Here Are the 14 Best New Cars Under $45,000
000 car Cars Under $45 luxury car Sedan sport carThe market for affordable sports cars is bigger than ever. There's a whole bundle of choices available for less than $45,000, but not all of them are worth going for. Here are the ones we think you should consider.
The Focus RS is the hottest hatch on the market right now. With 350 horsepower, a manual transmission, a trick all-wheel drive system, and a dedicated drift mode, it's well worth the money.
The V8-powered 1LE squeezes just under the $45,000 mark, and believe us, it's a bargain. You get a world-class chassis, good looks, a lovely V8 engine, and old fashioned six-speed manual transmission. What more could you want?
If you're looking to tick all the boxes, the Audi S3 comes close. It's an all-wheel-drive, four-door sedan with enough power to make you smile on a backroad, with the luxury to back up that famous four-ring badge
The new Miata doesn't come close to this list's $45,000 limit, but it's so good to drive, we couldn't bear to leave it out. Whether you into the pure open top convertible or the fastback-style RF, there's no going wrong with Mazda's greatest ever creation.
Honda finally decided to give us Americans a taste of the Type R pie with this generation's Civic. The 2017 Civic Type R is every Honda fanboy's dream, with 305 horsepower, eccentric styling, and of course, a huge rear wing.
Like the Miata, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 fall well under the $45,000 mark, but their hilariously fun-to-drive characteristics means they deserve a spot on this list. With just 205 horsepower, you might be wanting for more shove at times, but once you take a corner at speed, you'll forget all about that.
There are a ton of special-edition Wranglers available from Jeep right now, but we think the Rubicon Recon might be the pick of the bunch. Big off-road tires, a unique bumper with red-painted tow hooks, and some sweet decals make this Wrangler the one to have before it's replaced later this year.
The Challenger T/A is the most expensive Challenger you can get before stepping up to the SRT or Hellcat. It has 485 horsepower, and comes standard with a manual transmission. Plus, it looks pretty sweet.
The Golf R remains one of the top choices in the mid-$30,000 sports car market thanks to its practicality, good looks, all-wheel drive, and fantastic interior. If you want luxury for cheap, this is the car to get. *An earlier version of this post listed the 2016 base price of the Golf R. It has been updated to reflect 2017 model year pricing.
Ok, hear us out. No, the Metris van isn't a sports car. But that doesn't mean it's fun to drive. Who needs an SUV or boring minivan when you can have a C-Class luxury experience with all the cargo room in the world? We know which we'd choose.
The 124 Abarth might not be as good to drive as its Miata cousin, but believe us, it's still fantastic. With a turbocharged motor and a blacked-out hood, its the perfect affordable convertible for those not into Mazda's little roadster.
Ford recently unveiled a face-lifted version of the Mustang, and this is it. What hasn't changed is that nice 5.0-liter V8, which now makes 455 horsepower, and gets the car from 0-60 in just 4 seconds. Yes, you can still get it with a manual.
You may be asking yourself why the base 2-Series is on this list instead of the more powerful M240i. Well we tested earlier versions of these cars together, and found the cheaper car was actually more fun to drive. If you value driving pleasure over speed, get the 230i.
The Subaru WRX STi's powertrain hasn't really changed in more than a decade. It's still the same flat-four EJ boxer engine, making 305 horsepower to all four wheels. Still, it's really fun to drive. And who can say no to a wing like that?
source: www.roadandtrack.com
1. Ford Focus RS - $36,120
The Focus RS is the hottest hatch on the market right now. With 350 horsepower, a manual transmission, a trick all-wheel drive system, and a dedicated drift mode, it's well worth the money.
2. Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE - $44,400
The V8-powered 1LE squeezes just under the $45,000 mark, and believe us, it's a bargain. You get a world-class chassis, good looks, a lovely V8 engine, and old fashioned six-speed manual transmission. What more could you want?
3. Audi S3 - $42,900
If you're looking to tick all the boxes, the Audi S3 comes close. It's an all-wheel-drive, four-door sedan with enough power to make you smile on a backroad, with the luxury to back up that famous four-ring badge
4. Mazda MX-5 Miata - $24,915
The new Miata doesn't come close to this list's $45,000 limit, but it's so good to drive, we couldn't bear to leave it out. Whether you into the pure open top convertible or the fastback-style RF, there's no going wrong with Mazda's greatest ever creation.
5. Honda Civic Type R - $34,775
Honda finally decided to give us Americans a taste of the Type R pie with this generation's Civic. The 2017 Civic Type R is every Honda fanboy's dream, with 305 horsepower, eccentric styling, and of course, a huge rear wing.
6. Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86 - $25,495 / $26,255
Like the Miata, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 fall well under the $45,000 mark, but their hilariously fun-to-drive characteristics means they deserve a spot on this list. With just 205 horsepower, you might be wanting for more shove at times, but once you take a corner at speed, you'll forget all about that.
7. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon - $39,145
There are a ton of special-edition Wranglers available from Jeep right now, but we think the Rubicon Recon might be the pick of the bunch. Big off-road tires, a unique bumper with red-painted tow hooks, and some sweet decals make this Wrangler the one to have before it's replaced later this year.
8. Dodge Challenger T/A 392 - $44,995
The Challenger T/A is the most expensive Challenger you can get before stepping up to the SRT or Hellcat. It has 485 horsepower, and comes standard with a manual transmission. Plus, it looks pretty sweet.
9. Volkswagen Golf R - $40,195
The Golf R remains one of the top choices in the mid-$30,000 sports car market thanks to its practicality, good looks, all-wheel drive, and fantastic interior. If you want luxury for cheap, this is the car to get. *An earlier version of this post listed the 2016 base price of the Golf R. It has been updated to reflect 2017 model year pricing.
10. Mercedes-Benz Metris - $29,950
Ok, hear us out. No, the Metris van isn't a sports car. But that doesn't mean it's fun to drive. Who needs an SUV or boring minivan when you can have a C-Class luxury experience with all the cargo room in the world? We know which we'd choose.
11. Fiat 124 Spyder Abarth - $28,195
The 124 Abarth might not be as good to drive as its Miata cousin, but believe us, it's still fantastic. With a turbocharged motor and a blacked-out hood, its the perfect affordable convertible for those not into Mazda's little roadster.
12. Ford Mustang GT - $35,095
Ford recently unveiled a face-lifted version of the Mustang, and this is it. What hasn't changed is that nice 5.0-liter V8, which now makes 455 horsepower, and gets the car from 0-60 in just 4 seconds. Yes, you can still get it with a manual.
13. BMW 230i - $33,150
You may be asking yourself why the base 2-Series is on this list instead of the more powerful M240i. Well we tested earlier versions of these cars together, and found the cheaper car was actually more fun to drive. If you value driving pleasure over speed, get the 230i.
14. Subaru WRX STi - $36,995
The Subaru WRX STi's powertrain hasn't really changed in more than a decade. It's still the same flat-four EJ boxer engine, making 305 horsepower to all four wheels. Still, it's really fun to drive. And who can say no to a wing like that?
source: www.roadandtrack.com
