Sooner or later you are going to go shopping for a car. Most of us are working with a budget, but we still want a car that’s fun to own. Kelley Blue Book editors, the folks who give us the inside scoop on car values, have come up with a list of the Top 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000. How do you define cool? The KBB experts used two criteria− fun-to-drive and fun-to-own −in gauging each car’s coolness. This list is due to be updated for 2016 in mid-summer, but in the meantime I can’t wait to go for a test drive with these 2015 models.
The redesigned Mazda3 came in at the #1 top spot for the second year in a row. Not surprisingly, the Mazda3 has made the KBB.com list every one of the 12 years Mazda has produced this model.
“All of them are fun, stylish and versatile to varying degrees, and each and every one is enticingly affordable,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.
#1 Mazda3 is available with four doors or five doors, a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission, and either a 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter engine.
#2 Volkswagen Golf gets up to 45 mpg on the highway with the diesel-powered TDI version, while the 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivers strong acceleration.
#3 Kia Soul packs a lot of technology and leg room in its boxy body.
#4 Jeep Renegade is an all new subcompact model built in Italy.
#5 Honda Civic Coupe is the two-door coupe version from the Honda lineup that is famous for its quality and reliability.
#6 Ford Fiesta in both the sedan and hatchback models delivers plenty of connectivity along with European driving dynamics.
#7 Honda Fit is still a lot of fun to drive in a redesigned model that provides a lot of room.
#8 Chevrolet Sonic hatchback provides a standard 4G LTE wifi hotspot and offers an optional MyLink touchscreen. There’s also a turbocharged engine option.
#9 Subaru Impreza comes standard with all-wheel-drive and lots of interior room. Technology features have been upgraded.
#10 Fiat 500 gives you Italian flair and an electric version. If you want added power, select the Abarth version.
The top-rated Kelley Blue Book website www.KBB.com reports what others are paying for new and used cars every week and also provides its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values. You can find their list along with pix, videos and stats at the Top 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000 on the website.
