Top 10 Cheaper Alternatives to More Expensive Cars

We all have vehicles we dream of buying.

But those aspirational purchases often come with exorbitant prices that make them well out of reach for the common driver. So what are we to do? Rob a bank, purchase the vehicle and beeline to the border?

We here at AutoGuide would like to offer a far less felonious solution. Why not buy its cheaper twin? For every great car, there’s another one that offers close to the same experience but costs a fraction of the price. For every aspiring BMW X5 M owner, there’s a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 waiting to be purchased. Below are 10 other cars that represent a cheaper alternative to their more expensive brethren.

The Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC sedan is an all-around master. Starting at a price of $63,800 including destination (circa $78,000 CAD), the E450 combines luxury, comfort and performance in a way few other cars can match. For a large sedan, it is the complete package.

But 64-large is a bit steep and for $44,320 ($53,510 CAD), the Chrysler 300S is a viable down-market alternative to the E-Class. Equipped with a 363-hp V8 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, the 300S has nearly as much power as the E, and is down just one gear. It’s also a larger car that offers a bit more passenger space and can be had with much of the same modern technology that’s found in the Merc. There’s no three-pointed star in the grille and the overall polish isn’t quite there, but it’s close enough for a car that only costs two-thirds of the Mercedes-Benz.

Always fancied yourself as a Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE driver, but have yet to acquire the $80,000 ($95,000 CAD) it takes to gain entry? Well, maybe you should take a look at the Ford Explorer Platinum. For $57,035 ($68,004 CAD), the Explorer offers a lot of parallels to the Range Rover Sport.

SEE ALSO: 2021 Ford Explorer XLT Review: Bringing the Team Together

It offers three rows of seating, a forced-induction V6 engine (that happens to make more power) and a multi-mode four-wheel-drive system. The interior is luxuriously appointed and offers premium features like lane keep assist, heat and cooled seats, rear entertainment and power folding third row seats. And to top it off, the Explorer Platinum even looks a bit like a Range Rover Sport, too, for way less money.

(Or a Subaru BRZ.)

The Porsche Cayman is one of the most rewarding cars to drive that’s on sale today. With fantastic chassis balance, immediate steering response and a sweetheart of an engine, the Cayman has a fun-to-drive factor that’s off the charts. But, it also costs more than $61,000 ($68,000 CAD) for the cheapest model.

For half the price, there are the rear-wheel-drive Toyobaru twins. Sure, they give up 72 hp to the Cayman, but still offer a great chassis, fantastic steering and that all-important rewarding driving experience. And hey, the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ even have a horizontally opposed engine like the Cayman.

The Tesla Model S is an electric car revolution. Luxurious, spacious and packed with a driving range unmatched by ( nearly) any other electric vehicle (EV), it really has changed the EV game. The only issue is that a lot of people can’t afford the $70,000 or so it takes to purchase a base Model S.

Chevrolet has a solution for those on a budget who want an EV with impressive range. Called the Bolt, the hatchback from Chevy starts at barely half the Model S’ price, and is capable of 259 miles (417 km) of all-electric range. It might not be as big or luxurious as the Tesla, but it’s so much more affordable.

The Nissan GT-R is a giant killer. With a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, lightning fast dual-clutch transmission and high-powered engine, the GT-R has slayed vehicles costing twice as much or more at the track. But it still isn’t exactly affordable. For 2016, the GT-R begins at a price that has six figures.

For the tidy sum of $35,730, the Focus RS looks to be a GT-R lite of sorts. It may give up 200 hp to the super Nissan and only come with a manual transmission, but the RS incorporates a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, powerful engine and all the ingredients to embarrass plenty of more expensive machinery at the track. And it can even carry its own set of race tires.

ALSO SEE: 10 Surprising Cars the Ford Focus RS is Faster Than

The BMW M4 Coupe is a fast four-passenger coupe with great handling. Powered by a 473-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine, the M4 blends high-speed with sophistication. But this all comes at a price, specifically $75,695 ($91,580 CAD).

Those interested in the performance of an M4 but in a more affordable package might want to check out the Ford Mustang GT. With a 460-hp V8 engine, the Mustang is also rear-wheel drive, can be had with a manual or an automatic transmission and is capable of carrying four people. It may lack some of the sophistication of the M4, but the new Mustang is a far cry from the crude solid-axle Mustangs of old. Best of all, the Mustang GT starts at a price of just $37,480 ($43,875 CAD), about half the price of an M4!

Nothing screams that you’re a one-percenter more loudly than rolling up to the club in a Rolls-Royce Phantom. But to afford a Phantom, you need to actually be a one-percenter, as only the elite of the elite can toss over $400,000 for a new car. How do the rest of us look prestigious on a budget?

Well, there’s the recently announced 2023 Genesis G90. It doesn’t have the name recognition or preposterously excessive interior treatment, but the G90 is a full-size luxury sedan that coddles passengers and won’t cost anywhere near that of a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Perfect for the CEO of a startup that hasn’t yet had its big breakthrough.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a highly capable off-road monster that can go places most other vehicles wouldn’t dream of. Locking differentials, a proper two-speed transfer case and high ground clearance, the G-Class is ready to climb a mountain. But being a Mercedes-Benz, it’s also luxuriously appointed and the cheapest G-Class starts at an eye-watering price of $119,900.

If off-roading is all you’re really interested in and you can forgo the G-Class’ luxurious interior and fire-breathing V8 engine, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is for you. Starting at a price of just $27,695, the Wrangler has a deep military history and a retro boxy look like the G-Wagon and will easily keep up with the Mercedes-Benz SUV on the road path less taken.

The Bentayga is a big, luxurious SUV from the crew at Crewe. It transfers over all of Bentley’s standard qualities—stupendous luxury, peerless build quality, effortless power—to a more modern, high-riding shape. It keeps the typical Bentley price tag too, with the hybrid and V8 models starting at a cool $180,000 or so.

Drop the 1 from that number—and then some more—and you can find yourself in a loaded Genesis GV80. The two big SUVs might look the same, and it’s not a coincidence: they share a designer. The Genesis won’t give you a V8, but it will give you a richly appointed interior, complete with lots of chrome and quilted leather—which even comes in green!

Have you always had a dream of owning a Lotus Elise—the no-frills, no-nonsense, mid-engine sports car that defines driving purity? Even if it came with a small four-cylinder engine that didn’t make much power, the Elise was so light and nimble that it made up for any lack of power with pure driving joy. The problem is, Lotus is no longer selling new Elises on our shores and used ones are still expensive and most likely out of warranty. What to do?

Well, a lot of the Elise’s driving magic can be captured in another small little convertible sports car: the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Even if the engine is in the front of the MX-5, it still has a connected, raw driving experience that produces an incredible amount of smiles per mile.