The 1990s may have seen the rise of SUVs as everyday vehicles in the U.S., but the decade is also known for shedding the boxy, square designs of the 1980s and introducing a whole new class of sports cars and supercars to the market. New technology, striking designs, potent engines, and cars created by some of the most legendary high-performance teams ever. The 1990s brought a huge amount to the auto market.
As we did with the coolest cars of the 1980s, we are taking a look at the coolest, most iconic cars of the 1990s and have found information about each model and why they should be considered as some of the best of the decade.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including Classic.com and Bring A Trailer. Models are listed in ascending order, from the lowest horsepower to the highest.
1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R
Most Powerful Engine: 5.0-Liter V8 (235 Horsepower)
As the first model designed and built by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team, the 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R not only looks the part of a sleek everyday street racer, but it is packed full of performance additions that give the third-gen Fox body Mustangs a good send-off.
There were just over 100 ’93 Cobra R models ever built, and today, they are worth a small fortune. According to Classic.com, the current average auction price for a Cobra R is $162,800. There have only been two sold in the last five years via online auction, and they have become one of the most collectible Ford Mustangs ever created.
Under the hood is a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated Windsor V8 that can shift out 235 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, and while that may not sound hugely powerful, the SVT-grade enhancements in the shape of GT-40 cylinder heads, beefy roller rockers, a rock-solid five-speed manual box, and a revised intake manifold ensure that it can hit 60 mph in less than six seconds and top out at around 140 mph.
The Ford SVT stripped the Mustang of anything that was deemed unnecessary to save weight, removing the sound system, fog lights, sound deadening, air conditioning, and the rear seats, and replacing them with Koni shocks, large anti-roll bars, massive brakes, and a strut tower brace to create a proper track-focused beast.
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1991 Honda NSX
Most Powerful Engine: 3.0-Liter V6 (270 Horsepower)
You know you’re onto something good when you get development input from Ayrton Senna. Alongside the F1 legend, Honda created the exotic-looking, powerful, and road-gripping Honda NSX to take on the might of the European supercar market, and ended up making one of the most groundbreaking sports cars of the 1990s.
At the core of the ’91 NSX is a 3.0-liter DOHC V6 that boasts the VTEC system and can kick out 270 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. The mill is mid-mounted and paired with either a five-speed manual or four-speed auto transmission, but one of the real standout additions to the NSX is its lightweight aluminum monocoque chassis.
The Honda NSX is the first mass-produced car to boast an aluminum monocoque. This helps to keep the weight down to a featherweight 3,010 pounds (manual transmission models), which not only means you can hit 60 mph in around 5.7 seconds and a top speed of just under 170 mph, but also means that handling and agility are kept well in check. Paired with a near-perfect weight distribution, aluminum double-wishbone suspension, and a precise steering rig, the NSX is well-equipped to take on the more expensive Ferrari and Porsche models in the corners, and helped to create one of the best Honda sports cars ever.
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1992-2002 Mazda RX-7 Turbo
Most Powerful Engine: 1.3-Liter Bi-Turbocharged Rotary (276 Horsepower)
The Mazda RX-7 is undoubtedly one of the most iconic JDM models ever created, and while all generations have something special about them, it is the 1992-2002 FD Generation models that could be considered as some of the best, especially the turbo models. Sleekly designed, a beast of a rotary engine, and pure driver focus, there isn’t much about the RX-7 Turbo models that Mazda fans don’t enjoy. Its exterior design is low and sleek; it boasts pop-up headlights, a flowing silhouette, wide fenders, and a long hood; its whole aesthetic is a very clear departure from the boxy FC-gen RX-7.
At its core is Mazda’s legendary 13B-REW bi-turbocharged rotary engine. This little beast of an engine can redline at around 8,000 rpm, giving you peak power in the mid-7000s; it boasts a sequential turbo setup, with the primary turbo kicking in at around 1,800 rpm for low-boost, while the secondary turbo kicks in at around 4,500 rpm. This makes it feel like it never runs out of breath and can just keep pulling. To complement the free-revving, almost turbine feel of the rotary engine, the RX-7 is fitted with a front-engine/RWD layout for near-perfect weight distribution, responsive and balanced steering, and double wishbone suspension.
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1993-2001 Subaru Impreza WRX
Most Powerful Engine: 2.2-Liter Turbocharged Flat-Four (280 Horsepower)
As a model that can be considered the absolute pinnacle of 1990s Japanese performance, the Subaru Impreza WRX (GC8 generation) was built to homologate what Subaru wanted to achieve in the World Rally Championship, and it quickly became one of the most sought-after Japanese cars ever made. The zenith of the 1990s Impreza models is the Impreza WRZ STi II, which boasts a 280-horsepower mill, all-wheel drive (like all models), thicker anti-roll bars, a reinforced chassis, a beefier front strut brace, and was hand-assembled in limited numbers between 1995 and 1996.
