Top Six under $45,000

[svgallery name="Best_$45k"] By John LeBlanc Do you have $45 big ones burning a hole in your car account? Want a ride that's well-made, fun-to-drive and a good value? Alphabetically, here are my top half-dozen choices, whether you're looking for a spots car or a people mover: SPORTS COUPE - Audi A5 2.0T Quattro While you can pay almost 50 per cent more for the topline Audi S5 two-door coupe with a V8, the base model 2.0T A5 model offers many of the aesthetic and athletic qualities, but starts at only $44,100. Despite half the cylinders of the top model, the starter A5's 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes 211 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, which hustles the two-door coupe through its six-speed manual transmission from zero to 100 km/h in a brisk 6.7 seconds, yet it's rated at a miserly 10.1 L/100 km city, 6.7 L hwy. From behind the wheel, you still get Audi's traditionally well-thought-out and well-made cabin, sophisticated Quattro all-wheel-drive system, excellent straight-line stability and brisk handling when the road does start to turn. Finally, regardless of the Audi coupe's performance, you get one of the most beautiful cars on the road. WAGON - BMW 328i xDrive Touring When the question gets asked, "If you had $45,000 and only had one car to buy, what would it be?" inevitably, BMW's 3-series wagon goes near the top of my list. Luxurious, fun-to-drive, and practical, the five-passenger 328i xDrive Touring makes so much more sense than any of those compact crossovers that everyone else seems to buy instead of wagons. Just as the 5-series wagon spanks the X5 SUV for driving fun and cargo room, so does the 3-series to its sister X3 SUV act, with 1.385 litres of cargo space when its 60/40-rear seat is folded. With a starting price of $45,600 (I'm confident your negotiating skills can get it under our $45k limit), you get a sweet-revving 3.0-litre inline six, rated at a healthy 230 hp and 200 lb.-ft., matched to a slick-shifting six-speed manual plus all-wheel-drive as standard kit. PEOPLE MOVER - Ford Flex Limited AWD If you have to transport six or seven people and their stuff on a regular basis, I can think of no better people mover than Ford's Flex. More stylish than any minivan, the Flex is especially roomy for second-row guests who get Rolls-Royce-like legroom and wedge-shaped footrests. Ford's big box also comes with descent road manners, inherited from its Volvo sedan-based chassis. Its ride is firm, but never too harsh. Its cabin is eerily quiet. And its body motions are controlled with little roll, dive or squat compared to crossovers or minivans in its price range. Starting in the low-$30,000 range for front-drive base models, our budget allows for the relatively loaded $43,199 Limited AWD, with a 268 hp and 248 lb.-ft. 3.7-litre V6. Standard stuff includes heated leather seating, 110-volt power inverter, upgraded 10-speaker audio with satellite radio, plus more. The only feature missing is the optional, turbocharged 355 hp V6. LUXURY SEDAN - Hyundai Genesis 4.6 Hyundai's Genesis sedan asks: How important is the badge on the front of your car? In reality, the $43,995 Genesis 4.6 doesn't even have a badge on its grille. But the rest of the five-passenger, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan does a terrific job imitating more expensive V8 rivals, yet costing up to tens of thousands of dollars less. In fact, the Hyundai is roomier and has two more cylinders than similarly priced V6 luxury sedans like the Cadillac CTS, Lexus ES 350 or Lincoln MKS. Instead of a 290 hp 3.8-litre V6, the 4.6 Genesis is powered by (you guessed it) a 4.6-litre V8, making 375 hp and hooked up to a six-speed autobox. Standard luxury features include stitched leather throughout, power everything, sunroof, 15-speaker sound system, and even a power rear sunshade. On the road, the Genesis's ride is creamy smooth, complemented by its quiet, roomy cabin that is only matched by its elegant surroundings and generous (more than 450 litres) trunk space. HOT HATCH - Mini John Cooper Works Clubman If you're looking for high performance in a nimble, urban-friendly package, the John Cooper Works Clubman makes for one hot hatchback. New last year, the Mini Clubman's stretched-wheelbase, added length, rear passenger door and two rear barn doors don't take away from the original two-door Mini's gokart capabilities. And until the four-door Countryman arrives some time in 2011, the JCW Clubman is the ultimate Mini. From the same 1.6-litre turbo four found in our Straight-Goods/Hot Hatches S Clubman, the JCW boasts 208 hp and 192 lb.-ft., getting the four-seater to 100 km/h in only 6.5 seconds, a top speed of 240 km/h, while sipping fuel when driven more sedately at a miserly 6.9 L/100km. Also added over the S are an aerodynamic body kit, larger wheels, tires and brakes, and Dynamic Traction Control. Even adding options like a $1,800 Comfort Package (sunroof, heated front seats, rain sensor/auto headlights, etc.) $250 sport suspension and $190 front window defroster, the total only comes to $42,440. Not bad for a car that can embarrass so-called sports cars costing twice as much on a twisty road. SPORTS CAR - Nissan 370Z Coupé/Sport Package Like the Mini, you don't have to spend big bucks to get world-class performance with Nissan's latest Zed sports car. It's a pure sports car, closely mimicking the 1969 original's spirit. Even with the $4,000 Sport Package (upgraded brakes, wheels and tires; SynchroRev Match manual transmission; aero body kit) the 370 Coupe is $44,498 – less than similarly performing offerings such as the Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Cayman, or BMW Z4. Inside, the Zed is a pure sports car: You sit suitably low. The view forward is all bulging hood. And Nissan has upgraded the new model with more leather, soft-touch plastics and a better fit and finish. On the road, the Zed's steering offers excellent on-centre feel and feedback, turn-in is crisp and responsive, while its handling always feels nicely balanced. Powering the 370 Coupe is a 3.7-litre DOHC V6 engine that makes 332 hp and 270 lb.-ft., rocketing the sports car to 100 km/h in well under five seconds.

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