The average price of a new car is now over $30,000. That is a not-insignificant chunk of change, and we know that you can drive away from a dealer in something new and fun for less money. A long discussion among the R&T staff led to this list: a dozen of our favorite cars that come in under the magic $30,000 number.
Not everything that should be on the list is on the list, of course. And you will likely cry foul over some of our picks. Fine. Call us out. This is a subjective and unscientific roster that involved no small amount of bickering on our end, either. The final lineup reflects the variety of different vehicles we considered: domestics and foreign cars, coupes and convertibles, front-drivers and rear-drivers, different engine layouts, and even crossovers. It’s a good cross-section of what we like to drive, and we've driven everything on this list.
The picture isn't numbered because we couldn’t pick a winner, considering how diverse the group is. So consider these, in no particular order, 12 of the best cars under $30,000 out there right now.
Best Cars Under $30k
The average price of a new car is over $30,000, but who says enthusiasts need to drop that much coin? Here are a dozen of our personal faves you can scoop up for less than that.
2013 Ford Mustang V6
This thing sounds great. It growls like a period muscle car, and hustles like … well, a period muscle car. There's axle hop, sure, that'll turn pure-handling and ride junkies off. But don’t miss the bigger picture: This isn't the GT, but it's still a real performance Mustang. Its 305 hp shames many older V8 examples. Option the Performance Package, six-speed, and 3.31 LSD, and it'll also out-handle them. Yeah, the GT has more grunt, but this thing is a heck of a lot cheaper. Just skip the Premium Package to come in a few grand under our $30K cap. That being said, the Recaros might be worth the $1500 hit. – Alex Kierstein
2013 Mini Cooper S
The Mini might have grown since the last time it was included in our list of the 12 best cars under $30K, but that won’t stop the Mini Cooper S from a repeat appearance. With still-tidy dimensions, fantastic outward visibility, and an upright driving posture, the Mini makes for a great city car. It also boasts a 35-mpg-highway fuel-economy rating. Wring out the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and exercise the six-speed Getrag manual transmission, and you’ll quickly get a reminder of the Mini’s back-road prowess. The Mini Cooper S starts at a comfortable $23,300 and has factory and aftermarket support options that’ll make your head swim. So if add-ons are your thing, this is your car. —Chris Cantle
2014 Chevrolet Sonic RS
When you think about Chevy performance, you probably go straight to obvious nameplates like Corvette and Camaro. Duh. But as Yoda said, “There is another.” At the opposite end of the price spectrum is a nugget of fun that raises the question: Why would you buy a Mini Cooper or Fiat 500 instead? Don’t dismiss the RS as just an appearance package for the Turbo. Yes, engine output’s the same, but stiffer suspension, shorter gearing, and disc brakes all around add up to a relentlessly entertaining, efficient, and practical daily driver. Just be sure to pick the six-speed stick to ensure maximum fun. —Alex Nunez
2013 Ford Focus ST
On these shores, the reigning king of maniac hot-hatches is the 252-hp 2013 Ford Focus ST. That title alone should give Ford’s feisty four-door a place in our 12-best list; and at a starting price of $23,700, the Focus ST is a bargain proposition to boot. The muscle and economic arguments don’t tell the whole story though: Ford packed some civility into the Focus ST, making it a surprisingly comfortable and well-rounded hoon-tool. For that, we’ll forgive a little torque steer. —Chris Cantle
2013 Mazda CX-5
Small SUVs and crossovers are eminently useful conveyances. Most of them are also incredible bores. Not so with the Mazda CX-5. First off, it looks great, sporting Mazda’s latest design language. There’s actual curbside appeal here. It also does all the traditional small crossover things quite well, such as hauling kids, pets, and the metric ton of pretzel sticks you just impulse-bought from Costco. More important, driving the CX-5 won’t make you feel like you’ve just downed a bottle of NyQuil. The steering’s great, and the suspension is ace. You’ll want to take the long, curvy road home every time, even with your kids screaming and hitting each other in back. —Alex Nunez
2013 Acura ILX
Acura’s product planning becomes more head-scratching by the minute, and the ILX seems lost in a never-never land. Until you drive the 2.4-liter, manual-transmission version. It’s a very quick reminder that Honda once made the best four-banger powertrains in the business: The engine and transmission each earn 10 of 10 possible points. Acura ruins the whole car by not letting you get the Tech Package with the manual, but if you’re a powertrain junkie, the ILX is one hell of a riot. – Jason Cammisa
2013 Mazda 2
You don't need a lot of power when your chassis engineers are on top of their game. The Mazda 2 is pretty much the gold standard for no-frills handling enjoyment. The shifter feel and torsion-beam rear suspension are classically perfect. While its Fiesta cousin offers a turbo, there's something satisfying about making the Mazda 2 sweat a bit, which is easy and fun to do at around-town velocities. Drive a 500-hp car that hard and you’ll end up with a free ride in an ambulance. If you're lucky. The Mazda 2 is as good an example as any to demonstrate how one-fifth the power output doesn't necessarily equal one-fifth the fun. – Alex Kierstein
2013 Dodge Challenger
If you're looking for big, bruising power in a handsome if husky package that's otherwise unencumbered by refinement, the Challenger's your huckleberry. Sure, some of the interior plastics in the mandatory dark-grey interior are as hard as a prison bunk, and the suspension's as soft as penitentiary gruel, but the 5.7-liter VVT V8's powerband is fatter than the laziest warden: 375 horses and 410 lb-ft worth of torque poured through six manual speeds. You'll have to live with monochrome paint and cloth seats, but the Challenger delivers more brutish grunt than you'll find anywhere outside of the exercise yard. —John Krewson
2013 Mazda MX-5 Club
The Club is only the mid-level Miata, but you'll still only shell out $29 grand for the six-speed, limited-slip version of the sports car no one will shut up about. Did you roll your eyes at seeing it here? Stuff your complaints, Grumpy, because while it may not generate big numbers or ooze sex appeal, it’s fun in big, big buckets—and it’s probably still a better car than you’re a driver. Save yourself $1700 and 80 pounds, get the cloth top, and get the whole roadster experience on the cheap. Or keep the powered hardtop, throw on some Hakkas, and drive it all winter. Either way, they’ll have to use a crowbar to get the smile off your face. – John Krewson
2012 Volkswagen GTI
There’s a reason the Golf is one of the best-selling cars in the world: It does almost everything better than other cars. It’s well-built, reliable, pretty, fun to drive, gets good gas mileage, fits all kinds of people and stuff, and it’s small enough to park anywhere. Best yet, it’s well equipped for $25 grand. It’s the most fun-per-dollar, period. It might just be the world’s most perfect car. – Jason Cammisa
2014 Mazda 6
Workaday family sedans are the Valium of the car business, with one exception: the Mazda 6. It’s beautiful to look at, but it’s even better to drive. Electric power steering means there’s no feedback at the wheel, but the rest of the 6 driving experience is like you’re in a big Miata. Brilliant chassis calibration, a willing powertrain, and no ergonomic flaws to ruin its big, usable cabin. Yes, please. – Jason Cammisa
