Many drivers like fast cars, from sports cars to performance cars in the form of sports sedans, SUVs, hot hatches, and more. But far too many of us get hindered by a tight budget because, in today’s world, it seems the more money you spend, the faster you can go. But back in the day, that was not always the case, especially on the racetrack. In the past, your knowledge of how a car works determined the faster you could go. It's skill and mechanical wisdom that helped move the car down the road faster than the next guy.

Updated August 2022: Used car prices have skyrocketed over the past few years to extreme heights we could have never imagined. While this might be bad news for individuals who want fast cars on a budget, we’ve updated this list to include the 20 best affordable cars that can accelerate from 0-60 mph in the sub-5-second range.

Are you looking for a cheap fast car that will leave others chasing shadows on the freeway? We’ve done the research to help you narrow down your choices while balancing your budget and your appetite for speed. The prices vary because everyone’s definition of cheap is different. Likewise, car style is also varied, so this should be able to feed your next need for speed while staying within your budget. No matter the budget, you should find an affordable car of your choice here that will go from zero to sixty in under five seconds.

We compiled this list of fast, affordable cars using pricing and performance data from Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power, Acceleration Times, and Zero To 60 Times.

20 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec

Starting Used Price: $10,172

Driving a Hyundai nowadays is so much cooler than it used to be. Look at their Veloster N, for example. However, the one that started the brand's performance trend was the Genesis Coupe, which not only looks sick but comes through with 344 horsepower and just under 300 lb-ft of torque (295 lb-ft. to be exact).

Performance

The Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec tips the scale at 3,503 pounds of curb weight. This allows it to scoot on down the road without too much weight holding it back from smoking the average car at the red light. It will only take you approximately 5.2 seconds to go from zero to sixty. Next time you find yourself next to a Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec at a red light, know you're next to no slouch.

19 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

Starting Used Price: $16,647

Want to go fast and be able to cruise around while still being conscious of your fuel economy? The Chrysler 300 is the perfect budget fast car for you. This ride gets a whopping 30 mpg, and yet, in case you were unaware, SRT stands for Street Racing Technology

Performance

The HEMI in the Chrysler 300 SRT8 will keep up with the best around town. It pushes 470 horsepower to the wheels, enough to sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, leaving your opponents in the dust.

18 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR

Starting Used Price: $18,989

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X is a sought-after ride for many performance car enthusiasts. With its sleek looks and 291 horsepower under the hood, this thing looks beautiful when it hits full stride down the highway. That aside, it also gets good gas mileage, averaging 17 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway.

Performance

With 300 lb-ft of torque, you should be able to beat most cars off the line, hitting 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. One thing Lancer Evo models are also renowned for is their aftermarket support usually leading to some crazy modified Evos

17 1990 Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR1

Starting Used Price: $15,900

The '90s Chevy Corvette ZR1 is one hell of a muscle car capable of quick quarter-mile times and blistering acceleration. Best of all, it's rather affordable with good-condition C4 'Vettes costing below $30,000 as per J.D Power. So, let's unravel what made the C4 ZR1 so amazing.

Performance

Aside from its fiberglass body and all-aluminum suspension setup, this Chevy came equipped with a bonkers 5.7-liter V8. It produced more than 400 hp and an equally impressive 385 lb-ft of torque. In the real world, a skilled driver could put all its power down and achieve a 0-60 in as little as 4.5 seconds, and that's for a car released in the mid-'90s! We are truly excited to see what Chevy's top-of-the-range C8 ZR1 Corvette will be able to do.

Related: 15 Fast And Powerful Cars Available For Under $10,000

16 2009 Audi S8

Starting Used Price: $8,543

Yep, that's right, we're featuring a full-blown German luxury sedan on the list of quick, affordable cars. The second-generation Audi S8 wasn't your average sluggish and sloppy limousine. It used a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 straight out of the Lamborghini Gallardo that puts out 450 hp, as well as 398 lb-ft of torque.

