Here's What 2020's Most Powerful Sub-$50k Cars Will Cost You Today – CarBuzz

If you’re in the market for a second-hand performance car around 5 years old that delivers strongly on horsepower-per-dollar, you’re in the right place. Back in 2020, we told you about the most powerful new cars under $50,000 with a list that contained two entries from Dodge, three German cars, one from Japan, and a Tesla, among others. Today, we’re looking back at these models five years on to see where they are today – and specifically how they look as used car buys and what you should expect to pay for one. This list of contenders covers a wide range of machinery, ranging from track-ready to family-ready and all points in between.

2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack RWD

MSRP

$40,495

Engine

6.4L V8 Gas

Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Transmission

8-Speed Automatic

Horsepower

485 hp

Torque

475 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm

Combined

18 MPG

Expand

Some of the models below actually look super-reliable too, which makes sense when you consider how long they and their major components had been in production by the time 2020 rolled around. Read on.

10

2020 Audi S4 (349 hp)

New MSRP: $49,900 / Price Today: $37,000

The really cool thing about the Audi S4 is that it’s a bit of a sleeper – packing a 349-horsepower punch without over-the-top visuals or a hot-rod body that might make it tricky to sneak past that apprehensive significant other. Plus, it’s got a human-friendly rear seat and is happy to be used in any climate, any day of the year. That’s a higher return on your performance sedan investment. According to AutoTempest.com, a budget of around $35,000 will easily see you into a unit with 50,000 miles or less.

Related

What are the best awd sedans under $35K?

You have a lot of choices when it comes to awd sedans under $35K. Consider the Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla, or Nissan Altima, which are all under $30K. There’s also the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry at under $35K. What are your favorite awd sedans under $35K?

If you’ve got $40,000 to spend, you’ll find units still on their first oil change if you shop around. The 2020 model year was the first of the S4’s 5th-generation facelift, the original fifth-generation car having launched in 2018. Shop carefully, consider a Certified Pre-Owned Model, and consider adding extended warranty coverage if available. Though J.D. Power doesn’t have a Quality and Reliability score for the S4, Audi was ranked among the lowest-performing vehicles in the 2023 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which examines how 2020 vehicles performed.

9

2020 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack (485 hp)

New MSRP: $38,995 / Price Today: $35,000

The Canadian-built Dodge Challenger went to the great big drag-strip in the sky after 2023, ending a chapter in motoring history that spanned decades. The third-generation Challenger launched in 2009, and a major facelift applied for the 2015 model year brought the Challenger story to a close. Today, you’ll find plenty of second-hand units between 60,000 and 80,000 miles for around $30,000, and if you’ve got $40,000 to spend, you’ll find some units with 20,000 miles or less. Though J.D. Power doesn’t rate Quality and Reliability specifically for the 2020 model year, all other years of the latest Challenger facelift that are rated achieve an average or great score– meaning that a healthy used copy of this long-running muscle-bound Mopar looks like a solid second-hand buy.

8

2020 Honda Civic Type R (309 hp)

New MSRP: $36,995 / Price Today: $35,000

The Honda Civic Type R is among the most specialized, racetrack-oriented cars on our page. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the warranty coverage, maintenance requirements, maintenance history, and insurance costs of the specific unit you’re considering before you buy. There’s no Quality and Reliability rating from J.D. Power, and the specific condition and health of the Type R you’re considering is largely a function of how it was cared for by its previous owner(s). Between $35,000 and $38,000, you’ll find plenty of 2020s for sale with under 50,000 miles, and some with mileage dropping to sub-20,000-mile territory as you approach the $40,000 mark.

7

2020 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack (485 hp; $40,495)

New MSRP: $40,495 / Price Today: $35,000

Same deal as the Challenger, above. The Charger Scat Pack brought high-end SRT power and components to the R/T trim grade, giving shoppers affordable access to nearly 500 factory horsepower while clearing room for the incoming Hellcat barrage. The latest-generation Charger’s final facelift was carried out for 2015 and saw the Charger to its demise after 2023. May it be fondly remembered for generations to come. A budget of $30,000 will get you a higher-mileage unit, perhaps running 50,000 to 70,000 miles. If you’ve got $40,000 to spend, drop that down to sub-15,000-mile territory if you shop patiently. The 2020 Charger isn’t rated for Quality and Reliability by J.D. Power, though from 2015 through to 2023, all model years with a rating show Average, Great or Best.

