Coupes under $50k
- Home /
- 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
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

2015 BMW M135i First Drive Review
BMW’s M135i is a formidable performance offering with plenty of grip and go, but its cabin isn’t as luxe as some competitors.

MOTOR Learns to Stunt Drive
Oversteer is fun, but to learn how to get truly sideways, we enlisted the help of the two-wheeled masters at Toyo Tires Precision Driving Team.

Wheels Car of the Year 2016: Meet the judges
Grizzled veterans met two fresher faces on this year’s panel of eight

Wheels Car of the Year 2016: People’s Choice – Deciding Poll
Cast your vote for Car of the Year from the five group-winners

Top five fast SUVs
A trip to the store needn’t be a dull affair. With rip-snorting engines such as these powering your luxury barge, you’re bound to end your day with a smile.

Video: Verstappen on snow vs Ricciardo on ice
Max Verstappen looks cool drifting an F1 car on snow. But how chilled was Daniel Ricciardo on ice?

Ghost hunting in the Rolls- Royce Wraith
With power to embarrass most muscle cars, we get spooked by the 465kW Wraith – a Rolls-Royce that will haunt your licence

2015 BMW 2 Series Convertible First Drive Review
Beamer’s compact soft-top grows into a more mature and even more technically proficient take on the compact convertible. Drivetrain is a delight.

2016 Detroit Motor Show: Australian designs 2017 Lincoln Continental
The 2017 Lincoln Continental has been created to save the brand, and was designed by Australian Max Wolff

Bentley Continental GT3-R review
Gentleman’s cruiser gets a scoop of racing pedigree

2015 Subaru Forester 2.0D-L long-term car review, part 5
Corby reaches the end of the road, and his wits, with Subaru’s diesel

Opinion: Your car says a lot about you
You can tell a lot about someone by their choice of wheels

BMW announces Competition Pack for M3 and M4
New hot-up package for M3 and M4 adds power, new goodies

2016 Detroit Motor Show: Mercedes-Benz confirms 2018 launch for Tesla rival
Concept IAA show car tipped to shape all-electric Benz speedster

Best convertibles under $50K
Enjoy the Hollywood lifestyle without the A-list price in a stylish and affordable drop top

Subaru returns to racing
Rear-drive Levorg to compete in 2016 BTCC

In memory of Bluebird
MOTOR pays tribute to Donald Campbell’s obsession with speed

Hyundai Santa Cruz ute coming … in 2023
Home market priorities push Australian arrival of Hyundai’s lifestyle ute well into the next decade

Wheels Car of the Year 2016: People’s Choice – Group 5
What’s your Car of the Year? Judge the remaining five contenders

Long Term Test: Mini Cooper Pepper – Pt. 2
‘It’s not me, it’s you’ scenario stymies the romance

Erebus switches to Holden V8 Supercar
The Mercedes V8 Supercar experiment comes to an end

World’s Fastest Toyota 86
EKanoo Racing’s Toybaru blitzes the quarter mile

2016 Detroit Motor Show: Hyundai working on Ferrari-rivalling supercar
Genesis-badged super-coupe is definitely in the pipeline, Hyundai product planner teases

Detroit Motor Show: Acura Precision Concept
Edgy four-door concept previews next large sedan from Honda’s luxury brand