While it’s often true that the fastest cars are also some of the most expensive ones out there, some fast cars can be snapped up for dirt-cheap prices. These cheap cars are fast – but don't expect them to be nearly as fast as the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, which is the fastest car in the world. With a theoretical top speed of 330 mph, the Jesko Absolut is claimed to be faster than any Bugatti. However, if you don't want to spend more than $20,000, these are the fastest options on the used car market.
How we got our model selections: HotCars analyzed performance cars in all segments and countries. Models with average used prices under $20,000 and a 0-60 mph time of less than 5.0 seconds were factored in. Pricing was sourced from Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book and performance figures from Acceleration Times and Zero To 60 Times. The following models are sorted from slowest to fastest according to their 0-60 MPH times.
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Find out where the fastest models from hypercar manufactuers Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Aston Martin, and others rank.12 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec: 0-60 In 4.9 Seconds For $10,292
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.9 seconds |
Top Speed |
149 mph |
Horsepower |
429 hp |
Torque |
376 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
The Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Is A Luxury Sedan With 429 HP On Tap
The 5.0 R-Spec joins the 2012 Hyundai Genesis lineup with a new 5.0-liter V8 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. With that setup, the South Korean sports sedan dashes from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds on 19-inch alloy wheels.
With a sub-5.0-second acceleration time, the 2012 Genesis 5.0 R-Spec is faster than the 2012 Nissan Maxima S, which clocks 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The 2012 Genesis 5.0 R-Spec is a bargain South Korean sports sedan. According to Edmunds, you should be able to find a neatly used one for just around $10,292.
11 2011 Audi TTS: 0-60 In 4.7 Seconds For $19,478
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.7 seconds |
Top Speed |
155 mph |
Horsepower |
265 hp |
Torque |
258 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, all-wheel drive |
Audi TTS Easily Sprints To An Electronically-Limited 155 MPH
Even though Audi dropped the V6 and manual transmission for this model year, the 2011 TTS is no slouch. It comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine that returns 265 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This is enough to allow the small coupe to reach 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and top out at 155 mph.
Going by Zero To 60 Times data, the 2011 TTS is just 0.5 seconds behind other affordable German sports cars such as the 2011 Porsche Cayman when it comes to straight-line acceleration. Edmunds says you can find a clean 2011 TTS for just around $19,478.
10 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 Sedan: 0-60 In 4.6 Seconds For $15,003
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.6 seconds |
Top Speed |
130 mph |
Horsepower |
402 hp |
Torque |
443 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, all-wheel drive |
Mercedes-Benz E550 Sedan Boasts A Massive 402-HP Twin-Turbo V8
With a lineup that includes coupes, sedans, and wagons, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a very diverse midsize luxury car. So if you are shopping for an affordable four-door with supercar-matching performance, consider the E550 Sedan, which Edmunds values at around $15,003.
Fortified with a 402-hp 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8, the 2013 E550 Sedan is 2-hp more powerful and 0.1 seconds faster than the 5 Series 550i xDrive. Zero To 60 Times claims the German sports sedan sprints to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and tops out at 157 mph.
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These four-door picks for 2023 are exciting to drive and move at breakneck speeds.9 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring: 0-60 In 4.5 Seconds For $11,749
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.5 seconds |
Top Speed |
157 mph |
Horsepower |
332 hp |
Torque |
270 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
Nissan 370Z Touring Tops Out At 157 MPH
Replacing the Nissan 350Z, the 370Z comes with a revised engine that delivers more power and greater speed. The 3.7-liter V6 churns out 332 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque – a solid 26 hp more than its predecessor.
With a power difference of 32 hp, the 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring can give the 2008 350Z Enthusiast a 0.7-second headstart to catch up with it. The 370Z Touring completes a 60 mph run in just 4.5 seconds and tops out at 157 mph. If the performance numbers of this Japanese sports car that defies expectations sounds good, you’ll love the price even more. Edmunds estimates the average used price of a 2009 370Z Touring to be around $11,749.
8 2013 BMW 750Li: 0-60 In 4.5 Seconds For $15,117
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.5 seconds |
Top Speed |
155 mph |
Horsepower |
445 hp |
Torque |
480 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
The 4,660-LB BMW 750Li Comfortably Cruises At 155 MPH
For 2013, the BMW 750Li enjoyed a 45-hp increase in power from a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and the introduction of a standard 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine cranks out 445 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough to move this 4660-pound super sedan.
The 2013 750Li zooms off to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and tops out at 155 mph. You can snap up a 2013 750Li in pristine condition for somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,117.
7 2015 Audi S3: 0-60 In 4.5 Seconds For $19,041
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.5 seconds |
Top Speed |
155 mph |
Horsepower |
292 hp |
Torque |
280 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, all-wheel drive |
Audi S3 Has A Top Speed Of 155 MPH
While the 2015 Audi A3 sedan comes with a 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-4 that can only deliver 170 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, the S3 is there for those who desire more punch. The S3’s 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 produces 292 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.
The S3 rips to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and tops out at 155 mph, making it one of the fastest four-cylinder cars by Audi. For context, the 2020 BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe is just 0.1 seconds faster than the S3, which Edmunds estimates to cost around $19,041.
