Best Affordable Tech Cars

A car filled with gadgets you can afford

When a car costs $100,000, you expect a cabin filled with the latest gadgets. The trick is getting good cabin tech in an affordable car, the kind that most people drive. We're very impressed when we see a navigation system in a car that costs less than $30,000. Good stereos make an appearance at many different price ranges. Sure, these cars often won't have all the tech you could want, but a few quality components make them true tech cars.

2013 Ford Focus ST

A very rewarding car to drive, the 2013 Ford Focus ST will satisfy enthusiasts on weekend runs and the daily commute, but the cabin tech is a mixed bag, with the excellence of Sync offset by the navigation system interface.

2013 Hyundai Velostar Turbo

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo adds a healthy dose of straight-line performance to its techie, trendy formula.

2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring

New styling, lightweight construction, and a thrifty little engine all come together to make the 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring a great little urban crossover, but more polished cabin tech would make it an exceptional one.

2012 Ford Focus Titanium

Although the 2012 Ford Focus has some quirks, it is a comfortable everyday kind of car that gets very good fuel economy and offers a full range of cabin tech.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle 2.0T Turbo

Fans of Euro-retro styling, zippy performance, and great audio will find much to love about the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle.

2012 Mini Cooper Coupe John Cooper Works

Love or hate its styling, the 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe John Cooper Works is easily one of the best-performing front-wheel-drive cars we've tested. Unfortunately, it's also priced about $10,000 too high.

2012 Scion iQ

With its compact size, the 2012 Scion iQ is excellent for cities, offering easy parking and good drivability. But harsh engine noise will make longer trips uncomfortable.

2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe

High-revving horsepower plays second fiddle to vastly improved midrange torque and slightly refreshed cabin technology in the 2012 Honda Civic Si.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ turbo is a competent driver with good fuel economy, but its cabin tech falls behind the compact-car competition.

2012 Nissan Juke

The 2012 Nissan Juke is a fun little SUV with excellent performance tech, but it really drops the ball on cabin electronics.