Fastest front wheel drives
Top 32 fastest front wheel drive cars. Updated January 2022.
Front wheel drive cars tend to have less power than all wheel or rear wheel drives, therefore, top speed is not often advertised as a selling point, or something that most buyers are looking for.
Nevertheless, we still have performance-oriented front wheel drive cars, like the Renault Sport Megane, Clubsport VW Golf GTI or Honda Civic Type-R.
The limiting factor for front-wheel-drive speed is engine power. Front tyres have to transmit all engine power and take care of steering at the same time. Historically, this has set a ceiling for maximum achievable performance in a front wheel drive car. Thanks to modern tyre technology, this ceiling has been rising every year.
| # | make & model | Speed (mph)▼ | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2017 Honda Civic Type R | 169 |  |
| 2. | 2020 VW Golf GTI Clubsport | 169 |  |
| 3. | 2020 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition | 169 |  |
| 4. | 2015 Honda Civic Type R | 168 |  |
| 5. | 2010 Ford Focus RS500 | 165 |  |
| 6. | 2016 VW Golf GTI Clubsport S | 165 |  |
| 7. | 2019 Renault Megane RS Trophy | 165 |  |
| 8. | 2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP | 165 |  |
| 9. | 2009 Ford Focus RS | 163 |  |
| 10. | 2017 Seat Leon Cupra R | 163 |  |
| 11. | 2012 Opel Astra OPC 2012 | 163 |  |
| 12. | 2019 Renault Megane RS Trophy R | 163 |  |
| 13. | 2006 Opel Vectra VXR | 162 |  |
| 14. | 2006 Opel Vectra OPC | 162 |  |
| 15. | 2019 VW Golf GTI TCR | 162 |  |
| 16. | 2020 Renault Megane RS 300 | 162 |  |
| 17. | 2016 Seat Leon Cupra 290 | 161 |  |
| 18. | Cadillac DTS | 160 |  |
| 19. | 2021 Hyundai i30 N Performance | 160 |  |
| 20. | 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS/TC | 160 |  |
| 21. | 2008 Seat Leon Copa Edition | 158 |  |
| 22. | 2003 Alfa Romeo GTV 3.2 V6 24V | 158 |  |
| 23. | 2011 VW Golf GTI Edition 35 | 158 |  |
| 24. | 1987 Shelby Charger GLHS Special | 158 |  |
| 25. | 2014 Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy | 158 |  |
| 26. | 2014 Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy R | 158 |  |
| 27. | 2015 Renault Megane RS 275 Cup S | 158 |  |
| 28. | 2018 Renault Megane RS | 158 |  |
| 29. | 2012 Renault Megane RS 265 Cup | 158 |  |
| 30. | 2011 Renault Megane RS 265 Trophy | 158 |  |
| 31. | 2013 Renault Megane RS 265 | 158 |  |
| 32. | 2021 VW Golf GTI | 157 |  |
Sources
Motorsport (1, 28), FastestLaps.com (2, 9, 11, 13, 14, 18-24, 30, 31), Sport Auto France (3), Caradisiac (4, 27), EVO (5, 6, 29), Motor (7, 16), Auto Bild Sportscars (8, 12, 15, 17, 25, 26), Auto.it (10), Quattroroute (32)
List authored by Christian Zelcs. Last updated on 01/01/2022, last addition - Hyundai i30 N Performance.