The Best New Performance Cars for Less Than $50,000

You might not have a $100,000 budget for a performance car, but for half that, you can get a variety of great machines that run the gamut from hot hatch to muscle car to roadster. Here are our picks.

The BMW 3-Series-rival from Hyundai's new(ish) luxury brand was one of the most pleasant surprises of last year. It's a hell of a sports sedan, and up until recently, you could pair the base 2.0-liter engine with a six-speed manual.

The Veloster N is our 2020 Performance Car of the Year, but it still couldn't grab the hearts of buyers in 2019. Hyundai sold just 2212 examples, a fraction of the numbers of GTIs and WRXs sold in the same period. We're betting that number will grow a bunch as more people realize how serious Hyundai is about driving enjoyment.

Mechanically, the Kia Stinger is very similar to the Genesis G70, though its longer wheelbase gives it slightly different handling characteristics. Thanks to its rear hatch, it's a bit more practical than the G70, too. It also drifts.

Sadly, the excellent BMW M2 doesn't slot in under $50,000, but both the four-cylinder 230i and the six-cylinder M240i do. Our pick is actually the 230i for its sweet handling and punchy 2.0-liter turbocharged motor, but the M240i offers nearly the same amount of performance as the M2. The 2-Series might be BMW's cheapest car, but it's one of our favorites, too.

A 2.0-liter four-cylinder arguably doesn't fit the spirit of the Camaro, but the base model is still a good car. Especially in Turbo 1LE form. If you can get past the fact that it doesn't have a V-8, this is a solid entry-level track car. And for around $2000 more, you can have a V-6 1LE, which offers more power and a better soundtrack.

Like the Mustang, the Camaro can make for a great entry-level track car. The track-ready 1LE trim is offered with every engine. We recommend starting with the turbo-four model to learn how to carry momentum before moving up to one with a V-8 under the hood.

Yes, Nissan still makes the 370Z. You can decry it for staying mostly unchanged over the last 10 years, but that can actually be an asset, depending on your perspective. It feels refreshingly analog. And the speed-per-dollar ratio is high.

All things considered, the Civic Si is a huge bargain. No, this new one doesn't have a rev-happy VTEC engine like older models, but it has a sweet, 205-hp 1.5-liter turbo four, a great chassis, and an excellent six-speed manual shifter.

Finally, US car enthusiasts get the Civic Type R, a car we've wanted for a long time. It's a little monster with a reasonable price and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four with 306 hp. you might a front-wheel drive car with that much power would be a torque-steering mess, but amazingly, it's anything but.

It's hard not to want a Mustang with a V-8. But with 310 horsepower from its 2.3-liter turbo-four, the EcoBoost makes a compelling case for itself. Spend an extra $5000, and you get a Performance Package that squeezes 20 hp out of the EcoBoost and a host of chassis upgrades. Spend a little more, and you get MagneRide dampers, too.

The Mustang GT is a screaming deal for a great car. You get a 460-hp V-8 in the best Mustang in years. Just make sure you spec the optional $3995 Performance Package to get the most out of your GT. MagneRide dampers are also a (highly recommended) option, and there's even a Performance Pack 2, with more aggressive Michelins.

For our money, we'd opt for the Golf GTI. It's more practical, and arguably more handsome. But the new Jetta GLI is finally a credible alternative. And with a base price nearly $2000 cheaper, it's a great deal, too.

The GTI has always been one of the best hot hatches you can buy, and the newest one is no different. And at this price, it's a steal. For the money, few cars mate such high levels of practicality, refinement, and performance.

Even though the Golf R carries a weighty all-wheel drive system and a 300-horsepower engine, its highway rating falls just above the 30-MPG mark. Impressive considering all the performance you get. This four-door model looks to be in good condition, and you can own it.

They wear different badges and bodywork, but under the skin, the Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R are almost the same car. Both get a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four making 288 horsepower, but you can get the Volkswagen with a manual. Sadly, the Audi only comes with a dual-clutch automatic.

The new Miata is truly spectacular. It might be the best car you can buy today. Seriously. Jump for the Club package and you get upgraded suspension and a limited slip differential for around $31,000. You can't lose.

Despite having a turbocharged engine, the Miata's Italian sibling, the 124 Spider Abarth, still manages to eek out the same 35 highway MPG rating. We'd still have a Miata, but, don't get us wrong, the Abarth is an absolute blast to drive. Here's one up for sale right now.

Though the 500 Abarth's MSRP starts at just over $20,000, current incentives at dealerships will likely land you an even better deal on this slow-selling car. For a car so cheap, you'll be surprised how much fun you're having behind the wheel.

Of course Dodge offers a ton of horsepower for not much cash. The Challenger Scat Pack has even more power than either the Mustang GT or Camaro SS, with 485 horses from its Hemi V8. That's some serious value.

For the same price as the Challenger, you can upgrade to four doors with the Charger Scat Pack and still get that massive 6.4-liter 485-horsepower Hemi V8. You also get six-piston Brembo brakes up front and Nappa leather performance seats.

The Subaru WRX is truly excellent. It's more civilized than ever and still just as fun to drive. If you absolutely need all-wheel drive, this is the affordable performance car to get.

If what you're after most is that classic Subaru burble, the Subaru WRX STI can provide. It still uses a version of the old EJ flat-four, which means more of that classic Subaru sound. Now that the Mitsubishi Evolution is dead, this is the undisputed factory-built rally car.

You wouldn't necessarily think that Toyota and Subaru working together would create a fun car. Well, it did. The Toyobaru twins are legitimate Miata competitors that were built with the enthusiast in mind. You can't go wrong with either one.