Can You Really Buy A Competent Luxury Car For Under $40K?

Boy, selling compact cars has become a brutally tough way to make a living.

Not because nobody's buying. The compact segment is awash with activity. But each new compact that hits the market seems to raise the bar quite a bit, leaving rivals agape about how fast their latest hot-dang models got upstaged.

Honda discovered that the hard way, having to overhaul its latest Civic only 18 months after it was launched. Honda said competition moved faster than expected, and it had to keep Civic competitive.

Kia's redone 2014 Forte, going on sale next quarter, is a good example.

Derived from the same parts bin used by corporate affiliate Hyundai for the Elantra sedan, Forte has enough differences to stand out. The high-end version is good enough to make you wonder why people spend $40,000 and more on luxury cars.

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cidflekken - 3/19/2013 1:44:26 PM

+8 Boost

Having luxury equipment and being a great car are not mutually inclusive. The Optima proved that. Great design. Great equipment. But, overall, only an average car.

quizz - 3/19/2013 3:12:51 PM

+7 Boost

Yes, you can. Whether Kia/Hyundai can pull it off is another matter.

lexworld - 3/19/2013 4:09:24 PM

+5 Boost

Man, you guys should really get over this already! Yes you can and it will still have value that rival the big boys. However, the big boys will still have the prestige and appeal the lower brands will never, and I repeat, NEVER attain! Why? Becuause that's who they are. And in this case, Kia, Hyundai and a few other Auto Makers that have similar design philosophies. Therefore, a Kia and its parent Hyundai is competent in that they successfully compete with their name brand rivals from a consumer stand point of intrest. And that's where it ends my friends....

thetruth01 - 3/19/2013 5:48:17 PM

+5 Boost

what does this article have to do with luxury cars under $40,000?

HughJass - 3/19/2013 11:00:10 PM

+4 Boost

The Forte still has a budget interior.

The answer would be every entry level lux car is competent and under $40K.