Subaru Impreza WRX STi II Specs
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Engine |
2.2-Liter Turbocharged Flat-Four |
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Transmission |
Five-Speed Manual |
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Horsepower |
280 Horsepower |
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Torque |
268 LB-FT |
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Driveline |
All-Wheel Drive |
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0-60 MPH |
4.7 Seconds |
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Top Speed |
148 MPH |
The STi II boasts stiffer coil springs and upgraded inverted struts compared to its other Impreza counterparts; a quicker steering rack is fitted; you get a limited-slip rear diff, and lightweight 16-inch alloys. All in all, combined with the potent flat-four, the WRX STi II not only looks the part of a rally-bred street monster, but can also sprint and handle like one.
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1991-1996 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo
Most Powerful Engine: 3.0-Liter Bi-Turbocharged V6 (300 Horsepower)
As one of the most influential and iconic Nissan sports cars from the last 30 or so years, the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo takes what was impeccable about the 300ZX and takes it to a new height with a beast of a bi-turbo engine. The 3.0-liter VG30DETT DOHC 24-valve V6 under the hood is mated with twin Garrett turbochargers and dual intercoolers, with all the 300 horsepower and 283 pound-feet of torque being sent through a five-speed manual or four-speed auto transmission.
The second-generation Z32 Nissan twin-turbo 300ZX was the best sports car you could buy at the time and at its price point. It was practically flawless in every single important aspect, both in terms of drivability and comfort, proving to be one of Nissan’s most well-executed vehicles ever.
– HotCars review of the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo
You get rest-to-60 times in around five seconds and top speeds up near 155 mph, putting it well within the league of European sports cars of the time. The 300ZX Twin Turbo wasn’t just built for straight-line speed, though, and it also comes equipped with four-wheel multi-link independent suspension and Super HICAS four-wheel steering, while large disc brakes on all four corners offer huge stopping power.
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1994-1998 Toyota Supra Turbo
Most Powerful Engine: 3.0-Liter Bi-Turbocharged Inline-Six (320 Horsepower)
Though the Toyota Supra hit the market here in the U.S.A. back in ’79 and has been a legend since then, the 1994-1998 Supra Turbo (A80) sits nicely within the Japanese dominance of 1990s performance cars and shows how far Toyota has come in terms of sporty models in a relatively short amount of time.
Under the hood is a sequentially twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter 2JZ-GTE inline-six that can kick out 320 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 315 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, giving you 0-60 mph times of around 4.9 seconds. Not only is the engine a potent and relatively responsive one, but it is also renowned for its dependability, with some owners claiming that they’ve put over 500,000 miles on their 2JZ-GTE-equipped Supras with everything still intact.
You get power, reliability, and engaging handling thanks to an Active LSD, multi-link rear setup, a massive rear spoiler, a low ground clearance of 5.7 inches, and a 53:47 front/rear weight distribution. Like we have found with a fair few Japanese sports cars of the 1990s, the Supra and Supra Turbo models not only look good, but they are well set up to challenge the European sports car market at a lower price point.
To put things into perspective, the original MSRP of a 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo was a maximum of approximately $50,258 (around $110,000 today), while a 1994 Porsche Carrera 2 Speedster boasted an original MSRP of $66,000 (around $144,300 today), and can get you to 60 in around 5.5 seconds.
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1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette (C5)
Most Powerful Engine: 5.7-Liter V8 (345 Horsepower)
Blending Chevy Corvette heritage and modern engineering for the time, the 1990s Corvette C5 weighs in at around 3,300 pounds, smuggles a beast of an LS1 V8, boasts a more refined and stiffer chassis than the previous C4-gen Corvettes, and looks distinctively American. For the time, it was everything Chevrolet had been working towards. Hidden pop-up headlights, a long sculpted hood, and opposite body panels give it a sleek, modern appearance (for the time, though it still looks good today), while a driver-focused cockpit makes you feel like you are driving a proper sports car.
It was one of those cars where, the first time you see it, it just looks right. It just sits right. [It’s] the greatest performance bargain there is for the money.
– Jay Leno on the Corvette C5 via CarBuzz review
The C5-generation Corvette was the generation to boast the all-new 5.7-liter LS1 V8, which is the most powerful mill you can get in the base models. Still impressive, the base-model C5 Corvette’s engine can shift out 345 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, but if you are looking for the most extreme version of a C5 Corvette, you’ll want to look at the 2001 Corvette Z06.
