The Most Amazing Cars You can Buy For under $50,000!

Planning on buying a new car but cannot settle on one? The amount of cars and designs in the industry right now will give each brand a run for its money with the amount of features present in each of them. Knowing the kind of car you need, will certainly slim down your search but still leave you with a lot of options. If you have a maximum budget of $50,000, you are certainly in for a treat with this article.

Related: Your search for Best Cars under $40000 ends here! Buy Smart!

The best cars under $50,000 come with too many advantages and features that it can get quite tough for you to remember the advantages of each. Well, fear not, here is a guide (in no particular order) for you to help you choose!

#10 2015 Lexus RC 350 F Sport- $42,790

If you are looking for a power packed performance with a color that screams attention, then this is the car for you. Chock-full of new features and horsepower, the Lexus F series has done pretty well with its newest addition.

Vehicle type:

• 4 seater
• Front engine
• Rear-wheel drive
• 2-door coupe

Engine type:

• aluminum heads and block
• DOHC 24-valve V-6
• port and direct fuel injection

Dimensions:

• Wheelbase: 107.5 inches
• Length: 184.8 inches
• Width: 72.4 in Height: 54.9 in
• Passenger/cargo volume: 82.0/10.4 cu ft
• Curb weight: 3894 lb

Displacement:

• Power: 306 hp @ 6400 rpm
• Torque: 277 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

Fuel Economy:

• EPA city/highway: 19/28 mpg
• C/D observed: 19 mpg

Transmission:

8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

Benefits:

Although the car makes heads turn wherever you go, this can be considered a good thing if you like the attention. The Lexus F Sport has an extremely sleek look that houses a wonderful V-6 engine with a 306 horsepower. Although the suspension is soft, it grips to the road very easily which makes for a smooth and powerful ride. The car is very quiet even at high powers which are another big plus. It also operates mainly on forward thrust.

Setbacks:

One big problem is the suspension’s unwillingness to harness that power. With an awkward tilt, the suspension does not push the car to the limits it can reach with its shyness to catch on to the engine’s power. The suspension can give much more than it is actually designed to. While the Lexus trackpad has a lot of potential and it explores the maps and directions pretty easily, the touch itself is hard to use. With very awkward point placements it can be hard to get onto the one you actually need.

#9 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon - $47,775

Just when it seems like everybody was beginning to choose sedans over hatchbacks, BMW bought back the trend in a spectacular fashion with this car. Newly designed and rechristened as a ‘sports wagon’, this particular BMW outweighs their sedans by a large amount whilst keeping the drive almost identical and is a great sports car under $50000. With an easy 5 passenger placement, here are the specifications of this sports wagon.

Specifications:

Vehicle Type:

• front-engine
• 4-wheel-drive
• 5-passenger
• 5-door wagon

Displacement:

• 122 cu in, 1997 cc
• Power: 240 hp @ 6000 rpm
• Torque: 255 lb-ft @ 1250 rpm

Transmission:

8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

Engine type:

• intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4
• Turbocharged
• aluminum head and block
• direct fuel injection

Fuel:

• city/highway driving: 22/33 mpg
• observed: 25 mpg

Dimension:

• Wheelbase: 110.6 in
• Length: 182.2 in
• Width: 71.3 in Height: 56.5 in
• Curb weight: 3800 lb

Benefits:

With a turbocharhed, 2 litre four cylinder engine, the entire journey is always smooth and nimble. With an ample front and rare space, the rear trunk is a good 18 cubic feet. Another good feature of this sports wagon is the rear window’s ability to open separately. This makes storing things much quicker too.

With almost all the qualities for the BMW X1 series, you can get the BMW 328i X series for a much lesser price. Putting the car into sports mode in the beginning makes it easier to shift the gears and drive more nimbly too.

Setbacks:

The weight of the sports wagon is far more than any of the sedans from BMW. The weight ratio also increases from 50.4 on the rear axle (sedan) to 51.7 on the sports wagon. This can reduce the speed of the sports wagon as well. The adjustable suspension has a default mode of Comfort so you might have to deal with a lot of front and back motion when you need to shift it if you are not keen on changing the mode to Sport. You will also have to give up on the manual/rear drive and the six-cylinder option as well.

Also read: 30 Best Car Accessories (2017) to Make your Car look More Fabulous

#8 BMW M235i- $44,025

Direct replacements for the 1-series, the BMW M235i series were BMW’s attempt to comeback and seize the sedan market. Although the design of the car was not very well-received, this car has paved the way for the future M-series that are now available in the market. With the classic MotoSport designation, it is not in the highest form of sports cars. However, the stability and the sturdiness of the car make up for its flaw in design perfectly and make it one of the top cars under 50k.

