Defined as any car with a fixed roof and two doors, coupe vehicles have been around since the turn of the 20th century, though the name actually dates from French 18th century carriages which only had two internal passenger seats instead of the usual four.

While car manufacturers have played around with the concept of a four-door coupe, including the first such model launched by Rover in 1962, to many drivers a coupe is only a coupe if it has just two doors.

Sales of coupes have fallen in recent years in favor of SUVs, but there are always some great budget coupes available on the used car market, including the forgotten models on the list below.

Related: 10 Coupes That Make Excellent Rally Cars

10 Volvo C70 1996-2013 - $22,000

Volvo C70 1996-2013 - $22,000
Via auto-database.com

Swedish car manufacturer Volvo has always enjoyed a reputation for building safety-conscious family cars rather than sporty coupes. Launched at the 1996 Paris Motor Show, the stylish Volvo C70 was available as both a convertible and, in smaller numbers, as a coupe until 2002, at which point Volvo produced the C70 as a hardtop convertible only. Early Volvo C70 coupes are not always easy to track down, but you can pick one up for as little as $22,000 if you manage to find a seller.

9 Hyundai Tiburon 1996-2008 - $8,000

Hyundai Tiburon 1996-2008
Via drivetribe.com

The Hyundai Tiburon was known as the Hyundai Coupe in the European market and was sold worldwide between 1996 and 2008. Based on a concept car that was unveiled at the 1993 Detroit Auto Show, the Tiburon was eventually replaced in 2008 by the much more successful Hyundai Veloster.

Sales of the Tiburon coupe were not impressive – 2003 was the company’s best year, though they managed to shift just 21,000 cars in the US – and second-hand models today will set you back just $8,000.

Related: The 10 Most Popular Coupes Ever Made

8 Eagle Talon 1990-1998 - $5,000

Eagle Talon 1990-1998
Via dailyturismo.com

Eagle started life as part of the American Motors Corporation before the company was bought by Chrysler in 1987 – only a few years before the Eagle Talon coupe was launched. Eight years later both the Talon and the Eagle car manufacturing name itself had come to an end.

Based on the same platform as the Plymouth Laser and the Mitsubishi Eclipse, the Eagle Talon had a very different look from the two other vehicles. Twenty years later, the Talon is a real budget coupe, with used models selling for around $5,000.

7 Kia Forte 2009-2017 - $18,000

Kia Forte 2009-2017
Via autoevoluotin.com

Launched in 2010 in the States, the Kia Forte is a compact car that is available in several different versions, including the Kia Forte Koup. Kia eventually scrapped the Forte Koup in 2017, and the final model cost just $21,000 when new, making it one of the cheapest coupes on the market at the time.

Initially unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in 2008, under the name Kia Koup, the Forte boasts some impressive external and internal features for such an affordable vehicle, including paddle shifters and rear parking assist technology.

6 Saturn Ion 2003-2007 - $5,000

Saturn Ion 2003-2007
Via cargurus.com

Drivers on a budget looking for a cheap coupe that is less than 20 years old would struggle to do any better than the Saturn Ion. With used models costing just $5,000, the Saturn Ion is one of the four-door coupes that have become increasingly popular ever since they were created by British Car manufacturer Rover and perfected by German automotive giants Mercedes-Benz.

The Saturn Ion four-door coupe was only in production from 2003 to 2007, being scrapped by Saturn just a few years before the company itself was dissolved by owner General Motors.

5 Chrysler Crossfire 2004-2008 - $12,000

Chrysler Crossfire 2004-2008
Via topspeed.com

The sporty Chrysler Crossfire was designed by German car manufacturer Karmann, sold by Chrysler between 2004 and 2008, and was based on an eye-catching concept car designed in 2001 by Eric Stoddard. Available as a convertible or as a two-door, two-seater fastback coupe, the Crossfire shared almost 40% of its parts with Mercedes-Benz vehicles, making it a reliable option for an American coupe.

The unusual styling was reminiscent of Chrysler’s own curvy SSR roadster pickup or even the iconic Rambler Marlin from the 1960s, and you can pick up used models for around $12,000 in 2020.

Related: The 10 Most Reliable Coupes

4 Maserati Shamal 1990-1996 - $70,000

Maserati Shamal 1990-1996
Via thetruthaboutcars.com

$70,000 may not seem like much of a budget price for a 30-year-old coupe, but it is a more than reasonable price for a limited edition Maserati. Only 369 Maserati Shamal grand tourer coupes were made by the Italian supercar company between 1990 and 1996, making them something of a rarity in 2020.

Designed by Marcello Gandini, the genius behind the Lamborghini Countach and the Lamborghini Diablo, the Shamal featured some genuinely innovative features, such as a spoiler on the front windscreen and a central pillar which also acted as a roll-bar.

3 Scion TC 2005-2016 - $11,000

Scion tC 2005-2016
Via motorauthority.com

The Scion tC was sold between 2005 and 2016 as a hatchback coupe; an ideal combination of sporty performance and a reliable family car. The Scion brand, a Toyota marque designed to sell cars to younger motorists, was scrapped in 2016 bringing the success of the Scion tC to a premature end.

Most popular with drivers was a no-strings version of the Scion tC coupe which offered few extra features but was significantly cheaper than high-spec alternatives. These basic models can be picked up for around $11,000 today.

2 Mercury Cougar 1999-2002 - $6,000

Mercury Cougar
via 440 Auto Sales

The Mercury Cougar name was first used for the company’s iconic pony car in 1967, and the name was in constant use until 1997 for a variety of popular sedans, stations wagons, and coupes. However, it is the Mercury Cougar fastback coupe which made a comeback between 1999 and 2002 which is the most forgettable of all the Cougars and is also a great option for drivers on a budget at just $6,000.

Mercury was marketed as a premium Ford brand for 70 years, between the company’s launch in 1938 and 2011 when Ford ended production on Mercury cars.

1 GM EV1 1996-1999 - $34,000

GM EV1 1996-1999
Via electricmitten.com

The current crop of electric cars owes a lot to General Motors’ EV1, an all-electric coupe which was the first to use much of the pioneering technology which powers the environmentally-friendly vehicles of the 21st century.

Sadly, GM executives killed off the EV1 in 1999 before it even had a chance to become a success, and there are very few used models for collectors to buy. Back in the late-90s, the EV1 would have set you back around $34,000 – a reasonable price for a coupe which has become a museum piece.

Next: 10 Inexpensive Coupes You Can Get Right Now

Sources

Car Buzz, Market Watch, Motor Authority, Car and Driver, Motor Trend