6 2013 Mercedes CLS550 4MATIC: 0-60 In 4.4 Seconds For $16,585
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.4 seconds |
Top Speed |
130 mph |
Horsepower |
402 hp |
Torque |
443 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, all-wheel drive |
Mercedes CLS550 4MATIC Has A 402-HP Twin-Turbo V8
The CLS 63 AMG is the beefiest version of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, but it’s typically found at north of $20,000. The CLS550 4MATIC is the next best thing in the CLS-Class, retailing at $16,585 on the used-car market, per Edmunds.
The CLS550 4MATIC 4-door coupe boasts an output of 402 hp from a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V8, while the
BMW 550i churns out 400 hp courtesy of a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. When it comes to straight-line acceleration, the CLS550 4MATIC clocks 60 mph in 4.4 seconds – a 0.4-second advantage over the BMW 550i, according to Zero To 60 Times.
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Despite being known for cheap and practical cars, some economy brands love surprising their buyers with fast and exciting models.5 2011 Audi S4: 0-60 In 4.4 Seconds For $11,807
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.4 seconds |
Top Speed |
155 mph |
Horsepower |
333 hp |
Torque |
325 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, all-wheel drive |
Audi S4 Tops Out At 155 MPH
The 2011 Audi S4 hides its high-performance aspirations, which makes it a great choice if you are interested in a fast sleeper car for budgeting buyers as it costs just $11,807. You can tap as much as 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque from the 3.0-liter supercharged V6-powered sedan.
The S4’s output may not seem that impressive for a high-performance version of the A4, but it’s enough to launch the luxury sedan to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. For context, the 2011 BMW 335i with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 needs up to 4.7 seconds to finish a 0-60-mph run.
4 2011 Ford Mustang GT: 0-60 In 4.3 Seconds For $15,472
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.3 seconds |
Top Speed |
152 mph |
Horsepower |
412 hp |
Torque |
390 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
Ford Mustang GT Sprints To 60 MPH In Just 4.3 Seconds
For 2011, the Ford Mustang GT gets a significant power boost following the replacement of the 4.6-liter V8 by a 5.0-liter V8. The 2011 Mustang GT Premium’s V8 unleashes 412 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, while the 2010 model makes only 315 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque.
With the wide output gap, the 2011 Mustang GT Premium needs only 4.3 seconds to dash from 0-60 mph, while the 2010 iteration will take up to 5.4 seconds. Even though many sports cars today will find it difficult to outrun the Mustang GT Premium, the iconic pony car is still a very cheap fast car, with an Edmunds-estimated used market value of $15,472.
3 2007 Jaguar XKR: 0-60 In 4.3 Seconds For $15,000
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.3 seconds |
Top Speed |
174 mph |
Horsepower |
420 hp |
Torque |
413 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
Jaguar XKR Has A Top Speed Of 174 MPH
If you think the 390-hp 2006 Jaguar XKR is already powerful, then you'd be blown away by the 2007 iteration, which comes with a retuned 4.2-liter supercharged V8 that pours out 420 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque.
With that amount of power, this cheap British sports car teleports to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and tops out at 174 mph. Kelley Blue Book estimates that you can snap up a 2007 XKR for somewhere between $15,000 and $17,903.
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Who says you can’t battle it out on the drag strip or take over the streets with a sub-$20,000 SUV?2 2006 BMW M6 Coupe: 0-60 In 4.1 Seconds For $13,328
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.1 seconds |
Top Speed |
190 mph |
Horsepower |
509 hp |
Torque |
383 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
BMW M6 Has A Top Speed Of 190 MPH
The 2006 BMW M6 shares the same steel core construction and aluminum front-end structure as the regular 6 Series, so it weighs just under 4,000 pounds—103 pounds lighter than the M5. BMW’s weight-saving efforts paid off, as the 2006 M6 bolts to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds and peaks at 190 mph before losing its breath.
The supercar-matching performance of this sports car wouldn’t have been possible without a 5.0-liter V10 that makes a staggering 500 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Going by Edmunds's estimates, a neatly used 2006 M6 could be yours for just around $13,328.
1 2011 Jaguar XJ Supersport: 0-60 In 4.1 Seconds For $13,161
Performance Specs
0-60 MPH |
4.1 seconds |
Top Speed |
155 mph |
Horsepower |
510 hp |
Torque |
461 lb-ft |
Layout |
Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
Jaguar XJ Supersport Boasts A Supercharged 510-HP V8
The Supersport sits at the top of the 2011 XJ lineup, offering an unprecedented amount of power and speed. Jaguar dumps the 400-hp 4.2-liter supercharged V8 for a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that makes 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque.
That’s enough energy for the XJ Supersport to sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.1 seconds and top out at 155 mph. This makes it one of the fastest British sports sedans, and is capable of giving some of the fastest cars in the world a run for their money. You can find a cleanly used 2011 XJ Supersport for just around $13,161 today, going by the average used-car listing price on Edmunds.
Sources: Acceleration Times, Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, Zero To 60 Times