Performance

Thanks to Audi's impeccable Quattro all-wheel-drive system, its 4,300 lb curb weight was no burden when it came to acceleration. The 2009 Audi S8 could sprint to 60 mph from stationary in just under 5 seconds.

15 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Starting Used Price: $25,004

The 2016 C SS 1LE is a beast precisely made for the track that drives as awesome as it looks. Chevrolet said, "The exterior of the SS 1LE has been carefully designed with a performance-first philosophy that combines striking looks with aerodynamic prowess."

Performance

Impressively, this Chevy muscle car manages to keep you at ease on the inside with comfort in mind as all the power slams you and your passengers back into their seats. The 2016 C SS 1LE pushes 455 horsepower to the rear wheels, enough to burn plenty of rubber and take you from zero to 60 mph in only 4.1 seconds.

14 2015 Ford Mustang GT Premium

Starting Used Price: $23,205

This 2015 Mustang GT is certainly premium. With 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, it will blow by everyday street burners all day. It only weighs around 3700 pounds and is as aerodynamic as they come stock.

Performance

The GT Premium will roar from zero to 60 in just above 4 seconds, faster than the base 5.0 GT. That is pretty quick off the lot. If you are on a budget, love speed, and want a Mustang, this is the model for you.

13 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Special Edition

Starting Used Price: $11,842

Now is the best time to buy a WRX STI since Subaru has confirmed the STI badge is now extinct and will be replaced by an electric counterpart. Whether you are into drifting or beating the average sedan off the line, look for the 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Special Edition.

Performance

It only has a 4-cylinder engine, getting 23 miles to the gallon on the highway, but pumps out 305 horsepower. The power will have you hitting 60 mph from a stop in just 4.7 seconds.

12 2018 Infiniti Q60 3.0t Luxe

Starting Used Price: $24,385

The 2018 Infiniti Q60 3.0t Luxe has one of the best-looking designs out there for budget shoppers. It's also plenty fast, with the potential to shame some sports cars. So, what is that like?

Performance

With 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft, it will hit sixty from a stop in 5 seconds flat. Infiniti never lets down on the interior design, either, so you know it will be a comfortable ride as you take it off the lot.

Related: 10 Best Luxury Sports Cars To Put On Your Radar: 2023-2024

11 2018 Infiniti Q50 3.0t Luxe

Starting Used Price: $20,398

Who knew a little 3-liter V6 could be so much fun? With a low price tag and high-performance stats relative to the price range, why not go with the 2018 Infiniti Q50 3.0t Luxe? It gets 29 mpg on the highway, meaning you can put your foot on the pedal without needing to stop for gas every other exit.

Performance

The Infiniti Q50 3.0t Luxe hits 60 from zero in only 5 seconds, just as quick as the Q60. The whiplash definitely won’t hurt with its comfort-inspired seats on the inside.

10 2016 Volvo V60 T6 R-Design

Starting Used Price: $17,695

Who knew a Volvo would make the list? It may be a little pricier than other entries on our list, but this wagon can keep up with the rest. Pushing 325 horsepower, it holds its own against many rivals in its segment.

Performance

This Swedish wagon will go from zero to 60 in around five seconds while still getting the kids safely to school. The 2016 Volvo V60 T6 R-Design also has a surprising towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. So, if you ever need to burn rubber while taking the boat to the ramp or have nothing to tow, just know you have options.

9 2018 Honda Civic Type R

Starting Used Price: $32,465

Honda may get a bad rap because they can't decide whether to make commuters or sports cars. But the fact is that out of all the car brands, they last the longest. It is between them and Toyota, and both have upped their game.

Performance

The Civic Type R looks sick. It has 306 horses of power from a 2-liter four-cylinder engine that gets around 28 mpg on the highway. That doesn't stop it from pushing itself down the road, though; it will hit sixty in a fast 4.9 seconds.

8 2016 BMW 340i

Starting Used Price: $19,694

The 2016 BMW 340i not only looks sweet but also has some sweet specs. With four doors and decent power at your disposal, you can take the family anywhere while having a fun journey.

