10 Fastest Cars for the Money in 2018

2018 Ford Mustang GT coupe front three quarter tunnel ・ Photo by Ford

Maybe you want the fastest car at any price. But even if you focus on the fastest cars for the money, you'll still get plenty of speed. That’s because high levels of horsepower have never been more affordable than they are today. At the same time, automakers have been reducing vehicle weight to improve efficiency. It’s that perfect combination of low-priced horsepower and lowered curb weights that leads to such low 0-60 times — and such high top speeds.

Now, most entries here aren’t cheap. In fact, some have MSRPs that approach six figures. But we did pick some that are more affordable, too, and all 10 deliver an impressive bang for the bucks that you do pay. Just remember that when we were doing the math here, we did leave out one factor that could have a big impact on your bottom line with these fast cars: the cost of speeding tickets.

2018 Ford Mustang GT Fastback

Among the fastest cars for the money, a top option is the world’s best-selling muscle car. That would be the 2018 Ford Mustang, which has a whole stable of models that could qualify here. Our choice: the GT fastback. Not only does it feature an incredible 5.0-liter V8 engine, but it’s also surprisingly affordable.

This Mustang GT serves up 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque for a price tag of $35,190 — a little lower than the average new-vehicle transaction price as of this writing. True, Ford’s high-performance muscle car features a standard six-speed manual transmission at that MSRP. But it also comes standard with go-fast goodies like launch control, functional hood vents, and a limited-slip rear axle.

Photo by Ford

2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Of course, we didn’t pick the fastest cars for the money based strictly on the lowest possible price. Despite an MSRP of nearly $80,000, the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is a flat-out bargain as a supercar. At that price, for example, the Corvette packs a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine with 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.

A current Porsche 911 Carrera T, carrying 370 horsepower, is over $20,000 more expensive. And if you upgrade to the Corvette's Z07 package — which does lift your cost above $87,000 — you can reduce your 0-60 times to 2.95 seconds. For comparison, the 911 Turbo is listed at 2.9 seconds flat, but with a list price of almost $162,000.

Photo by Chevrolet

2018 Dodge Challenger Demon

Much like the Corvette Z06, the 2018 Dodge Challenger Demon only qualifies as one of the fastest cars for the money when compared to the competition. After all, with a starting price of $84,995, the Demon will burn through a nice chunk of your bank account.

However, in the world of six-figure supercars, the ultimate muscle car is cheap. An exotic like the McLaren 720S has an MSRP about $200,000 higher. But it’s 25 percent slower from 0-60. Also, to be clear, every production car is slower than the Demon. Dodge claims that the car’s ability to reach that speed in 2.3 seconds — backed by an 840-horsepower supercharged V8 — leads the industry.

Photo by Dodge

2018 Nissan 370Z Coupe

The 2018 Nissan 370Z coupe comes with a V6 instead of a V8 like our earlier selections. The latest Z car doesn’t have your typical six-cylinder motor, though. Instead, its potent 3.7-liter powerplant can let loose 332 horses and 270 pound-feet of torque. All power is sent to the rear wheels with a standard six-speed manual transmission, while a seven-speed automatic is optional.

With either transmission, you’ll also enjoy even faster acceleration for 2018. Credit for that goes to Nissan’s engineers: They fine-tuned the accelerator-pedal and throttle-valve performance for the new model year, and according to the automaker, “the results are noticeable in a variety of driving conditions.” Meanwhile, the MSRP for the Z is a relatively affordable $29,990.

Photo by Nissan

2018 Honda Civic Type R

Honda flips the script for the fastest cars for the money. Although most such vehicles are rear- or all-wheel drive, the 2018 Honda Civic Type R is a front-wheel drive beast. On the other hand, it is the fastest one ever, at least based on Nürburgring lap times. Honda’s hottest hatchback covered all 12.9 miles of that grueling racetrack in a mere 7:43.80.

Certainly helping matters is the Type R’s 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. This Civic boasts 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque with that four-cylinder unit under the hood. The price on the car’s sticker? $34,100. Needless to say, the Type R is also the fastest and most powerful Civic to ever reach our shores.

Photo by Honda

2018 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400

The 2018 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400, it’s available with rear- and all-wheel drive, costing $52,000 with the former and $54,000 with the latter. The thing is, the Red Sport’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 matches the car’s name with 400 horsepower. Infiniti complements those ponies with 350 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission with a dedicated “Sport” mode handles the shifting.

When you add it all up, the Red Sport has the kind of positive power-to-pricing ratio that makes it one of the fastest cars for the money. It’s one of the most luxurious as well, with standard semi-aniline leather upholstery, carbon-fiber cabin trim, and a dual-screen infotainment system with stacked 8- and 7-inch displays. 

Photo by Infiniti

2018 Audi RS3

The fastest cars for the money from the German brands include the 2018 Audi RS3. Audi’s highest-performing subcompact is a small sedan with a big engine and big price tag. Luckily, the RS3’s MSRP of $54,900 is balanced by the numbers from its engine — so you get high velocity at a relatively high value.

Specifically, the car has a distinctive 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with five cylinders arranged in a single row. While not a common engine configuration, this is actually a tradition for Audi, and the car also benefits from another hallmark for the brand: its "Quattro" all-wheel drive system. With all five pistons pumping and all four wheels spinning, the RS3 shows off 400 horsepower, 354 pound-feet of torque, and a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds.

Photo by Audi

2018 Subaru WRX

Moving back to the more affordable choices, the 2018 Subaru WRX is based on the mainstream Impreza compact sedan, but it also enjoys serious performance enhancements that are borrowed from the brand’s championship-winning rally cars. This includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that cranks out 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

To help keep that unit breathing free and easy, a massive hood scoop is mounted up front, and standard all-wheel drive ensures maximum grip during acceleration— and at all other times, too. The WRX is a lot of fun with a little price tag, since it starts at $26,995. For next-level Subaru performance, the 305-horsepower WRX STI opens at $36,095.

Photo by Subaru

2018 Ford Fiesta ST

The 2018 Ford Fiesta ST sets an important benchmark: a particularly low price for a fast car. Indeed, with an MSRP of $21,285, the Blue Oval’s hot hatch is less expensive than a lot of vehicles. Oh, it’s also a lot faster than many of them, thanks to Ford’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.

Don’t be fooled by that small displacement, either. The Fiesta ST’s engine features Ford's EcoBoost technology. It combines turbocharging and direct injection to deliver 197 horsepower, 202 pound-feet of torque, and the kind of acceleration that pushes you back in your seat. And for a sportier driving experience, the seats themselves can be upgraded to Recaros.

Photo by Ford

2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Finally, we predict that the 2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo will be one of the fastest cars for the money when it goes on sale this summer. True, Hyundai has yet to announce pricing for the all-new Veloster lineup, and the MSRPs will probably be higher than last year’s.

But the starting point for the older Turbo R-Spec trim was $21,600. That means even a four-figure increase for the 2019 model would still be notably affordable. Also notable is the Turbo R-Spec’s 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which can unleash 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Then there’s the Veloster’s dramatic design. You’ll definitely notice that shape, since the car has a futuristic, aggressive body with a 2.5-door layout.

Photo by Hyundai