Source: Dodge
Who says speed has to be expensive?
You may be surprised to learn what kind of performance you can buy for $20,000. While most of the world’s best performance cars and racers can come with price tags well into the six figures, there are still options out there for the everyman on a budget.
That’s right: For $20,000, there are a ton of options on the market for a speedy and reliable vehicle. Of course, you won’t be finding any 200-mile-per-hour supercars or roadsters that can jet from zero to 60 miles per hour in under four seconds. But there are many models that can give you plenty of jump on city streets, and provide pleasurable if not thrilling driving experiences all on their own.
We took a look at the vehicles currently on the market, and put together a list of the 10 quickest cars you can get with a budget of less than $20,000. Although many of these models come in a variety of trims, typically, the base or lower-level variants can be found for under $20,000, and are usually well worth it. Arranged by respective zero to 60 time, read on to see 10 of the quickest cars that $20,000 can buy.
Source: Volkswagen
10. Volkswagen Golf 1.8T 2-Door
German automaker Volkswagen and its family are world-famous for building some of the world’s best-performing and consumer-friendly automobiles. The company’s cars are reliable, quick, and most importantly, not very expensive. That is how the Golf earned its spot on our list — more specifically, the Golf 1.8T 2-door. With a starting price of right under $18,000, this car comes equipped with a 1.8-liter inline-four cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. Estimates put this car’s zero to 60 time between eight and 8.5 seconds.
Source: Dodge
9. Dodge Dart Aero
After years of building uninspiring small cars, Dodge has refocused itself as a builder of performance-based cars, and it’s made sure to bring some of that excitement to the compact Dart sedan. The mid-level Aero‘s base price is just five dollars short of the $20,000 mark, but it comes standard with a touch screen infotainment system, backup camera, and and active grille shutters to improve aerodynamics and fuel economy. Powered by Dodge’s 160 horsepower 1.4 liter turbocharged Tigershark inline-four, the sporty Aero can hustle from zero to 60 in 8.2 seconds.
Source: Fiat
8. Fiat 500 Turbo
Just a few years ago, you’d have to spend six figures for a sporty Italian car. As one of the most exotic compacts on the market today, few compacts offer the style and personality of the Fiat 500. While the range-topping 500 Abarth is a bona-fide hot hatch, the 500 Turbo offers many of the same performance characteristics of the Abarth at an entry-level price. For $19,600, the 500 Turbo comes with a 135 horsepower turbocharged version of the Tigershark inline-four engine (similar to the one found in the Dart), and can scramble from zero-to-60 in 8.1 seconds.
Source: Honda
7. Honda Fit EX
Honda’s most petite and fuel efficient subcompact, the Fit EX is also surprisingly quick, with a zero to 60 time of eight seconds flat. Together with a starting price of just shy of $18,000, the Honda Fit makes for a very economical selection. Boasting a small 1.5-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine, the Fit makes only 130 horsepower but puts all of it to good use. The Fit’s true claim to fame is likely its fuel economy, which rates at 35 miles per gallon combined. For its combination of reliability, and economy, and pep, few cars can match the Fit.
Source: Chevrolet
6. Chevy Sonic LTZ Manual
With a sprint from zero to 60 in 7.9 seconds, Chevy’s sporty compact Sonic LTZ powers its way onto our list. For the Sonic, Chevy engineers designed an ECOTEC 1.8-liter engine that delivers 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, balanced perfectly with outstanding fuel economy, up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway. In luxury LTZ trim, the Sonic comes with upscale features like backup camera, heated leather seats, satellite radio, and foglamps. With a five-speed manual transmission, the Sonic LTZ can be purchased for $18,835. For the automatic version, the car comes in at just over the $20,000 mark.
Source:Kia
5. Kia Forte EX
Not to be outdone by its competitors from Chevy and Honda, Kia’s Forte EX has posted an impressive 7.8 seconds from zero to 60 during testing. The 173-horsepower EX trim, which is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine, costs $19,390. It does come in another variant, the cheaper base model, the LX, for those willing to sacrifice some speed and power to save a couple of thousand bucks.
Source: Ford
4. Ford Focus SE
The Ford Focus has really managed to evolve over the years from relative afterthought to one of the most popular and efficient consumer vehicles on the road. Refreshed for 2015, the newer models are able to put up some pretty good performance numbers as well. In the SE trim level, the Focus can jet from zero to 60 in 7.5 seconds; powered by a 2.0-liter Ti-VCT flex-fuel four-cylinder engine, it can make 160 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque.
Source: Scion
3. Scion tC
When it comes to performance at a low price, you don’t want to forget about Scion. The company’s tC, a sporty and sleek hatchback-coupe hybrid, is able to make the zero to 60 mark in 7.4 seconds. Equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the tC can produce 179 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. It’s also very easy on the wallet in terms of fuel economy, being rated at 27 miles per gallon. As far as total cost, the tC will set you back $19,980.
Source: Volkswagen
2. Volkswagen Jetta SE
You have to give credit where credit is due, and the Volkswagen Jetta has certainly earned some credit. The Jetta, one of the more popular consumer cars in the world, is relatively inexpensive, reliable, refreshed for 2015, and can perform quite well. Estimates peg the Jetta SE’s zero to 60 time at right around 7.3 seconds thanks to a 1.8-liter, 170-horsepower four-cylinder turbocharged motor. The best part? The Jetta SE is only $18,995.
Source: Mazda
1. Mazda3
For now, the king of the sub-$20,000 cars (in terms of quickness, anyway) is the Mazda3, with a zero to 60 time of 6.9 seconds. The Mazda3 has been lauded by critics as one of the most cost-effective vehicles available, with a low price of $16,945. The Mazda3 comes loaded with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, making up to 184 horsepower. For your money, it’s hard to bet against the Mazda3 being your best choice. However, there are plenty of other quick and relatively cheap cars out there, so go with your gut.
Additional reporting by James Derek Sapienza
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