6 Cars That Have Absolutely No Business Being This Much Fun
Who says you need a supercar to have a good time behind the wheel? These unlikely heroes prove driving enjoyment has little to do with how much you spend.
Michael Golson
Published on 22 October 2026 | 5 mins read
Who says you need a supercar to have a good time behind the wheel? These unlikely heroes prove that driving enjoyment has very little to do with how much money you spend.
Somewhere along the line, we became a little too obsessed with horsepower. Every new performance car seemingly needs another 100bhp, another driving mode and enough tech to operate a small spaceship (or a flying car, eh Elon?)
And that’s all very impressive, of course. But there’s something to be said for a car that makes you grin without requiring a six-figure bank balance or a racetrack to enjoy it.
In fact, some of the most entertaining cars on the road are also among the most unassuming. They aren’t particularly powerful, they don’t have enormous engines and a few of them look like they should spend most of their time outside a supermarket.
But get behind the wheel and something rather wonderful happens.
Here are six used cars that have absolutely no business being quite this much fun.
Suzuki Swift Sport - A little car with a big personality
There’s something wonderfully refreshing about the Suzuki Swift Sport. It isn’t particularly glamorous, it’s unlikely to impress the neighbours and, on paper, its performance figures are hardly going to frighten a Porsche.
But that’s rather missing the point, as the Swift Sport is what happens when a manufacturer remembers that cars don’t need enormous amounts of power to be entertaining. Its low weight, a surprisingly eager engine and enthusiastic handling make it feel like an overexcited puppy.
The 2018-onwards model introduced a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, giving the lightweight Suzuki an extra dose of oomph, while later versions gained mild-hybrid assistance, but the basic recipe remained the same - keep things light, keep things simple and make the driver smile.
It’s a car that makes an ordinary journey feel slightly more interesting, without making everyday ownership particularly difficult.
The catch? The interior is fairly basic and it’s perhaps not quite as polished as some rivals. But if driving enjoyment matters more to you than soft-touch plastics, that’s hardly a deal-breaker.
Abarth 595 - A Fiat 500 that’s had far too much coffee
This bad boy takes a Fiat 500 and gives it a turbocharged engine, firmer suspension, some aggressive styling and an exhaust note that sounds wildly inappropriate for something so small.
The 595 is an utterly ridiculous little car - and we mean that as a compliment!
Depending on the version, its turbocharged 1.4-litre engine produces enough power to make this tiny Italian hatchback feel properly lively. And the more powerful Competizione models take things even further.
It’s not the most sophisticated hot hatch and nor is it particularly comfortable. In fact, on a rough road, you might find yourself wondering whether the suspension engineers had ever encountered a pothole.
But there’s something infectious about its personality.
The catch? Along with the ride being a little harsh, the rear seats are tiny and the boot isn’t exactly generous. But nobody buys an Abarth because they’re worried about carrying a wardrobe.
Volkswagen up! GTI - Proof that 115bhp is plenty
A Volkswagen up! doesn’t immediately sound like the starting point for a performance car.
It’s tiny, boxy and was primarily designed to make city driving as painless as possible.
But in typical VW fashion, they decided to give it the famous GTI treatment and the result is one of the most charming little hot hatches of recent years.
With a turbocharged 1.0-litre engine that produces just 115bhp, the up! GTI brings most of its thrills from its lightweight construction, playful handling and six-speed manual gearbox.
And with its tartan seats and familiar GTI styling touches, the up! GTI feels like a miniature tribute to the hot hatch’s glory days.
The catch? It’s still a very small city car, so naturally rear-seat space and motorway refinement aren’t its greatest strengths.
Ford Fiesta ST - The everyday hero
The Ford Fiesta is Britain’s all-time best-selling car and remains one of the nation’s most familiar motors. Even today, despite production ending in 2023, you can find them everywhere, from supermarket car parks to driving-school fleets.
But the ST is something rather different.
Ford’s performance division managed to transform the humble Fiesta into one of the most entertaining front-wheel-drive cars around, with the 2018-onwards ST particularly impressive thanks to its punchy 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, sharp steering and brilliantly judged chassis.
It’s quick, for sure, but outright speed isn’t really what makes it special, with magic being in how the whole car responds to you.
The steering feels immediate, the gearbox encourages you to get involved and the suspension makes it feel eager to change direction.
And it’s funny because, beneath all that enthusiasm, it’s still a Fiesta, with proper rear seats, a usable boot and plenty of everyday practicality.
The catch? Some examples have led enthusiastic lives, so check the service history, tyres, brakes and any modifications carefully. Insurance can be relatively expensive, too.
MINI Cooper S - Small car, cool attitude
The modern MINI has always traded heavily on its personality, but the Cooper S backs up the iconic looks with genuine driving enjoyment.
Particularly appealing are the petrol-powered Cooper S models introduced from 2014, which use a beefy turbocharged 2.0-litre engine.
Sure, that sounds like rather a lot of engine - but the result is a car that feels wonderfully energetic.
The steering is direct, the performance is strong and there’s a sense of occasion that you don’t always get.
Even the interior feels like a good time.
It’s also surprisingly versatile, and while the three-door models offer the classic MINI experience, the five-door version adds a useful dose of practicality.
And unlike some of the cars on this list, the Cooper S can be a genuinely enjoyable companion on a longer journey.
The catch? The ride can be firm, particularly on larger wheels, while servicing and repairs may cost more than those of a typical small hatchback.
Mazda MX-5 - The quintessential lightweight sports car
The Mazda MX-5 is supposed to be fun. It’s a sports car, after all.
But what makes it so remarkable is just how much enjoyment Mazda has managed to extract from such a modest package.
The fourth-generation MX-5, introduced in 2015, for example, produces just 131bhp in its original 1.5-litre form - less than plenty of perfectly ordinary family cars and nowhere near what you’d expect from a modern performance machine.
And yet it’s probably more entertaining than a great many cars with twice the power.
The MX-5 offers driving enjoyment that transcends acceleration figures, thanks to being light, beautifully balanced and wonderfully responsive.
Its manual gearbox is a particular delight and coupled with the simple pleasure of dropping the roof, makes almost any journey feel like a little occasion.
You don’t need a V8, an enormous spoiler or an outrageous price tag. Sometimes, two seats and a winding road are more than enough.
The catch? You’ll need to travel light - it’s not going to replace the family SUV. But for pure driving enjoyment, few cars deliver so much with so little. Dare we say, weekend machine?
So, do you really need more power?
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a fast car, but somewhere between the endless horsepower wars and increasingly expensive performance models, it’s easy to forget what makes driving enjoyable in the first place.
It isn’t always the acceleration and it certainly isn’t the badge or the size of the touchscreen.
Sometimes, it’s a brilliant manual gearbox, a lightweight chassis or a little engine that always tries its hardest.
These aforementioned cars prove that having fun behind the wheel doesn’t necessarily require a fortune and when you’re buying used, that opens up some rather exciting possibilities.
Because the best car isn’t always the fastest or most expensive. Sometimes, it’s simply the one that makes you smile.
Ready to find something a little more entertaining? Explore the range of used cars on Cazoo and see what catches your eye.