In need of a new affordable car but also looking for something fun to drive? We’ve got a list of the top five best vehicles that are budget-friendly, and you’ll feel good driving them. Our recommendations are based on safety, affordability, reliability, efficiency, fun, and technology. 

Budget-Friendly Cars That Are Also Fun to Drive

Not everyone wants to blow their budget on a sports car or by regularly fueling a massive pickup truck. If this sounds like you, take a look at these vehicles and save a few dollars too. They are a great value for your money and some of their sportiness will even make you excited about your commute.

Honda Fit

The Honda Fit is efficient, easy to maneuver, and more versatile than some much larger vehicles because of the hatchback design. Its base price is around $17k, and you’ll easily get up to 40 mpg. It also comes with excellent safety scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(IIHS). This car is a no brainer, and you can even have a 6-speed manual gearbox. 

 Kia Forte 

The Kia Forte is an excellent choice for your budget. Not only does it have a stylish exterior, it also comes with an upscale interior and starts right around $18K. It even earned a top safety pick+ rating from the IIHS.

At that price, you get a standard 8-inch touch screen, support for Android Auto and Apple Carplay, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and more. It even earned a top safety pick+ rating from the IIHS. 

Toyota Corolla Hatchback 

Toyota is known for creating vehicles that last forever. The new Corolla Hatchback will provide decades of reliability and need minimal repairs. Starting around $20K, you’ll get style, affordability, and versatility.

Five-doors on a vehicle that does just about everything. With 168 horsepower on tap, it’s performance isn’t too bad either. One major bonus? When it comes to safety, it is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick 

Mazda CX-3

The Mazda CX-3 is one of the most upscale smaller crossovers available. You’ll be surprised that this budget-friendly option starts at less than $22K. It looks and feels far more expensive. It is also comfortable to drive and extremely safe. It has a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 148 horsepower.  

 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is almost a given. It has a long history of reliability and is one of the best new cars for the budget-friendly buyer. It is super safe and starts around $20K. You won’t ever spend too much to fill up with fuel. It offers plenty of current technology and is even available in a wide variety of models. Sedan, Coupe, Hatchback, Si, and even Type R models are among the model choices available. With the Honda Civic, there is something for practically everyone.