10 ITALIAN SPORTS CARS WITH THE MOST RELIABLE ENGINES

Italian sports cars are among the very finest in the world when it comes to polymerizing striking looks with needle-eyed performance, but they’ve very rarely been known for their reliability. The Italians are trumped by the Germans and even the British on that account.

Seeing an Italian car on the side of a road with the hood up and a sizable amount of smoke emanating from its engine bay is not uncommon. In fact, there are plenty of classic Italian sports cars that we wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole, and no manufacturer represents this better than Alfa Romeo.

But despite the infamous reputation held by Italian sports cars, are there any that actually have reliable engines? Amidst the mechanical chaos and service bill headache, have any actually managed to escape the clutches of unreliability? Yes, actually, and here are 10 of the most dependable:

Ferrari 360 Modena

A proper analogue sports car that encapsulates everything we love about Italian flare and speed, we believe first-time Ferrari buyers should consider the 360 Modena for a number of reasons. But aside from the obvious, the 360 Modena is also known for its reliability, thanks to its extremely dependable 3.6-liter V8 engine.

Be sure to look for one that has already been recalled for the cam variator, which affected the earlier models. It also comes in a choice of either a gated manual (heart eyes!) or the fancy F1 paddle shift transmission, the latter of which tends to wear quite quickly. Stay on top of these niggles in the first instance, and the 360 Modena is a joy to live with.

Fiat 124 Spider

This is a bit of a trickier one to land on, because the 124 can either be fairly reliable or very unreliable, depending on your luck with the example you buy. Let’s say you landed on the luckier side of the coin, and it retains the solid underpinnings of the Mazda MX-5 upon which it’s based, you’re in for a treat with its turbocharged four-cylinder.

That’s exactly why the Fiat 124 Spider is one of the best used sports cars you can buy today – if you find the right one. Aside from the actual platform being strong, and its transmission being near bulletproof, the later examples of the Fiat four-cylinder engine are remarkably adept. That’s exactly why Kelly Blue Book has given the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider a 4.9 reliability rating.

Alfa Romeo 4C

The 4C had its fair share of critics when it was released, partially because of its high pricing, but mostly because of the brand’s horrible reputation for unreliability. This little go-kart, however, has completely rewritten that assumption. Its turbocharged 1.7-liter four-cylinder motor only makes 237 hp, but its carbon fiber tub brings the overall weight right down. Those are just a few of the reasons why the Alfa Romeo 4C is an amazing sports car.

So, not only is it a driver’s dream, but the 2018 Alfa Romeo 4C has also been given a 4.9 reliability score on Kelly Blue Book. It’s quite possibly the most reliable car to come from the Milanese firm, and that’s pretty high praise for a manufacturer that has almost always got everything right … except the durability of its cars.

Related: 10 Classic Italian Sports Cars We Would Love To Drive Instead Of A Modern Supercar

Lamborghini Gallardo

We miss the 2003-2008 Lamborghini Gallardo. It is such a thrill by any conceivable metric, but more than just that, the number of people that actually daily their examples goes to show just how strong it and its legendary 5.0-liter V10 are. This may also be the reason behind its high customer satisfaction rating.

But as with all expensive cars, maintenance and regular servicing is a non-negotiable if you want it to remain a reliable sports car to live with. If you’re willing to fork out the interval costs, then a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo will show you why it gets a five-star reliability rating from Kelley Blue Book in no time.

Ferrari 458 Italia

So often billed as one of the most heroic stallions to emerge from the stables of Maranello, Jeremy Clarkson even referred to it as an “all-time great” during his ‘Ferrari 458 vs Ferrari 430’ review. As a thing to get in and drive, you really can’t fault the 458 and its mid-mounted F136 4.5-liter V8. It just loves to rev, and despite owners happily obliging, it doesn’t end up on the side of the road as often as you may think.

The early versions had gearbox malfunctions, so try and opt for one of the later models if possible. Besides that, keep an eye on maintaining the general wear and tear, as well as that glorious engine, and you’ll find the 458 to be a fantastically reliable car. No wonder it wipes the floor with the F8 Tributo – the car billed as its successor.

Maserati GranTurismo

Similar to Alfa Romeo, Maserati hasn’t always had the sternest of reputations when it comes to reliability. However, the GranTurismo is a car that, like the 4C, doesn’t follow the usual pattern. Its 4.7-liter Ferrari-derived V8 is remarkably strong, and doesn’t have the usual issues that came with its predecessor.

When you consider a reliability score of 4.8 for the 2019 Maserati Granturismo from Kelley Blue Book, alongside its brilliant engine note and the limits to which this car can be pushed, you begin to understand just why there are so many things that we love about the Maserati GranTurismo.

Related: 10 Of The Most Gorgeous Italian Cars Ever Made

Lamborghini Huracán

The Huracán is finally bowing out, and what a career it’s had. Originally intended to be the replacement for the aforementioned Gallardo, the Huracán and its 5.2-liter V10 will go down as one of the very best raging bulls ever. That’s not necessarily because it’s a great car, which it absolutely is, but it’s more to do with the fact that the Huracán can be used as a genuine daily.

The 2022 Lamborghini Huracán has a five-star reliability rating from Kelley Blue Book for some measure and is consistently considered to be among the most reliable supercars ever made. It also explains why over 20,000 road car examples have been sold since its launch in 2014. What else would you expect from what is officially Instagram’s favorite supercar around the world?

Ferrari SF90 Stradale

The car that looks to usher in a new age for Maranello, the 2023 Ferrari SF90 Stradale combines the best of both worlds by merging three electric motors with a twin-turbocharged V8. Producing just shy of 1,000 hp at peak output, it is by far the fastest and most powerful car on this list, and one of the quickest cars ever made.

Unlike a lot of other Ferrari models, the SF90 didn’t require a huge recall after initial customer deliveries commenced. That alone proves its stern reliability, but the fact that such few issues have emanated in the time since adds further proof to the argument. It’s not cheap, starting at over $515,000, but it's entirely justified when you remember that it is the best new Ferrari you can buy today.

Maserati MC20

When official images of the 2023 Maserati MC20 first came to light, there isn’t a gearhead out there who wasn't licking their lips. Like the SF90, the MC20 exists to help Maserati transition into the next stage of its story, and was built to be a reliable, daily-use supercar that can tear a hole through time when you want it to.

It’s still relatively new and will continue to be absurdly rare, but given that it was made with one keen eye on actually being useable, following in the GranTurismo’s footsteps in the process, we can imagine few issues will actually come about for owners. Maserati has aimed sky-high with the MC20 Cielo convertible version, and we do hope it continues to maintain its strong reputation. Reliability will no doubt play a big role in that.

Related: 10 Proper Italian Sports Cars That Are Surprisingly Cheap To Own And Maintain

Lancia Stratos

While this list has predominantly contained the most exotic Italian cars since the turn of the millennium, the real winner should actually be the now 50-year-old Lancia Stratos and its iconic Dino V6 engine. It’s wholly understandable why the rally car inspired supercar designs for decades, and also why it is still remembered so fondly as an automotive legend.

A car that looks like this and inspired a modern remake only tells half the story, since the remaining qualities of the Stratos simmer down to just how tough this thing is. A Stratos will never let you down, and that’s why we believe it to be the most reliable sports car and engine pairing to come out of Italy.

2023-03-30T12:11:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd