Not everyone wants or needs a performance car, but that does not mean you have to settle for a car with a boring driving experience. Some of the best cars on the market today provide surprising thrills in unassuming, practical, everyday packages—often at great price points. These are the best "normal" cars for someone who wants their daily-driver commuter car to be fun from behind the wheel, even if fun is not necessarily the car's main goal. We've included cars, trucks, and SUVs in a variety of size classes, and listed them from least to most expensive.
More Car Rankings: Best Cars for Road Trips | Best All-in-One Cars | Cheap Cars That Look Expensive | Cars with the Best Interiors | Best Muscle Cars
Mazda 3
Base price: $25,335
The CX-50 and CX-5 may be fun, but sedans and hatchbacks are typically more nimble than their taller SUV relatives. The Mazda 3 is available in both sedan and hatch body styles, and it's a satisfying option with a more premium feel inside and out than most of the compact-car competition. The hatchback version can even be had with a manual transmission, a rarity among non-performance cars sold in America in the 2020s.
Tested: 2025 Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium Manual
Honda Civic Hybrid
Base price: $30,100 (sedan)
The current Honda Civic is a thrilling performance car in both its middleweight Si and heavyweight Type R specs, but Honda offers another trim level that brings a bit of joy to the average drive. The new Civic Hybrid, returning for 2025 after briefly being replaced by the third-generation Insight, packs 200 horsepower from its hybrid system. It also brings along a pleasant interior and an impressive 49 MPG combined EPA rating.
Driven: 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid
Mazda CX-5
Base price: $30,190
Mazda's compact SUV is a standout for its surprisingly excellent handling dynamics. Yes, this Mazda crossover is an impressive performer that brings a serious dose of fun to the often-bland compact-SUV segment. The current generation of the CX-5 has been around for a while, meaning that it is on the older side of new cars available today. Buyers looking for a more modern Mazda product might be more interested in the CX-50, which is a newer model, or you could wait for the updated 2026 CX-5 that's set to arrive soon.
The 2025 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Turbo Has Some Miata Soul
Ford Maverick
Base price: $30,535
In a world where trucks only ever seem to get larger, more expensive, and more complicated, the Ford Maverick is different. Ford's crossover-like compact pickup may be small, but that size helps the Maverick stand out as a great city car without compromising its basic capabilities as a truck. Buyers wanting even more from the smallest Ford truck offering can opt for the off-road-oriented Tremor or the sporty Lobo variant, both of which bring a little dedicated performance to the ultimate city truck.
The Maverick Lobo Brings Back the Street Truck
Honda Accord Hybrid
Base price: $34,805
The diminutive Civic is not the only Honda that provides both hybrid efficiency and impressive performance. The Accord, which uses the same neat multi-motor hybrid powertrain as the latest Civic, stands out in its segment as a high-quality option that offers a more compelling driving experience than other sedans of its size.
I Like the Honda Accord More Than Most Luxury Cars
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Base price: $44,075
The performance-focused Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a major favorite and even an award winner here at Road & Track, but it is not the only interesting variant of Hyundai's stylish electric crossover. The Ioniq 5 is also a charmer in its more basic trim levels. Buyers interested in taking their EVs off-road will also be interested in the XRT trim, a new option for 2025 that moves the Ioniq 5 a little closer to an SUV from its hatchback-like origins.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Is One of the Best Affordable Electric Cars Yet
Genesis GV60
Base price: $54,450
The young Genesis luxury brand already has a wide selection of impressive sedans and crossovers, but the most unique of the bunch might be the small GV60. This compact EV is based on the same E-GMP platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and like its sibling, it is fun to drive even in its most basic form. Genesis buyers also get a high-quality interior that looks even more impressive than it feels, a signature for the brand.
The Genesis GV60 Performance Is Ultra-Quick and Extremely Luxurious
Kia EV9
Base price: $57,090
The E-GMP platform utilized by Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia is incredibly versatile. Kia's largest electric SUV, the boxy three-row EV9, shares its underpinnings with both the Ioniq 5 and the GV60. This seven-seat offering is very different inside and out, but it follows its relatives in providing an impressive driving experience in a field of EVs that are not always built with the driver in mind.
Why the Kia EV9 Lives Up to the Hype
Porsche Macan
Base price: $65,350
Porsche's gas-powered Macan is over a decade old and has already been supplanted by a new generation of electric crossover under the same name. It is, however, still on sale, and it remains arguably the most fun-to-drive crossover you can buy. It may cost a bit more than the average entry in the compact premium segment, but that money buys a spectacular driving experience and a stylish look that has aged well a decade after its debut. Buyers who want just a little more performance without springing for a pricey S or GTS can opt for the Macan T, which combines the base engine with a few extra performance-oriented features.
The Porsche Macan T Is the Enthusiast's Value Pick
BMW X5 xDrive50e Hybrid
Base price: $74,975
In a world where BMW seems to constantly bother its own fans with excessively bold designs and overweight performance cars, the X5 has stood strong as one of the most consistently strong offerings in the brand's portfolio. We think the most impressive version of the mid-sized SUV is not the all-out X5 M but the more humble xDrive 50e, a plug-in hybrid model that packs a long all-electric range and still feels great to drive thanks to its powerful inline-six gas engine.
The X5 Hybrid Might Be the Best Thing BMW Makes
You Might Also Like
Comments