10 NEW CARS THAT GIVE YOU THE MOST HORSEPOWER PER DOLLAR

Sports cars are becoming more and more of a luxury that few can afford. However, there are still plenty of sporty cars on the market that offer a roaring good time for a bargain price. Searching for the most entertaining, yet affordable car is not easy, and deciding what cars offer the best value is not the simplest task, but there are still a few cheap daily-driving heroes out there.

One metric that is incredibly important in the performance of a car is its horsepower. A good number of horses under the hood can turn a boring evening commute into a raging good time. Hence, why we have found the cars with the biggest return on your money, calculating exactly how many horses you get per dollar you spend.

From exciting hot hatchbacks to surprisingly quick economy cars, we’ve ranked the best of the best when it comes to horsepower per dollar. We’ve ranked them from the most expensive to the least expensive per horse. We’ve also only included the best model from any one range so as not to flood the list with the same cars.

2024 Mazda 3 Turbo

Dollar Per Horsepower: $127

The Mazda 3 is one of the most criminally underrated new cars on the market in 2024. It has all the poise, class, and agility that we’ve come to expect from the rest of the Mazda lineup, and offers some pretty decent performance for the price that you pay.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Mazda and Car And Driver)

The Mazda 3 offers you the best horsepower per dollar in its 2.5-liter turbocharged models. These models claim 250 horsepower when filled with 93 octane fuel. Right now, according to Mazda’s configurator, the cheapest Mazda 3 with this powertrain is the Carbon Turbo trim. William Clavey enjoyed the Mazda 3, but feels that the Japanese automaker held back a little too much.

Pros

• Really plush interior
• Much more agile than other cars in its class
• Brilliant all-wheel drive system

Cons

• Hatchback has bad blind spots and is more expensive
• Not the quickest 'hot hatch' there is
• Turbocharged engines come in automatic only

2024 Toyota GR Corolla

Dollar Per Horsepower: $121.67

Toyota’s GR Corolla has had a bit of a shaky reception. Its launch was marred by stock shortages and dealers took full advantage by marking them up a huge amount. However, the dust has settled a little bit and the GR Corolla remains one of the most impressive feats of engineering in a hatchback.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Toyota and Car And Driver)

Toyota has somehow managed to squeeze a seemingly impossible 300 horsepower out of the Corolla’s engine, making it the most powerful three-cylinder you can buy. If you can somehow get one close to MSRP, then you’ll have one of the most powerful cars per dollar on the road.

Pros

• Most powerful three-cylinder ever
• Sports car handling prowess
• Brilliantly engineered adaptive all-wheel drive

Cons

• You have to rev it high to reach peak power
• Pedal placement makes heel-toeing nearly impossible
• You're lucky if you find one for sale

2024 Subaru WRX

Dollar Per Horsepower: $120.79

One of the most legendary nameplates ever, the WRX has changed a lot over its lifetime. While the current iteration doesn’t exactly live up to its rallying ancestors, it still provides some excellent performance for its fairly modest price tag.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Subaru and Car And Driver)

There may not be an STI model, but the WRX is still a brilliant four-door sports car. Every WRX comes with the same turbocharged flat-four, which makes the base trim the best value when it comes to horsepower per dollar. Subaru has kept the manual transmission. However, like it or not, the CVT is the slightly quicker beast. CarBuzz goes into deeper detail on the new TR model hitting the roads.

Pros

• Very practical daily driver
• Agile and refined
• You can still get it with a manual

Cons

• Not as raunchy as its rivals, or even previous iterations
• Fuel economy is pretty bad
• Exhaust note is bland

2024 Hyundai Sonata N-Line

Dollar Per Horsepower: $120.51

Hyundai’s Sonata is a super economical and feature-packed family car that offers great value. If you’re looking for thrills, the N-Line trim of the Sonata turns this otherwise dull car into one of the quickest and best-performing front-wheel drive cars on the market.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Hyundai and Car And Driver)

The Sonata is the definition of a modern sleeper car. The N-Line manages an insane five-second zero to 60 run thanks to its 290-horsepower engine. The N-Line may be a little more expensive than the base Sonata, but it's the only model with the more powerful engine, and it also has bigger wheels, quad exhaust outlets, and a much more aggressive look all around.

Pros

• Tons of features for its price
• A pretty looking car
• Fuel economy is impressive

Cons

• Stiff ride on the N-Line
• Not the most refined ride in class
• Driving position is very high

2024 Hyundai Elantra N

Dollar Per Horsepower: $117.83

Another Hyundai N car makes the list in the form of the 2024 Elantra N. It has only been around for three years, but it has earned itself a massive following thanks to its incredible performance for its price tag and its striking boy-racer exterior styling. The Elantra received a light update for 2024 which brought about some styling changes to the N model.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Hyundai and Car And Driver)

The Elantra N comes with a two-liter engine that can pump out 276 horsepower. However, Hyundai has equipped it with an overboost feature, N Grin Shift, which can boost that up to 286 horsepower. This is what helps it achieve such a low dollar per horsepower value and offer an edge over the competition.

