Subaru BRZ

Base price: $26,680

Think of the Subaru BRZ as a lighter, four-cylinder Nissan 370Z—or as a slightly larger, hardtop Mazda MX-5 Miata. Either way, it's a lightweight, rear-drive coupe with delightfully neutral handling characteristics. Novice drivers would do well to get behind the wheel of one and suss out the differences between understeer and oversteer to learn the finer points of vehicle control. The BRZ's chassis is so playful, one needn't carry huge speed around corners to enjoy its limits. As a bonus, its cabin offers four seats (the rears are only suitable for children, but, hey, it's still two more seats than the Miata or 370Z) that can fold down to create a large pass-through to the trunk area. So, it's almost practical.