The Best Sub-$35,000 Cars at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show

At any auto show, it’s easy to find cars that cost $100,000 or more. Automakers love showing off the coolest concepts and most expensive vehicles they have to offer, and we can’t really blame them. But most people can’t afford to spend six figures on a car no matter how cool it is. With that in mind, we kept an eye out for the show’s best cars that are likely to cost $35,000 or less. Here’s what we found.

Mazda6

The Mazda6 was already a great car, but to make it more competitive, Mazda made two major changes. First, it added the CX-9’s 250-hp turbocharged engine to the lineup, which gave U.S. buyers two engine choices for the first time since the car was redesigned. Mazda also added a more luxurious Signature trim level. Even without major design changes, the subtly updated Mazda6 is definitely looks better both inside and out. Hopefully, it’s also as fun to drive as the engine specs would suggest.

Jeep Wrangler

Thankfully, when Jeep redesigned the Wrangler for 2018, it didn’t change the look too much. Instead, the team focused on modernizing the Wrangler and making it more efficient. To save weight, the hood, doors, and windshield frame are now aluminum, and the tailgate is now magnesium. The 3.6-liter V-6 is still available, but Jeep’s also adding a turbocharged four-cylinder and a diesel V-6 to the mix. Based on our first drive and how ridiculously cool it looks in person, Jeep got this one just about perfect.

Subaru Ascent

Back in 2006, Subaru tried selling its first three-row SUV, the B9 Tribeca. Unfortunately for Subaru, the Tribeca never quite caught on. For 2019, Subaru is back in the three-row SUV game, and this time around, it looks like Subaru’s got a winner on its hands. It looks good, it’s the right size, and it offers plenty of options. Choose one of the nicer trim levels, and you’ll probably blow past the $35,000 price point, but the base model should slide in pretty close to that limit.

Nissan Kicks

Subcompact crossovers are all the rage right now, so Nissan decided to bring the foreign-market Kicks to the U.S. this year. It’s a little shorter than the Rogue Sport, several inches longer than the Juke, and probably going to sell like hotcakes. It will be front-wheel drive only, so don’t even think of taking a Kicks off-road, but Nissan says it will come loaded with desirable features. Pricing isn’t available yet, but assume that even a fully loaded Kicks will cost way less than $35,000.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is back, but this time it’s not a sports coupe. It’s a crossover. It also represents Mitsubishi’s renewed commitment to selling vehicles in the United States. Although we previously saw the Eclipse Cross when it made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, it’s still a fascinating vehicle. Yes, it looks a little odd in person, but will it be a practical, fun-to-drive alternative to a sports coupe, or will it be another generic CUV with a coupelike roofline? Hopefully, we’ll find out soon.

Volvo XC40

We’re big fans of Volvo’s newest generation of vehicles. They look fantastic, have great interiors, and make seriously compelling alternatives to the German cars they compete with. But as great as the XC60 and XC90 are, they’re pretty pricey. The smallest Volvo crossover, the XC40, though, can be had in base form for less than $35,000. To us, that sounds like a steal. Once the XC40 lands on dealer lots, expect to see these all over the place because this CUV just looks darn cool.

Hyundai Kona

Like Nissan, Hyundai noticed that Americans love their subcompact crossovers. In an attempt to get its hands on some of that sweet, sweet subcompact CUV money, it’s introduced the Kona. But despite borrowing some front-end design cues from the Jeep Cherokee, it manages to pull off the look better than you might expect. And since it’s a Hyundai, you can expect it to come well equipped no matter the price. Look out, Honda HR-V.

Kia Sorento

Currently, the Kia Sorento is a quiet, comfortable CUV with a high-quality interior and plenty of room for five adults. That meant there weren’t many glaring flaws for Kia to fix when it refreshed the Sorento for 2019. Seating for seven is now standard, though, as are a host of desirable safety features such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Essentially, a great family vehicle is now even better than before. Plus, as Kia showed us at the press conference, the all-wheel-drive system makes the Sorento a much better off-roader than you might expect.

Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line

Normally, we prefer to avoid appearance packages. All that money spent making your car look faster than it is could be spent actually making your car go faster. But we have to admit, we like the way the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line looks. You’ll have to get the SEL, not the SEL Premium to stay under $35,000, but that gets you 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a sportier body kit, stainless steel pedal covers, and a black headliner. Altogether, it helps the Tiguan stand out in the sea of compact crossovers, which is no small feat these days.