Cars are, first and foremost, designed to get you where you are going—quickly and reliably. When they come stock with additional bells and whistles, great. The tech modern cars come with can make driving easier, such as the Audi A4’s ‘Virtual Cockpit’ and onboard driving assistance features, like Driver Drowsiness Alert (DDA) from a wide spread of newer vehicles. Others, like Tesla’s Model S and X performance (formerly P100D) with ‘Ludicrous mode’ offer greater performance.

Over the last 30 years, vehicles continue to aim at capturing the younger markets, often succeeding through a balance of performance, technology, and cost-effectiveness. This line up is no different in that respect. These three cars have pushed the limits of what they can do with current and cutting-edge technology—all while retaining performance in spades, fuel efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

We do note that older vehicles can be adapted, slightly, to include some new automotive technology, but the benefit of modern vehicles is having technology built-in, never having to worry about cord management and similar things.

2019 Tesla Model 3

MSRP: $35,000

With a new base price of $35,000—if specially ordered directly from Tesla—the Model 3 provides a balance of range, performance, and luxury which is nearly unmatched by competitors. a special-order Model 3 costs less than the 2018 average ‘light vehicle’ at over $37,000, but one ordered from the Tesla website will still cost $39,900.

The Model 3 comes with a host of features including onboard GPS, dedicated monitoring smartphone application, 360-degree vehicle monitoring, smart in-car display, and even the availability of Tesla Supercharger stations globally (hint: there are more than 10,000 of them.)

Tesla produces the Model 3 with standard features, such as automatic emergency braking, side collision warning, and blind spot monitoring. Model 3’s can be equipped with Enhanced Autopilot to reduce driver workload—acceleration, braking, and steering can all be controlled by this feature.

Model 3s deliver performance and throttle response like few other cars. Standard Model 3s can run from 0-60 in under 6 seconds, with an option to upgrade to the performance model for a 3.2-second 0-60 time. The Model 3 does not currently support ‘ludicrous mode.’

The Model 3 supports Bluetooth media streaming but provides no support for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Model 3 tops the list of High-Tech Cars, 2019 Edition

2019 Hyundai Veloster

MSRP: $18,500

Hyundai launched its 2019 Veloster with a host of high-tech features. Every 2019 Hyundai Veloster rolls off the lot with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, multiple USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The stock technology doesn’t stop there, however. The 2019 Veloster comes standard with automatic emergency braking, lane-stay assist, and Driver Drowsiness Alert (DDA).

Additional options include rear cross-traffic warning, blind spot monitoring, and a heads-up display that projects relevant information into the driver’s line of sight. A standard six-speaker audio system can be upgraded to an Infinity eight-speaker system.

Like the first generation Veloster counterpart, the 2019 model features one door on the driver’s side and two doors on the passenger side, allowing easy access to the back seat. The 2019 Veloster retails for $18,500—nearly half of the average cost of vehicles in 2018. The Veloster is the most affordable car on our list of High-Tech Cars, 2019 Edition.

2019 Honda Insight

MSRP: $22,830

The Insight is a back-to-basics four-door sedan with all of the tech modern drivers expect and more. To top it off, the Insight features a hybrid drivetrain—a 1.5L 4-cylinder powerplant joins an electric propulsion engine to create 149 horsepower. The Insight makes the sprint from 0-60 in under 8 seconds while EPA fuel economy ranges from 55 mpg in the city to 49 mpg on the highway.

The Honda Insight comes from the factory with Honda Sensing, a set of advanced safety and driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control, lane-stay assist, automatic emergency braking, and road departure mitigation. Other standard-from-the-factory features include DDA and traffic sign recognition.

This car rounds out the list of High-Tech Cars, 2019 Edition with cockpit technology including Siri eyes-free support for smartphones, USB port, and some models include an 8-inch infotainment touch screen—with support for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

All images provided by the manufacturer unless otherwise noted.