Beyond the awesomely capable 2017 Nissan GT-R and the Lincoln Navigator concept’s gullwing doors, the 2016 New York Auto Show has lots to offer enthusiasts and new-car consumers with more down-to-earth budgets. In New York, debuts of new cars with prices below $35,000 were all over the automotive map. From fun-to-drive rear-drive sports cars to affordable four-doors you’ll soon see in a suburb near you, keep reading to see the more attainable sheetmetal showing off in New York.
2017 Honda Civic Four-Door Hatchback
When an automaker creates a four-door hatchback from a sedan that’s already on the spacious side of the compact segment, we can’t wait to drive it. The 2017 Honda Civic hatch, shown in New York as a near-production prototype, completes the U.S. Civic lineup’s coupe, sedan, and four-door hatch body styles. As Honda continues to put pressure on Toyota for compact-segment sales leadership, could the new Civic hatch help push the line over the top?
What’s Cool: Civics without sporty trims are about to get surprisingly quick—Honda has announced that 2017 Civics will make available a manual transmission with the turbocharged, 1.5-liter I-4 engine. Considering we tested a CVT-equipped Civic Touring with that engine hit 60 mph in a quick 7.2 seconds, a manual version could crack the 7.0-second barrier before the Civic Si and Type R even arrive.
2017 Toyota 86
The Scion FR-S lives on as a Toyota for 2017, and the restyled rear-drive sports car debuted in New York. Manual transmission models get a touch more power, but they’ll still pale in comparison to similarly priced base-model Camaros and Mustangs. No matter, the 86 rolls into 2017 with a couple more premium interior details and a helpful hill start assist. What would you rather have, a base-model Camaro 2.0 or a newly revised 86?
What’s Cool: Toyota cares enough about the FR-S/86 to invest in the car’s improvement. Although the 86 can serve as a halo car injecting excitement into the brand’s lineup, sales haven’t exactly set the sports car segment on fire.
2017 Hyundai Ioniq
Remember Hyundai’s EPA scandal? Should the Ioniq be well-received by consumers, this Toyota Prius competitor should help finish turning around perception on the brand since the mileage of some Hyundais were downrated by the EPA. The Ioniq isn’t quite as bold as the new Prius, but it does offer three variants (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and a full EV), and at least two will likely carry a base price under $35,000.
What’s Cool: Hyundai claims the Ioniq Electric will offer a 110-mile range. We’ll have to wait for the EPA’s final word, but if that’s true, the Nissan Leaf has a competitor for the title of longest range on an EV under $40,000.
2017 Toyota Prius Prime
The four-seat 2017 Toyota Prius Prime boasts a more usable, manufacturer-estimated 22-mile range in EV mode. Yes, that’s less than half of the impressive 2016 Chevrolet Volt’s 53-mile EV range before the gas engine helps out, but it’s still a notable improvement. The Prius Prime is likely to undercut the Volt’s $34,095 base price including destination. With a range of about 600 miles and massive 11.6-inch center-stack screen, it’s road-trip ready.
What’s Cool: The Prius Prime’s added snob appeal over the last-generation Prius plug-in hybrid. The Prius Prime looks far more different from the non-PHEV Prius than we expected—there are now noticeable visual differences for those who spend a little extra for their quiet commuter.
2017 Mercedes-Benz CLA250
What, you can’t tell the Mercedes-Benz CLA has been refreshed? That’s OK — the coupelike four-door looked pretty good before the face-lift. Under our $35,000 price cap, you won’t be adding many options on a 2017 CLA250, but Mercedes has added standard features, including an 8-inch central display, a rearview camera, and active safety tech.
What’s Cool: The brake lights now have three levels of brightness for driving in the daytime, at night, and at night while stationary.
2017 Kia Cadenza
The comparison-test-winning Kia Cadenza arrives for 2017 with a new design that better bridges the premium-ish gap between this full-size, front-drive sedan and the rear-drive K900 that starts in the $50,000 range. For about the same price as that small CLA250, Kia will offer a Cadenza that comes with standard with power-folding side mirrors, leather seats (heated in front), a comfortably sized interior, navigation on an 8-inch screen, hands-free keyless entry, and a new eight-speed automatic.
What’s Cool: The heated seats automatically lower the heat intensity level after a pre-designated amount of time, just like a high-end luxury car.
2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
Interest in Mazda’s new Miata variant was high during our New York show coverage, and one look at the 2017 MX-5 Miata RF (retractable fastback) suggests why. The attractive hardtop option adds weight, but for some, the extra everyday livability will be worth it. The top takes no more space in the trunk than the soft top and only requires 12 seconds to operate. Unfortunately, the maximum speed is 6 mph when you’re unfolding the top.
What’s Cool: Expecting the hardtop variant to be an ultra-low-volume, higher-priced variant? Think again—we learned at the show that by the end of the last-generation Miata’s life, the hardtop was outselling the soft top.
