21. Ford Focus ST
The third-generation Ford Focus is a great economy compact car. But when Ford introduced the ST model in 2012, car buyers got an almost perfect hot hatch. In fact, under the hood is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a turbocharger to produce 252 HP. They tuned the rest of the car perfectly to represent a fantastic balance between performance and everyday usability.

The Focus ST popularity lies in the fact that it is a perfect daily commuter car, as well as a speed enthusiast’s machine on weekends. With a base price of just $26,000, the ST is a great deal. However, if you wait a couple of years you can get a low-mileage example for just a fraction of that price.