Coupes under $50k
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- 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
Positive spin – Toyota Prius
Geeks and greenies will love it unconditionally, but can Prius III also woo drivers?
Trued grit – Mazda 3 MPS
The second-gen of Mazda’s wild-child hot hatch is as wickedly potent as the first, but chassis changes have reined in the manic torque steer, and helped deliver handling that’s no longer a handful.
Indecent exposure – Audi TTS v BMW Z4 v Merc SLK 350 v Porsche Boxster S
Who needs sunshine when you have four of Germany’s hottest convertibles ready to unleash in the Aussie Alps?
LAUNCHED: Mini Cooper D
Outstanding efficiency in cute-as-a-button packaging.
The king and I – Porsche 911 Carrera S
Robbo lets rip in the latest iteration of a model that’s both infatuated and infuriated him over the last 40 years. So does the second-gen 997 retain its crown?
LAUNCHED: Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Quattro
Turbo four definitely not on the nose.
LAUNCHED: Volkswagen Polo
New-gen small car ponies up tiny turbo tech.
Bloom times – Lotus Evora
It’s the Lotus built for touring, not just track days. But is the Evora enough to see the British sports-car maker blossom into a mainstream contender?
LAUNCHED: Audi TT RS
Reborn turbo five kicks RS, but chassis misses the sweet spot.
LAUNCHED: Audi S4
Supercharged V6 replaces atmo V8, but no sympathy cards required.
LAUNCHED: Skoda Octavia
Price-leader 1.6 joins value-packed range.
LAUNCHED: Kia Cerato Koup
Good looks and, umm, looks good.
LAUNCHED: Mazda 3 MPS
Second-gen hot hatch tames the torque, but still walks the walk.
LAUNCHED: Lexus IS 250 Convertible
Heavy metal strikes a serene chord.
Heir Triggers – Audi S4 vs BMW 335i
Can’t stretch to an M3 or RS4? Open both barrels on either Audi’s new supercharged S4 or BMW’s twin-turbo 335i and you’re unlikely to feel under-gunned.
Audi A5 2.0T quattro
By finding yet another application for its latest-generation 2.0-litre TFSI four, Audi has created a cracker
LAUNCHED: Alfa Romeo Mito Sport
Feisty baby blends sporting cachet with character.
LAUNCHED: Audi TT TDI
The diesel sports car has landed.
3 Kings – Chevrolet Camaro vs Holden Coupe 60 vs Holden Monaro
We muster Holden’s oz-developed muscle-car royalty to find the coupe worthy of the pony-car crown.
Mitsubishi workhorse Triton gets tougher for 2010
Triton now has a new 131kW and 400Nm turbo-diesel and impressive safety gear. It’s all about being tougher than the opposition.
LAUNCHED: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
From the moment your thumbprint on the starter button is answered by a burst of V8-flavoured decibels, it’s clear the Alfa Romeo’s 8C Spider is up for the challenge.
LAUNCHED: Audi A5
Audi A5 Sportback models that show Audi can, deliver dynamics.
LAUNCHED: Audi A5 Cabriolet
The Audi A5 Cabriolet performs exactly as you’d expect: it’s extremely refined top up or down.
LAUNCHED: Peugeot 308 CC
At first acquaintance, the Peugeot 308 CC seems to have the goods.
