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10 coolest cars under $18,000

  • <span>Hyundai Veloster</span> <br> Fair purchase price: $17,328<br><br> The sporty Veloster shows how far Hyundai has come from the days when it only made boring budget models such as the Excel.<br><br> The Veloster features a one-of-a-kind design: two front doors and a rear door on the passenger's side only. There's no rear door on the driver's side.
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    Hyundai Veloster

    Hyundai Veloster
    Fair purchase price: $17,328

    The sporty Veloster shows how far Hyundai has come from the days when it only made boring budget models such as the Excel.

    The Veloster features a one-of-a-kind design: two front doors and a rear door on the passenger's side only. There's no rear door on the driver's side.
  • <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/ford/focus/2013" data-ylk="slk:Ford Focus sedan;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Ford Focus sedan</a><br> Fair purchase price: $15,904<br><br> The sedan features an impressive 160-horsepower engine that offers 28 mpg/city and 38 mpg/highway when outfitted with automatic transmission. Some trim lines even offer an optional "Super Fuel Economy" package of low-rolling-resistance tires and other special equipment that boosts highway mileage to 40 mpg.
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    2013 top pick: Ford Focus

    Ford Focus sedan
    Fair purchase price: $15,904

    The sedan features an impressive 160-horsepower engine that offers 28 mpg/city and 38 mpg/highway when outfitted with automatic transmission. Some trim lines even offer an optional "Super Fuel Economy" package of low-rolling-resistance tires and other special equipment that boosts highway mileage to 40 mpg.
  • <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/kia/soul" data-ylk="slk:Kia Soul;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Kia Soul</a><br> Fair purchase price: $14,222<br><br> The youth-oriented Soul features an uber-boxy look that's popular with Gen Y, coupled with a hip interior that includes special colored lights that pulse in time to whatever you're listening to on the stereo.<br><br> The base Soul also comes with a decent 138-horsepower engine that offers 26 mpg/city and 31 mpg/highway when paired with an automatic transmission. Or you can pick a higher-level trim line and enjoy a beefier 164-horsepower engine.
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    Kia Soul

    Kia Soul
    Fair purchase price: $14,222

    The youth-oriented Soul features an uber-boxy look that's popular with Gen Y, coupled with a hip interior that includes special colored lights that pulse in time to whatever you're listening to on the stereo.

    The base Soul also comes with a decent 138-horsepower engine that offers 26 mpg/city and 31 mpg/highway when paired with an automatic transmission. Or you can pick a higher-level trim line and enjoy a beefier 164-horsepower engine.
  • <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/dodge/dart/2013/" data-ylk="slk:Dodge Dart;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Dodge Dart</a><br> Fair purchase price: $15,957<br><br> Based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Dart combines a modest price with good looks, impressive road performance and up to 27 mpg/city and 39 mpg/highway.<br><br> The sedan also offers lots of cool standard and available features. For instance, base Darts comes with a 160-horsepower naturally aspired engine, but both turbocharged and 184-horsepower versions of the model are or will soon be available.
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    Dodge Dart

    Dodge Dart
    Fair purchase price: $15,957

    Based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Dart combines a modest price with good looks, impressive road performance and up to 27 mpg/city and 39 mpg/highway.

    The sedan also offers lots of cool standard and available features. For instance, base Darts comes with a 160-horsepower naturally aspired engine, but both turbocharged and 184-horsepower versions of the model are or will soon be available.
  • <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/honda/fit" data-ylk="slk:Honda Fit;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Honda Fit</a><br> Fair purchase price: $15,461<br><br> This tiny hatchback offers big volumes of passenger and cargo space, not to mention lots of fun on the roadway.<br><br> "The Fit is probably the most fun to drive of all the cars in its class," Nerad says.<br><br> The 117-horsepower Honda (HMC) also boasts good fuel efficiency (28 mpg/city and 35 mpg/highway when outfitted with automatic transmission), a cool interior and fold-flat rear seats that give the car a generous 57.3 cubic inches of cargo space. That's more than you'll find in larger rivals such as the Nissan Versa.
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    Honda Fit

    Honda Fit
    Fair purchase price: $15,461

    This tiny hatchback offers big volumes of passenger and cargo space, not to mention lots of fun on the roadway.

