9 Most Fun Daily Drivers within Specific Budgets (Car & SUV)
Good daily drivers need not only be comfortable and economical but dull.
These fun-to-drive sports and sporty cars will excite you into looking forward to driving them daily.
Fun Daily Drivers under $50k
#1 Ford Mustang GT (Coupe & Convertible)
Muscle cars are typically unsuitable for everyday use because they don’t ride as comfortably or are as fuel-efficient as mainstream models.
However, modern pony cars have markedly improved their handling and ride quality to become more livable daily drivers while maintaining their muscular outlook and engine characteristics.
Chief among them is the two-door Ford Mustang coupe or convertible, one of the most fun and fast daily drivers with manual transmission and strong power from available powertrains.
Despite its stout character and sporty demeanor, the Mustang’s ride is taut yet controlled and supple, making it a civilized powerful car you can drive every day, near or far.
A modern Ford Mustang’s interior is a pleasant place to be, with a retro-styled cabin and present-day tech features for convenience. However, storage space is merely adequate, and the backseat is expectedly cramped given the body style.
Long journeys are possible and comfortable, with the seats offering excellent support and the cabin remaining fairly quiet, except for the much-welcomed engine sound.
Although the beginner-friendly Mustang EcoBoost in price, power, and frugality has been available since 2015 when Ford released the sixth generation, the V8-equipped Mustang GT emerges as the top pick for the fastest fun daily driver under $50k.
The throaty over-450-horsepower V8 mated to a six-speed manual gearbox is impressively quick, covering zero to 60 mph in under 5seconds, while the steering is well weighted and responsive.
Despite the Mustang DNA, the ride is balanced and controlled with minimal body lean, a joy to push on the curvy backroad.
Here’s a summary of the Ford Mustang’s generations:
- First generation (1965-1973)
- Second generation (1974-1978)
- Third generation (1979-1993)
- Fourth generation (1994-2004)
- Fifth generation (2005-2014)
- Sixth generation (2015-present)
#2 Porsche 911 (6th-Gen 997 Coupe)
Speed aficionados looking for a sports machine they can use every day will undoubtedly have the Porsche 911 on their shortlist, depending on budgetary limits.
With decades-long history vowing avid drivers in the automotive industry, it’s easy to find a model year with your budget because, while eight generations have passed, the 911’s impeccable handling has remained intact.
Brand-new 911s start at the $100k mark, a hefty price for most shoppers.
But if you have a $50k budget, the sixth-generation 911 (a.k.a. 997) is attainable and no less enjoyable to drive than the newer, pricier models.
The Porsche 911 is the quintessential fast-yet-forgiving fun-to-pilot sports daily driver, accelerating as rapidly as it can tackle the twisty backroad with aplomb with its ultra-precise, confidence-inspiring handling.
It is remarkably easy to drive too, with the smooth-shifting automatic or manual transmission (only available up to the 7th-gen 991) and terrific visibility with the convertible’s top down (still satisfactory in the coupe), suitable for driving in town and on crowded streets.
When pushed around corners, the car exhibits tenacious grip yet remains stable and predictable.
911s are terrific sports machines that can serve as decent daily drivers, with a palatable fuel economy and reasonably comfortable ride for two.
Fun Daily Drivers under $40k
#3 Honda Civic Type R (Hot Hatch)
While thoroughbred sports cars have superior on-track performances, they often falter in overall ride comfort, interior and storage space, and outward visibility – crucial aspects you need in a car for daily duties.
A hatchback can fulfill those requirements and then some.
If you believe a hot hatch is the best way to combine everyday practicality and excitement behind the wheel, look no further than the fastest Civic money can buy.
The Honda Civic Type R is the most fun, fast daily driver under $40k, with unrivaled hatchback versatility, a potent 300-hp engine, and a ride quality that expertly balances athleticism and comfort.
Plus, it’s a Honda and enjoys the Japanese marque’s outstanding reliability and low running costs.
The Civic Type R daily-driver qualities include:
- Roomy cabin – can fit four average-sized adults comfortably.
