The Best Turbocharged Cars Under $25,000 – TopSpeed

Cars may depreciate, but maintenance costs do not. This is an important detail to keep in mind when considering the best turbocharged cars under $25,000. While it may be possible to find a good deal on a lot of the models on our list, a low entry price alone doesn’t say anything about the upkeep costs. This is why we did our best to keep all the options on this list as affordable as possible. Regardless, the diligent boost addict is going to have some savings ready for all the things that will break in due time once you crank up the psi.

All the rowdy cars on this list are only a couple of modifications away from giving any enthusiast a full-on addiction to the gas pedal, so proceed with caution. This may or may not come to bite you in the end, but you know the saying, great power, great responsibility. Thus, if you love whooshy noises and a good turbo flutter as much as we do, stick around for a quality selection of the best turbo cars for under $25,000.

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10

2001 Audi S4

Current Resale Value: $3,140

Are you a broken individual and don’t know how you will carry on? The B5 Audi S4 may be the perfect boosted German sedan to share your sorrows with.

2001 Audi S4 B5 Performance Specifications

While this twin-turbocharged V-6-powered Audi may be the “cheapest” option on our list, the maintenance schedule of this potent 2.7-liter engine is surely one of the most devious. This V-6 platform is known to break the hearts of many boost bros because it’s nirvana when it’s running and a nightmare when it isn’t.

Despite this, because of the timeless classy German styling and smooth six-speed manual transmission, you’ll find few sports saloons that can match the driving experience of the B5 S4. This is the kind of car that you will miss forever if you have to sell it one day and, even with all the headaches, few platforms are as fun as the B5 S4 when you crank up some extra boost.

9

2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4

Current Resale Value: $4,075

Remember when it was cool to be edgy and Dodge promoted illegal street racing with the then-new Neon SRT-4? This compact Dodge rocket may be relatively forgotten nowadays, but real boost junkies still praise the SRT-4, justly so.

2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4 Performance Specifications

The uninitiated onlooker may still believe this is just some old Dodge, but the Neon SRT-4’s 2.4-liter turbo four was heavily underrated by the factory. The result was this humble Dodge taking names of sports cars left and right, most of them unsuspecting. So, if you see a Dodge Neon struggling for traction off the line, you can assume it is an SRT-4. Simple and fun cars like this just don’t exist anymore, so if you want big boost potential in a lightweight and capable chassis, the Dodge Neon SRT-4 is a solid platform with unlimited power potential.

8

2010 BMW 335i

Current Resale Value: $4,955

You are browsing your local online marketplace, and you stumble across a 2010 BMW 335i for only a couple thousand bucks. What could go wrong?

2010 BMW 335i Performance Specifications

Well, damn near everything if we are being honest. Few traps are as deceptive as a cheap used N54-powered BMW 335i. Remember what we said at the beginning. Cars may depreciate, but maintenance costs do not. A set of Index 12 injectors is $3,069 on FCP Euro right now and prices go up every passing year.

This is just one factor you need to consider when owning a N54-powered vehicle. Did you forget this is BMW’s first turbocharged inline-six? Are you sure you can handle the rest of the issues that come with the platform (there are many)? The N54’s power-to-dollar ratio is unmatched, but few get to experience its glory long-term. Keeping an N54 engine in tip-top shape is not cheap, my friends.

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7

2011 BMW 335i

Current Resale Value: $5,659

So you want to suffer, but not as much as you would with an N54 engine. Perfect, because BMW introduced its successor, the single-turbo N55 inline-six, which is better as far as overall upkeep is concerned.

2011 BMW 335i Performance Specifications

The N55 is found only in the 2011 335i model within the E9X generation (2006-2011) along with 2012 to 2015 335i models within the F3X generation (2012-2019). Issues like the injectors were fixed, but engineering mistakes like the plastic water pump, HPFP, and LPFP persist within this engine generation. You trade some top-end power potential with the N55 to gain some much-needed reliability. While the upkeep of these engines is far from affordable, 400+ pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm can alleviate many personal traumas (we know).

6

2012 Mazdaspeed3

Current Resale Value: $6,147

The Mazdaspeed3 is easily the best modern turbocharged Mazda ever and its torque-steer-inducing 2.3-liter turbo four is to thank for the constant smiles.

Performance Specifications

While a new Mazda 3 Turbo may be nice, that vehicle costs a lot of money. We can assure you that the Mazdaspeed3 will give you the same experience and more for a lot less money. The Mazdaspeed3 is the crown jewel of the aborted Mazdaspeed brand and remains the only vehicle that the tuning team gave its justice with their upgrades.