Vehicle Type:

rear-wheel-drive

2-door coupe

front-engine

4-passenger

Displacement:

182 cu in, 2979 cc

Torque: 330 lb-ft ,1300 rpm

Power: 320 hp, 6000 rpm

Transmission:

6-speed manual

8-speed automatic , manual shifting option

Engine:

intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6

Turbocharged

aluminum head and block

direct fuel injection

Fuel:

EPA city/highway: 19-22/28-32 mpg

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 105.9 inches

Length: 175.9 inches

Width: 69.8 in Height: 55.4 inches

Curb weight (C/D est): 3500-3550 lb

Benefits:

With the high horsepower and the torque that is available with this car, the six cylinder engine of the car makes sure you have the smoothest ride all the time. The adaptive suspension of the car also has another option called the Dynamic Traction Control will ensure smooth cornering and excellent comfort. With a manual transmission in place, you get a horsepower of 325 and a torque of 332 pounds as well.

Unlike the 1-series, the space and the length of the car is also longer which makes it sleeker and all the unnecessary designs are removed.

Setbacks:

With corporate being the target audience, you will have a problem of a lot of cheap plastic and tags that come as part of the car unless you go for the options that are available. This will also create a problem in itself because the price of the car will rise significantly when you choose the options that are there for taking. Without a proper classification in the M series, you do not have any other option of changing the engine as well.

#7 Audi TTS - $43,825

With great power comes great popularity and the Audi TTS coupe is the testament for this. The successor of the Audi TT, the Audi TTS is one of the most comfortable and effortlessly fast cars in the market these days. Here are the specs of the four passenger car.

Vehicle Type:

4-wheel-drive

front-engine

2-door hatchback

4-passenger

Transmission:

6-speed dual-clutch automatic , manual shifting mode

Engine type:

intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4

Turbocharged

direct fuel injection

aluminum head and iron block

Displacement:

121 cu in, 1984 cc

Torque: 280 lb-ft ,1900 rpm

Power: 292 hp , 6200 rpm

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 98.6 inches

Length: 165.0 inches

Width: 72.1 in Height: 52.8 inches

Passenger volume: 74 cu ft

Cargo volume: 12 cu ft

Curb weight: 3220 lb

Fuel:

EPA city/highway driving: 23/27 mpg

C/D observed: 21 mpg

Benefits:

The reason for the car to be so beastly is the massive upgrade it got from the Audi TT in the form of its own cylinder head, high pressure fuel injections systems, pistons and the turbocharger. With a computerized gear shifting i.e dual-clutch, six speed transmission, you do not have to worry about any sudden changes that are required. It also has a 292 horsepower and the thrust you will receive is incredible.

Setbacks:

With a torque of 280, you will have to be able to wait for it to kick in at 1900 rpms instead of 1600 rpm. It also takes much longer to run out at 5300 rpm instead of 4400 rpm. Although the computerized transmission is great, it doesn’t give the user a chance to use a manual gearbox at all. If you are set on the Audi TT’s design, the novelty of it is not available in the TTS anymore.

#6 Cadillac CTS - $46,555

This VSport engine car is one of the best-looking cars in the market right now. With a distinctive design on the exterior as well as the interior, the car has a high performance and a great engine and torque system that sets it apart. Although it is an eight-speed automatic, it does not have an all-wheel drive but that is a small price to play for the great ride. Placed in the 10 Best Winner in 2018, this is one of the best cars under $50000

Vehicle Type:

4-wheel-drive

front-engine

4-door sedan

5-passenger

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 114.6 inches

Length: 195.5 inches

Width: 72.2 in Height: 57.2 inches

Passenger volume: 97 cu ft

Cargo volume: 14 cu ft

Curb weight: 3916 lb

Engine type:

intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4

aluminum head and block

Turbocharged

direct fuel injection

Displacement:

122 cu in, 1998 cc

Torque: 295 lb-ft , 3000 rpm

Power: 268 hp , 5600 rpm

Fuel:

EPA city/highway driving: 21/29 mpg

C/D observed: 18 mpg

Benefits:

Although the automatic gear shift is one of the most popular features of the car, you have the option to shift to manual if it is required. The manual gear shift is paddle only though. The comfort level is off the charts and the car performs exceptionally well on skids and transmissions as well. With a great grip on the road, you can easily take turns and corners without batting an eyelid.

