1. 1. 2013 Hyundai Veloster
2. 2013 Ford Focus
3. 2013 Kia Soul
4. 2013 Honda Fit
5. 2013 Dodge Dart
6. 2013 Mazada Mazda3
7. 2013 Fiat 500
8. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
9. 2013 Honda Civic
10. 2013 Chevrolet Spark
10 Coolest Cars
Under 18K
New York City, and the editorial team is
excited to get behind the wheel of this latest
version to find out if it will be cool enough to
continue the streak.
• Both European entries on this year’s list –
the Volkswagen Jetta and Fiat 500 – are
actually made in Mexico.
• The Chevrolet Spark minicar eked onto the
list in the number 10 spot, on the strength
of its claim as the very first car (along with
its Chevrolet Sonic sibling) to offer Apple’s
Siri in Eyes Free mode capability. It’s also
the most affordable car on the list, with a
starting Fair Purchase Price of just $12,349
(FPP listed as of June 18). Believe it or not,
the car also offers more rear legroom than
the Cadillac ATS!
“Quite frankly, automakers keep making it
easier to pay them less,” said KBB Executive
Editorial Director Jack R. Nerad. “While many
inexpensive cars are decidedly uncool,
the world’s manufacturers are putting more
personality and distinction into their lower-
priced offerings. Not only have small cars
never looked so good, but they have also
Now celebrating its eleventh year as the
oldest Editorial accolade, KBB.com recently
announced the popular 10 Coolest New
Cars Under $18,000 annual list, featuring
the editors’ top affordable new-car picks
for 2013. The ever-exciting combination
of ‘cool’ and ‘affordable’ hits a sweet spot
with consumers, and as a result both media
and OEMs love to promote this story.
Two criteria — fun-to-drive and fun-to-own
— are critical among the deciding factors
of what the editors freely admit is a very
subjective “cool factor,” the over-arching
number-one criterion for a vehicle to place
on this list. Each vehicle is available for
purchase at $18,000 or less, using Fair
Purchase Price as the yardstick.
Below are a few ‘fun facts’ about this
year’s list, as told to the Buzz by KBB.com
Managing Editor Jason Allan:
• There are more than 30 cars available
today for under $18,000.
• This marks the 10th year in a row that the
Mazda3 has been featured on this list; in
fact, the Mazda3 has appeared on the
‘Cool Cars’ list every single year since the
vehiclefirstlaunched.Mazdaunveiledthe
next-generation Mazda3 on June 26 in
Behind the List: KBB.com Announces
2013’s 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000
Click image above to watch a video featuring 2013’s 10 Coolest New Cars Under 18k
Continued on next page >
By Joanna Pinkham
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