Say you want a fast car but are car shopping on a budget. In fact, say you’re in the market for a fast new car under $40,000. The good news is that you’ve got plenty of affordable new cars to choose from and, according to U.S. News & World Report, the following are just some of the fastest new cars under $40,000.

These iconic models are some of the fastest new cars under $40,000

Now, there are some pretty iconic fast new cars under $40,000 out there. A few of them were included in U.S. News & World Report’s list too. Take, for example, the 2021 Ford Mustang GT. This affordable new Ford Mustang model starts at $36,120 and comes driven by a 5.0-liter V8 engine. Churning out an impressive 460-hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, this new Ford also comes outfitted with your pick of a six-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic.

And if the 2021 Ford Mustang GT isn’t quite your style? Consider the 2021 Chevy Camaro SS instead. The Chevy Camaro SS starts at $37,500 and comes standard with a 455-hp 6.2-liter V8 engine under the hood. This year’s Camaro SS also comes standard with sought-after performance features like Brembo performance brakes. It offers up multiple drive modes too.

Now, both the 2021 Subaru WRX and the Mazda MX-5 Miata were included in U.S. News & World Reports’ list too. While these models are certainly well-known, they aren’t quite as fast as the 2021 Ford Mustang GT or the 2021 Chevy Camaro SS. In fact, the Subaru WRX starts at $27,495 and comes equipped with a 268-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Meanwhile, the 2021 MX-5 Miata starts at $26,830 and comes standard with a 181-hp naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine.

The 2021 Honda Civic Type R is an affordable fast new car under $40,000

The 2021 Honda Civic Type R was included in U.S. News & World Reports’ list of the fastest affordable new cars under $40,000 too. This year’s model starts at $37,895 and comes with a 306-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine under the hood. Paired with a six-speed manual transmission, the Civic Type R is also standard with performance-oriented features like Honda LogR, which is designed to measure the car’s performance in real-time.

An affordable price tag and 306-hp engine aren’t the only reasons this year’s new Civic Type R was included in the list. In fact, U.S. News & World Report added, “Steering is direct and responsive, carving corners with a purpose. It also boasts the spacious, comfortable interior found in the rest of the Civic lineup.”

These fast new cars under $40,000 made the cut too

Here’s the thing, these aren’t the only fast new cars under $40,000 that U.S. News & World Report highlighted. Models like the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N, the 2021 Genesis G70, the 2021 BMW 230i, among others, also made the cut. 

With so many fast new cars under $40,000 to choose from, we recommend starting out with a few test drives. After all, with this many affordable new cars under $40,000 on the list, the best way to find out which is right for you is going to include getting behind the wheel and taking these new models out for a spin.