6

2020 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 (455 hp)

New MSRP: $34,000 / Price Today: $33,000

The 6th and final generation of Chevrolet Camaro launched for the 2016 model year, with a facelift applied in 2019 – the year prior to this entry on our list. That facelift saw the Camaro to its end in 2024, after six generations of service. Packing a big V8 that could lay down some big numbers, it was a performance bargain when new, and still stacks up nicely as one today. Checking out used models in the Coupe body style from 2020 in the LT1 trim grade, setting a budget of around $30,000 will see you into a sub-50,000-mile unit without much searching. Another $5,000 or so, and you can cut that mileage figure in half– though that puts you right back at the Camaro 1LT’s 2020 starting MSRP. According to J.D. Power, every model year of Camaro in the final facelift phase earns a ‘Great’ score for Quality and Reliablity, effectively making it the most reliable car on the page – so far.

5

2020 Volkswagen Golf R (288 hp)

New MSRP: $41,495 / Price Today: $30,000

The 7th-generation Volkswagen Golf R might just be the most family-friendly machine on our list – not to mention packing the better part of 300 horsepower and a sophisticated AWD system. It’s flexible. It’s roomy. It’s got room for the kids and dog. Also, it’ll rip 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and pull cyclone-donuts in the snow on command. Sound like fun? The Golf R doesn’t have a Quality and Reliability score from J.D. Power and Associates, but a strong online owners’ community seems happy to share pre-purchase advice with potential owners for the asking, and has cataloged numerous bug-fixes and DIY maintenance jobs to help other owners out. Today, you’ll probably pay about $30,000 for a second-hand unit from 2020, typically with 50,000 miles or less.

4

2020 BMW 2 Series – M240i xDrive (335 hp)

New MSRP: $47,800 / Price Today: $30,000

Back in 2020, the BMW M240i xDrive offered its services from a starting MSRP of $47,800 before a trip to the options list. Though compact sizing might disqualify it for some shoppers, the small, two-door body and powerful turbo engine made for fast acceleration and eager responsiveness – capturing a just-right amount of performance in a right-sized car for many an enthusiast driver. Around the $30,000 mark today, you’ll find units with between 25,000 and 75,000 miles of use. If you’re after a convertible, you’ll find the M240i’s drop-top version to carry similar pricing to coupes of the same year, though typically with thousands more miles on the odometer. When it comes to J.D. Power’s Quality and Reliability metric, the 2-Series has achieved a score of ‘Great’ every single year since 2015. Like the Camaro above, this makes the 2-Series another top performer when it comes to purchase confidence.

3

2020 Ford Mustang GT (460 hp)

New MSRP: $35,630 / Price Today: $30,000

Look carefully, and you’ll find the 2020 Ford Mustang GT, complete with the fast-revving Coyote V8 engine and 460 horsepower, for less than $27,000 with 60,000 miles or less. If you’ve got $35,000 to spend, you can cut that mileage in half. Aside from mileage, pricing varies pretty wildly depending on options, equipment and color, but that’s a sign of the selection available. This was the facelifted sixth-generation machine, having arrived years prior for the 2018 model year.

Related

Mustang Mach-E Continues To Roast The Regular Mustang In Sales

Ford’s electrified sales are strong overall, with one odd exception.

If it’s been 20 years since you’ve driven a Mustang, and you’re curious, be sure to check this one out – the handling and driving experience has advanced by light-years. According to J.D. Power, the 2020 Mustang has a ‘Great’ score for Quality and Reliability, 87/100. That’s consistent back to 2017, helping add confidence to your purchase decision.

2

2020 Genesis G70 3.3T (365 hp)

New MSRP: $44,650 / Price Today: $27,000

The award-winning engine under the G70’s hood packs a twin-turbo punch that’s got a few Wards 10 Best trophies under its belt, not to mention the chassis and driving experience to back up the torque-rich punch. The 2020 model year was the G70’s second, and a facelift wouldn’t come until 2022. When it came to grin-generating performance bang-for-the-buck, the G70 amounted to a compelling deal. Today, AutoTempest.com data shows that shoppers setting a budget of $25,000 can do nicely on a sub-50,000 mile unit, with sub-30,000-mile units coming in for a few thousand more. The G70 wasn’t rated by J.D. Power for Quality and Reliability until 2022, where it achieved a ‘Great’ score for 2 years in a row. As a brand, Genesis has climbed the ranks to produce some of the most dependable cars on the road today, making this one a pretty solid bet as a second-hand buy, too.

1

2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range (346 HP)

New MSRP: $46,990 / Price Today: $20,000

In 2020, the Tesla Model 3 entered its fourth year on sale, with the dual-motor long-range version offering up 356 horsepower and 0-60 in just 4.4 seconds. Model 3 selection in the used market has recently become quite plentiful, driving prices down. Set a budget of $20,000 or less, and you’ll find no shortage of second-hand units with many years and miles of battery warranty remaining. J.D. Power and Associates doesn’t give the 2020 Tesla Model 3 a Quality and Reliability score, though other years from this generation that are rated come in with an ‘average’ score.

Sources: AutoTempest.com, J.D. Power and Associates, Genesis, BMW, Volkswagen, Stellantis, Honda, Genesis, Audi.