Rankings are based on independently published tests currently included in the 0–60 Specs database. Vehicles without a qualifying published test in our database are not included.
Fastest Cars of the 2021 from 0-60
Median 0–60 mph
5.10sec
Average 5.28s
Qualifying Vehicles
160
2021–2021 model years
Verified Tests
465
Tests in this category
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Top 10 Fastest
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1
Tesla Model S
1.98s
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2
Ferrari SF90 Stradale
2.00s
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3
Porsche 911
2.10s
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4
Porsche Taycan
2.40s
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5
Lamborghini Huracán
2.60s
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6
Porsche Panamera
2.60s
-
7
Mercedes-AMG GT63
2.60s
-
8
BMW M5
2.70s
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9
Chevrolet Corvette
2.90s
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10
Mercedes-AMG GT
2.90s
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Methodology & Eligibility
- Production-only by default. The canonical ranking counts factory-production vehicles. Use the toggle to include modified / tuner builds.
- One entry per model. Each model is represented by its single fastest verified result — repeated publication tests are collapsed.
- Ranked by 0–60 mph. Lower is faster; ties are broken by the earliest recorded test.
- Verified tests only. Every result comes from an independently published road test in our database.
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Full Rankings
vehicles shown
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Category Statistics
1.98sFastest 0–60 mph
5.10sMedian
5.28sAverage
10.40sSlowest qualifying
160Qualifying vehicles
Median is preferred over average — it is less influenced by a handful of exceptionally quick outliers. Statistics reflect production results only.
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Common Traits Among the Fastest Cars of 2021
This set of 160 vehicles is defined by all-wheel drive more than anything else: AWD accounts for 68 percent, with RWD at 18 percent and FWD at 14 percent. The group averages 381 hp, 387 lb-ft, and 4,289 lb, with a typical power-to-weight balance of 88.5 hp per 1,000 lb or 11.3 lb per hp.
Forced induction is common but not universal. Turbocharged models make up 44 percent, while naturally aspirated entries account for 24 percent. Manuals are rare at 5 percent, which helps explain why quick-launch automatic and electrified drivetrains dominate much of the front of this ranking.
18%Rear-wheel drive
68%All-wheel drive
14%Front-wheel drive
381 hpAvg horsepower
387 lb-ftAvg torque
4,289 lbAvg curb weight
88.5 hp/1,000 lbPower-to-weight
5%Manual gearbox
44%Turbocharged
2021Avg model year
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Why Horsepower Isn't Everything
Raw output is only part of the story. Even in a field averaging 381 hp, 0-60 mph results are shaped by how much mass that power has to move, and this group averages 4,289 lb. That is why the 88.5 hp per 1,000 lb figure and 11.3 lb per hp ratio are more useful than horsepower alone when comparing real acceleration.
Gearing, tire grip, and drivetrain traction matter just as much at launch. AWD layouts are 68 percent of this field for a reason: they help convert power into motion. Cars that are lighter, better geared, or able to deploy torque cleanly can outperform more powerful rivals that carry extra weight or struggle for traction.
Horsepower vs 0–60 mph
One dot per vehicle · 160 plotted
One dot per vehicle · 160 plotted
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200
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1,000
Horsepower →
0–60 mph (seconds) →
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Top 10 ranked
All other vehicles
Each dot is one vehicle at its fastest verified run. Exact figures for every point are in the full rankings.
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Brands With the Most Cars of 2021
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Powertrain Breakdown
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Cars of 2021 by Decade
This category is tightly focused on one model year, so its decade view is effectively a snapshot of the current era rather than a long historical progression. All 160 qualifying vehicles come from the 2020s, and the median 0-60 mph figure for that decade within this group is 5.1.
Because every entry here is from 2021, there are no earlier decade medians to compare against on this page. What the available figure does show is the present standard: for this model-year cohort, a mid-5-second median now sits at the center of the field.
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Records & Superlatives
The category leaders show several valid ways to reach the top. The electric benchmark is the 2021 Tesla Model S at 1.98, while the hybrid mark belongs to the 2021 Ferrari SF90 Stradale at 2. The fastest turbocharged entry is the 2021 Porsche 911 at 2.1, and the naturally aspirated leader is the 2021 Lamborghini Huracan at 2.6.
Drivetrain and transmission records widen that picture. AWD leads at 1.98, RWD reaches 2.6, and FWD trails at 4.7. Among gearboxes, the quickest automatic is 2, the quickest manual is 3.8, the quickest dual-clutch is 3.3, and the quickest CVT is 5.4. The spread shows launch traction and transmission behavior can matter as much as engine type.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which 2021 model is quickest to 60 mph?
The quickest entry is the 2021 Tesla Model S, and its best recorded 0-60 mph time is 1.98 seconds. That result makes the 2021 leader the benchmark for this group.
How many 2021 cars are included, and how wide is the performance spread?
This ranking includes 160 vehicles. The range runs from 1.98 seconds at the top to 10.4 seconds at the back, so the field covers everything from ultra-quick launches to more mainstream acceleration.
What does a typical 2021 car in this ranking do from 0-60 mph?
The median result is 5.1 seconds, which is the clearest picture of the middle of the pack. The average is 5.28 seconds, and comparing those two times helps show whether the quickest outliers are pulling the mean downward.
Why is the order based on 0-60 mph instead of horsepower?
Because 0–60 mph measures the actual outcome on the road, not just engine output. In this category, lighter vehicles and models with better traction, gearing, or launch behavior can rank ahead of heavier cars with bigger power figures.
What qualifies a vehicle for this 2021 ranking?
A vehicle needs to be one of the Cars of 2021 with a recorded 0–60 mph result for the 2021 model year. Once it qualifies, placement is determined by quickest to slowest time.