Motoring TV 2016 Sports Car of the Year (02:20)

When it comes to affordable fun, you'd be hard pressed to find a better option than a true blue sports car.

For 2016, the car-buying public was blessed with plenty of great sports car choices, with three in particular rising to the top.

The Audi S3 was an early favourite for obvious reasons, with its no-compromise ways meeting the needs of both family and fun.

Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder delivers 300 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque, while its quattro all-wheel drive system and taut suspension makes it handle like a dream.

When it comes to sports cars, the modern pony car checks a lot of boxes.

Such is the case with the Chevrolet Camaro, which was completely overhauled for 2016, and is available with three engine choices, each more powerful than the next.

"The handling is sharper (than its predecessor) without feeling twitchy, the response to driver input is now refined and it has grip to spare," says Graeme Fletcher.

And then, of course, there's the new Mazda MX-5.

The MX-5 has defined the modern sports car for the last 25 years, and the latest version does nothing to change that, and "has the innate ability to transform a mundane drive into something to relish," according to Graeme.

With three great finalists, check out which one took home the title as Motoring TV's 2016 Sports Car of the Year!

This segment originally appeared on Episode 13 of Motoring 2016.