The expert editors from Kelley Blue Book’s www.
kbb.com, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today name the 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 (http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/10-coolest-cars-under-18000-2012/). In this annual list published by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, the editors ranked their top choices and named the 2013 Dodge Dart as this year’s No. 1 affordable new ‘Cool Car.’
The economy is at a near-standstill and gas prices are through the roof, but regardless of financial constraints or economic hardships, the simple fact remains that car shoppers want their new ride to be cool. That is why now, more than ever, kbb.com’s annual list of the 10 Coolest Cars under $18,000 is in tune with the times, providing a great selection of cars that are not only affordable, but also fun.
“While there are many affordable new cars available today for less than $18,000, the list gets much more narrow and exclusive when you view it through the difficult-to-describe lens of what is cool,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “When our kbb.com editors pooled their collective insight and opinions, the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart rose to the top of the list because of its unique combination of style, performance, features, and of course, value.”
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 (Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Purchase Price is the price consumers typically are paying for a car, based on actual new-vehicle transactions and updated weekly for changing market conditions). Paying less than sticker also is pretty cool, so here is the selection from kbb.com’s 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 for 2012:
10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 for 2012
2012 Scion iQ
2012 Kia Soul
2012 Honda Fit
2012 Ford Fiesta
2012 Fiat 500
2012 Hyundai Veloster
2013 Dodge Dart
2012 Mazda Mazda3
2012 Chevy Sonic
2012 Volkswagen Jetta