The 7 Best Cars Under $30,000

Just to show that Honda still cares about folks who need four doors but still want driving thrills, there's the Accord Sport ($24,415 base MSRP). It comes standard with a slick six-speed manual transmission and four extra horses massaged out of its 2.4-liter inline four cylinder mill via a high flow exhaust (189 hp, compared to the base Accord's 185). You also get sporty aluminum pedals and some pretty sexy 19-inch rims only found on the high-end Accord Touring. The handsome interior is well-executed, and even the well-bolstered cloth seats have a premium texture.

This might just be one of the best all-around cars on the planet since being totally redone last year. The SportWagen S 4Motion ($24,930) has nimble manners, good thrust off the line and enough space for a road trip. The fact that the interior is one of the best in the business equates to high levels of comfort and near Audi-like finishes. The 170-hp 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the S Motion comes standard with a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, without having to upgrade to the more expensive Alltrack. What's more the list of standard features on the S 4 Motion includes a rearview camera, 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, heated front seats and heated side mirrors.

No one else currently builds a mid-size crossover this well-rounded. The CX-5 ($21,795 base MSRP) drives like a sporty car, has the best exterior design in the segment right now and comes optioned out to the nines even if you opt for the $29,870 top trim Grand Touring model with all-wheel drive (our choice). The CX-5 has also been refreshed for a more sophisticated exterior and better interior appointments, including a bigger 7-inch touchscreen, heated seats and side mirrors, a booming upgraded BOSE surround sound system, rear cross-traffic alert, and some sweet new 19" alloy wheels.

Yep, another Mazda in this illustrious mix and for good reason. The Mazda6 Touring ($25,545 base MSRP) is our pick for sporty family sedan under $30K. Its athletic abilities belie the family sedan segment, and you can get it with a manual transmission at the mid-tier level, not something offered by many manufacturers (though we don't blame Toyota for not offering one in the tepid Camry). Sit inside, and you'll find a fantastic interior with great seats, near-flawless UI controls and standard features like a big 7-inch touchscreen, 6-way power driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, a backup camera, Bluetooth and SMS text message audio delivery and reply. But you can ignore all those things while you're snaking through the twisties with a smile on your face.

Though it's no V8, the SXT has enough oomph from its 3.6-liter V6 engine to scoot all that mass quickly enough. 292 horses on and 252 lb-ft of torque on regular gas means it's no slouch. Even more important than that, it's got to be one of the best-looking, most spacious four-door American sedans. It's also one of the few with rear-wheel drive that provides excellent driving dynamics. We also love the interior, which remains very comfortable and distinctly American in its execution.

The Sonata is a serious contender in the family sedan segment and in turbo trim ($26,660 base MSRP), it's even better to drive. 245 horses up the excitement factor from the base car's 178. You don't have to be an enthusiast to appreciate its better driving dynamics. The new design is also a step up in sophistication despite the lower level of styling drama. In Sport guise, it's also rife with standard features that include leather-trimmed sport seats, a 7-inch color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rearview camera, a sport-tuned suspension, heated front seats, and a flat-bottom leather steering wheel.