Setbacks:

While the interiors are exemplary, it can get quite tough to be able to maintain them. Simplifying the interiors will give it a sleeker, more sporty look on the inside so if you are looking for something minimal, this might not be the car for you. With the various options available for upgrades, your final prices can become quite high as compared to the base price.

#5 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang- $47,795

Ford brings back the iconic Mustang with the new Shelby version and it is bigger, better and more powerful than the previous versions. With an upgraded system and a V-8 engine, it is instantly covetable, especially for all the muscle car enthusiasts. Fair warning, you need to be able to control the horsepower on this thing

Vehicle Type:

• rear-wheel-drive
• front-engine
• 2-door coupe
• 2- or 4-passenger

Engine type:

• aluminum heads and block
• DOHC 32-valve V-8
• port fuel injection

Dimensions:

• Wheelbase: 107.1 inches
• Length: 188.9-189.7 inches
• Width: 75.9 inches Height: 53.6-54.2 inches
• Passenger volume: 52-85 cu ft
• Cargo volume: 14 cu ft
• Curb weight (GT350/GT350R): 3796/3710 lb

Fuel:

• EPA city/highway driving: 14/21 mpg
• C/D observed (GT350/GT350R): 15/14 mpg

Displacement:

• 315 cu in, 5163 cc
• Torque: 429 lb-ft , 4750 rpm
• Power: 526 hp, 7500 rpm

Benefits:

With the power of a racehorse, you can instantly zoom from the time you press down on the accelerator. The engine is truly a gift that keeps on giving. With the amount of horsepower that is present in the Mustang, you might be worried about the breaks, but even the brakes are seasoned to take on the sudden change and keep the car stable and moving. The car is great for track experience and the lighter weight of the body makes it an optimal rival.

Setbacks:

This can be quite hard to beat but it gets harder for you to control the car if you have had no prior experience. The price of the new Shelby Mustang is also quite high and any kind of upgrade you want to add can cut a deeper hole in your pocket.

Also check: 8 Best Cars under $30,000 (An ideal 2017 List) to checkout!

#4 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 - $48,000

Considering the lukewarm response the first Infiniti Q50 received, the new Q50 comes with so many features, you lost count. With three turbocharged engines and a layout that almost eliminates lag, this is one of the best sports cars under $50000. The optional four wheel drive offers so much power, you will be astounded when you first try it out. This is due to the 208 hp four cylinder and two V-6 engines that are available at 300 and 400 horsepower. Here are more specs of the same:

Benefits:

Vehicle Type

5-passenger

front-engine

4-door sedan

rear- or 4-wheel-drive

Engine Type:

intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6

twin-turbocharged

aluminum heads and block

direct fuel injection

Transmission:

7-speed automatic , manual shifting

Fuel

EPA city/highway driving: 21-22/29-31 mpg

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 112.2 inches

Length: 189.1 inches

Width: 71.8 inches Height: 56.8-57.2 inches

Curb weight (C/D est): 3850 lb

Benefits:

With the amount of power that comes with the trio engines, you can get from 0 to 60 in just a matter of seconds. With the twin steering systems, the standard set up gives you feedback whenever required while the Direct Adaptive Steering System ensures that you remain stable when you hit larger objects such as the potholes and bumps along the road. The brakes are also very powerful the huge 19 inch rear wheels offer the stability you need for the speed it offers.

Setbacks:

With the amount of horsepower available in this thing, you would expect a better transmission. It can still give some slurry shifts and with it being a gearbox lower than others in the same level, it needs to ensure that its transmission is smoother. Although the steering system has electric assist for the standard set up, the feedback you receive can get very tiring after a while. The amount of vibration you receive is mostly unaccounted for and can make your hands go numb. This can seriously ruin your drive in the long run.

#3 Chevrolet SS - $46,740

When you have got the horsepower that can touch 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, will you really be so worried about the other features? Well, even if you do, the Chevrolet SS has gotten everything that you would have wished for. Known as the flagship car of the Chevrolet series, the new 2015 Chevrolet SS has surpassed all expectations.

