Mazda 3 - $18,095

At a starting price of $18,095, the Mazda 3 is one of the cheapest cars on this list. That's no surprise to Mazda watchers, and a stiff chassis and perfect (seriously, perfect) suspension setup make for a car that punches way above its weight. Mazda's 2.0-liter four-cylinder seems a little winded with its 181-hp, but the resulting 41 mpg rating buys back any lost goodwill. The hot ticket though, is Mazda's 184-hp 2.5-liter, which still manages 40 mpg. Even better, both engine options are available with a 6-speed manual. If all cheap cars were this good, folks wouldn't think to improve them. Here's a used 2017 model you can own right now.

We haven't gotten a price on the new 2019 Mazda3, but it should fall somewhere under the $20,000 mark.