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This was Mazda’s most powerful piston engine when it debuted and all these years later this hot hatch can still get the blood pumping even at stock boost. Subaru WRX? No, thank you. The Mazdaspeed3 fulfills all your turbo-four fantasies while keeping upkeep costs at a minimum, considering its tuning capability.

5

2015 Mini Cooper S

Current Resale Value: $6,887

Because the BMW-powered Mini Cooper S makes less than 200 horsepower, you’d assume it’s slow. Yet, that is so far from the truth.

2015 Mini Cooper S Performance Specifications

Even though the Mini Cooper S has increased in size generation after generation, the third generation (2014-2024) offers a solid blend of performance thanks to its sub-3,000-pound compactness. This lightweight emphasis blends perfectly with BMW’s B48 2.0-liter turbo-four, the best engine offered in a Mini Cooper S model to date.

So, despite its low output, the boost always hits harder than you’d think and once you add some top end, the Mini Cooper S is a full-blown hot hatch worth of any rival. Don’t forget this is still a German engine, so diligent upkeep is a must, especially if you want to crank up the psi.

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4

2015 Volkswagen GTI

Current Resale Value: $7,588

What if Volkswagen sold a Mini Cooper S? We call it the GTI and the Mk7 GTI (2015-2021) is a top pick for its amazing blend of German turbocharged performance.

2015 Volkswagen GTI Performance Specifications

The Evo 3 variant of the Volkswagen staple EA888 2.0-liter turbo four is as solid of engine as you will find at this price point, considering its potential performance. With a feather-light six-speed manual and no shortage of convenience or daily drivability, there is very little fault you will find with the Mk7 GTI. Sure, other platforms may offer more power potential, but few are as fun and rate as high on the smiles per gallon ratio.

3

2016 Ford Fiesta ST

Current Resale Value: $8,314

A potent 1.6-liter turbo four stuffed in the smallest possible Ford? The Ford Fiesta ST is a standout highlight of modern hot hatches thanks to its simple and effective recipe of prioritizing driving enjoyment first.

2016 Ford Fiesta ST Performance Specifications

The 1.6-liter turbo may not offer crazy tunability compared to other platforms, but in this chassis 200 horsepower feels like 300 at least. Does the Fiesta ST offer the nicest interior or amazing tech features? No, not really, but it is adequate and, honestly, everything feels secondary to the driving experience. Torque feels so solid throughout the power band and Fiesta ST wants you throwing it into every possible corner, and it does so with confidence. We have to say that this is as close to a modern EG hatch as you might find at this price point.

2

2016 Fiat 500 Abarth

Current Resale Value: $9,843

The Ford Fiesta is not quirky enough, and you think that the Mini Cooper is boring? Do you enjoy cappuccinos? If so, the iconic Fiat 500 Abarth is calling your name.

Performance Specifications

Is this an American or Italian subcompact two-door hatchback thing? Either way, the Fiat 500 Abarth is exotic enough that its 1.4-liter turbo four comes stock without an exhaust, because it’s special and doesn’t need one. Not every officer believes “it came like this from the factory”, but that’s part of the charm. This rowdy and noisy engine gets attention and the Abarth as a whole is filled with quirks. It’s flawed in many ways, but we still can’t help but love how much of an outlier it is in the modern automotive landscape.

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1

2017 Honda Civic Si

Current Resale Value: $13,308

I get it, I get it. I, too, miss the days of the near 9,000 RPM K-Series-powered FA5 Honda Civic Si being the king of the streets. However, the tenth generation Si’s 1.5-liter turbocharged platform is a damn-good platform in its own right.

Performance Specifications

Honda’s shifter feel and ergonomics are second to none and the Civic Si has playful and receptive driving dynamics. No, seriously, the Civic Si offers quality road response and feedback and, when combined with its turbocharged capability, its quality as a driver’s machine becomes apparent. In stock form, the tenth generation Civic Si may still seem a bit docile, but turn up the boost a bit, and you’ll be finding yourself in the driver’s seat more often than not.

Take into account you have a four-door sedan that gets 32 Combined MPG, and you’ll start to realize that a 1.5-liter engine is capable of a lot with a little helping of boost. Is the tenth generation Civic Si perfect? Not exactly, but as far as all around performance turbo vehicles go at its price point, it is as solid as any competitor on the market.