10 Coolest Cheap Cars 2013

Under $18,000:


Automakers keep making it easier to give them less money. Small cars are getting quieter, more comfortable and more tech-savvy every year, while remaining more affordable and more fuel-efficient than their class-above counterparts. And they've never looked so good. Here are the coolest cars you can buy for less than $18,000 this year, according to Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price.

#10

2013 Chevrolet Spark

The only all-new nameplate on this year's list is also the first car in the world to integrate with Apple's Siri assistant via "Eyes Free" mode. Press a button on the steering wheel and ask Siri to read you text messages or sports scores, or compose your own message via voice. Connectivity is cool.

#9

2013 Honda Civic

Confidence is cool, too, and the Civic oozes it. Its reputation for reliability is well-documented, but the latest version -- heavily refreshed for 2013 -- adds a new level of richness and technology that elevates its image even further.

#8

2013 Volkswagen Jetta

It's not the European badge that makes the Jetta cool -- although it certainly doesn't hurt -- as much as it is the engaging European driving dynamics and refined European design. Now priced and sized for America, Volkswagen's best-selling model remains the most upscale compact sedan in the segment

#7

2013 FIAT 500

The Fiat 500 may be seven inches shorter than a Mini Cooper, but it's equally big on personality. True cool is more than skin deep, and underneath all that adorable is a pleasant little subcompact car.

#6

2013 Mazda MAZDA3

The Mazda3 has made this list 10 years in a row and every single year of its existence. The current-generation model is now one of the oldest cars in the category -- dating all the way back to the 2010 model year -- but it still looks great and it's still one of the most fun-to-drive cars in the class.

#5

2013 Dodge Dart

An American car with Italian roots, the Dodge Dart is a product of the Chrysler Group and parent company Fiat. This multinational compact sedan offers its own unique combination of personalization and performance, including all the tech you need.

 #4

2013 Honda Fit

Bold style and class-leading practicality aren't usually offered in the same car, but that's what makes the Honda Fit such a standout. Well, that and the fact that it's also among the most entertaining sub-compact cars out there. The flip-and-fold back seat just seals the deal.

#3

2013 Kia Soul

Born in 2010 and significantly updated in 2012, the Kia Soul has managed to keep its cool the whole time. Like a small cargo van with bold lines and high tech, the Soul's impressive standard equipment list includes Bluetooth phone connectivity, an auxiliary audio input and iPod integration.

#2

2013 Ford Focus

The Ford Focus single-handedly demoted the Mazda3 from "most fun-to-drive" to "one of the most fun-to-drive" cars in the category. And just like the Mazda, the Focus looks as good as it moves. Factor in a richer, more stylish interior and a serious tech advantage, and you've got this year's Coolest Cars runner-up.

#1

2013 Hyundai Veloster

The driver's side has one door and the other side has two, but unusual asymmetry isn't the most outrageous aspect of the Veloster's design. Inside that unique outside is enough style and tech to earn the Veloster the top spot on this year's list of the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000.