America's best performance cars for less than $65,000 revealed - including one of the most patriotic V8's to hit the road
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A price cap of $65,000 might appear arbitrary when considering performance cars, but it's the sweet spot for drivers to find some of the most compelling options.
Above such a figure, buyers quickly run into six-figure territory with little to no meaningful gain in vehicle performance.
At the other end of the scale, cars priced below such a benchmark price might offer solid entry-level features, but ultimately fall short in delivering high-end performance.
With such a balance in mind, Edmunds has curated a list of the five best performance cars you can buy for around $65,000.
The selection represents the pinnacle of performance without tipping into exorbitant pricing:
The Audi RS 3 is a small sedan with a big attitude, especially at this price with plenty of room in the back even for 6-footers
Audi RS 3 - Starting manufacturer's suggested retail price: $63,395
If you're old enough to remember motorsports in the 1980s then you know why the RS 3´s five-cylinder engine is special.
It was a five-cylinder that powered Audi's greatest motorsport effort ever, the Sport Quattro, which won the brand four World Rally Championship titles.
The RS 3 relives that glory with a turbocharged 401-horsepower 2.5-liter five-cylinder linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that routes power to all four wheels.
It snorts and pops its way to a 0-60 mph time under 4 seconds while maintaining livable daily comfort, excellent tech, and room for 6-footers in the back seat.
It's a small sedan with a big attitude, especially at this price.
The 2024 RS 3 costs $63,395. Based on the A3 compact sedan, the RS 3 has a special 401-horsepower five-cylinder engine.
BMW M2 - Starting MSRP: $66,075
With 473 horsepower from a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, a tidy coupe body style, and your choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, the 2025 M2 checks all the small-car hot-rod boxes.
In Edmunds´ testing, an automatic-equipped 2024 M2 - which had 20 fewer horsepower - hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and cleared the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds.
The M2 is also a driver's car with textbook rear-wheel-drive handling, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, and purposeful flared fenders stretched over performance rubber.
Perhaps best of all, the M2 matches its bigger sibling, the M4, in most performance metrics using a smaller, lighter and less costly package.
With 473 horsepower from a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, a tidy coupe body style, and your choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, the 2025 BMW M2 checks all the small-car hot-rod boxes.
Cadillac CT4-V - Starting MSRP: $62,890
A lot of people only know Cadillac for its lineup of SUVs headlined by the Escalade.
For them, the CT4-V Blackwing must seem like a restaurant's hidden off-menu option.
This small sedan packs a 472-horsepower turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 that drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or ten-speed automatic transmission.
Standard adaptive dampers yield genuine compliance for daily use and controlled, confident handling.
At the Edmunds test track, a manual-equipped CT4-V Blackwing sprinted to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and hit the quarter mile in 12.8 seconds.
It might give up a few tenths to the M2, but it makes up for it by being one of the most engaging and inspiring driver's cars sold today.
The 2024 CT4-V Blackwing. The Blackwing version of the CT4 small sedan comes with a 472-horsepower V6 engine and costs $62,890
Ford Mustang Dark Horse - Starting MSRP: $60,530
If you want to experience the Mustang at its peak of internal combustion, the Dark Horse may be your last opportunity.
Few things will make you feel more patriotic than the 500-horsepower glory song of the Dark Horse's V8.
And as the only V8-powered car on this list, the Dark Horse offers a uniquely American take on performance driving.
The Ford Mustang itself is an iconic American car, known for its performance and style.
By emphasizing its American roots, Ford aligns the Mustang Dark Horse with a sense of national pride.
Its 5.0-liter mill powers the rear wheel through a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.
It hits 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, with a braking performance rivaling some supercars.
It's pricey for a Mustang, but it performs well enough to justify the cost.
The 2024 Mustang Dark Horse is fitted with a 500-horsepower V8. The Dark Horse is the most powerful Mustang for 2024 and priced at $60,530
Hyundai IONIQ 5 N - Starting MSRP: $67,475
The Ioniq 5 N does slightly exceed the $65,000 price target. But it's such a standout as a performance car - not just as a performance EV - that it would be a disservice to not include it on the list.
With 641 peak horsepower, all-wheel drive and SUV-like practicality, the 5 N is truly distinctive.
Even better, there's more to it than just outrageous acceleration like so many electric cars.
Sure, it'll rip from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and pass the quarter mile in just 11.2 seconds, but it also has enough grip and stopping performance for track use.
Hyundai even made the effort to add a special mode that emulates the sound and feel of a gas-powered car, giving performance enthusiasts a familiar point of reference.
The 2025 Ioniq 5 N. The N badge signifies this is the 641-horsepower high-performance version of the Ioniq 5 EV. WIth a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price $67,475
If a price tag of about $65,000 is within budget for a performance car, the options above are worth looking at.
There's huge variety both in terms of the purity of experience and everyday practicality. Almost any buyer can find a car on the list to suit their needs.