    "The Fit is probably the most fun to drive of all the cars in its class," Nerad says.

    The 117-horsepower Honda (HMC) also boasts good fuel efficiency (28 mpg/city and 35 mpg/highway when outfitted with automatic transmission), a cool interior and fold-flat rear seats that give the car a generous 57.3 cubic inches of cargo space. That's more than you'll find in larger rivals such as the Nissan Versa.
  • <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/fiat/500/2013/" data-ylk="slk:Fiat 500;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Fiat 500</a><br> Fair purchase price: $15,626
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    fiat-500-usa

    Fiat 500
    Fair purchase price: $15,626
  • <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/honda/civic-sedan/2013/" data-ylk="slk:Honda Civic;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Honda Civic</a><br> Fair purchase price: $17,516
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    Honda Civic

    Honda Civic
    Fair purchase price: $17,516
  • <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/chevrolet/spark" data-ylk="slk:Chevrolet Spark;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Chevrolet Spark</a><br> Fair Purchase Price: $12,322
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    chevrolet-spark

    Chevrolet Spark
    Fair Purchase Price: $12,322
<span>Hyundai Veloster</span> <br> Fair purchase price: $17,328<br><br> The sporty Veloster shows how far Hyundai has come from the days when it only made boring budget models such as the Excel.<br><br> The Veloster features a one-of-a-kind design: two front doors and a rear door on the passenger's side only. There's no rear door on the driver's side.
<a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/ford/focus/2013" data-ylk="slk:Ford Focus sedan;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Ford Focus sedan</a><br> Fair purchase price: $15,904<br><br> The sedan features an impressive 160-horsepower engine that offers 28 mpg/city and 38 mpg/highway when outfitted with automatic transmission. Some trim lines even offer an optional "Super Fuel Economy" package of low-rolling-resistance tires and other special equipment that boosts highway mileage to 40 mpg.
<a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/kia/soul" data-ylk="slk:Kia Soul;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Kia Soul</a><br> Fair purchase price: $14,222<br><br> The youth-oriented Soul features an uber-boxy look that's popular with Gen Y, coupled with a hip interior that includes special colored lights that pulse in time to whatever you're listening to on the stereo.<br><br> The base Soul also comes with a decent 138-horsepower engine that offers 26 mpg/city and 31 mpg/highway when paired with an automatic transmission. Or you can pick a higher-level trim line and enjoy a beefier 164-horsepower engine.
<a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/dodge/dart/2013/" data-ylk="slk:Dodge Dart;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Dodge Dart</a><br> Fair purchase price: $15,957<br><br> Based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Dart combines a modest price with good looks, impressive road performance and up to 27 mpg/city and 39 mpg/highway.<br><br> The sedan also offers lots of cool standard and available features. For instance, base Darts comes with a 160-horsepower naturally aspired engine, but both turbocharged and 184-horsepower versions of the model are or will soon be available.
<a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/honda/fit" data-ylk="slk:Honda Fit;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Honda Fit</a><br> Fair purchase price: $15,461<br><br> This tiny hatchback offers big volumes of passenger and cargo space, not to mention lots of fun on the roadway.<br><br> "The Fit is probably the most fun to drive of all the cars in its class," Nerad says.<br><br> The 117-horsepower Honda (HMC) also boasts good fuel efficiency (28 mpg/city and 35 mpg/highway when outfitted with automatic transmission), a cool interior and fold-flat rear seats that give the car a generous 57.3 cubic inches of cargo space. That's more than you'll find in larger rivals such as the Nissan Versa.
<a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/fiat/500/2013/" data-ylk="slk:Fiat 500;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Fiat 500</a><br> Fair purchase price: $15,626
<a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/honda/civic-sedan/2013/" data-ylk="slk:Honda Civic;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Honda Civic</a><br> Fair purchase price: $17,516
<a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/chevrolet/spark" data-ylk="slk:Chevrolet Spark;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Chevrolet Spark</a><br> Fair Purchase Price: $12,322