Pros

• Brilliant acceleration
• Features the cornering prowess of a much more expensive sports car
• Pops and crackles out of the box

Cons

• Interior materials are of fairly mediocre quality
• You have to choose between a sunroof and a manual transmission
• Styling is a bit moreish for some

2024 Kia K5 GT

Dollar Per Horsepower: $114.29

Hyundai’s biggest competitor when it comes to the Elantra N is from their fellow countrymen at Kia. The K5 GT is a muscular sedan that pumps out a surprising amount of horsepower and comes in at a ridiculously low price.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Kia and Car And Driver)

The K5 GT is the only model in the line-up to feature the 290-horsepower turbocharged inline-four. It is also the only model with a wet dual-clutch transmission. It may be a little slower than the Elantra N, but its extra horsepower offers some tough competition. It's also getting a styling update for the 2025 model year.

Pros

• Well-equipped for its price tag
• Incredible curb appeal for a Kia
• The GT is raucous fun

Cons

• Driving position is too high for a sedan
• Excessive wheelspin
• Desperately needs a summer tire option

2024 Toyota Camry TRD

Dollar Per Horsepower: $111.25

It may surprise some for the Camry to be included in a list of high-horsepower cars. While it's true that the base powertrain is largely dull, the silky smooth V-6 in the TRD, XLE, and XSE makes an excellent case for this reliable and solid daily driver.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Toyota)

We should make it clear that the Camry is not the sportiest car that you can buy. It may have a V-6 and a decent amount of power for its price, but it's much more of a family sedan than anything else, just with a little extra spice. This is, however, your last chance to get a non-hybrid Camry.

Pros

• Comfortable and spacious interior
• Loads of standard features
• Smooth and powerful V-6

Cons

• Any engine other than the V-6 is horribly boring
• Mundane driving dynamics
• Interior materials are of mediocre quality

2024 Nissan Z

Dollar Per Horsepower: $107.43

The Nissan Z has been the center of quite a bit of controversy in recent times. Something that no one can deny, however, is that it is absolutely packed with power. While the NISMO model is attractive, it’s the base model that gives you the most horsepower for your buck.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Nissan and Car And Driver)

Nissan’s sporty Z has been criticized for being not quite as refined as its main rival, the Toyota Supra. One area Nissan dominates, however, is horsepower per dollar, with the Supra costing nearly $4,000 more and producing 255 horsepower in its base form.

Pros

• Fire-breathing twin-turbo V-6
• Brilliant retro-inspired design
• Unique and handsome interior

Cons

• NISMO model loses the six-speed manual
• Much too heavy
• The cabin can get very loud

2024 Chevrolet Camaro LT1

Dollar Per Horsepower: $88.78

We’ve only included the best-value Camaro on this list, otherwise it and our number-one pick might’ve been the only cars featured. American muscle cars are praised for offering tons of power for their price tag and the Camaro LT1 is the perfect example of this.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Chevrolet)

You just can’t beat American muscle when it comes to sheer speed and power, especially for the price it's offered. The LT1 is the first trim to offer the V-8 engine as standard, netting it a whopping amount of horsepower and helping achieve exceptional speed.

Pros

• Exceptionally low starting MSRP
• Fun to drive, regardless of the model you choose
• 1LE Track Package isn't just for show

Cons

• Really poor rear visibility
• Rear seat is nearly unusable
• Needs an update ASAP

2024 Ford Mustang GT

Dollar Per Horsepower: $87.41

Ford’s prestigious Mustang entered its seventh generation in 2024. While the future of other muscle cars may be dubious, the Mustang keeps going strong. The GT Coupe is definitely the best value for money and offers tons of power and exceptional performance for its price tag.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Ford and Car And Driver)

The Mustang GT’s V-8 engine got a power boost for 2024, allowing it to churn out a massive 480 horsepower. That’s a ton of power considering its starting MSRP is $41,960. The Dark Horse model also hit the streets this year, but it doesn’t offer much of a power increase for the extra price. Our very own Lyndon Conrad Bell compares the Mustang GT to the Aston Martin Vantage, which is quite an accolade.

Pros

• Really impressive ride
• Much better than the outgoing generation
• Interior is surprisingly comfortable

Cons

• Interior materials aren't of the highest quality
• Ten-speed automatic transmission still has some kinks to work out
• EcoBoost models can only be had with the automatic transmission

2024-05-05T11:10:25Z dg43tfdfdgfd