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

New Hyundai i-oniq range extender concept
Features

New Hyundai i-oniq range extender concept

Hyundai has released the first picture and details of its new i-oniq range-extending hybrid concept set to debut this week at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

New Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Features

New Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes has revealed its all new A-Class range which features a design overhaul, six new engine choices, improved emissions figures and technological upgrades.

New Lotus Exige S Roadster
Features

New Lotus Exige S Roadster

The current Lotus Exige with its 3.5-litre V6 motor from the Evora has gained great attention for Lotus, so the 2012 Geneva Motor show sees the unveil of the roadster version. If you can find it among the dozen other models on the stand!

Hot Honda Jazz Si unveiled
Features

Hot Honda Jazz Si unveiled

There’s finally a sporty version of the Honda Jazz. Sort of.

Alfa Romeo celebrates 60 years of the Disco Volante
Features

Alfa Romeo celebrates 60 years of the Disco Volante

Alfa Romeo first built the C52 Disco Volante as a lightweight racer in 1952. Now, some 60 years later, it is releasing an all-new Disco Volante with the help car stylers Touring Superleggera.

Mercedes-Benz unveils all-new SL65 AMG
Features

Mercedes-Benz unveils all-new SL65 AMG

Hot off the heels of the new SL63’s debut at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes has now released the first pictures of the upcoming revamped SL65 AMG.

Holden's advertising clanger
Opinion

Corby’s rant: Holden’s advertising clanger

Does Holden’s ‘We’re here to stay’ ad make your blood boil? You’re not alone – just ask Stephen Corby

Why commuting is killing you
Opinion

Corby’s rant: Why commuting is killing you

It’s killing you, costing us all millions and turning kids into king-hitting cowards. Corby’s back, this time on the evils of the daily commute.

L Platers
Opinion

Corby’s rant: L Platers

Returning with another gripe, this week Corby takes aim at dim-witted and inconsistent L Plater laws.

Corby's rant: speeding
Opinion

Corby’s rant: speeding

“It drives me to the point of wanting to assault police officers, possibly with baseball bats dipped in broken glass” Corby’s back and madder than ever!

Dog eats Aston Martin
Opinion

Dog eats Aston Martin

Bad dog!

Corby's rant: Alice
Opinion

Corby’s rant: Alice

People who live in the NT are rednecks, right? WRONG! They’re actually smarter and leading the way when it comes to speed limits. Just ask Corby.

The Toyota blame game
Opinion

Corby’s rant: the Toyota blame game

History is written by the winners, we’re told, but it is just as clearly rewritten by the losers

Corby's rant: lying Germans
Opinion

Corby’s rant: lying Germans

If I had a dollar for every time a car company has stood up and told me a bare-faced lie, I’d be able to pay cash for the new BMW it swore to never, ever build

Citroen Cactus
Opinion

Corby’s rant: Cactus presents a prickly problem for Citroen

Citroen’s staff announced the news about the Cactus this week. Buying one might make you feel a bit of a prick

GALLERY: The final four, COTY 2008
COTY

The final four, COTY 2008

The final four, COTY 2008

GALLERY: The proving ground, COTY 2008
COTY

The proving ground, COTY 2008

The proving ground, COTY 2008

GALLERY: Behind the lens at COTY 2008
COTY

Behind the lens at COTY 2008

Behind the lens at COTY 2008

GALLERY: Car of the Year 2005 - Intro
COTY

GALLERY: Car of the Year 2005 – Intro

GALLERY: Car of the Year 2005 – Intro

COTY 2008 - Judge and jury
COTY

COTY 2008 – Judge and jury

Introducing the 2008 Car of the Year panel.

The Bible - COTY criteria
COTY

The Bible – COTY criteria

A breakdown of the five COTY commandments.

COTY 2008 - Carmageddon
COTY

2008 Car of the Year: Carmageddon

Michael Stahl looks over the auto mania and mysticism that was Car of the Year 2008.

COTY 2008 - BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible
COTY

2008 Car of the Year Finalist: BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible

COTY success evades BMW again despite engaging dynamics and refined drivetrains.

COTY 2008 - Smart ForTwo
COTY

2008 Car of the Year Finalist: Smart ForTwo

Much improved, but needs a broader skill set to make sense in Oz.