Specifications:

Vehicle Type

rear-wheel-drive

front-engine

4-door sedan

5-passenger

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 114.8 inches

Length: 195.5 inches

Width: 74.7 inches Height: 57.9 inches

Passenger/Cargo Volume: 105/16 cu ft Curb weight: 3970 lb

Displacement:

376 cu in, 6162 cc

Torque: 415 lb-ft , 4600 rpm

Power: 415 hp , 5900 rpm

Transmission:

6-speed manual

Engine type:

port fuel injection

pushrod 16-valve V-8

aluminum heads and block

Benefits:

One of the biggest benefits of the Chevrolet SS is that it comes fully equipped for its base price as compared to the other sports sedans in this price range. The brakes are also from Brembo and they are available for the front and the back as well. With both automatic and manual shifts available, you can find the one that suits you best. It also has a very well tuned suspension and a Magnetic Rid control as well.

Setbacks:

The lack of automatic shifting can make using the clutch very annoying to those who are not comfortable with it. The electric assist steering wheel is not completely fine tuned and is not balanced to the center very well too.  It can also take too long to warm up in the winters.

#2 Challenger SRT 392 - $45,995

When you talk about muscle cars, this one almost takes the car. Pur, raw, unadulterated power and a coveted design, the Challenger SRT 392 surely gives the Hellcat a run for its money. With incredible speed and a muscle car through and through, it gives sports sedans a new face.

Specifications:

Vehicle type

rear-wheel-drive

front-engine

2-door coupe

5-passenger

Engine type:

aluminum heads and iron block

pushrod 16-valve V-8

port fuel injection

Dimension:

Wheelbase: 116.0 inches

Length: 198.0 inches

Width: 75.7 in Height: 55.9 inches

Curb weight (C/D est): 4200 lb

Fuel:

EPA city/highway driving: 14-15/23-25 mpg

Transmission:

6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic, manual shifting

Displacement:

392 cu inches, 6417cc

Torque: 475 lb-ft , 4200 rpm

Power: 485 hp , 6000 rpm

Benefits:

The reason for the power of the car is the 6 litre HEMI that gives it 485 horsepower as well as 475 lb-ft of torque. The eight speed automatic transmission is also a big plus. The transmission can smoothly handle the gear changes and the three setting SRT drive mode gives you the option of changing the shifting, traction, suspension and more according to your need. It also has a large infotainment centre for your media, navigation and more.

Setbacks:

As it goes with all muscle cars, while it was smooth and powerful on the track, it can be a little hard to control it on normal roads and highways. With the easy switching to high speeds, the car will have a bit of a problem on the normal asphalt and you need to be careful if you are planning to take it on long drives.

#1 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG 4MATIC - $48,375

Managing to get 355 horsepower from a 2.0 liter engine is no easy task but Mercedes makes it look like a piece of cake with this beauty. Along with this, you also get special crankshafts for the pistons, to ensure that nothing shifts during the 26.1 psi of boost.

Made full of features, this is a car that took the world by surprise especially when the news of the engine emerged and is already one of the best luxury cars under $50000.

Specifications:

Vehicle Type

• 4-wheel-drive
• front engine
• 5-passenger
• 4-door sedan

Dimensions:

• Wheelbase: 106.3 inches
• Length: 184.7 inches
• Width: 70.0 inches Height: 55.74 inches
• Curb weight: 3619 lb

Engine type:

• direct fuel injection
• turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve,
• inline-4,
• aluminum head and block

Transmissions:

• 7-speed dual-clutch automatic,manual shifting

Displacement:

• 122 cu inches, 1991 cc
• Power: 355 hp @ 6000 rpm
• Torque: 332 lb-ft @ 2250 rpm

Fuel:

EPA city/highway driving (C/D est): 19/27 mpg

C/D observed: 22 mpg

Benefits:

A 4-engine drive delivering this amount of power and torque is incredible and this is the best you can get for a car in this class. Along with an all-wheel seater, you get a sports tuned chassis and great interior as well as exterior design at a bargain price.

Setbacks:

With a smaller engine, the power can take time to process which might lead to some understeer especially in the corners but this can be easily managed once you get the hang of it. The steering also has a front wheel bias but the stability control still needs to be fine tuned to a large extent. If you need to get rid of all the plastic panels in the interiors, you might be adding a hefty amount to the already heavy price of the car.

So what is the best?

Top cars under $50000 are not as hard to find as you would anticipate. With so many options available, it is hard to say what the best car is as it depends on your needs and budget. The Challenger SRT 392 and the Chevrolet SS are both great options if you are looking for a good quality muscle car that comes with all the specs and is still available.

The BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon is another great option for 2018 cars under 50000 dollars as it has all the qualities of the sedan but with the versatility and the advantages of the sports wagon.

Further research before you choose a car is always a good idea but, which car do you prefer from these?!