The $20,xxx.xx challenge. Fastest cheap car you can buy today?

OK kids, here is the challenge. Which is the fastest car under $20k we can buy off a brand new car parking lot that is a 2021, and is the fastest (among its sub-$20k contemporaries ) at 0 to 60, quarter mile, and skid pad.

So there could be a car that takes all three, but there might be three different cars that win in one of each category. Hopefully that makes sense.

Are there new cars under $20k?

https://www.kbb.com/best-cars/10-coolest-new-cars-under-20000/

Probably the Forte/Elantra would be my choice

Veloster?

John Welsh said:

Are there new cars under $20k?

plenty. 

solfly said:

Veloster?

Veloster, but remember it's not the N. 

From the list that John Welsh posted... only a few are actually under $20k....all the Hyundai and Kia options have CVTs

It BARELY scrapes in under $20k... but the Jetta S base model comes standard with the 1.4T making 147hp and 184 lb/ft of torque and it's going to the ground through a row your own 6 speed manual.. 

my money is that the Jetta would be the fastest of the bunch, listed 0-60 is 7.7 seconds.... I'm betting everything else is no better than 8 seconds..

even the base model Mazda 3 2.0 in the $20k list.. (that's actually a hair over $20k)... is 8 second 0-60.

If you found a dealer willing to deal... i bet you could get a base model mazda3 under the $20k mark.. and that's got radar cruise and A LOT of other nice gadgets for $20k... plus I know that car is super playful to drive and the 6 speed auto locks up once you start rolling and the shifter is in the proper sequential configuration..

I'd be going for the Jetta or the Mazda3 personally.... $25k is the new $20 of 10 years ago..

The loss of the Fit is a huge loss to the B spec lineup, Kia/Hyundai has abandoned all manuals in everything but the performance cars, except the Veloster base model...

I bet the Jetta still outperforms the Veloster in all areas..

 

I think you can still get a Kia Soul in a manual. Jetta gets my vote.