The 10 Coolest Cars Priced Under $18,000

No. 1 for 2014 Mazda3 Featured on KBB.com’s Annual List Every Year of Vehicle’s 11-Year Existence

IRVINE, CA -- June 27, 2014: Affordable new cars have never been so cool, as detailed in this year’s list of the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000, hand–selected by the expert editors at Kelley Blue Book. The redesigned Mazda3 is No. 1 for 2014, and it notably has been featured on KBB.com’s annual affordable ‘cool cars’ list every year of the vehicle’s 11–year existence. Two criteria – – fun–to–drive and fun–to–own – – are critical among the deciding factors of what the editors freely admit is a very subjective “cool factor,” the over–arching number–one criterion for a vehicle to place on this list. Each vehicle is available for purchase at $18,000 or less, using Kelley Blue Book’s exclusive Fair Purchase Price as the yardstick. Updated weekly and based on current market conditions like vehicle availability, local demand and seasonal buying trends, the Kelley Blue BookŪ Fair Purchase Price shows shoppers what others have been paying for a new car recently and is included in KBB.com’s Price Advisor tool, which provides range–based market pricing.

“Low–priced new cars are getting cooler with each passing year and the mass–appeal, bread–and–butter small cars are becoming increasingly stylish and tech–savvy,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. “On the strength of a well–received redesign for 2014, the Mazda3, which could be called king of the Coolest Cars Under $18,000, reclaims its spot at the top of our annual list. Stylish and fun from day one, the Mazda3’s engineering innovation that results in great benefits like high fuel efficiency and fun–to–drive make it cooler than ever.”

KBB.com’s 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 of 2014

Rank 2014 Model–Year Vehicle 1 Mazda3 2 Hyundai Veloster 3 Kia Soul 4 Honda Civic Coupe 5 Volkswagen Jetta 6 Fiat 500 7 Dodge Dart 8 Ford Fiesta 9 Chevrolet Sonic 10 Nissan Versa Note To see KBB.com’s full editorial commentary for the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000 of 2014, including notable tech and style features, pricing information, vehicle photography and more, please visit 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000.