300 HP on a Budget: The Most Affordable High Performance Cars You Can Buy

If you think high horsepower always comes with a high price tag, think again. Today’s market is stacked with surprisingly affordable cars that deliver serious performance without draining your wallet. Whether you’re into turbocharged four cylinders, V6 rockets, or older V8 legends, these budget-friendly machines prove that speed doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are 10 of the cheapest cars that still pack 300 horsepower or more.

Ford Mustang Ecoboost High Performance

The Ecoboost High Performance isn’t the V8 monster, but it still throws down over 330 horsepower for around $33,000. And it actually feels solid for the money. You get that classic Mustang vibe, the long hood, rear-wheel drive fun, and enough torque to make you grin. Sure, the 4-cylinder sound isn’t exactly sexy it’s kinda like a vacuum on Red Bull—but man, it moves.

Chevrolet Camaro LT1

The Camaro LT1 is such a sleeper deal, not gonna lie. You get a 6.2-liter V8 making 455 HP for about $38,000, and it still undercuts a bunch of wannabe performance cars. It’s not the easiest car to see out of like, you feel like you’re driving from inside a mailbox but once that engine growls, you forget all that. It’s pure muscle. A little raw, kinda stupid fun. I love it.

Dodge Challenger R/T

I mean, you can’t talk cheap horsepower without bringing in the Challenger.Yeah, it’s heavy, and yeah, it corners like a couch, but that noise, dude. That noise makes you forget MPG even exists. It’s all about vibes here. Big, smoky burnout vibes.

Hyundai Elantra N

This one’s wild. Like, who thought we’d ever say “Hyundai” and “300 HP” in the same breath? The Elantra N’s rocking around 276 HP stock, but with that overboost thing, it pops past 300 for a few seconds and it costs just about $33,000. Manual gearbox, angry exhaust pops, and front-wheel-drive chaos. It’s not refined, but that’s kinda what makes it so good.

Toyota GR Supra 3.0

Okay, this one’s barely in the “cheap” range, starting near $47,000, but for 382 HP and that BMW inline-six, come on. It’s worth mentioning. I still can’t believe Toyota put a BMW heart in a Supra, but it works. It’s stupid fast, handles sharp, and looks like a Marvel character’s daily driver. The two-seater thing’s a bummer, but who needs practicality when you’ve got that power?

Kia Stinger GT

The Stinger GT is like that dude in a suit who secretly knows MMA. Around $52,000 new (used ones are mid-30s now), twin-turbo V6 with 368 HP, all-wheel drive, and you still get heated seats. It’s comfortable but sneaky fast. You floor it, and suddenly grandma’s latte’s on the ceiling. It’s that kind of fun. Sad it’s discontinued though, that car deserved more love.

Nissan Z (400Z)

The new Z comes in hot with 400 HP for around $43,000. Twin-turbo V6, manual option, rear-wheel drive—like, that’s proper stuff. It’s quick, maybe not razor-sharp handling like a Porsche, but it feels spine-tingly fun. Plus, it’s a Z car. There’s heritage, nostalgia, all that jazz. The interior’s a bit tight, but who cares, it’s got soul.

Subaru WRX (2025 Version)

Okay, controversial one. The 2025 WRX new trim hits around 271 HP officially, but with a simple tune, people are easily pushing it past 300. And it costs about $32,000. So yeah, I’m counting it. Manual, AWD, those rally-driver vibes—it’s fun even when you’re just going for milk. Steering’s still sharp, but I kinda miss the old-school aggression. Still, a bargain for that potential.

Volkswagen Golf R

The Golf R’s like that quiet kid who suddenly bench presses 300 pounds sneaky strong. Around $46,000 gets you 315 HP, AWD, and one of the best dual-clutch transmissions ever. It doesn’t look flashy, which I love. It’s a grown-up rocket. Plus, it’s a hatch, so yeah, you can fit your groceries and beat Mustangs off the line if you’re feeling spicy.

Genesis G70 3.3T

I keep saying this, but Genesis is killing it lately. The G70 with the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 packs around 365 HP, and you can find one new around $46,000 or used in the 30s easy. It feels premium but not show-offy, like a discount BMW 3 Series that actually behaves. The power delivery is buttery smooth, and the cabin’s way too classy for the price. It’s like grown-up performance that still makes you giggle.