 2010, and the Chevy performance model once held the record lap time for front-drive sport compacts around the Nurburgring.

Performance for a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

The Cobalt SS was offered three levels of power during its run. The SS Turbocharged was the quickest off the line with a 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds, but the SS Supercharged model topped out at 158 mph, three mph faster than its sibling. The Cobalt SS' was motivated by a 2.0-liter turbo four cranking out 260 horsepower. Alongside its sportier styling, the SS had a tuned suspension, Brembo front brakes, and a larger rear anti-roll bar to improve its athleticism.

5 Alfa Romeo GTV 3.2

Top Speed: 158 MPH

The Alfa Romeo GTV is not only a stunning car to behold, but it is also a seriously quick FWD 2+2 coupe. The GTV was in production from 1995 to 2006, and its ultimate version arrived in 2003. The GTV 3.2, as the name suggests, was motivated by a 3.2-liter V-6 cranking out 237 horsepower to the front wheels. The GTV 3.2 could hustle from 0-60 mph in under six seconds and charge to a top speed of 158 mph.

Performance for a 2002 Alfa Romeo GTV 3.2

With styling by Pininfarina, the GTV also looks great while chasing its red line, and it caters to its driver's needs. For instance, the gauges are driver-oriented. They can be had with sporty Momo seats in the front, and there are even two small seats so its owners can try and convince their spouses that it can double as a family car.

4 Renault Megane RS

Top Speed: 165 MPH

The Renault Megane RS has been serving up big sports car thrills in a small hot hatchback package for nearly 20 years. The Megane RS has delivered loud styling, a boisterous engine, ample performance, and front-wheel drive throughout its run. Unfortunately, it has remained forbidden fruit here in the U.S. and for enthusiasts worldwide because production on the Megane RS will end following the 2023 Ultime special edition.

Performance for a 2019 Renault Megane RS

The current RS is motivated by a 1.8-liter turbo-four — the same engine in the Alpine A110 sports car — cranking out close to 300 horsepower. The RS can hustle from 0-62 mph in just under six seconds and will top out north of 155 mph.

RELATED: The Funnest and Quirkiest Rear-Wheel Drive hatchbacks Ever Made

3 Mini JCW GP

Top Speed: 165 MPH

There is nothing "mini" about the performance of the limited edition 2021 Mini John Cooper Works GP. That starts with the spec sheet. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter cranks out 301 horsepower. It will zip from 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and past the quarter-mile marker in 13.1 ticks at 110 mph. And it is the fastest Mini ever made, with a top speed of 165 mph.

Performance

The JCW GP's styling is just as wild as its performance, with utterly unique fender flares, a rear spoiler that looks like it was nicked from an aerospace engineering company, the deletion of the rear seats, and a front lip that looks ready to chew up the tarmac. Just 3,000 of these special Minis were made.

2 Ford Focus RS500

Top Speed: 165 MPH

Ford has applied its RS label to cars as far back as 1968, and there are some true gems among them, including the Escort RS200, the Sierra RS Cosworth, and the Focus RS, including the most recent iteration from 2016-18. But the speediest of them all, the RS500, was also the most exclusive.

Performance

Just 500 RS500 models were produced in 2011 as the swan song for what was then the swan song of the current generation. As a fitting tribute, Ford gave the RS500's 2.5-liter give-cylinder an added power injection, upping its output to 345 horsepower with 339 pound-feet of torque.

1 Honda Civic Type R

Top Speed: 169 MPH

You may have noticed a theme in this article: many prior models listed are either out of production or on their way out. This could mean FWD cars with ludicrously quick top speeds are a thing of yesteryear, but that would dismiss the Civic Type R. The 2023 Civic Type R is the fastest front-wheel drive model to ever hit the road with a top speed of 169 mph.

Performance

In fact, the Type R set the front-wheel drive production car record around the Nurburgring with a time of 7 minutes and 44 seconds. Powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-four offering 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, the Civic Type R is the ultimate example of front-wheel drive speed.