You’d actually not believe there are pretty many high-horsepower cars you can buy for less than $10,000. Yes, there are a number of them, and we’re not even talking about regular cars like Corollas and Optimas; these are classic cars (although old model years) capable of producing over 180hp.
This article lists the best high horsepower cars under 10k. Some used BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, and Nissan models with good mileage are available for less than $10k.
The exciting thing is that most of these cars are still evoke and come with cutting-edge features as you’d find in modern vehicles.
High Horsepower Cars Under 10K
1. 2005 Jaguar XKR

- Horsepower: Up to 390hp
- Used Model Price: $5,000 – $8,000
A 2005 model? Yeah, the 2005 Jaguar XKR is a beast of the road; it comes standard with a supercharged V8 that puts out 390hp – that’s pretty massive and sufficient for any kind of driving. This coupe can go from 0 to 62mph in 5.2 seconds and has a genuine top speed rating of 150mph.
The 2005 Jaguar XKR is a luxury performance car, so it comes with some high-end features you won’t probably see in non-luxury models produced in the same year.
2. 2008 Cobalt SS

- Horsepower: 260hp
- Used Model Price: $7,000
Here’s a mini muscle car that travels from 0 to 60mph in just 5.8 seconds. That’s not the only catch. This car is equipped with a supercharged 4-cylinder engine that produces up to 260hp and 260 pound-feet of torque.
The 2008 Cobalt SS is good with fuel economy – you’d save some gallons. It is a reliable coupe built for everyday driving – the 2008 Cobalt SS comes with a number of decent features you’d love.
3. 2006 Mustang GT

- Horsepower: 300hp
- Used Model Price: $8,000
Old but still gold. Ford Mustangs are among the best and most popular muscle cars driven worldwide. They are popular because of the unique “Mustang” sound the engine produces when you rev the car.
The 2006 Ford Mustang GT is among the most reliable models of the Mustang series, and it’s equipped with several powerful features, including the 4.6L V8 with 300hp and 320 lb-ft of torque.
4. 2013 Hyundai Sonata

- Horsepower: Up to 274hp
- Used Model Price: $7,500
One of the reasons to buy a 2013 Hyundai Sonata is because it is among the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans you’d find in the market. It features a well-designed, comfortable interior with a handful of cutting-edge features as you’d expect from a 2015 vehicle.
More so, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata is cheap to maintain and has a high-reliability rating across websites and platforms. The standard engine gives you 198hp, while the turbocharged option outs 274hp.
5. 2009 Jaguar XJ8

- Horsepower: Up to 300hp (depending on trim)
- Used Model Price: $10,000
The 2009 Jaguar XJ8 is a luxury sedan equipped with a powerful engine that can output up to 400hp. However, the standard trim comes with a 300hp engine.
This luxury sedan actually sold above $60k when it launched, but Jaguar cars have a poor resale value; hence, you could get a used 2009 XJ8 at a price below $10k. If you go for the higher trims, they still cost above $10k, even though they’re over a decade old.
6. 2009 Pontiac GTO

- Horsepower: 400hp
- Used Model Price: $9,000
Here’s a sports car you can drive every day around the city. The 2009 Pontiac GTO is one of the most reliable model years of the historic V8-powered muscle car. It is a powerful and reliable sedan/coupe.
The GTO comes with a super-impressive 6.2L V8 engine capable of outing up to 400 horsepower. Of course, the 2009 Pontiac GTO costs above $40,000, but you can find good used ones listed for as low as $9,000.
7. Mazdaspeed 3

- Horsepower: 263hp
- Used Model Price: $10,000
The Mazdaspeed 3 is a hot hatch built for power and performance. It is one of the most powerful hatchback models from Mazda. This hot hatch comes standard with a 263-horsepower engine along with a number of cool features; however, the higher trims allegedly produce up to 350 horsepower.
Mazdaspeed 3’s price starts from $10,000 for the used models; brand new models are sold with an MSRP between $23k and $30k.
8. 2015 Subaru Forester

- Horsepower: 170hp
- Used Model Price: $10,500
Of course, even on a tight budget of less than $10,000, you can still own a decently-used SUV. The 2015 Subaru Forester is one of the market’s toughest compact SUV models.
It is off-road capable and comes standard with modern in-car technologies, making driving much more fun and easy.
Actually, there are about six trim levels available for the 2015 Subaru Forester, but the basic trims are available for less than 10 grand.
9. 2015 Volkswagen Jetta