This top-of-the-line model comes equipped with a 385-horsepower LS6 V8 that boasts a higher compression ratio (10.5:1), an aluminum block, improved airflow in the intake and exhaust, and higher compression pistons. Though it is not a 1990s Corvette, the 385-horsepower Z06 does carry the lineage of the ’90s models, just with more guts.
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1993 Porsche 911 964 Turbo 3.6
Most Powerful Engine: 3.6-Liter Turbocharged Flat-Six (355 Horsepower)
It looks like a Porsche 911, but there are some very notable differences that make the ’93 911 Turbo an absolute beast. It keeps the classic 911 shape with round headlights and a sloping rear, but is far more aggressive looking thanks to wider fenders, integrated bumpers, and a large fixed rear spoiler.
Functional air intakes feed the engine, intercoolers, and brakes, while its muscular stance hints that it may just do a little bit more than your ‘regular’ Porsche 911s. At the heart of what makes this one of the most collectible and loved Porsche models (apart from purists who would prefer their flat-six naturally aspirated) is the 3.6-liter air-cooled flat-six mated with a KKK K27 turbocharger.
The 911 Turbo’s mill can shift out 355 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 384 pound-feet of torque at 4,600 rpm. Porsche reinforced the engine with forged pistons, a strong crankshaft, and tough connecting rods to handle all the boost they added to an already legendary Porsche engine. All this translates to sprint times of around 4.6 seconds. Today, these models are very collectible and, therefore, very expensive, with the current average auction price sitting at $410,477, but the ’93 turbo model is in a league of its own when it comes to 1990s Porsche models.
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1992-2002 Dodge Viper
Most Powerful Engine: 8.0-Liter V10 (400 Horsepower)
Garnering a reputation as one of the most iconic American sports cars of all-time, and for an unfiltered, raw driving experience, the low-slung, aggressive-looking, hands-on Dodge Viper SR is epic for its minimalist approach in an era when a lot of performance nannies were being added to some of the market’s finest sports cars.
The Viper boasts a very simple look that has made it instantly recognizable as a 1990s legend. It showcases a long, low hood, wide fenders, a short deck, side-exit exhausts, rounded-off headlights, sculpted lines down the body that are kept minimal, and a snarling stance that gives you an idea that it is made to be driven properly.
It looks fantastic, it sounds like a brute, and it can handle exceptionally well thanks to a double-wishbone suspension rig at the front and rear, wide tires, a near-ideal 50:50 weight distribution, and a low ground clearance of five inches. Early models get you a mechanical rack-and-pinion steering setup, which offers unfiltered and engaging feedback, while from ’96 onward, a power-assisted rig was added, which just helps with steering at low speeds while still keeping hold of the hands-on feel at high speeds.
The 1990s Viper models come equipped with a gargantuan 8.0-liter NA V10 that can pack as much of a punch as you’d expect, with maximum power and torque blasting out at 400 horsepower and 465 pound-feet. That means 0–60 mph times in as little as four seconds and top speeds of approximately 165 mph.
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1990-2001 Lamborghini Diablo
Most Powerful Engine: 6.0-Liter V12 (595 Horsepower)
Iconic supercars and Lamborghini go hand-in-hand, and while the ’90s scene was very alive and kicking with models like the Jaguar XJ220, the McLaren F1, the Ferrari F50, and the Bugatti EB110, it is the Lamborghini Diablo that can represent the apex of supercar design of the era.
Introduced as the successor to the legendary Countach, the Diablo combined outrageous design — only fitting for an Italian supercar — with an animal of a V12 and oodles of performance features. There are a multitude of Diablo models from the 1990s, all with something a little extra added each time and different setups, including:
- 1990-1993 Lamborghini Diablo
- 1993-1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT
- 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30
- 1995 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Jota
- 1995-1998 Lamborghini SV
- 1995-1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster
- 1998-1999 Lamborghini Diablo SV
- 1998-2000 Lamborghini Diablo VT
- 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GT
The original Diablo is no slouch and boasts a 5.7-liter V12 good for 485 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. It showcases a 48-valve DOHC layout and six Weber-Marelli fuel-injection throttle bodies, which gives you proper Lamborghini noise and a broad power band, pinning the early models to 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds.
The most powerful stock engine found under the hood of a Diablo is in the special-edition track-only Diablo GT (1999). This upgraded V12 has had its displacement upped to 6.0 liters, revised intake and exhaust components added, and strengthened internals fitted, all of which translate to output of 595 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, 0–60 mph times of 3.6 seconds, and top speeds of over 200 mph.
For people in the know, regardless of what Diablo you are seen driving in, it is going to make you stand out (for its scissor doors, wedge shape, and high-pitched roar NA V12), but also thanks to the Diablo’s exclusive breeding, performance-focused design, iconic status, and true exotic car stance.
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