10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 in 2016

Cool Cars Are Now Affordable Too

Who says affordability and “coolness” cannot coexist? The car experts at Kelley Blue Book says some very affordable vehicles are the coolest new cars for sale. And the answer is a big YES as KBB.com revealed their annual list of the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000.

Which Car Reigns Supreme as the Coolest Affordable?

The Mazda3 has remained in the top spot for three consecutive years. Wow! Not only that, Mazda 3 was featured on the Kelly Blue Book’s annual affordable “cool cars” list every year of the vehicle’s 13-year existence.

Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said Mazda 3 has that “cool factor” that made it top the list. And it is sporty and gorgeous outside as well as inside.

“In our eyes, the combination of cool and affordable doesn’t get better than the Mazda3.” – Mr. Nerad

10 coolest new cars for 2016.
10 coolest affordable new cars for 2016.

Fun-to-drive and Fun-to-own Criteria

To be in the “coolest” car list for this year, it must satisfy fun-to-drive and fun-to-own criteria. These criteria are critical to be in a list of the coolest cars in 2016. In other words, a car should have a “cool factor,” as one important criterion for the vehicle to place on this list.

And of course, each vehicle is available for purchase at $18,000 or less, using Kelley Blue Book’s exclusive Fair Market Range as the yardstick.

What is Kelley Blue Book Fair Market Range?

It is part of KBB.com’s Price Advisor tool that shows the range of what consumers can expect to pay each week in their area for a new vehicle when purchasing from a dealer.

In addition, there are also factors to consider to help determine a vehicle’s Fair Market Range and Fair Purchase Price. These factors are current market conditions, vehicle availability, local demand, and seasonal buying trends.

KBB.com’s 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 of 2016

1. Mazda 3

coolest new car, the Mazda 3
Mazda 3 2016

2. Honda Civic

Honda Civic coolest affordable car #2
Honda Civic coolest affordable car #2

3. Jeep Renegade

Jeep Renegade.
Jeep Renegade

4. Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf

5. Kia Soul

Kia Soul.
Kia Soul

6. Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai Veloster
Hyundai Veloster

7. Fiat 500

Fiat 500
Fiat 500

8. Honda Fit

Honda Fit.
Honda Fit

9. Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta.
Ford Fiesta

10. Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet Sonic.
Chevrolet Sonic

About Kelley Blue Book

Founded in 1926, the Kelley Blue Book is a prominent vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website KBB.com. Each year, they release their list of the coolest new cars in an affordable price range.

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