- Horsepower: 170hp
- Used Model Price: $8,000
The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta is one of the sturdiest sedans out there, with a chunk of impressive features. It has a nice interior, is fuel-efficient, affordable to maintain, and drives well for everyday movements.
The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta has a hybrid model anyway and six trim levels. There are also up to five engine options for the brand-new models. J.D. Power rates the Jetta three out of five in reliability – pretty cool.
10. 2013 Mercedes E-55 AMG

- Horsepower: 469hp
- Used Model Price: $10,700
Mercedes E-class models are typically powerful and well-furnished on the inside. The 2013 Mercedes E-55 AMG didn’t disappoint; it came with a full suite of luxurious features and packages.
It is truly one of the best model years to go for if you want to buy a Mercedes E-55 AMG sedan. Although typically listed from $15,000 upwards, some high mileage (150k miles) used options are sold for less than $10k.
11. 2010 Dodge Charger R/T

- Horsepower: 368 HP
- Used Model Price: $8,900
Equipped with a powerful 5.7L V8 engine, 5-speed auto transmission, and rear-wheel drivetrain, the 2010 Dodge Charger R/T is one of the most reasonable sedans to find below $9,000.
It is a fast vehicle – it can go from 0 – 60mph in just 5.2 seconds. The 2010 Dodge Charger R/T gives you as much power as you need for everyday commuting. It also comes with a ton of cutting-edge driver assistance features.
12. 2011 Volvo S60 T6

- Horsepower: 300hp
- Used Model Price: $10,000
Here’s an outstanding luxury sedan equipped with a turbo engine that outs up to 300hp and 325lb-ft of torque. The 2011 Volvo S60 T6 hasn’t lost its essence even after a decade after its launch. This sedan is one of the classiest options you’d be glad to buy below $10k.
Volvo S60 T6 is highly reliable and can go from 0-60mph in less than 6.2 seconds. The interior is well-designed and luxuriously finished.
13. 2011 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

- Horsepower: 355HP
- Used Model Price: $9,900
The Lincoln MKS is a luxury sedan furnished to the last – it defines the true worth of a luxury sedan. This sedan was among the first models to use Ford’s newly minted twin-turbo EcoBoost 3.5L V6 engine, which produces about 355 horsepower.
The MKS EcoBoost comes standard with an AWD drivetrain and drives at a maximum of 80 mph.
14. 2011 Cadillac CTS

- Horsepower: 304hp
- Used Model Price: $10,000
The 2011 Cadillac CTS is a highly-ranked sporty sedan with a luxurious, thoughtfully-designed interior, offers refined handling, and comes with a number of good features you’d love to use.
This sedan comes standard with an AWD drivetrain and can go from 0 – 60mph in 6.1 seconds. Its 3.6L V6 engine is capable of producing a whopping 304 horsepower, which is quite enough power.
15. 2013 Buick LaCrosse Touring

- Horsepower: 303hp
- Used Model Price: $9,700
You’d find a number of 2013 Buick LaCrosse Touring models listed below $10,000 by many used car dealerships. No, the 2013 Buick LaCrosse Touring hasn’t lost its essence; instead, it is the high cost of maintenance that makes most of the owners list them for sale.
The 2013 Buick LaCrosse Touring comes with a 303hp V6 engine, and it’s a nice luxury sedan with tons of luxurious features.
16. 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

- Horsepower: 300hp
- Used Model Price: $8,800
Equipped with a powerful 4.2L V8 engine, along with 6-speed auto transmission and four-wheel drive powertrain, the infamous 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is one of the toughest off-roading SUVs you can get.
Brand new models of the Range Rover Sport are priced above $50,000, but you can get a decent used option for as low as $8,800. Why so cheap? Range Rovers are typically not so reliable.
Summary
We hope that this article answered your search query just the way you wanted it. These are top best high horsepower cars under $10k.
It is important to note that the prices mentioned here are simply estimated averages based on the listing price on various used car listing websites. There’s the possibly of seeing these cars listed at higher or lower prices than we have written here.
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