10 Cool Affordable Cars for 2015

Cool affordable cars can be just as fun as their pricier compadres, especially if they fit your lifestyle like a glove. There's no need to spend a lot of money on a ride if a less expensive automobile offers much of the same enjoyment, and in our modern era even entry-level vehicles provide performance and features that blow away their high-ticket predecessors. More than that, however, 'cool' is a concept, not a window sticker, and there are plenty of cars out there that embody that sentiment without breaking the bank. 

Let's take a quick look at 10 cool affordable cars for 2015 and examine what makes them so appealing.

The 2015 Jeep Wrangler is the latest in a long line of affordable cool SUVs that don't take 'no' for an answer out on the trail. Simply put, pulling up in a Jeep Wrangler broadcasts to the world that you're ready, willing, and able to leave the beaten path and explore new adventures, regardless of how rough things might get along the way. The Wrangler's rugged image is backed up by tough-as-nails suspension setup, big, knobby off-road tires, a 285 horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6, and a removable roof that lets you enjoy fun in the sun and show off the Jeep's hardcore roll bar setup.

The 2015 Ford Mustang GT derives its cool quotient from the pulsing 5.0-liter eight-cylinder engine sitting under its hood. Good for 435 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, the Ford Mustang GT delivers sprints to 60-mph in under five seconds, but more importantly it also offers an aggressive V-8 rumble to go with a standard line-lock feature that allows you to incinerate the rear tires at will. We're not trying to say that smoky shenanigans are the reason you bought a Mustang GT, but it certainly doesn't hurt that you can leave twin strips of rubber when leaving the parking lot after punching out at the end of the day.

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a cool affordable car because it proves that outstanding handling isn't the province of uber-expensive exotic automobiles. The Mazda MX-5 Miata's lightweight design, open-top roadster body style, and free-spirit character make it the perfect companion for the open road - especially if the distance between point A and point B is tied together roads that twist and slither like a snake at full speed. 155 horsepower from a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine has never been more fun than it is in Mazda's flagship sports car.

The 2015 FIAT 500 Abarth is the most extroverted of the subcompact tuner cars you can buy right off of the showroom floor. With its loud, brash exhaust and its bouncy, tight-tuned suspension system, the Fiat 500 Abarth is almost all attitude, buzzing like a threatening swarm of killer bees at a stoplight. With a low-mass chassis and just enough power from its turbocharged 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine - 160 horses and 170 lb-ft of twist - the 500 Abarth goes beyond its retro-cute roots to offer a genuine thrill ride at a rock bottom price.

The 2015 Nissan Juke belongs on our list of cool affordable cars because it dares to be different. In the crossover segment you'll find a lot of 'me-toos,' but the Nissan Juke's 'cyborg frog' styling and surprisingly nimble handling make it more of an out-of-control science experiment than a 'take the kids to soccer practice' kind of ride. Find it in RS spec, and the Juke delivers with above-average straight-line performance, too, delivering 215 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. All-wheel drive is also available with the Juke RS, but it drops output for the fierce four-banger down to 211 ponies and 184 lb-ft of torque.

Where the Fiat 500 Abarth is frenetic, the 2015 Ford Fiesta ST - in many ways a direct competitor to the subcompact hatchback - is a gymnast, a car gifted with a suspension setup that allows it to pivot and pounce with remarkable poise. Suitable for street and track duty, the Ford Fiesta ST also turns up the cool factor with its 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder, which delivers 197 horsepower and 202 lb-ft of torque. Oh, and you can get optional Recaro front seats that keep you snug and secure while you're enjoying the full spectrum of the Fiesta ST's charms.

The 2015 Dodge Challenger slips onto our cool affordable car round-up because out of the current crop of muscle machines, the coupe represents the most accurate homage to the original vehicle that bore its name. Even in its most affordable six-cylinder edition (a 3.6-liter V-6 good for 305 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque), the big-bodied Dodge Challenger has the swagger needed to evoke memories of a time when dinosaur-burning beasts poured forth from Detroit's factories to rule the asphalt-covered Earth. Another plus: the Challenger is big enough inside to have a usable back seat, so you can bring all of your friends along with you to the next cruise night.

Remember what we said about how homogenous crossovers can be? The 2015 Jeep Renegade joins the Juke in presenting a style-conscious choice that's completely outside the SUV norm. The pint-size Jeep Renegade is a box on wheels, but it's one that's been imbued with numerous shout-outs to the brand's deep heritage, as Easter eggs can be found hidden by designers both inside and out of the affordable automobile. The Renegade - which of course features the option of an off-road-ready four-wheel drive system - starts out with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood that's good for 160 horsepower, but even more grunt is available from the Jeep's optional 180 horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder upgrade.

The 2015 Subaru WRX is cool because it lets you entertain your fantasy of being a world rally driver on a budget. The Subaru WRX, completely redesigned for the current model year, provides 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it also offers an advanced all-wheel drive system that guarantees the utmost in traction even when sifting along on a snowy surface. Driving the WRX is as close as you will probably ever get to lining up at the starting grid of a rally stage, but even if that's the case there's hardly anything to complain about once you've buried the four-door rocket's throttle.

The 2015 Scion FR-S hearkens back to a time when all you needed to have fun on a challenging road was a well-balanced, lightweight car with just enough power to keep things interesting, but not so much that you could paper over the flaws in your driving game by putting your right foot down. The Scion FR-S might only boast 200 horses and 151 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder motor, but the two-door coupe's ability to channel an earlier era of motoring unfettered by the avalanche of modern driver's aides and over-muscled engines makes a strong statement when contrasted alongside its rivals.