Many of us strive to look good in our cars. We also like to appear to have more money than we really do, yet it doesn’t seem possible without costly cars.
However, some affordable vehicles on the market can make you and I look richer than we really are. Vehicles that let us flaunt a bit without actually spending several hundred thousand dollars.
This list will feature some of those machines, and they are all very affordable based on their MSRPs.
2025 Ford Mustang
Owning one of the latest Ford Mustangs is one way to make you look richer than you are. The Ford muscle car is incredibly affordable, with an MSRP of just $31,920, which, for a performance vehicle, is a steal.
Of course, if you go higher up the trim levels, you will pay more. But you do get more for the money, too. The 2025 Mustang Dark Horse, for example, comes with a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine and produces up to 500 horsepower.
2024 Nissan Z
The latest Nissan Z is easily one of the best sports cars on sale in North America right now. The new Z feels like the Nissan range is going back to its roots, with a stunning car harking back to the first Datsun 240Z.
Power levels are excellent, too. The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 produces 400 horsepower, which can be handled with a six-speed manual transmission. All this performance costs just $42,970.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Incredibly, the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 is currently on sale for less than the previous Ioniq 5. While the larger, boxier Ioniq 5 retails for over $41,000, the incredibly streamlined Ioniq 6 currently has an MSRP of just $37,750.
For that money, you get a striking-looking electric vehicle that looks more expensive than it really is. You also have up to 320 horsepower under the hood and a range of 342 miles thanks to the incredible Hyundai E-GMP platform and powertrain.
Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
To some, the Fiat 124 Spider and its Abarth cousin were just redressed Mazda MX-5s. Yet arguably, the Fiat 124 is a better-looking vehicle than the Mazda, and it’s still quite affordable even though it is no longer on sale.
The Abarth model costs around $14,000, which is excellent value for money for a modern sports car. It also has a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine inline-four engine under the hood, producing 170 horsepower.
2005 Maserati Spyder
If you fancy something a bit more classical to make you look rich, then maybe you should consider purchasing the 2005 Maserati Spyder. The Spyder itself was produced from 2001 to 2007, with 2005 arguably being the peak of the car’s production.
Legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the Spyder, which has a brilliant 4.2-liter V8 engine under the hood. Not only does it look good, but the Spyder produces an excellent soundtrack and has tremendous speed.
2025 Toyota GR Supra
It’s a miracle that a fast, powerful, and great-looking sports car will cost less than $60,000 in 2024. The 2025 Toyota GR Supra retails at $56,250, and it’s one of the best and most affordable performance vehicles currently on sale.
Power comes from a 3.0-liter six-cylinder V6 engine, producing 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. Best of all, Toyota recently made a six-speed manual transmission available for the Supra, which means it’s now even more of an enthusiast’s car.
1966 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Sometimes, a classic car can look much more expensive than it actually is. In fairness to the gorgeous 1966 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, you can see them on sale for around $30,000, which highlights their value.
Designed by Carrozzeria Ghia SpA, an Italian coachbuilder and automobile designer, the Karmann Ghia has a four-cylinder 1.5-liter engine under the hood and a four-speed transmission. That engine produced up to 65 horsepower and gave the Karmann Ghia a top speed of 86 mph.
Nissan 350Z
While the latest Nissan Z has very much superseded it, the Nissan 350Z is still a fantastic sports car. It has some of the best styling of the 2000s and still looks very expensive.
The reality is you can pick up a 350Z for around $10,000, perhaps for less. The 350Z was punchy, with the 2005 version having a VQ35HR V6 engine under the hood, making 306 horsepower and revving up to a 7,500 rpm redline. The 350Z is, without a doubt, a modern classic.
Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 costs just $29,300, yet it is an SUV that could easily be mistaken for something more expensive. Much of that is down to its interior, which is of such high quality and comfort that it almost doesn’t belong on a car that retails for less than $30k.
The CX-5 has a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine under the hood. It is an incredibly comfortable ride and can ferry you and the whole family around comfortably. Plus, it’s also one of the best-holding SUVs on the market.
Toyota Prius
Before its redesign, the Toyota Prius was starting to show its age. Yet now, the poster boy of the hybrid segment is one of the best-looking daily drivers on the market. Somehow, it costs just $27,950 despite looking like it should cost upwards of $30,000.
The Prius’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain offers up to 196 horsepower. But its party piece is its fuel economy, with the latest model achieving 57 MPG combined. That is an incredible figure that other hybrids would do well to match, let alone beat.
