The cars with the most productive efficiency under $65,000 are listed here

The $65,000 milestone may seem like an arbitrary price cap for a list of efficient performance cars, but look carefully and you’ll find it’s a sweet spot for some of the most compelling performance options of recent times. Take a look upmarket from here and you’ll be temporarily buying six figures worth of groceries with no significant increase in efficiency. And there are some branded entry-level cars below this price benchmark, but they perform somewhat less. Right here, later, are Edmunds’ 5 best efficiency cars for around $65,000. All prices include holiday accommodation.

If you’re old enough to remember post-1980s motorsports then you know why the RS 3’s five-cylinder engine is special. It was a five-cylinder that powered Audi’s greatest motorsport effort to date, the Game Quattro, which won an emblematic four International Rally Championship titles. The RS3 revives that glory with a turbocharged 401-horsepower 2.5-liter five-cylinder mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that delivers power to all four wheels. It accelerates from 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds and maintains comfortable daily comfort, efficient technology, and room for 6-foot occupants in the back seat. This is a small sedan with a rough perspective, especially at this price.

Setup Creator Quick Retail Price: $63,395

With 473 horsepower from a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, a streamlined coupe frame design, and your collection of six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions, the 2025 M2 measures up to all small car hot-rod disciplines. . , In Edmunds testing, an automatic-equipped 2024 M2 – which had 20 less horsepower – hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and covered quarter mile at 11.6 seconds. The M2 can also be a driver’s vehicle with textbook rear-wheel-drive handling. An electronically managed limited-slip differential, and functional flared fenders spanning efficiency rubber. Possibly the easiest, the M2 fits in with its big brother, the M4, in maximum efficiency metrics with the use of a smaller, lighter and more expensive bundle.

Setting MSRP: $66,075

A family group, Cadillac is known for its lineup of SUVs headlined by the Escalade. To them, the CT4-V Blackwing would have to look like a café’s secret off-menu prospect. This small sedan packs a 472-horsepower turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 that drives the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or ten-speed computerized transmission. Standard adaptive dampers provide authentic compliance for daily mileage and regulated, assured operation. At the Edmunds test track, a manual-equipped CT4-V Blackwing accelerated to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and hit quarter mile at 12.8 seconds. It’ll give up a few tenths of a second compared to the M2, but it makes up for it by being one of the most engaging and stimulating driver’s cars bought recently.

Setting MSRP: $62,890

If you want to enjoy the Mustang at the extreme of internal combustion, the Lightless Horse can also be your extreme choice. Few things will make you feel more patriotic than the glory song of a 500-horsepower Light Horse V8. And as the simplest V8-powered vehicle on this checklist, the Lightless Horse conducts business utilizing a distinctly American tackle efficiency. Its 5.0-litre mill provides power to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or 10-speed computerized transmission. It accelerates to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, applies 1.12 g on the skidpad, and has braking efficiency that rivals some supercars. That’s expensive for a Mustang, although it plays smartly enough to justify the associated fee.

Setup MSRP: $60,530

The Ioniq 5 N is well above our $65,000 price target. However it’s such a standout among these as an efficiency vehicle – no longer just as an efficiency EV – that we’d be doing an injustice to the checklist if we didn’t include it. With 641 peak horsepower, all-wheel force and SUV-like practicality, the 5N is truly unique. Even better, it has more to offer than just insane acceleration like so many electric vehicles. Sure, it’ll accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and cover a quarter mile in just 11.2 seconds, but it’s also got plenty of buff and fighting potential for exercise qualities. Hyundai also tried to add a different look that simulates the pitch and real feel of a gas-powered vehicle, giving efficiency lovers a regular level of reference.

Setup MSRP: $67,475

If around $65,000 is the ticket for an efficiency vehicle in your price range, you’ll want to imagine those options. There’s plenty of variety here, both in terms of purity of experience and everyday practicality. Almost any buyer can find a vehicle that suits their desires in this checklist.

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This story was provided to The Associated Press via Automobile Page Edmunds.

Josh Jacquot is a contributor at Edmunds.