10 Best New Cars Under $20,000. Part 2

Mitsubishi Lancer The Lancer definitely catches the eye as one of the more attractive new cars under $20K that you can find, looking as elegant and stylish as a model that would cost much more. Its performance, though, is solidly in the middle of the $20,000 or less pack. The four-cylinder 2.0L engine kicks out 148hp but definitely lags at times, and the interior is generic with nothing that stands out . Buy it for the looks rather than the ride.

Scion iM. While the biggest appeal of the Lancer is its appearance, the reason to purchase the Scion iM is the long list of features that are standard on this sub-$20K model including a six-speaker Pioneer sound system and a large 7 touchscreen. This is a four-door hatchback with a CVT automatic transmission but without a ton of get-up-and-go, using a 1.8 Four-cylinder that only generates 137 horsepower. Its quiet, its somewhat sporty-looking  and the stereo is fabulous.

Chevy Cruze Lots and lots of room; thats the reason to go for the Cruze. This four-door coupe (which also comes in a hatchback) looks and feels like a bigger car, and its not an optical illusion. Theres lots of head and legroom, ample storage space and a wide wheelbase to boot. The engine isnt overly impressive (its a 1.4 Liter turbo four-cylinder) but the acceleration is good thanks to a lightweight construction, and the ride is extremely smooth.

You wont call this a fun car to drive, but youll definitely find the experience and comfort quite similar to that of driving a larger model. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Can you find a good SUV under $20,000? Actually you can, and the Outlander Sport is the one wed choose. The new model has been redesigned with a distinctive, modern look that resembles a hatchback, and the sub-$20K version features front-wheel drive and a 2.0 Liter four that kicks out 148 hp with a five-speed manual transmission. Theres a decent amount of room inside, but dont mistake this for a full-sized, powerful or elegant SUV; the interior is somewhat cheap and the vehicle is somewhat small.

But youre paying a lot less than you would for a full-sized, powerful, elegant SUV, and this Mitsubishi is a very good value. Toyota Corolla Just as with the Civic, you know what youre getting with a Corolla; its not exciting, spacious or groundbreaking, but its dependable and efficient. The current LE Plus model is available at just under our maximum price point and has a 1.8 Liter four that generates 132 horsepower for your trips to work or the store, along with a gearless CVT automatic transmission. Its hard to think of a Corolla as new but they do make slight changes every year to this venerable car, so  it qualifies as one of our 10 best new cars under $20,000.

Subaru Impreza Subaru has been upping the Imprezas game in recent years, and the newest model is more powerful, larger, better looking  and safer, according to the automaker  than its predecessors. Theres now a direct-inject 2.0 Liter Boxer four under the hood, the sedan is longer and wider than in the past, and the all-wheel drive is a very nice feature, particularly with a 37 mpg highway rating. The interior doesnt have anything that will make you say wow, but even so, the Impreza is finally worth of a top-10 rating. Hyundai Elantra Ten years ago we would have had to describe the Elantra in detail, but its now approaching Civic and Corolla status; you know what youre going to get for its under-$20K price.

Theres an attractive, curvy style, a 1.8 Liter, 145-horse engine, decent performance and ride, an interior thats not fancy but has some very nice tech features  and the famed Hyundai reliability. Chevy Sonic $15,000 is under $20,000, isnt it? You dont have to spend all of your budget to get a very good new car, since buying the Sonic will leave you about $5,000 left over for gas. Alternately, you can spend some of that money to upgrade from the 1.8 Liter version to a 1.4 Turbo that will give the Sonic a lot more zip and increase mileage up to 40 mpg. Throw in the included in-car Wi-Fi, cool exterior color choices, and the Sonics strong suspension and corner-hugging ability, and this is a small car that makes a big impact.

Nissan Sentra You normally think that you know what youre getting with a Sentra sedan, but the newest models have upgraded to provide more interior room and a slightly snazzier look that resembles the Altima. Once you get past that, though, you really do know what youre getting: a small family car that drives well but doesnt have the power or handling to set it apart from the pack, except for the new CVT automatic transmission that does let you accelerate better than with previous models. Simply put, its a Sentra, and Sentras are good cars in the under-$20K class. Kia Rio We close with one more option in the $15,000 range which offers a lot for the money.

The Kia Rio is a subcompact that makes the most of its 1.6 Liter four, generating 138 horses and powering you up the highway on-ramp without an issue. Theres lots of leg and cargo space (you can choose a hatchback or a four-door model), and the leather seats are a very nice addition. If youve turned up your nose at the name Kia in the past, its time for another look..