Are you considering buying a new car in the near future? Maybe your car is getting old and causing you issues, or maybe you need to upgrade or change direction with what type of vehicle your family needs.

Before you start looking, consider your options carefully. Don’t fall into the trap of buying too much car for your budget. This is a dangerous trap that many people fall into; they end up spending a huge chunk of their take home pay on a method of transportation just to get to work.

There are some cars out there that are relatively inexpensive, even new. Here are a list of great cars that are fun to drive and not too costly:

Ford Fiesta

Image via Flickr by Dean Thorpe

The Ford Fiesta combines an affordable price tag with some of the bells and whistles of more expensive cars. Even the high performance model with the most standard features remains modestly priced, selling for just over $20,000. For gas mileage, it isn’t bad; it gets 28 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the highway. The base model has the following standard features: air conditioning and a six speaker stereo system with an auxiliary jack. Upgrading into a higher trim will get you Bluetooth capability, satellite radio, and more.

Chevy Sonic

The Chevy Sonic is an example of the much improved compact cars General Motors Corp. is making now. The Sonic is available as a sedan or a hatchback, and has four different trim levels. Out of them all, the LTZ option represents the best value, since it packs in the most standard features for the least cost. You can buy a tricked out LTZ for under $20,000. Features that are standard on this model include heated front seats and an impressive sound system with satellite radio, just to name a few. It gets decent gas mileage too, with 25 miles to the gallon in the city and 35 out on the highway.

Honda FIT

Honda is a leading manufacturer of economical cars that don’t feel like economical cars. The Honda FIT is no exception. It is a zippy little car that you can cram a lot of stuff into. Under the hood, it sports a 117 horsepower 4 cylinder VTEC engine, which combined with its light weight, allows it to zoom around without any trouble. Like all Hondas, the FIT is good on gas, getting 27 miles for city driving and 33 on the highway. Honda updated the engine for the 2015 model, as well, and improved its efficiency and performance further. Read about more popular hatchbacks here.

Subaru Impreza

The all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza not only represents a good value for your money, it’s also fun to drive. The high-performance model, the WRX, has a snappy turbo-charged engine. A manual transmission is standard, but you can opt for the continuously variable transmission (CVT) which offers an impressive 27 miles to the gallon in the city and 36 miles to the gallon on the highway. The value really comes in when you consider its impressive list of standard features. These include a four speaker stereo system, Bluetooth, a USB port, keyless entry, and an auxiliary input.

Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is another one that gives you a lot of car for a little money. Its base model comes with a five cylinder engine, but upgrading the higher end TDI gives you a four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that gets an astonishing 30 miles to the gallon in the city and 42 on the highway. Due to the added boost from the turbines, this engine is extremely responsive. Its precise steering and well-balanced suspension lets you maneuver through tight spaces with ease. Look at KBB cars for sale for current price information on this car, or any other.

Kia Forte EX Sedan

This budget-friendly car goes from 0 to 60 in 8.1 seconds, it’s no joke. The Forte’s 173 horsepower 4 cylinder engine gives it power and its six speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. It has all the safety features that you’d want as standard features: Antilock brakes and, stability control. As for gas mileage, it isn’t bad. It gets 24 miles per gallon in the city and 36 out on the highway. The EX model also includes snazzy 16 inch alloy wheels and a leather wrapped steering wheel. It makes you feel luxurious, even though you’re driving an economy car.

Whether you make $30,000 or $250,000, you can find a great car that you’ll love to drive.