What’s The Most Horsepower You Can Get For $50,000 Brand New?

With new car prices climbing and inflation becoming an ever-more-present threat to the dollar, affording a car that’s got a lot of power might seem unattainable. The days of cheap and cheerful power appear to be behind us, which is a depressing thought for gearheads without a trust fund to support them.

However, CarBuzz is here to give those gearheads a bit of good news, as there are still a good number of cars that can thrill for a fair price. In fact, we found ten cars you can buy new for around $50k with a great amount of horsepower.

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE AWD

The first entrant on our list of affordable power is the Hyundai Ioniq 5, specifically the SE AWD grade. It’s an EV, utilizing a pair of permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors that sit on each axle. It’s a futuristic-looking thing, taking a lot of inspiration from Hyundai’s N74 concept car.

The Ioniq 5 SE AWD comes with a respectable amount of power for its $50,000-ish price tag, especially considering the fact that it’s an EV. Drivers will be treated to 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque, more than enough power to add some excitement to your daily commute.

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium eAWD

Next up is the equally-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium eAWD. The Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s attempt at breaking into the mainstream EV market by piggybacking off the Mustang’s iconic name. It also continues to outsell the regular, old-school Mustang.

There are several different powertrain options for the Mach-E, and many are interchangeable with extended-range batteries and trim levels to a confusing point. However, to keep it simple, we looked at the Premium eAWD package with the standard battery. With this configuration, you’ll receive 325 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque for a price of $52,435.

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Cadillac CT4-V

Before you spit out your coffee, yes, you can buy a Cadillac for less than $50k brand-new. It’s not just any Cadillac, either; it’s a CT4-V, the hot version of Caddy’s compact executive sedan. Cadillac’s current sedan lineup consists of the CT4, CT5, and CT6, much like BMW’s 3, 5, and 7 Series sedans.

While the base CT4 receives a modest 2.0-liter engine, the CT4-V gets a more potent 2.7-liter inline-four with something called a dual-volute turbocharger. A volute is an air channel, so this Caddy motor has a turbo with two air channels, increasing its ability to breathe. The result of this unique turbocharging is 325 horses and 380 lb-ft of torque.

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Cadillac CT5

If the CT4-V is too small or underpowered for your taste, the Cadillac CT5 is a decent sub-$50k option. Sitting in the middle of Caddy’s sedan range, the CT5 is the best of both worlds: small enough to have fun, but large enough to be comfortable. Its engine is no slouch, either.

While you can opt for that base 2.0-liter we discussed previously, the best bang-for-your-buck is the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. With this motor equipped, you’ll get 335 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. This means, at a price of $49,090, you can have a Cadillac that does 0-60 mph in less than five seconds.

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Genesis G70 3.3T Sport Advanced RWD

Those in need of power for under $50k should check out the sleek-looking Genesis G70 3.3T Sport Advanced that was converted to a Nürburgring Track Taxi. Not only does it look like a million bucks, it goes like that too. Most know Genesis as Hyundai’s luxury brand, which means owners benefit from their famous 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, along with a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

The G70 3.3T Sport Advanced comes equipped with a Hyundai-built 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6. Using this powerplant, drivers can utilize 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, which should make for some exciting driving.

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BMW M240i

The BMW M240i packs quite a punch for its small stature. The 2 Series is a relatively new model for the Bavarian automaker, having only been introduced in 2014. However, as with any car BMW makes, it’s safe to assume the 2er is just as great to drive as the rest of their lineup.

At base level, the BMW 2 Series comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. While this is appropriate for its size, the engine you’ll want is the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six found in the M240i. This engine packs 382 horses and 369 lb-ft of torque. Using this powerplant, the M240i gets from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds for an agreeable price of $49,700.

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Nissan Z Sport

Nissan’s Z cars have been around for decades, and are well-known for both their penchant for handling and quickness. The newest Z was released in 2022 to a lot of fanfare, and was quickly praised for its ability to capture the essence of Nissan’s Z cars. Not to mention, it also packs quite the bomb under its hood.

The 400 stands for the amount of horsepower delivered by its 3.0-liter engine, which is borrowed from the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400. It also packs 350 lb-ft of torque. In short, the 400Z is a seriously quick little coupe, and at a price of just $42,210. Nissan is also offering decent deals on the Z, so you can possibly get one for even less.

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Volvo EX30 AWD

Surprisingly, a Volvo makes it onto our list of cheap power in the form of the new EX30. It’s a sub-compact crossover SUV that packs a serious amount of power. The EX30 is part of Volvo’s new electric SUV line, which also consists of the EX60 and the EX90.

While you can have the EX30 with a 272-horsepower powertrain, the one you’ll want to spring for is the dual-motor 428-horsepower configuration. Not only does it pack a lot more oopmh, you’ll also be granted all-wheel drive. Along with the large number of horses, you get 400 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds.

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Ford Mustang GT W/ Performance Pack

We’ve nearly reached the end of our list, which means we’re getting close to cracking 500 horses. Perhaps not surprisingly, it’s a Ford Mustang GT, but you have to add the Performance Pack, which adds the active valve dual exhaust, adding another six horses to the tally. That takes you to within spitting distance of the Mustang Dark Horse, which offers 500 hp. But it costs closer to $60,000.

While you’re able to get a Mustang with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four, the engine you’ll really want is the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 found in the GT grade. With this engine, you’ll be treated to 486 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque. In addition to its big power, it’ll do 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

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Tesla Model 3 Performance

The Tesla Model 3 Performance is a performance bargain. It can get to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, which is supercar territory. There’s nothing else on this list that even comes close, and it’s one of only two models that come in under $50k if you qualify. The price quoted above drops to $47,490 thanks to the federal tax credit, though we have no idea how long it will be around under the Trump presidency.

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Sources: Automobile-Catalog.com, Edmunds.com