Speed, handling, looks, capability and luxury shouldn’t be accessible only to folks who can drop 100 Large on whatever hot premium car just rolled out of a fancy showroom. These five cars are among the most impressive we’ve encountered this year, and all of them hit well below what enthusiasts might expect to pay for a new vehicle that gets the blood pumping: the very real price point of $35K. Consider this an endorsement for affordable fun.

VW Jetta GLI Review: GTI With a Trunk, Or 3-Box Pretender?
Volkswagen’s Jetta GLI aspires to stand tall alongside the iconic GTI. But does it have what it takes to be a true performance sedan? Or is it just riding its big brother’s coattails?

Toyota 86 GT Black Review: Is the New Looks Package Really Worth It?