Performance under $75K: Australia’s Best Value Cars

Hair raising performance doesn’t have to empty your wallet. Get the best bang for your buck from the Ford Fiesta ST, Mazda MX-5, and Renault Clio RS200.

Ford Fiesta ST

Whether your idea of performance is straight-line squirt, sweet handling or both might dictate your own order for this category. But being cheap to buy, with a tenacious grip on new value, remains a car-buying recipe to stick to for spendthrifts with a sports slant. Circa-$30K sports coupes and Light hot hatches are where it’s at, and the Fiesta ST gets off to a flying start at $25,990. It’s quicker than the MX-5, costs a similar amount to fuel each year,

and is cheaper to insure. The Ford’s 52 percent retained value is 10 percentage points worse than the Mazda’s, but the $6K saving on purchase price prevented it from undoing a stellar campaign.

Mazda MX-5

Mazda’s 6.1L/100km economy is to be believed. And if enduring popularity is any guide, so is the fourth-gen roadster’s rock-solid 62 percent resale.

Renault Clio RS200

A higher price than the Fiesta ST, with identical resale, proved more than this French firebrand could overcome with its generous five-year warranty and on-the-money fuel and insurance costs.

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