Coupes under $50k

  1. Home /
  2. Best coupes under $50k

Whether you’re just starting to drive or heading into a mid-life crisis, coupes appeal to all of us. Luckily, these days you don’t need to spend big money to enjoy the thrills of the swept-back driving experience.

While you are able to buy a Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86 for less than $40,000, choices start to expand once you’re shopping under the $50,000 so let’s start there.

Toyota 86

It is getting a little long in the tooth, but the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ combo still offers sports car thrills for an affordable price. Available in manual or automatic with a choice of specification levels, the Toyota 86 has stood the test of time despite external pressure to fill it with extra power.

Mazda MX-5

Mazda MX-5

With the nameplate just celebrating its 30th birthday, there’s small wonder why so many flock to the Mazda MX-5 for an engaging top-down drive. Even if you’re more of a hard-top fan, Mazda now offers the RF version which includes a folding metal roof.

Hyundai i30 Fastback N

A relatively new player to the coupe game, Hyundai’s i30 N was transformed into a four-door coupe following the success of the hatchback. Sleeker styling marries with everything that made Hyundai’s first true hot hatch great

News

A-Z of this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed cars

Electric supercars, V8-powered sports cars and cutting-edge concepts will headline another star-studded Goodwood Festival of Speed this July.

Reviews

Toyota HiLux SR 48V review: Can the updated Aussie favourite keep up with rivals?

It’s been one of Australia’s best-selling vehicles for the past few decades, so how does the latest Toyota HiLux compare against a swarm of new competition?

Features

What if the Holden Commodore ute were given another update? AI helps us imagine…

The Commodore ute was one of the biggest losses to the local motoring scene when Holden exited Australia, but what would a new model look like? Thanks to AI, we imagined what a 2026 Holden ute would look like…

Classic Wheels

From the Wheels Archive: Thumping V8s and tyre smoke, a ’90s style Aussie muscle car showdown

Ford returned to the V8 title fight with its all-new EB Falcon. But did it have the muscle to dethrone King Commodore?

News

British company McMurtry Automotive teases wild new electric track car

A British engineering firm has teased the final version of its new electric track car, with the McMurty Spéirling Pure set to debut next week.

Features

10 Australian cars that rewrote the rules

Australia’s motoring history followed a mostly predictable pattern, but every so often an outlier came along to shake things up.

News

Chery could be about to trigger a price war for Australia’s cheapest EV

The BYD Atto 1’s claim as Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle could soon come to an end as Chery prepares its new challenger.

News

Mercedes-Benz to open new Sydney CBD brand studio

Interactive city-centre space will host vehicle launches, special events and exhibitions as part of Mercedes-Benz’s expanding global Studio network.

News

One of BMW’s legendary cars could be in line for a comeback

If the head of BMW’s M division gets his way, the legendary and somewhat mythical M1 might be on its way back.

News

Accident repairs can cost up to 20% more for EVs – report

The cost-of-ownership benefits of an electric vehicle could come undone if you have an accident, new UK research finds.

News

Polestar banned from US market due to Chinese ownership

US regulators have pushed Polestar out of the market, as the brand doubles down on its European focus.

Reviews

2027 Geely Starray EM-i Inspire first drive review: Affordable plug-in SUV gets bigger battery for longer range

Six short months ago when we reviewed the 2026 version of this same SUV, we said that Geely had reset the bar in regard to affordable plug-in hybrid driving. Now it’s moved that bar higher again.

News

2027 Polestar 4: Price and specs revealed for updated EV range

Polestar has announced changes to the Polestar 4 EV for the 2027 Model Year as order books open.

News

Australia’s most annoying driving habit revealed

A survey of more than 1000 Aussie motorists has uncovered the driving behaviours they find most frustrating…

News

Cupra Leon VZx Sportswagon: Australian pricing announced for 245kW wagon

Fast wagon fans will have another choice in the market when the Cupra Leon Sportstourer VZx launches locally in the third quarter of 2026.

News

Honda planning new adventure-ready hybrid SUV with the retro name of a cult favourite

Honda is planning to join the fast-growing field of off-road-ready crossover SUVs with a new hybrid SUV that revives a beloved nameplate.

News

Hyundai’s next electric N cars set to mimic combustion engines more closely

Following the overwhelmingly positive customer reaction to simulated gear shifts, Hyundai is preparing for future N cars to deliver more combustion-engine sensory experiences.

News

Cars every Aussie P-plater wanted – and the ones they had to settle for

The P-plate rite of passage for teens continues to this day, but for Aussies of a certain age, there was a moment in time when P-plate aspirations took a very particular form.

News

Corvette ZR1X shatters Pikes Peak production car record

A 932kW hybrid Corvette conquered Pikes Peak, showcasing just how close today’s road-legal performance cars have come to full-blown race machinery.

Reviews

Nissan Qashqai Ti-L e-Power review: Updated hybrid brings more efficiency, maintains performance

The e-Power hybrid drivetrain in the Nissan Qashqai was recently updated for greater efficiency and more power… but could the model’s price put buyers off?

News

Former Jaguar design head says brand’s radical new direction ‘lacks beauty’

Jaguar’s former head designer, Ian Callum, has revealed his thoughts on the brand’s bold new direction.

News

Skoda Peaq revealed as brand’s first three-row electric SUV

Skoda’s new flagship three-row electric SUV delivers over 640km of range and seating for seven in a package slightly larger than the Kodiaq.

News

Nissan axes Qashqai EV development in latest cost-cutting measure

As Nissan looks to streamline operations, a key model in development since 2023 has been cancelled for a short-term gain that could prove costly in the long run.

News

BYD’s newest electric SUV has a 900km driving range – and a massive 810kg battery

BYD’s newest flagship three-row SUV offers impressive EV range and a battery that weighs almost as much as a compact hatchback.