- Versatile storage room – folding the rear seats increases the already sizable trunk space for maximum utility.
- Excellent ride comfort considering its performance – supportive bucket-style front seats, a relatively quiet cabin, and surprisingly cushy in the Comfort mode.
- Good outward visibility – strong in all directions.
- Segment-average fuel economy – the mid-20s-mpg overall is in line with other powerful four-cylinder cars.
This Honda hot hatch is available solely with manual transmission.
Fun Daily Drivers under $30k
#4 Subaru BRZ (Coupe)
Now in its second generation, the manual-equipped Subaru BRZ is exhilarating and engaging to drive, superb value given its entry-level sports car price tag.
The Subaru BRZ is one of the best fun manual daily drivers under $30,000 for car guys and first-time sports car buyers, with a comfortable ride that’s easy to live with day-to-day – the $28k starting price makes it accessible to a broader base of drivers.
The lightweight, rear-wheel-powered coupe has sublime handling characteristics that give it agility when cornering, plus well-weighted, confidence-inspiring steering that is precise and communicative.
As significantly, you don’t need to drive it fast or have pro-racer skills to enjoy the BRZ’s balanced and forgiving handling.
That said, higher-skilled enthusiasts will appreciate the affordable price tag for such a pure and capable sports machine.
Daily driving a Subaru BRZ is a compelling proposition:
- Easy yet super-engaging to drive.
- Comfortable ride (in sports car standards) with supportive seats.
- Economical at the pump – around mid-20s mpg in the 200-plus horsepower flat-four with manual transmission.
- Good visibility for a coupe – low dashboard, slim roof pillars, and good-sized windows.
Plus, the latest-generation Subaru BRZ (2022 debut) received the Top Safety Pick Plus award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
It’s the organization’s highest safety accolade, so daily driving a BRZ engages and puts your mind at ease.
#5 Porsche Cayenne (SUV; 2nd Gen)
Recently released premium vehicles are primarily geared towards comfort and luxury at the expense of driving engagement, but Porsche family vehicles buck that trend.
The Porsche Cayenne is the most fun sports SUV with AWD for daily driving, expertly combining exquisite interior quality and remarkable athleticism on the curvy backroad.
It’s among the most enjoyable-to-drive midsize SUV built for thrills, with sharp handling, superior grip and composure at cornering limits, and quick acceleration, even with the base engine.
Available powertrain options include turbocharged V6, turbocharged V8, and plug-in-hybrid versions of both. Cayenne’s near-20 mpg overall, regardless of the engine size, is commendable considering its capabilities.
The ride is taut but comfortable in a serenely quiet cabin, another Porsche hallmark.
Overall, the Cayenne lives up to Porsche’s sports pedigree, and for a sizable $30k budget, the second-generation Cayenne (2011 to 2018) would make a richly capable daily driver and family hauler.
A six-speed manual was available up to 2014, after which the automatic transmission became standard across all trim levels.
Fun Daily Drivers under $20k
#6 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Hot Hatch; 7th Gen)
The Golf GTI is the quintessential hot hatch, with a decorated history dating back several decades.
While the base Golf has set the standard for versatile hatchbacks since 1974 – unfortunately, VW has consigned it to its history books – the German automaker released the speedier GTI two years later, and the pocket rocket has endured since.
The VW Golf GTI is one of the most fun yet practical daily drivers, with agile handling, fuel efficiency, and versatile hatchback interior among its pluses. You can get a used GTI for under $20k.
The VW hatchback’s fastest model, the Golf R, is more potent, pumping out a robust 300-plus horsepower. Still, the Golf GTI is plenty powerful, with over-200-hp output from the turbocharged inline-four.
Most sports cars are rear-wheel-powered, but the sporty GTI proved that a front-wheel-drive vehicle could be just as fun to drive for less.
#7 Mazda CX-5 (SUV; 1st Gen)
The Mazda CX-5 is one of the sharpest-handling compact SUVs, negotiating turns as capably as lower-riding vehicles despite the crossover ride height.
