10 Cheap Cool New Cars for 2016

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata ・ Photo by Mazda

Looking for a cheap cool new car that's fun to drive, stylish, and most importantly, affordable? Gone are the days when you had to splash some cash to drive home in a decent car, as technology, design, and value are increasingly words that are found together on dealer lots across the country. Whether it's something sporty, something outdoorsy, or simply an upgrade over your basic plain Jane commuter, there's plenty to like about your options under the $30,000 mark. Let's take a quick look at 10 cheap cool new cars for 2016.

1) 2016 Ford Mustang

The 2016 Ford Mustang continues the success of the previous year's redesign by offering not just the eight-cylinder GT model but also a pair of less expensive editions that provide all of the same attitude at a reduced price. The entry-level Ford Mustang V6 starts at just $24,145 yet still manages to offer 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque from its 3.7-liter six-cylinder engine. Step up to the EcoBoost model and you're paying just a bit more (MSRP $25,645) but enjoying the fruits of a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's good for 310 horses and 320 lb-ft of twist. Each is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox that maximizes both savings and fun, and the EcoBoost model is capable of hitting 60 mph from a standing start in less than six seconds.

2) 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata doesn't ask you to shell out big bucks for equally gaudy horsepower numbers - in fact, its 2.0-liter four-cylinder mill produces a modest 155 ponies and 148 lb-ft of torque. Instead, for a very reasonable $24,915, the Mazda MX-5 Miata emphasizes effortless handling thanks to its lightweight design, alongside the fun of top-down roadster driving. This cheap cool new car won't win many drag races, but a few miles behind the wheel on the right roads will make you wonder why it took you so long to park one in your driveway.

3) 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI combines the practicality of the German automaker's best-selling compact hatchback with a hotted-up turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a suspension package that's far more focused than the entry-level model. 2016 sees the addition of a revised infotainment system and extra safety gear, but more to the point is the smile that the Volkswagen Golf GTI's 210 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque will plaster all over your face. A two-door GTI matched with the car's six-speed manual transmission retails for $24,995, with an extra two doors available for just $600 more.

Photo by Volkswagen

4) 2016 Subaru WRX

The 2016 Subaru WRX has become almost a uniform in northern states where the desire for a cheap cool new car clashes with the harsh demands of winter driving. With its standard all-wheel drive system and 268-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder motor (matched with a six-speed manual gearbox), the Subaru WRX makes short work of both snow and the driver sitting in the lane beside you once the light turns green. 258 lb-ft of torque are also on-hand, alongside a torque-vectoring system that uses the car's brakes to help pivot through the corners. Not bad for $26,595.

Photo by Subaru

5) 2016 Jeep Wrangler

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler is a bit of an outlier on our list of cheap cool new cars because much of its charm is directly linked to its iconic, anachronistic approach to styling and road manners. Tough but basic, the Jeep Wrangler's $23,895 window sticker is your ticket to a world of off-road driving adventure that includes a rugged suspension setup, standard four-wheel drive, and a soft top that can be removed at will. The Wrangler also comes with a six-speed manual transmission and a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that generates 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque - useful figures out on the trail.

6) 2016 Mini Cooper Hardtop

The 2016 Mini Cooper Hardtop is the perfect choice for anyone who finds themselves dealing with the crush of urban living. With a tiny footprint that makes it a cinch to park (and navigate through narrow streets), the Mini Cooper Hardtop also possesses a more engaging personality than many of the subcompact cars it competes with. The Cooper's responsive chassis pairs with retro-influenced styling that has strong curb appeal, and for $20,700, the base model Mini comes with a six-speed manual transmission (with automatic rev-matching on downshifts) and a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that has been turbocharged to produce 134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque.

7) 2016 Nissan 370Z

It's only due to a dramatic slash in pricing that the 2016 Nissan 370Z has managed to make it onto our list of cheap cool new cars. The Nissan 370Z has always been a heart-stopper in terms of styling, what with its sleek coupe lines and its subtle nods to the brand's Z car heritage, but it took lowering the cost of ownership to $29,990 in order to separate it from the world of pricier, but also more capable sports models. It's really hard to argue with the 370Z's affordable bonafides, what with its track-ready suspension tuning, six-speed manual gearbox, and 332-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 (which is also good for 270 lb-ft of torque). The only question that remains is, what's holding you back from buying one?

Photo by Nissan USA

8) 2016 Ford Fiesta ST

The 2016 Ford Fiesta ST is a fun little hot-rod hatchback that amplifies the tossability of the lightweight four-door design by grafting on a more capable suspension system and dropping a turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine under the hood. Affectionately known as the FiST, the Blue Oval's Euro-flavored spark plug retails for $20,970, making it only a bit more expensive than the smaller Mini Cooper Hardtop. Of course, the Mini can't match the Fiesta ST in either the corners or a straight line, with the Ford's 1.6-liter mill pushing out 197 horsepower and 202 lb-ft of torque chomping at the bit of its six-speed manual transmission.

Photo by Ford

9) 2016 FIAT 500 Abarth

The 2016 FIAT 500 Abarth follows a similar formula as compared to the Fiesta ST, in that it’s a pint-sized hatch that's been taken through a Rocky-like training montage by FIAT's high performance engineers. That means a stiff suspension, a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, a standard six-speed manual transmission, and no mufflers. Loud and proud, the FIAT 500 Abarth's 157 horsepower and 183 lb-ft of torque are enough to keep things interesting at full throttle in the $22,495 car, but you'll have to stay out of the options list to avoid inflating that price any further.

10) 2016 Hyundai Veloster Rally Edition

The 2016 Hyundai Veloster Rally Edition is one of those rare beasts - an affordably-priced high performance version of an already fun automobile. The Hyundai Veloster Rally Edition will set you back $23,950, but it brings with it special RAYS rims, a short shifter for its six-speed manual transmission, a unique matte blue paint job, and a suspension that's been stiffened to improve handling. A 201-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is present and accounted for, and it also produces 195 lb-ft of turbocharged torque to go with the aggressive body kit outfitted to its compact hatchback profile.