Technology is advancing. Thanks to the technology and current automotive market, there are several cars available under $30k. These cars can be interpretations of affordable sports coupes, family sedans, muscle cars, and automotive manufacturers striving to boost the horsepower to deliver better performance.
If you’re looking for the best performing car and your budget is under $30k, then you’re at the right place. In this article, we’ll talk about the 7-best performing cars that are under $30k. So, let’s get started!
1. Subaru Forester XT (2016)
2. Scion FR-S (2016)
3. Mazda MX-5 Miata (2016)
4. Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec
5. Chevrolet Camaro
6. Volkswagen GTI
7. Ford Mustang (2016)
7Ford Mustang (2016)
Starting Price: $24,145
Mustang is an iconic car by Ford, and who won’t love Mustang if it is under the mark of $30,000? The 2016 variant of the Ford Mustang’s 2016 variant comes under the threshold of $30k, and it features an 8-cylinder engine. Ford offers two engine variants in Mustang (2016) that are under our price: firstly, EcoBoost 2.3L inline-4 with a power rating of 310 HP. Secondly, the 3.7L V6 delivers 300 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque.
Both engines deliver superb performance as they achieve the 60 mph milestone in under 6-seconds. If you’re looking for an outstanding package, the price may go above $30K, but you’ll get bigger brakes, a shorter gear ratio, and sticker tires.
Volkswagen is a German car manufacturer and produces some exceptional cars that offer superb performance. GTI by Volkswagen is a family car, which is spacious and comes with a comfortable interior and beautiful exterior.
Volkswagen GTI features a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 2.0L capacity, and the performance package of GTI adds ten more horsepower. The car comes with a 6-speed manual and automatic transmission and delivers acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
Chevrolet Camaro is one of the best-performing cars in a budget of under $30k; the car is elegant and delivers good horsepower in the given price tag. It features a cockpit for adults and delivers brilliant street performance. The car is lightweight, and because of its weight, it offers speed.
Chevrolet Camaro features a 275 horsepower turbocharged engine with 4-cylinders and 2.0L capacity. The engine of the Camaro delivers torque of 295 lb-ft with 6-speed manual transmission or 8-speed automatic. The car provides impressive performance in terms of speed because it hits the 60 mph mark in 5.4 seconds.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec’s starting price is $29,900 and the features make it one of the best performing cars under $30k. Remember that if you check the single box option on the list while purchasing Genesis, it will cross the price threshold of $30k.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec comes with a V6 3.8 Liter engine and has a power rating of 348 HP. Moreover, the car delivers a torque of 295 lb-ft with a 6-speed manual transmission, which makes it the best performing manual vehicle. The vehicle features sports seats, Brembo brakes, and fantastic suspension. The car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, making it the best performing car.
3Mazda MX-5 Miata (2016)
Starting Price: $24,915
Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the best-performing cars that is designed for the enjoyment of curvy roads. The car is lightweight and delivers the best performance because of its low weight, and lower weight delivers impressive acceleration. Mazda MX-5 not only offers the best performance, but it does so with comfort.
MX-5 Miata is equipped with a 4-cylinder 2.0L engine and has a power rating of 155 HP. It delivers a torque of 148 lb-ft and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, making it the best performing fastest car.
2Scion FR-S (2016)
Starting Price: $25,305
Scion FR-S earns number two spot on our list of best-performing cars under $30k. The car comes with a lightweight body, and it is equipped with a finely tuned chassis. Scion FR-S (2016) variant has better suspensions compared to other models of Scion FR-S.
The car is rear-wheel-drive and comes with a 4-cylinder, 2.0L engine with a power rating of 200 HP. Scion FR-S delivers the power of 151 lb-ft of torque and has a 6-speed manual transmission, but it offers better performance compared to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
1Subaru Forester XT (2016)
Starting Price: $29,195*
Subaru Forester XT’s 2016 variant is one of the best sports utility vehicles and delivers the best performance compared to other cars. It is the reason we have put this family-friendly vehicle at number one in our article on the best-performing vehicles. The car comes with a continuously variable transmission for adequate performance.
The engine of Subaru Forester XT is rated at 250 HP, and it delivers the power of 258 lb-ft. Moreover, the vehicle is equipped with cargo space, stability control, and decent ride height. You can purchase a decent Subaru Forester XT for under 29K.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that not everyone can afford the expensive and luxurious cars for speed and performance. Some people want performance in lower and affordable price tags, and the vehicles mentioned in this article deliver the performance under $30k.