The Coolest Cars Of The 90s (That Still Turn Heads Today)

There’s something about cars from the 1990s that just hits different. It was a golden era when design was bold, engines were mechanical works of art, and the word ‘analogue’ wasn’t a marketing tool — it was the norm. The decade gave us everything from outrageous Italian supercars to everyday heroes with rally pedigree, all before electronics and emissions targets took the edge off.

These machines defined a generation of enthusiasts and still turn heads today, whether parked at a car and coffee meet or tearing up the motorway. Here are six icons that prove the 90s really was the best time to fall in love with driving.

Lamborghini Diablo

It’s hard to pick just one standout supercar from the 1990s, but few have had a glow-up quite like the Lamborghini Diablo. The long-awaited successor to the iconic Countach arrived during a turbulent period for the company, passing through a carousel of owners — from Chrysler to Audi — each bringing their own corporate flavour. As a result, the Diablo became several different cars over its lifetime.

By the end of its run, with Audi’s engineering influence filtering through, the all-wheel-drive Diablo GT and its Nissan 300ZX-sourced headlights marked the model’s peak. Powered by a V12 that evolved over the years, the 6.0-litre unit in the final GT was the most intoxicating, paired with sharper handling, a better gearbox and that newfound quattro confidence.

It also carried Giorgetto Giugiaro’s design best, with modernised wheels and cleaner detailing. Where the Countach was a 1970s fantasy of futuristic excess, the Diablo was pure 90s drama — brash, powerful and glamorous.

Seeing one glide through traffic today feels even cooler than a Countach, not just for its rarity but for the balance it strikes between classic and contemporary.

BMW M5 (E39)

Ask any BMW devotee which era represents the brand’s best work and they’ll likely point to the E39 generation — and specifically, the M5. The idea of a discreet super-saloon wasn’t new, but the E39 perfected the recipe with typical M Division precision.

Unlike contemporary Audis or AMGs, the M5 came only with a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive, offering a level of driver engagement that modern automatics can only dream of. Its 4.9-litre V8 wasn’t just “good for a saloon” — it was a masterpiece: flexible and muscular at low revs, yet screaming to its redline with real theatre.

It also introduced features that became staples of modern performance cars, from its limited-slip differential to its sophisticated traction control. And it wrapped all that engineering in a body barely distinguishable from a standard 5 Series. Only the quad exhausts and subtly flared arches hinted at the performance beneath — a refreshing contrast to today’s louder, more ostentatious rivals.

Honda NSX Type R

When new, the Honda NSX struggled to win over buyers in the UK and Europe. It proved that a supercar could be civilised and usable every day, but critics complained it lacked the drama expected from an Italian exotic.

Fast forward 30 years, and the market tells a different story. The NSX Type R has become one of the most coveted cars of its era, often fetching more than many of the hypercars it once competed against.

Its magic lay in engineering rather than theatre. The 3.2-litre naturally aspirated V6 was free of turbos and superchargers but brimming with sophistication, featuring Honda’s advanced variable valve timing system. The result was a Jekyll-and-Hyde engine — docile one moment, feral the next. Pair that with a perfectly matched manual gearbox and you had one of the most finely balanced driver’s cars ever built. Spot one at a supercar meet today and you’re looking at a true collector’s prize.

Aston Martin DB7

If you’re after an elegant, sophisticated British sports car that won’t destroy your savings (at least on purchase), the original Aston Martin DB7 is a strong contender. Designed in the early 90s with sweeping curves and a newfound fluidity, it set the visual template that still defines Aston Martins today — a huge step forward for a brand previously trapped in the 1970s.

Early models used a rather modest straight-six engine, but they remain the purest expression of the design. With their slatted grilles and turbine-style wheels, they’re wonderfully evocative of their era in the best possible way.

Most DB7s were beautifully specified, too. Owners weren’t buying them to flash their wealth but to glide down the M40 from their Cotswolds retreat in quiet, effortless style — something that never goes out of fashion.

Audi RS4 Avant

The idea of a fast estate might be familiar now, but in the 1990s Audi was leading the charge — first with the RS2 and then the more ambitious RS4 Avant. At a glance it looked like a regular A4 on steroids, but under the skin it was a bespoke creation.

Almost every exterior panel was unique, save for the front doors, bonnet, roof and tailgate. The widened arches were necessary to accommodate the bigger wheels and tyres, themselves fitted to harness every ounce of power from its bespoke 2.7-litre V6 engine.

That engine, developed with British engineering firm Cosworth, shared little with the S4’s motor despite the similar displacement. Cosworth’s fingerprints are all over today’s hypercar world — from the Aston Martin Valkyrie to the GMA T.50 — and the RS4 was one of its earliest showcases.

Tuners soon recognised its potential, with many modifying cars to huge power outputs during the mid-2010s. Finding an untouched example today is difficult, which has pushed values skyward. Drive one in stock form and you’ll understand why it remains one of the coolest, most family-friendly performance cars of the 90s.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Few cars captured the 90s spirit quite like the Subaru Impreza Turbo. Its rally pedigree — complete with iconic blue-and-gold livery — made it a poster car for an entire generation, especially with British drivers dominating the World Rally Championship.

Compact, grippy and powered by a charismatic turbocharged flat-four, the Impreza WRX STI became the definition of real-world performance. Today, driving a factory-spec STI — whether a Japanese import or Type UK version — is a serious statement.

In a world now filled with silent EVs and towering SUVs, the WRX STI oozes personality. Add a roof rack or a Swiss motorway vignette, and it looks every bit the ’90s cool icon. Yes, it still carries a whiff of boy-racer energy, but that’s precisely the point — it’s authentic.

Unlike the influencer crowd wearing retro racing merch for aesthetic points, STI owners actually get the culture that made these cars legends.