2017 Toyota Corolla
The incredibly popular Toyota Corolla gets restyled in the front for 2017, and LEDs remain standard equipment on every sedan. As the Corolla turns 50, the spacious but not sporty compact will offer a special edition model and XSE high-end trim level. The engines and transmissions remain unchanged, and the newly renamed Corolla iM four-door hatchback joins the lineup now that the Scion brand has been discontinued.
What’s Cool: We love that active safety tech—including an assist system that can lessen the impact of a collision by applying the brakes if the car senses a pedestrian or car ahead—is optional on multiple trims of the affordable Corolla. The Honda Civic also offers the tech, as does our next New York Under $35K star.
2017 Subaru Impreza
When you want a decently equipped, inexpensive, all-wheel-drive sedan, the Subaru Impreza is a good place to start. The Impreza better justifies itself now for customers who prefer loaded cars with an 8-inch central screen, headlights that adjust as the car turns, and a suite of active safety tech that includes reverse automatic braking.
What’s Cool: The Impreza sedan is offered with a rear spoiler with glass-black trim across the top and body-colored accents on the side. Even if it’s not to your tastes, the interesting detail isn’t one we’ve seen much before.
2017 Chevrolet Sonic
While we get used to the refreshed Sonic’s new nose, look inside to find a helpful update: an available power driver seat. Sure, subcompact buyers aren’t interested in sub-$20,000 cars for niceties, but we’ll be watching to see whether other players in this segment follow suit. Should power driver seats not be of interest, we bet plenty of folks will use the new Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
What’s Cool: Chevrolet has an incredible variety of options under $20,000 when you’re set on an affordable car from the brand. There’s the ultra-small Spark, the Sonic hatch and sedan, the Cruze Limited (the last-generation Cruze, sold for a limited time), and the new Cruze sedan.
2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4
The Mirage is more efficient. Think of any non-hybrid subcompact with an automatic transmission, and the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage will still likely beat it with EPA ratings of 37/43 mpg city/highway for the hatch; the sedan hasn’t yet been rated. Again, that’s 37 mpg in the city, which makes sense considering it pairs a CVT with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine. Pricing hasn’t yet been revealed, but we expect it to fall under $15,000.
What’s Cool: As with all Mitsubishis now that the Lancer Evo is gone, the Mirage G4 sedan will come standard with a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty that’s fully transferrable, which means if the second owner drives the car before the first five years or 60,000 miles occurs, they’re still covered. Hey, we never said it was a sexy feature, just a cool one for owners or second owners.
2017 Toyota Highlander
Remember when some called the Highlander bland? The 2017 model’s new angry front grille is anything but bland, and there’s more to this three-row crossover than updated looks. Active safety tech is now standard across the lineup, and a 360-degree multicamera parking system is available. The Highlander was already decently quick for a large crossover, with a Motor Trend-tested 0-60 time of 7.1 seconds for a front-drive model with a 270-hp V-6. That V-6 will make around 290 hp for 2017, and it comes paired with an eight-speed automatic. How much quicker will the 2017 Highlander become? We hope to find out.
What’s Cool: The new SE trim. When Toyota’s own minivan offers a sporty trim level with larger wheels and a specially tuned suspension, there’s no reason not to offer one on the similarly priced three-row crossover, as well.
2017 GMC Terrain Nightfall Edition
GM and Fiat Chrysler have been adept at increasing interest in an aging vehicle with special editions. So with the GMC Terrain refreshed for 2016, the Nightfall Edition is new for 2017. Visual upgrades in gloss black trim are sprinkled all around the two-row crossover, but it’s those 18-inch wheels with black accents that really catch your eye. To better contrast the black trim, we’d suggest skipping black exterior paint for the also available white or red.
What’s Cool: The Terrain projects a bigger visual impression than its specs would suggest. The GMC actually has less interior and cargo space than the Honda CR-V.
2017 Buick Encore
The best-selling Buick is back for 2017 with updated styling, available LED headlights, and a larger 8-inch central screen. And although Encores are still not a good choice for winning drag races, the 153-hp, 177 lb-ft version of the turbocharged, 1.4-liter I-4 is now more widely available. The 138-hp version, however, is still standard.
What’s Cool: The white and tan two-tone look on the Encore still adds to the crossover’s premium appeal, which can be important for a vehicle whose base price will remain well under $30,000.
2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
Watch out, Subaru. Volkswagen’s first U.S.-market crossover-wagon competitor has arrived. The 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack has standard all-wheel drive, a slightly raised ride height, and the all-important body cladding to make it more SUV-ish.
What’s Cool: An Alltrack variant of the European-market Passat wagon already debuted in Europe.
Which of these 2016 New York Auto Show debuts under $35,000 would you most likely buy? Let us know us below.
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Car News Magazine – Source: Motor Trend