Top Ten Coolest Cars Under $18,000

If you're looking for a silver lining within the gray cloud of steep gas prices stalled overhead, take a look at the collection of vehicles available today for less than $18,000. With a handful of exceptions, the entry-priced end of the market where these cool cars dwell is typified by smaller vehicles with smaller engines that deliver excellent fuel economy, making the coolest cars in this price range more appealing than ever. All but one of the winners on our prestigious list returns highway fuel economy of 30 mpg or better.

While each of the vehicles on this year's list is cool in its own way, versatility is an overarching theme. Folding seats, clever cubbies and innovative storage solutions make today's cool cars more useful than cars of just a few years ago. And, with three- and five-door cars accounting for half the vehicles named, it's now official: the hatchback is back.

In choosing the elite 10 Coolest Cars under $18,000, our kbb.com editorial staff used the same combination of objective and subjective criteria that many consumers use in examining this category. Safety, fuel economy, environmental impact, interior size, comfort and fun-to-drive were all items on the consideration list. And each vehicle was examined through the subjective magnifying glass of what is cool. The list of qualifying vehicles under $18,000 was put together using our New Car Blue Book values, which reflect real-world transaction prices and provide a more useful comparison point than Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The good news here is that all the vehicles on this list can be purchased for $18,000 or less, demonstrating that there are great alternatives for those who demand coolness but who don't want to spend a dotcom fortune on their ride.

Here, in alphabetical order, are the Kelley Blue Book 10 Coolest Cars under $18,000:

2007 Chevrolet Silverado Classic

The 800-pound gorilla of this group earns its spot on the list by delivering the most metal for the money along with hefty hauling and towing capacities. It's not the newest-tech, but if you need to lug cool stuff, the full-size Silverado Classic lets you do it for a compact-pickup monthly payment. MSRP: $17,015 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $16,590

2007 Ford Focus SES 2-Door Hatchback

Its Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle status helped place the versatile Ford Focus 3-door on the list. We also applaud the Focus's combination of international style and cheeky, fun-to-drive character in a handy, economical package. MSRP: $16,180 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $15,937

2007 Honda Fit

Driving the Fit is the most fun you can have with four wheels and 109 horsepower. Matched with Honda's renowned interior intangibles and a cleverly configurable rear seat that provides uncanny cargo capacity, the diminutive Fit is cool condensed. MSRP: $14,445 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $14,301

2007 Hyundai Tiburon

Hyundai's sporty entry combines the presence of a $30,000 sports coupe with energetic driving dynamics and the value expected from the brand. Updates for the 2007 model year include freshened front and rear styling. MSRP: $17,295 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $17,157

2007 Jeep Patriot

Based on the same platform as the Dodge Caliber and Jeep's own Compass, the Patriot sets itself apart by featuring all the utility and features of its twin brothers but also adding an off-road capability and Jeep purity the others lack. MSRP: $14,985 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $14,985

2007 Mazda MAZDA3

Fun, stylish, versatile and substantial, the exceptionally well-rounded MAZDA3 is the only vehicle to make it onto our list the past four years in a row-and every year since its introduction. Suffice it to say, it's cool. MSRP: $18,175 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $17,993

2007 Nissan Versa

By offering more room than its closest competitors and available features like Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and keyless entry and start, the Versa offers a little taste of luxury at a decidedly down-market price. MSRP: $13,075 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $13,206

2007 Scion tC

Wearing the mark of a brand born to be cool, the tC coupe furthers its own pedigree with industrial-sleek styling, lively performance and a sharp interior that belies the car's sub-$18,000 starting price. MSRP: $16,980 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $17,235

2007 Suzuki SX4

The most affordable four-wheel-drive vehicle out there is wrapped in distinctively styled sheetmetal and offers advanced features like keyless entry and start. A 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is pretty cool, too. MSRP: $17,124 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $17,038

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit

With an eager engine, unexpectedly tenacious handling and interior refinement on par with cars costing twice its price, the vehicle formerly known as Golf plays off its Euro roots to offer Continental cool. MSRP: $15,630 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $15,474

* All vehicles are listed by their New Car Blue Book value. New Car Blue Book values represent transaction values, or what others are paying for this vehicle, during the week of April 9, 2007. New Car Blue Book values are updated weekly on kbb.com. Adding optional equipment at the time of purchase will increase the price of the vehicle.

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