10 Fast Affordable Cars

For some people, the need for speed is as visceral as the hunger for sustenance. But not everyone has the budget to get a high-performance vehicle. Not to worry, because we've rounded up 10 fast affordable cars — each with a starting price south of $30,000. Granted, these 10 thrill machines aren’t the brawniest in terms of horsepower, and they won’t match traditional muscle and sports cars in terms of straight-line acceleration. But they possess the speed, size, and driving dynamics to make zooming through S-curves and ripping down curvy canyon roads plenty of fun.

Some of our picks are based on more basic machines, but they have performance enhancements to set them apart from the regular version of the vehicle. Others are true driver’s cars right out of the box. And to our great surprise, all of them offer a row-'em-yourself gearbox. Even if a high-powered, genuinely fast car may not be in the cards for you right now, if you're seeking speed on a budget, you should be quite happy with one of these 10 fast affordable cars. We list them on the pages that follow in alphabetical order, and prices do not include destination charges.

When it comes to feeling the sensation of speed, is there anything more effective than the rush of the wind through your hair? The 2020 FIAT 124 Spider Abarth gives you everything that makes a convertible drool-worthy, with Italian style and savoir-faire to spare.

While it derives its underpinnings from the excellent Mazda MX-5 Miata (and is actually built in Japan in the same factory as the legendary MX-5), the two-seat 124 Spider has its own unique 160-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, its own six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, and unique suspension tuning. And the Abarth trim adds even more athletic handling along with bigger brakes and a bump to 164 horsepower. So go ahead and throw the top down, invite your favorite person along for the ride, and embark on an open-top adventure with a zesty Italian spirit by way of Japan.

Before the first “Fast and Furious” movie glamorized the lifestyle, the Honda Civic Si was the go-to vehicle for racing fans and import-car tuners who loved its sophisticated engineering and low price.

Today, that remains true. The 2020 Honda Civic Si, available in two-door coupe and four-door sedan formats, puts performance within almost every driving enthusiast’s reach. Its turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine makes 205 hp while spooling up with spirit and is exclusively matched to a manual six-speed transmission. A limited-slip differential enhances traction around corners, and its adaptive suspension dampers add to the Civic Si’s athleticism. Just as a reminder, you need to know how to drive a stick. Otherwise, pick a different car from this list.

If Korea built a Volkswagen GTI, the 2020 Hyundai Elantra GT N-Line would be it. Based on the Elantra GT five-door hatchback, the N-Line infuses the Elantra GT with a heavy dollop of performance.

Credit its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 201 hp, put to the front wheels through a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Now add sticky summer performance tires adorning 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and a more sophisticated multi-link independent rear suspension, and you’ve got a recipe for fun. But the Elantra GT N-Line is not just about driving enjoyment. It’s also practical, offering up to 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded. And with Hyundai’s impressive warranty, free maintenance, free connected services, and other perks, the Elantra GT N-Line shows that you can have your cake and eat it, too.

If the Elantra GT N-Line is too functional and not fast enough, check out the Hyundai Veloster N. Tuned on Germany’s Nurburgring race circuit (hence the "N"), this rascally and rakish hot hatch is a hoot to drive.

In standard specification, you’ll get a 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox with rev-matching. This front-driver also comes with torque vectoring control and three different driving modes, along with 18-inch wheels, summer performance tires, an adaptive suspension, and sport steering. An optional Performance Package wrings 275 horsepower from the engine while adding 19-inch wheels, more aggressive tires, bigger and more effective brakes, a variable exhaust system, and something called an N Corner Carving Differential. Indeed, there might not be a better performance deal on this list than the Veloster N. And that’s before considering the free maintenance, free connected services, and lengthy warranty coverage.

At its core, the Kia Forte is a likable compact car. But the turbocharged Forte GT is loveable, and not just for its low price.

Enlivened by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine making 201 horsepower, equipped with a choice between a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and decked out with 18-inch wheels wrapped in summer performance tires, beefier brakes, and a stiffened suspension with a more sophisticated rear multi-link design, a Forte GT is true budget sports sedan. Better yet, it’s roomy, comfortable, practical, and safe, and it comes with a killer warranty.

There is more to driving than straight-line acceleration, and the joyous Mazda MX-5 Miata proves it. Precision and lightness are the order of the day, and thanks to its ideal near-50:50 weight distribution, rear-wheel-drive configuration, and perfect steering, a Miata makes every drive fun.

Better yet, the normally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder loves to rev, delivering a lively and linear 181 horsepower that is plenty for this small two-seat sports car. And while we prefer the short-throw six-speed manual that encourages shifting just for the pleasure of it, the optional six-speed automatic isn’t the penalty gearbox it used to be. Granted, a tiny two-seater like a Miata may not make much sense in the real world, but it’s just right for those who dream of few commitments and open roads.

You may not be versed in the ways of the Subaru WRX, but anyone who is a PlayStation fan knows that the WRX is a true contender in the Gran Turismo series. And while the standard Subaru WRX may not bristle with unbridled performance like its no-compromise WRX STi variant, it provides the platform for that more expensive rally-inspired legend.

In stock WRX form, the turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine cranks out 268 hp, making this Subaru the most powerful car on this list. As an added bonus, it’s also the only one that comes with the enhanced traction of all-wheel drive. And it’s standard equipment, baked right into the price. Additional performance upgrades include active torque vectoring, a performance-tuned suspension, and quick-ratio steering. Unfortunately, though, if you can’t use a clutch pedal you’re stuck with a continuously variable transmission.

The 2020 Toyota 86 is a rear-drive, 2+2 coupe that makes up for its lack of outright power by being an absolute blast to drive.

Engineered in partnership with Subaru, which sells its version of the car under the name BRZ, the Toyota 86 has a 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine making 205 horsepower at a lofty 7,000 rpm. Because the power peaks so high (along with the torque), we recommend the six-speed manual gearbox for wringing out every last bit of power. Still, even with the optional six-speed automatic, the 86 offers tons of fun on your favorite back road. Also, Toyota offers two years of free maintenance with the 86, helping to reduce ownership costs.

Think of the Volkswagen Jetta, and a practical, roomy, and affordable sedan springs to mind. But fast? Not likely. That’s because you’re forgetting about the GLI trim level. It’s what a VW GTI would be if it had a roomy trunk instead of a practical hatchback.

Highlights include a 228-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a limited-slip front differential lock that can put up to 100% of engine output to a single front wheel. Volkswagen also installs 18-inch wheels with more aggressive rubber, a sport suspension, variable-ratio steering, and bigger brakes. Finally, in Autobahn specification, the car comes with an adaptive damping suspension. What makes the Jetta GLI even more affordable? Starting with the 2020 model year, it comes with a couple of years of free scheduled maintenance. 

Here it is, the car that sets the bar among affordable performance vehicles: the Volkswagen GTI. At a glance, it looks innocuous enough, but underneath its econocar hatchback design is nothing but rip-roaring fun. And while this Teutonic tour de force may not be as posh or refined as a typical German performance car, when you put it on your favorite twisty road, you might just realize that it is just as much fun to drive — in part because it’s just so unexpectedly good.

Credit goes to all of the same mechanical goodies found in the Jetta GLI. And the GTI also gets the same free maintenance plan for 2020. But what truly sets the Volkswagen GTI apart is the feeling you get when you press down with your right foot, the satisfaction you feel with a vehicle that is functional in addition to fun, and the smirk you wear when the flashier and louder car is the one getting pulled over for a ticket.