Paddle shifters are a great feature for drivers who want to have more control over their car’s performance and feel like a race car driver.
Paddle shifters are levers or buttons on the steering wheel that allow you to manually change gears without using a clutch pedal.
They are usually found in sports cars or luxury vehicles, but they are also available in some affordable models.
If you are looking for the best cheap cars with paddle shifters, you have come to the right place.
In this article, we will show you seven amazing options that you can buy right now. These cars are not only fun to drive, but also reliable, fuel-efficient, and stylish. Let’s take a look at them.
1. Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is one of the most popular and versatile cars on the market. It offers a smooth ride, a spacious interior, and a range of advanced features.
The Civic also has paddle shifters on some of its trim levels, such as the Sport, EX-L, and Touring.
These trims come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that simulates gear changes and responds to your inputs.
The paddle shifters let you switch between seven virtual gears for more excitement and responsiveness.
The Civic has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque.
It can achieve up to 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The Civic also has a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. It can get up to 32 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway.
The Civic has a starting price of $21,700 for the Sport trim with paddle shifters. It also comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a rearview camera, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and more.
2. Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra is another excellent choice for a cheap car with paddle shifters. The Elantra is a compact sedan that offers a sleek design, a comfortable cabin, and a generous warranty. The Elantra has paddle shifters on its Eco and Sport trims, which come with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The DCT combines the efficiency of an automatic transmission with the performance of a manual transmission. The paddle shifters let you change gears quickly and smoothly.
The Elantra Eco has a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 128 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. It can achieve up to 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. The Elantra Sport has a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It can get up to 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
The Elantra has a starting price of $21,050 for the Eco trim with paddle shifters. It also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, and more.
3. Kia Forte
The Kia Forte is another great option for a cheap car with paddle shifters. The Forte is a compact sedan that offers a sporty look, a roomy interior, and a long warranty. The Forte has paddle shifters on its GT-Line and GT trims, which come with an intelligent variable transmission (IVT) or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The IVT is similar to a CVT but uses a chain instead of a belt for better durability and performance. The DCT is similar to the one in the Elantra. The paddle shifters let you choose between eight virtual gears for more fun and control.
The Forte GT-Line has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It can achieve up to 31 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. The Forte GT has a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It can get up to 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
The Forte has a starting price of $20,490 for the GT-Line trim with paddle shifters. It also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a rearview camera, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and more.
4. Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is another popular and reliable car that has paddle shifters on some of its models. The Corolla is a compact sedan that offers a smooth ride, a high-quality interior, and a lot of safety features. The Corolla has paddle shifters on its SE and XSE trims, which come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a physical first gear. The CVT with a physical first gear provides better acceleration and responsiveness than a conventional CVT. The paddle shifters let you switch between 10 virtual gears for more fun and control.
The Corolla SE and XSE have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. It can achieve up to 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.
The Corolla has a starting price of $22,475 for the SE trim with paddle shifters. It also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and more.
5. Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima is another affordable car that has paddle shifters on some of its models. The Altima is a midsize sedan that offers a spacious cabin, a smooth ride, and an optional all-wheel drive system. The Altima has paddle shifters on its SR and Platinum trims, which come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT provides smooth and efficient power delivery and responds to your inputs. The paddle shifters let you change gears manually for more excitement and control.
The Altima SR and Platinum have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. It can achieve up to 27 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. The Altima also has an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It can get up to 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
The Altima has a starting price of $25,350 for the SR trim with paddle shifters. It also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more.
6. Mazda3
The Mazda3 is another amazing car that has paddle shifters on some of its models. The Mazda3 is a compact car that offers a stylish design, a premium interior, and a fun-to-drive character. The Mazda3 has paddle shifters on its Select, Preferred, Premium, Turbo, and Turbo Premium Plus trims, which come with a six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed automatic transmission provides quick and smooth shifts and matches well with the engine’s power. The paddle shifters let you change gears manually for more fun and control.
The Mazda3 Select, Preferred, and Premium have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. It can achieve up to 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The Mazda3 Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus have a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It can get up to 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
The Mazda3 has a starting price of $22,650 for the Select trim with paddle shifters. It also comes with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and more.
7. Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta is another great car that has paddle shifters on some of its models. The Jetta is a compact sedan that offers a refined ride, a spacious interior, and a lot of features. The Jetta has paddle shifters on its R-Line, SEL, and SEL Premium trims, which come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The eight-speed automatic transmission provides smooth and responsive shifts and works well with the engine’s power. The paddle shifters let you change gears manually for more fun and control.
The Jetta R-Line, SEL, and SEL Premium have a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It can achieve up to 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.
The Jetta has a starting price of $23,045 for the R-Line trim with paddle shifters. It also comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more.
Conclusion
Paddle shifters are a fun and useful feature that can enhance your driving experience and make you feel more connected to your car. They are not only reserved for expensive sports cars or luxury vehicles, but they are also available in some affordable models that offer great value and performance. In this article, we have shown you seven amazing best cheap cars with paddle shifters that you can buy right now. These cars are not only fun to drive, but also reliable, fuel-efficient, and stylish. We hope this article has helped you find your ideal car with paddle shifters.