Performance

This BMW packs a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine dubbed N58. There are 320 horses here, and thanks to an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive, this 340i is athletic. It is capable of 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and gets a surprising 32 mpg on the highway and 21 in the city.

7 2015 Volkswagen Golf R

Starting Used Price: $19,873

The 2015 Golf R looks like it should have the word "golf" in its name. In all seriousness, it is a pretty cool little hatchback. It boasts a decent dose of horsepower and fuel mileage blended with good looks at a decent price.

Performance

The 2015 Golf R offers 292 horsepower and gets 29 mpg on the highway. It will reach sixty miles an hour in a quick 4.2 seconds. While it still has four doors, it remains small enough to whip around a curvy road.

6 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4

Starting Used Price: $6,044

The Mitsubishi 3000GT was far ahead of its time. It boasted a modifiable exhaust note, active aero, and twin-turbocharged V6. But the VR4-variant is where the true magic lies.

Performance

The 1994 VR4 variant came with an all-wheel drive and a power upgrade that resulted in a total power output of 320 hp. These technological marvels contributed to its 3,803 lb curb weight, but somehow, this 6-speed stickshift '90s Japanese icon could pull off a 0-60 in as quick as 4.7 seconds.

5 2018 Kia Stinger GT

Starting Used Price: $26,743

Kia is the last brand you'd expect to be on this list. But as we conducted research across the web, somewhere deep in cyberspace, we discovered possibly the greatest Kia of all time.

Performance

The 2018 Kia Stinger GT has a 3.3-liter v6 engine pushing 365 horsepower. It punches a sting when you line it up, going from zero to sixty in only 4.8 seconds. We believe the Stinger paved the road for all of Kia's new enticing cars, like the K5.

4 2015 Audi S3

Starting Used Price: $17,639

Audi is common on our lists when it comes to manufacturers that build fast cars. They seem to always build cars everyone likes, but few know much about them, and the S3 is the perfect example

Performance

The S3's turbo-four produces 292 horses, weighs in at just under 3500 pounds, and will get 22 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. It is no Camry regarding gas mileage, but it's a preppy Audi with Quattro all-wheel-drive, which results in a zero to sixty time of 4.6 seconds.

3 2016 Ford Focus RS

Starting Used Price: $25,181

This one is our personal favorite and not simply because we're in love with the Ford Focus, but because of the Focus' history. Who would ever imagine that a stock Focus would make a list of cars that go zero to 60 in under five seconds?

Performance

The Focus's affordability aspect has always been attractive, but the speed aspect, not so much. However, the RS-version exceeded everyone's expectations; it rolls with 350 horsepower and a matching 350 foot-pounds of torque. The RS takes its little four-cylinder EcoBoost engine to hit 60 in just 4.7 seconds. So, think again the next time you consider racing the Ford Focus.

2 2016 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack

Starting Used Price: $29,231

The Dodge Charger Scat Pack is the Charger to get if you want to be quick out of the gate. It produces 485 horsepower to carry its 4,400 pounds down the road and pushes 475 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels.

Performance

So, you’ll not only beat everyone off the line but will also smoke the tires when you win. That celebration burnout is always the best. It also gets 15 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, which is not bad for a Scat Pack that will go from zero to sixty in 4.2 seconds.

Related: 10 Cheapest Sleeper Cars That Can Keep Up With A Hellcat

1 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack

Starting Used Price: $22,402

The aforementioned Charger is not the only Dodge available with a Scat Pack. The Challenger comes available with it as well. Its 6.4-liter V8 will push 485 horsepower past every other stock car in the neighborhood, including some Italian exotics like the Lamborghini Huracan.

Performance

The V8 gets 24 miles to the gallon on the highway. Expect worse in the city, just like any other car, but the Challenger is a cool enough ride to handle the small drop in gas mileage. This Scat Pack will set you back in your seat, and if you hit the pedal just right, in 4.3 seconds, you'll be going at 60 mph.