10 Cool Cars Under $30,000

2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI SEL ・ Photo by Volkswagen of America

You don't have to spend a lot of money to drive home from the dealership in a cool car. Although we are often sold an image that dictates luxury and premium branding are the be-all and end-all of automotive excitement, there are a number of intangibles associated with whether a car is cool or not that simply can't be wrapped in leather and high-tech features and then auctioned off to the highest bidder. Sometimes, cool comes in an affordable package, and almost all of the time, cool is in the eye of the beholder. With that in mind, let's take a quick look at 10 cool cars under $30,000.

1) 2015 MINI Cooper

The 2015 MINI Cooper represents “cool Britannia,” that call-back to the glory days of mid-20th century hipness when England's swing was represented by its cultural contributions to music, movies, and literature. The MINI Cooper reminds us of that era by aping the looks of the original Mini while also providing important updates in the realm of handling and fuel efficiency. The tiny two-door hatchback is also far more practical than it looks, which gives it a useful side to go with its cool personality, and the availability of high performance S and John Cooper Works editions of the subcompact further flesh out the MINI Cooper lineup.

2) 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

The 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited derives its cool by adding another dimension to an off-road icon. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the four-door edition of the popular Wrangler SUV, a model which routinely takes home the title as the best trail-ready vehicle off of the showroom floor. By adding legitimate passenger room for up to five adults, as well as improving interior storage space - while still preserving the vehicle's convertible top - the four-wheel drive Wrangler Unlimited allows you to bring all of your friends and family with you during your all-terrain adventures. It also helps justify the purchase of the Jeep as a daily driver that can pull weekend duty far from the beaten path.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

3) 2015 Dodge Challenger

The 2015 Dodge Challenger makes this list thanks to its faithful reboot of the classic American muscle car trope. Sure, there are plenty of cars out there today that are quicker than the Dodge Challenger, but there are few that are anywhere close to as “cool” when it comes to cutting a gorgeous, buff profile in the parking lot of your local ice cream spot. The Challenger's beefy lines are remarkably true to the original 1970s model that it pays tribute to, and for those who want to move up from the entry-level V-6 model, the Hemi V-8-powered R/T edition packs 375 horses for under $30,000.

Photo by FCA Media

4) 2015 Honda CR-Z

The 2015 Honda CR-Z stands out as a sporty car that just so happens to be a fuel-saving hybrid. True, plenty of other vehicles are going for the sporty hybrid angle, but the CR-Z is notable for offering a six-speed manual transmission, whereas most other hybrids rely on a continuously variable automatic unit in order to meet fuel efficiency targets. In other words, the 2015 CR-Z is really the only option out there for people who would love a hybrid, but also enjoy rowing through the gears. This petite coupe seats two and offers plenty of standard features. The 2015 Honda CR-Z starts at just over $20,000.

5) 2015 Ford Focus ST

The 2015 Ford Focus ST has burst onto the scene as one of the most potent hot hatches in recent memory. Ford has blessed the Focus ST with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is good for 252 ponies and 270 lb-ft of torque, and it also comes with a number of advanced technological features such as an anti-torque steer system that are designed to get that grunt from the front wheels to the pavement with as little drama as possible. Even better: the Ford Focus ST starts at a wallet-friendly MSRP of $24,370.

6) 2015 Honda Fit

Fully redesigned for the 2015 model year, the Honda Fit checks in way below the $30,000 cool cars price limit, but it's deserving of a spot nonetheless. In part, this is because few other vehicles embody their name quite like the Honda Fit. The tiny subcompact hatchback's interior can be configured to haul a generous 52.7 cubic feet of cargo, which is more than several crossovers and SUVs costing more. The secret is the Fit's Magic Seat feature, which makes it simple to play musical chairs inside the vehicle's cabin and free up a ton of useful storage space. It also doesn't hurt that the Fit is fun to throw through the corners thanks to its engaging chassis design.

7) 2015 Subaru BRZ

The 2015 Subaru BRZ is the purest sports coupe experience that can be had for less than $30,000. Developed in partnership with Toyota, the Subaru BRZ offers 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. That doesn't sound like much to get excited about, but when paired with the lightweight platform and well-tuned suspension system that lie underneath the BRZ's sleek exterior there's no question that this inexpensive automobile offers one of the most exciting drives around. Although a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters can be had with the BRZ, make sure to sample it with its six-speed manual gearbox to get the most out of your time with the car.

Photo by Subaru Media

8) 2015 Nissan Juke

The 2015 Nissan Juke is perhaps the quirkiest SUV to have been built since the Subaru Brat. The Nissan Juke looks like nothing else on the market, with its straight-from-Tokyo looks providing a funky, edgy take on how a small crossover should present itself. Designed primarily as a useful runabout for a pair of people, the Juke can be had with optional all-wheel drive to help harness the peppy power of its turbocharged, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a continuously variable automatic, with the latter helping to keep the small mill in boost as long as possible and flog the 188 ponies that it produces mercilessly down the highway.

9) 2015 FIAT 500

The 2015 FIAT 500, like the MINI Cooper, attempts to evoke the glory days of its home country's automotive design. Unlike the MINI, however, the Fiat 500 doesn't try too hard to touch all of the handling bases or load the interior with premium features. Instead, the 500 is positioned as a great-looking affordable urban commuter, a small car that does its best work with two passengers and maybe a suitcase loaded within its small environs. It's also an efficient daily driver thanks to its base 101-horsepower, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that returns up to 31 mpg in stop and go driving and 40 mpg on the highway when equipped with its standard five-speed manual transmission.

Photo by FIAT

10) 2015 Volkswagen GTI

The fully redesigned 2015 Volkswagen GTI might at first seem like a direct competitor to the Focus ST, and in many ways it is, but those in the know recognize the distinct personality differences between these two automobiles. Where the Ford is extroverted and brash, the Volkswagen GTI is cool and collected, preferring to offer a more complete and comfortable driving experience in the face of its rival's all-in bid on pure performance. The GTI is fun to drive despite “only” offering 210 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, as a calm and collected ride, nimble handling, and an upscale cabin help the hatch appeal to a different audience.

Photo by VW Media