Prius c Yes, you really can get a Prius for less than $20K. The Prius c is a subcompact hatchback thats naturally rather small, but its still comfortable and has most of the interior features youll find on $25,000+ Prius models. It looks like a Prius but even drives better than many of its cousins, since the Prius c is actually built on a Toyota Yaris platform. That gives it more precise handling and stability.
The 60 hp electric motor and 73 hp 1.5 Liter four-cylinder arent going to win you any races, or even get you onto the highway quickly. But a Prius is automatically the best on any list of fuel-efficient cars under $20,000; youll be getting 53 mpg in the city, and isnt that why you buy a Prius in the first place? Fiat 500 Turbo We wouldnt call any of the small and squat Fiat 500s sports cars, but youre not going to find any real sports car under $20,000 unless you buy a used one. What you do get from the Fiat 500 Turbo, however, is lots of pep and sporty performance for just under 10 grand. Theres only a 1.4 Liter MultiAir in-line four under the hood, but the turbocharger boosts overall horsepower by another 34 percent and pushes 150 pound-feet of torque; in a small and lightweight vehicle with a sport-tuned suspension, thats going to get you where want to go pretty quickly.
The interior is small but its well-equipped, the build is impressive, and the Fiat 500 Turbo is rated at 34 mpg. Dodge Dart SE. Once upon a time, the Dart was a budget model that some might have called a POS. Today its Italian-engineered, American-built, and a sporty and good-looking sedan.
The Dart SE is available in either 1.4 Liter turbo or naturally-aspirated 2.0 Versions, each at 160 hp; with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic it comes in right around $19,000. For gas mileage and better performance choose the turbo model that gets 41 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined, although the 2.4 Liter option thatll take you just over the $20K price point will give the Dart a noticeable boost in oomph. Ford Focus SE. Another American car with a European feel is the Focus, which was designed overseas with echoes of an Aston Martin design.
It looks good, but dont expect this to be an exotic ride; its one of the worlds most popular everyday vehicles because of its solid, practical attributes. For just under $20,000 youll get a 2.0 Liter, 160 horsepower engine with five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, in your choice of sedan or hatchback. The pickup isnt spectacular, particularly in the larger sedan, but handling is well above average, there are lots of interior extras, and youll get well over 33 mpg combined. Mazda 3 A German sports car under $20,000? Not really, but pretty darned close.
The Mazda 3 has been a standard on best new car lists over the years because of its combination of stylish looks and tight handling. To stay under budget youll have to go with the i model with 2.0 Liter four-cylinder than can push 155 horses, since the beefier 2.5 Liter s model will run a few grand more. Even so, youll still get lots of interior and storage space, a rear-view camera and heated seats, a car that looks like it cost $10K more and a comfortable, very sporty ride. Honda Civic LX.
Even the base Civic is almost too expensive for an under $20,000 list, but you can still grab this all-time reliability machine right at our maximum price point. We dont have to tell you the Civic is reliable, comfortable, and may outlive you, but the 2016 has been redesigned to look and drive sportier, with more features (like automatic climate control and speed-sensitive stereo volume control) and improved fuel economy (42 mpg highway). Youll have to settle for the 2.0 Liter four with a six-speed manual to get in at $20K, but with a Civic, you always know it will be worth it. Kia Soul+ This car isnt for everyone, because its somewhat funky-looking and its a station wagon.
For those who want a roomy ride with decent handling for less than $20,000, though, it fits the bill. The $16,000 1.6 Liter base model has very little pep so youll want to opt for the Soul+, which adds another $4K to the price but also adds a 2.0 Liter with 164 hp that makes this Kia enjoyable to drive. Included extras like hands-free Bluetooth operation and satellite radio turn the Soul+ into an odd-looking but well-equipped and spacious ride at least, for those who dont think its ugly. Nissan Versa SL.
If your main criterion is price and you want to choose from a full line of the best new cars under $20,000, your Nissan dealer is waiting for you. The entire line of Nissan Versas is priced under the magic 20K mark with the base model costing less than $13,000 and our choice, the Versa SL, at around $19,000. The SL features a 1.6 Liter engine that only pushes 109 hp, so its not going to rip up the road. But theres as much room as youll find in almost any competitor, theres a full boat of included options, youll get fuel economy in the mid 30s and all of the Versas are cheaper than comparable models.
Honda Fit Strictly on their merits, wed choose a Civic over a Fit. Those who prefer a smaller car, however, would be very happy with a Fit. This model delivers more zip than you might predict, thanks to its 1.5 Liter 130 hp engine and small size, which work together smoothly with a six-speed manual or gearless CVT automatic transmission. Its handling is well above-average, too.
The LX model includes a hands-free mobile Bluetooth setup and some other goodies but stays below our budget limit, and theres a lot more space inside than you also might predict..
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