At a starting MSRP of just $26,895 and a top speed of 182 mph, the 2022
Chevrolet Camaro 1LTis just about the fastest new car you can buy for less than $30,000—but it’s not the only cheap sports car worth looking at.
Luckily, there are ways to get what you truly need without selling your soul (or your kidneys).
Jerry, the
trusted car insurance broker app, has compiled a list of the fastest performance cars you can afford for under $30,000. If you’ve got BMW taste and a Kia budget—or just prefer not to overpay for the good things in life—this is the article for you. We’ll even show you how to save on sports
car insurancewith the Jerry app!
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The fastest sports cars you can buy new for under $30,000
With sporty styling and low, low sticker prices, these are six of the fastest cars you can buy new for under $30,000.
6. 2022 Subaru BRZ: 135 mph from $28,990
The
2022 Subaru BRZisn’t just one of the fastest sports coupes you can buy for under $30,000: it’s also the only Subaru without all-wheel drive. But its 228-horsepower naturally aspirated flat-four makes up for that with delightful speed stats.
With the standard manual transmission, the BRZ zips from zero to 60 in just 5.4 seconds; for an extra fee, you can choose the automatic transmission and slow yourself down to a 6.3-second 0-to-60 run, if that’s what you want.
5. 2022 Ford Mustang Ecoboost Fastback: 145 mph from $28,845
That’s right: you can buy a
Mustangfor under $30k, and it’s a great one. The turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost scoots from zero to 60 mph in a respectable 5.8 seconds thanks to a six-speed manual transmission, 310 horsepower, and 258 lb-ft of torque.
If you’ve got a little wiggle room in your budget, you can max out the Mustang EcoBoost’s stats with the 2.3L High Performance Package and the EcoBoost Handling Package, which increase the engine’s power output and render the EcoBoost truly track-ready—but be aware that the combined $8,145 price tag on those add-ons will push you well over the $30,000 mark towards
Mustang GTterritory.
4. 2022 Toyota GR 86: 145 mph from $28,795
Stylish, affordable, and most importantly, quick: the Toyota 86 is everything you could wish for in an entry-level sports car. Like the Mustang EcoBoost, the base model of the
GR 86can make it from zero to 60 in 5.8 seconds, and like the Mustang, it does so on the power of a four-cylinder engine.
The GR 86 coupe has the twin distinctions of being Toyota’s smallest car and one of the few with a manual transmission—which, as ever, is quicker than the available automatic.
3. 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport: 141 mph from $28,715
The
Miata MX-5 Miata Sportis a favorite for a reason, and that reason is a 5.7-second zero to 60 time in one of the best-looking little convertibles on the market.
Mazda is known for making dependable and unexpectedly upscale vehicles, and the Miata’s no exception. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generates just 181 horsepower, but that’s more than enough for the Miata. It can keep pace with just about every car on this list, and it’ll do so while looking better than any of them. It’s the effortlessly awesome Ginger Rogers of affordable sports convertibles.
2. 2022 Honda Civic Si: 137 mph from $28,595
When you think “fast cars,” you could be forgiven if the Honda Civic doesn’t come immediately to mind. And while the standard Civic isn’t exactly a speed demon—it takes about 7.5 seconds to reach 60 mph in a regular Civic—the
Honda Civic Sisports sedan is a different matter.
A 200-hp turbo four gives the Civic Si its power, rocketing it from zero to 60 in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 137 mph. Along with those stats, you get a limited-slip front differential, a sport-tuned suspension, and 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, all for under $29,000. Say it with us: this isn’t your mom’s Civic.
But you can’t take the Honda out of the Civic. Practical as ever, the Civic Si has the best fuel economy of any car on this list, with an EPA rating of up to 37 mpg highway (31 in the city).
1. 2022 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT: 182 mph from $26,895
There aren’t many new cars left that can rightly be called muscle cars. The 2022 Chevy Camaro is part of a dying breed—but in the 1LT trim, it’s showing off a lot of life.
A 335-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission are both options for the 1LT, but what isn’t optional is speed. Even without the V8 engine available on (exceedingly pricey) upper trims, the Camaro makes its zero-to-60 run in just 4.3 seconds. With a top speed of 182 mph, it’s the fastest car on this list—and the cheapest.
MORE:
20 of 2022’s fastest cars with good gas mileageFast used cars for under $30,000
The list above includes six super-fast cars available for less than $30,000 for the 2022 model year. But they’re not the only cheap sports cars worth looking at.
Below are some of the best and fastest used cars in the same price range. While you can find used Audi, BMW, or Porsche models for under $30,000 as well, these are some of the most consistently affordable—and fast—used cars on the market.
Best used roadster: 2020 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
KBB fair market range: $27,900 to $32,00
0 to 60: 6.3 seconds
Top speed: 136 mph
Discontinued in 2020, the rear-wheel drive Fiat 124 Spider wrapped up a premium driving experience in a premium package—but at a price point within the grasp of most ordinary drivers.
Best used muscle car: 2020 Dodge Challenger SXT
KBB fair market range: $24,000 to $28,000
0 to 60: 6.1 seconds
Top speed: 152 mph
The
Dodge Charger SXTmight be known for its raw power, but its smaller sibling brings the speed, too—and if you stick to the base SXT trim level, you can get one for under $30,000.
Best used hot hatch: 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI
KBB fair market range: $25,500 to $29,000
0 to 60: 5.6 seconds
Top speed: 155 mph
The best hot hatch was always going to be a
Volkswagen. For 2021, it’s the Golf GTI, a delightfully fun-to-drive car equipped with front-wheel drive and a 228-hp turbo four.
Best used AWD sports car: 2021 Subaru WRX
KBB fair market range: $26,500 to $28,000
0 to 60: 5.2 seconds
Top speed: 155 mph
Following a 2022 redesign, the
Subaru WRXnow starts at just over $30,000—but you can still get a fourth-generation WRX for well under that and enjoy the same speed! The WRX STI is the fastest, but not the cheapest, so shop around to find your best options.
Best used hatchback coupe: 2021 Hyundai Veloster Turbo R Spec
KBB fair market range: $22,000 to $23,500
0 to 60: 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 147 mph
As of 2022, the Veloster is only available as the Hyundai Veloster N, a pretty little three-door hatchback coupe with great speed stats. But that car starts at over $32,000, while a used Veloster Turbo R Spec will deliver the same speed at a far more affordable price point.
MORE:
Fast cars under $5,000How to find cheap car insurance fast
One downside of owning a fast, affordable car: faster cars tend to come with higher insurance rates to match the increased risk of an accident or violation. Compare
Honda Civic Si insurance coststo
Honda Civic LX insurance costs, and you’ll see the difference!
Luckily, there’s a way to save. If you’re in the market for a fast, affordable car, you probably appreciate a deal—and a timesaver.
Jerryis both.
As a licensed insurance broker and a comparison shopping genius, Jerry can find you competitive real-time quotes for the insurance coverage you need in as little as 45 seconds. No more waiting around for quotes—or worse, languishing on hold with insurance companies. With Jerry, you can shop for and lock in a new insurance rate without getting on the phone.
On average, Jerry users save over $800 a year by shopping in the app!
“As a young person who owns a sports car and a high-end sedan, I couldn’t find quotes below a certain threshold. By using
Jerry, I managed to find full comprehensive coverage on both vehicles and saved $150 a month!” —Channing Y.
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