Best Ranked Cars under 60k
Valerie Raskovic
Oct 26, 2023
With a budget of $60,000 you'll have a wide array of options across different vehicle categories. Whether you're looking to buy a weekend sports car or a family friendly SUV we got you covered. Below, you'll find our curated selection of top vehicle picks in each category.
Compact Car:
With a budget of $60,000 you basically have your pick of compact cars as most compact premium models top out at and around $50,000. However, if you are looking for something special in a small package the Audi RS3 will defiantly exceed your expectations. Granted the new Audi RS3 MSRP starts at just a hair above $60,000 it is still a lot of car for the money. Boasting 401 horsepower, the Audi RS3 blurs the line between a compact car and a sports car. In fact, initially we did contimplate categorizing it as a sports car however, we decided to follow more conventional interpretation of sports cars, which typically excludes four-door models.
Just like the Audi S3 the RS3 is still a practical 4-door sedan however, it packs an impressive level of driver engagement with sharp handling and massive amounts of power. With the mind blowing 3.3 second 0 to 60mph time the RS3 is faster in fact than its direct rival the BMW M2. The M2 would have secured a spot as the second runner-up on this list had it not been for the new design, which dramatically altered the car's appearance making the vehicle absolutely hideous to anyone blessed with the gift of sight.
Midsize Sedan:
Our top picks for the midsize sedan category are the BMW 540I and as a close second the Cadillac CT5-V. Both vehicles excel in opulent luxuriously appointed interiors, quality rides and stunning good looks. We prefer the BMW mainly because of its European elegance, solid built feel and high-quality materials. We were also impressed with the inline 6-cylinder gas engine, it provided good linear power throughout the rev range while managing to get better then expected fuel economy. However, we absolutely hated the fact that BMW has decided to ditch a bunch of physical switches in favor of touchscreen and voice controls.
For those of you looking for something a bit more muscular we suggest the CT5-V. The vehicle offers 2 engine variants, a 3L V6 as well as a massive 6.2L Supercharged V8. Both options provide more than adequate amount of power but if you are looking for a supercar slayer level of acceleration you will need to pay a bit more for the 6.2L V8 variant. Rated at 668hp this engine produces so much power that we internally started to refer to this car as the “Ultimate Wolf in Sheep’s clothing”. With this amount of power coupled with a finely tuned chassis and suspension this Cadillac will be more at home on the race track than at the local golf course parking lot. Our primary reason for not selecting the Cadillac as our top choice in this category is that in terms of its construction materials and overall quality, we found that it simply did not measure up to its European rivals.
Compact SUV:
For this category our winners are the Porsche Mecan and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Both vehicles are available for just under $60,000 as the starting price and they both offer excellent driver engagment and sports car line road manners with hips of power. Both vehicles are also very comfortable however, the automatic transmission in the Macan shifts with almost a telepathic ability and lighting fast speed. While driving the Mecan you can easily get carried away forgetting you are driving a 5,500-pound SUV as the car somehow feels more like a sports car then some family grocery getter. We were equally impressed by the luxurious ambiance inside and the meticulous attention given to materials and interior design. Porsche also benefiting from a strong brand recognition further solidified its position as our top choice in this category.
However, the Porsche is not without its faults. The same sleek and sexy body lines that make the car so esthetically appealing also make the car hard to see out of with blind spots on every side and corner.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is our not so close second pick for this category. We love the Italian design language, sublime ride and handling and overall packaging. While the Alfa does not feel as refined or driver focused as the Porche it does have one major benefit over the Mecan and that it has a lower starting price.
Full-Size SUV:
For the full-size SUV category our pick is the Lexus GX 460 and the Volvo XC90.
Both vehicles are priced just below $60,000; however, our preference leans toward the robust Lexus GX 460. The GX 460's legendary reputation for reliability, impressive off-road capabilities, and lower cost of ownership contribute to its appeal. Yet, we also acknowledge the strengths of the XC90 which, excels as a family SUV. The XC90 provides a more spacious interior, integrated child seats for added convenience, a smoother ride and a driving experience reminiscent of a car. Moreover, it boasts better fuel efficiency making it an economical choice for family adventures. It's a matter of striking the right balance between ruggedness and family-friendly features and both vehicles bring distinct advantages to the table.
Your choice greatly hinges on your intended use of the vehicle. We recognize that the Lexus's less-than-stellar acceleration might pose a slight inconvenience for those primarily using the car on highways. However, the GX isn't acclaimed for its agility rather, its renowned reliability and off-road prowess are its standout features.
Sports Car:
Our top pick for the best sports car under $60,000 is the Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium and the Ford Mustang GT Premium. These two cars have some distinct differences not only in terms of how they handle and perform but also in their overall design. The Toyota Supra was a brainchild of the collaborative efforts of BMW and Toyota and offers the performance variant of the BMW B58 engine. The 3.0 S58 is a straight six-cylinder engine understated from the factory. This engine is an absolute gem claimed to produce 382 horse power however, in real dyno testing 3-liter GR Supra has repeatedly produced north of 450 horse power in its stock configuration.
We also love the fact that the new Supra is finally available with a proper 6 speed manual transmission.
However, the Supra is not without its flaw. Its side-sloping roof presents visibility challenges, especially for taller drivers trying to see the car's sides. The interior feels unnecessarily crammed and tends to be harder to get in and out of than the previous generation “Mark 4” models.
The area of interior space and overall comfort is where the Mustang has a clear advantage of the Supra. The Mustang's interior offers a more spacious and comfortable design making it a preferable option for taller and larger individuals especially when compared to the Supra’s interior that can induce feelings of claustrophobia. The Mustang GT is also an excellent sports car with its powerful 460-horsepower V8 engine providing impressive performance and an exhilarating driving experience. We love its muscle car style appearance and premium damping suspension enhancing handling characteristics. We selected the Supra primarily because of its BMW lineage. We really love the driveline and overall built quality and vehicle balance. The supra feels a bit more sorted during hard driving than the Mustang.
Electric:
Our picks for the top pick for electric vehicles are the Tesla Model Y and the Genesis GV60.
We preferred the Tesla Model Y due to its exceptional 330 miles of range, its amazing 3.5 second 0- 60mph time and overall practicality. We have experienced some drawbacks and one of the biggest being the touchscreen-based controls. Many of the fundamental vehicle features felt less intuitive requiring a learning curve to become accustomed to them.
The Genesis GV60 earned our second spot primarily due to its lower electric range of 240 miles, which falls about 100 miles short of the Tesla. However, we were genuinely impressed with the Genesis’ design, user-friendly interface and well-appointed interior.
Pickup Truck:
Our pick for the top pickup truck is the Ford F350 Super Duty.
The Ford excels in extreme hauling and towing capability and is available in a wide range of configurations. It makes for a perfect work truck. We did find it a bit difficult to maneuver in tight spaces and with a fuel economy of under 15 mpg in combined highway and city driving it can get quite expensive driving this rig around as a daily.
The vehicles we've chosen as our top picks in the under $60,000 category present a diverse array of features, performance levels and options. These selections are designed to accommodate a wide spectrum of preferences and needs. When determining the ideal car for your specific requirements, it's vital to take into account your priorities whether, it's size, style, fuel efficiency or features that matter most to you.
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