Top Ten "coolest" new cars under $18,000
Posted Apr 11th 2006 4:55PM by Stuart Waterman
Filed under: Car Buying

Kelley Blue Book has
assembled a new top ten list for budget-minded car buyers - the coolest vehicles under $18,000. (Drumroll...) And this
year's coolest new vehicles under $18,000 are:
- 2007 Toyota Yaris (pictured)
- 2006
Scion xB
- 2007 Dodge Caliber
- 2006 Kia Sportage
- 2006 Chevrolet HHR
- 2006 Ford Fusion
- 2006 Nissan Frontier King Cab
- 2006 Mazda3
- 2006 Honda
Civic
- 2006 Scion tC
In case you were wondering, the list is ranked from least- to
most-expensive, with the Yaris' Blue Book value coming in at only $14,630. The Top Ten were selected based on price,
design, style and performance. More info
here.
[Source:
KBB.com]
Tags: coolest cars, kelley blue book, top ten cars, TopTenCars
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
V?or Rubiera @ Apr 11th 2006 5:07PM
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is an extreamly good car and has the design, technology, price and quality. It has very positive reviews from Edmunds and Consumer Guide.
SoCial @ Apr 11th 2006 5:11PM
Why Volkswagen hasn't been mentioned? It produces wonderful models of cars
iQuack @ Apr 11th 2006 5:14PM
Where's the Honda FIT?
If the Yaris is there, the FIT should be, too.
Jay Guzowski @ Apr 11th 2006 5:18PM
What about the new Suzuki SX4... that thing should be pretty cool with 140+ horsepower and AWD
Dodge Caliber @ Apr 11th 2006 5:18PM
Very interesting to see the Dodge Caliber near the top of the list.
http://www.caliberforums.com
Toyota Yaris @ Apr 11th 2006 5:21PM
Ahh, and the Yaris!
http://www.toyota-yaris.com
Koba @ Apr 11th 2006 5:22PM
LMAO, a Yaris cool? Come on! No Fit, but a freakin Yaris?????????????? What a bunch of idiots.
T. @ Apr 11th 2006 5:23PM
VW? Do they even make a car under 18g? Aside from anemic 108hp old style golf? Now if they brought over the Polo GTI and maybe even the Lupo, then you might have a gripe. Sorry, the only cool VW out there now is the 23k GTI.
Bob @ Apr 11th 2006 5:26PM
Uh pardon?
2007 Toyota Yaris -Not cool. Its an econobubble.
2006 Scion xB -way, way uncool - toaster w/ wheels.
2007 Dodge Caliber - maybe cool
2006 Kia Sportage - no comment, its a Kia...POS
2006 Chevrolet HHR - OK, maybe cool, its a nice package, looks neat and its practical.
2006 Ford Fusion - mmm, maybe for a soccer mom.
2006 Nissan Frontier King Cab - That may actually be kinda cool.
2006 Mazda3 - Probably the coolest on the list.
2006 Honda Civic - sorry, no. It has crappy styling, a speedo from a 1980's Corvette and an an engine w/ no torque. Despite what EVERYBODY says, this car is lame.
2006 Scion tC - Not fast, way too heavy, but cool styling and cool glass roof. May actually be cool.
Edward @ Apr 11th 2006 5:41PM
I think maybe a third of those cars are "cool," but then again, "cool" is not determined by middle-aged men.
matt @ Apr 11th 2006 5:44PM
Or...you could buy a nice used Prelude, RSX, or if you need four doors, a used WRX.
So why buy one of these new dorkmobiles when you can get a fun car, lightly broken in, for the same or less money?
Bob @ Apr 11th 2006 5:51PM
I second Matt's (#11) statement.
I can think of a few cars that are even 30 years old, I would rather pick up for a few grand that I would be prouder driving than most on that list.
Joshi @ Apr 11th 2006 5:53PM
The Toyota Yaris is cool because it's a 3-door xA for $11,000. Check out the options - you can even get the footwell mood lighting.
But I do think it's interesting that Bob says the xB is uncool because it's boxy...because that's probably the reason it's on this list. I mean, if it had totally generic styling, would it be cooler? "Cool" and "divisive" often go hand-in-hand...
zoom zoom @ Apr 11th 2006 5:54PM
Mazda 3 is the coolest vehicle under $18,000!
Mazda 3 ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian @ Apr 11th 2006 5:56PM
The Mazda and Scion Tc and Xb belong on the list; I don't believe that any of the rest of the cars mentioned could be called "cool."
The Mazda wins hands down, though. They really knocked the ball out of the park on that one.
Proud Japanese @ Apr 11th 2006 5:57PM
"2006 Honda Civic - sorry, no. It has crappy styling, a speedo from a 1980's Corvette and an an engine w/ no torque. Despite what EVERYBODY says, this car is lame."
So EVERYONE is wrong and you are right?
Bob @ Apr 11th 2006 6:05PM
#14
OK, maybe I should have put everyone in quotes. "Everyone:" meaning the auto journalist press, who glorify a car that has not earned it. IMHO.
Dave @ Apr 11th 2006 6:14PM
The Civic interior makes me want to puke all over its digital speedo and gross instrument panel. Good call Bob. Besides, anything in the top ten list of annual volume sales should be by definition banned from the "cool" list. Conforming is not cool.
The xB is just as lame as it gets. It reminds of people who try way too hard to be different and cool that they end up being a poser and getting made fun of by the friends and family. Besides, its just a Honda Element wannabe. The tC is cool though because it doesn't try to be so different.
Also, anything Kia will never be cool.
HHR... Eh, its nice and I like the design but its still a PT Cruiser.
ScionGirls @ Apr 11th 2006 7:17PM
the scion tC should really be number one on the list, its the best styling and feature bang for the buck
Vinny @ Apr 11th 2006 7:28PM
Dave and Boob:
Please submit what you think the top 10 list should be.