You don’t need a supercar budget to go fast. These fast cars give you thrilling performance without breaking the bank, making it easy to get going in a hurry.
When you want to go fast but don’t want to spend too much money, you might feel a little bit limited in what you can buy. That said, there are many performance bargains out there, making it easy to get the speed you want without breaking the bank. These fast cars are priced at less than $50,000 in 2025, making it simple for you to have the driving experience and the price you desire.
Hyundai Elantra N
MSRP: $35,100 | Top Speed: 155 MPH
If you want a performance bargain that can easily be everything you want in a car, the 2025 Hyundai Elantra N with the manual transmission is that car. It has enough doors and seats for a few friends and the manual transmission you want to enjoy from behind the wheel.
Powertrain Specifications
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Horsepower | 276 hp |
| Torque | 289 lb-ft |
| Driveline | FWD |
| Fuel Efficiency | 22/31 mpg |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH |
This little Hyundai is remarkable on any road and brings you the fun that you won’t find in any other version of the Elantra. Instead of being a low trim, the Elantra N is the top model with the most performance features, but it’s still an affordable car, which makes it a fantastic choice.
Ford Mustang GT
MSRP: $45,560 | Top Speed: 155 MPH
The 2025 Ford Mustang GT is a glorious fast performance car, with enough force to rocket this car to 60 mph in a hurry, and delivers a generous top speed figure that you can be proud to share.
Powertrain Specifications
| Engine | 5.0-liter V8 |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Horsepower | 486 hp |
| Torque | 418 lb-ft |
| Driveline | RWD |
| Fuel Efficiency | 14/23 mpg |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH |
The affordable price of this Ford muscle car could lead you to choose the Performance Package as the right upgrade. This package gives you better transmission logic, a quicker-accelerating differential, and Brembo brakes to deliver track-focused performance.
Subaru WRX tS
MSRP: $45,705 | Top Speed: 145 MPH
The 2025 Subaru WRX tS is a much more refined performance sedan than in previous versions. This car used to lean hard into its performance qualities, which makes it somewhat difficult to live with during your daily drive.
Powertrain Specifications
| Engine | 2.4-liter turbocharged flat 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Horsepower | 271 hp |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft |
| Driveline | AWD |
| Fuel Efficiency | 19/26 mpg |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 145 MPH |
The raw immaturity of this Subaru has been lost, but that makes this car more enjoyable during your normal driving experience. With the manual transmission, the WRX tS remains fun and active on the road, giving you enough power to tear up the road.
Mini Cooper S Hardtop
MSRP: $33,195 | Top Speed: 150 MPH
If you want a performance-focused version of the 2025 Mini Cooper, the S Hardtop is the way to go. This car stacks up favorably against the competition in terms of handling and driving prowess, giving you an engaged feeling despite the lack of a manual transmission.
Powertrain Specifications
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Horsepower | 201 hp |
| Torque | 221 lb-ft |
| Driveline | FWD |
| Fuel Efficiency | 28/39 mpg |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 150 MPH |
The top speed of this Mini might be a bit surprising considering its low power figures. The Cooper S delivers good fuel economy figures and has a recognizable style that makes it easy to know that you’re driving a car with decades of automotive expertise built-in.
Toyota GR86
MSRP: $31,085 | Top Speed: 140 MPH
If you want a small, active sports coupe that’s slide-happy, the 2025 Toyota GR86 is the car to drive. In its base version, the GR86 comes with a manual transmission and a flat, naturally aspirated engine to deliver old-school driving fun in a modern car.
Powertrain Specifications
| Engine | 2.4-liter flat 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Horsepower | 228 hp |
| Torque | 184 lb-ft |
| Driveline | RWD |
| Fuel Efficiency | 20/27 mpg |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 140 MPH |
This Toyota compares favorably to other sports coupes that share its platform. The lightness and balance provided in the GR86 make this car a lot of fun on any track. If you want a car that truly lets loose and slides happily through a corner, it has everything your heart desires.
These are only five of the fast cars that will give you the driving pleasure you’re looking for when you get behind the wheel. Which car will you drive?