While the latest generation has improved ride comfort and overall interior quality, the founding generation Mazda CX-5 has athletic handling and responsive steering that make the SUV such a fun AWD daily driver, available for less than $20k – automatic or manual gearbox.
The CX-5 isn’t a compact SUV for maximum space; still, it’s a superior choice for a fun crossover with plenty of daily-driver qualities:
- Excellent ride comfort – the first-generation models (pre-2017) were easy to live with day-to-day. Still, the later ones markedly improved the ride quality to make the CX-5 one of the most comfortable in its class.
- Quiet cabin – exemplary noise isolation in the non-luxury segment.
- Premium-feeling interior.
- Athletic handling – abundantly fun to drive despite the elevated ride height.
- Segment-average fuel efficiency – a CR-V or RAV4 can get you more miles per gallon, but they aren’t as enjoyable to drive as the CX-5.
- Available all-wheel-drive – standard from 2022. Excellent for all-season capability.
The CX-5 may not be a luxury SUV, but it bridges the gap between mainstream models and premium ones, so the cabin is a pleasant place to be while you take charge behind the wheel.
CX-5s typically have smaller interiors than the competition, so while it can seat five, it will be a better fit for a family of four.
Fun Daily Drivers under $10k
#8 Honda Civic Si (Coupe; 8th Gen)
The famous Civic nameplate has been the go-to choice for an economical daily driver where efficiency, reliability, and low running costs matter substantially.
Further, the Civic has one of the sportier handlings among everyday small sedans – the other being the Mazda 3.
While the standard Civic will satisfy most small car shoppers, the Civic lineup has more capable models still, namely the Civic Si and Civic Type R – both are speedy daily drivers with manual transmission for maximum fun.
The Type R hot hatch is the newest and most potent among the three versions, but it is also the priciest, costing tens of thousands even for the pioneering models.
A used Civic Si of the eight-generation Civic (2006 to 2011), however, is attainable with a $10,000 budget.
If you want a bargain, reliable, and enjoyable-to-drive daily driver for under $10k, nothing gets better than the sporty Honda Civic Si sedan with nimble handling and slick-shifting manual transmission.
Although sports cars look sexier with their low stance, the Civic Si’s four-door sedan layout is more practical for everyday use, with a usable trunk and ample space for rear passengers.
Its inline-four engine puts out a healthy 200-odd horsepower, including the earliest models – you get a smaller but turbocharged powertrain in post-2016 Civic Si with a bigger upfront investment.
Even though it accelerates quicker than mainstream compact cars, the Civic Si’s fuel consumption is commendable, with over 30 mpg combined – older models can still return a relatively thrifty mid-20s-mpg.
2006 and newer Honda Civic Si models get a six-speed manual transmission, while those before that have a five-speed version.
#9 Mazda 6 (Sedan; 2nd Gen)
Most mainstream sedans don’t and can’t qualify as fun-to-drive vehicles, lacking the charisma and spirited handling that sportier cars possess.
The midsize Mazda 6, however, opposes that stereotype.
While Mazda had continually improved the 6’s ride comfort to match segment leaders of its respective generations, the car has retained much of its driving exuberance, making it the best fun daily driver among regular midsize sedans.
The agile handling and responsive, fast-reacting steering stand at the heart of what makes the Mazda four-door such a joy to drive.
It offers an absorbent ride in a quiet, luxury-level cabin to complement the excellent driving dynamics.
Unfortunately, Mazda discontinued the 6 after 2021, marking the end of the third generation.
However, the second-generation Mazda 6 (2009 to 2013) is available for under $10k, marking it as the top pick for a fun, practical, and reliable daily driver within that budget.
Consumer Reports ranked this Japanese manufacturer among the three most reliable car brands, so daily driving a vehicle with the Mazda batch will not let you down.
A manual transmission second-gen Mazda 6 is available if you desire the added excitement of stick shifting.
References:
https://www.carsforsale.com/used-cars-for-sale