You don’t need to spend Porsche prices to get a new car with a bit of pep. Forbes worked with Edmunds to put together this list of the ten quickest new cars for under $30,000.

Some, like the Ford Mustang GT and Subaru WRX, are pretty obvious — but who knew the Honda Accord coupe with a manual was a tenth of a second faster than the Mazdaspeed3? Let’s find out what other “cheap” cars made Edmunds’ 0-to-60 cut.

1.) Ford Mustang GT
0-60: 4.8 seconds
Price: $29,145

2.) Subaru Impreza WRX
0-60: 5.2 seconds
Price: $25,495

3.) Ford Mustang V6
0-60: 5.6 seconds
Price: $22,145

4.) Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
0-60: 5.8 seconds
Price: $27,695

5.) Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec Coupe
0-60: 5.9 seconds
Price: $26,750

6.) Honda Accord Coupe EX-L
0-60: 6.3 seconds
Price: $29,730

7.) Mazda Mazdaspeed 3
0-60: 6.4 seconds
Price: $23,700

8.) Mazda6 s Grand Touring
0-60: 6.4 seconds
Price: $29,320

9.) Kia Optima SX
0-60: 6.5 seconds
Price: $25,995

10.) Hyundai Sonata SE
0-60: 6.6 seconds
Price: $24,345

**Yes, we know the Camaro V6 should be on this list — but we didn’t create it. By our numbers, it should slot in right below the Genesis R-Spec Coupe. Go bitch at Edmunds and Forbes for not including it.**

Courtesy of Jalopnik.com

It’s not often one hears a manufacturer say it’s anxious for a rival to bring out a competing product, but that’s where Mazda is now. The 2012 Mazda Mazda5 is the only “true minivan” on the U.S. market today. Other so-called minivans have outgrown the original dimensions, says Mazda, and the Kia Rondo is no longer on the market. For a smaller company like Mazda, it’s hard to get consumer awareness of the automotive neighborhood where the Mazda5 lives.

So under the theory that a rising tide raises all boats, the best thing for Mazda would be a larger automaker to introduce a similar model. So for Mazda, the Ford C-Max “can’t come soon enough.”

The Ford C-Max, like the Mazda5, is a three-row/two seat per row van, and in fact shares the C-1 platform with the Mazda C-segment vehicles, including the Mazda Mazda3 and the Ford Focus models.

It’s number five As it is, the Mazda Mazda5 is the fifth besting-selling vehicle in the Mazda line, comprising nine percent of Mazda sales. Mazda5 sales totaled about 15,000 last year, and Mazda conservatively expects to sell about as many of the 2012 Mazda5 as well. (Rising fuel prices may actually benefit Mazda5 sales, though potentially at the expense of larger Mazda vehicles as well.)

The importance of the Mazda5 goes beyond its base sales, however. Although automakers often discuss “lifestyle” vehicles—with lifestyle almost always paired with “active”—Mazda calls the Mazda5 a “lifestage” vehicle. It’s a car for people with children younger than 12 years old. It’s designed to accommodate the needs of those families, with lightweight sliding doors, for example, and captains chairs in the second row that allow access to the third row between the seats. The seats don’t have to be folded forward for a kid to get in back—although although the seats do fold and slide forward for easier access.

At a price The 2012 Mazda Mazda5 was also unabashedly built to a price, that is, made to be affordable, with the top price in the low-to-mid $20,000, even fully equipped. Although the Mazda5 has no direct competitors on the market now, it is cross shopped against the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V as well as larger vans. These, however, can easily be priced up to $30,000 or, in the case of vans such as the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, well over $40,000. At prices equal to the Mazda5, the crossover SUVs and the bigger minivans are, well, minimally equipped.

The 2012 Mazda Mazda5, however, doesn’t have options available on its alternatives, including navigation (does anyone want a Garmin or TomTom for Christmas?), although even base Sport trim Mazda5 Sport is well short of bare boned, the standard feature list including alloy wheels and automatic climate control. The base price of $19,195, the Sport is equipped with an six-speed manual transmission. The optional five-speed automatic adds $1,000 to the take-home price.

The new Mazda5, though, despite being smaller than the larger vans, doesn’t have better fuel economy. Mazda concedes that this is part of the original price differential. The other vehicles have more sophisticated—and expensive—drivetrains. However, we also know that Mazda will be introducing SkyActive engine and technology not only on the Mazda Mazda3 but across the Mazda line—particularly on the C-1 models, of which the Mazda5 is one.

In addition to the Sport, which Mazda expects to be 40 percent of production, the Mazda5 is also available in Touring ($21,195) and Grand Touring ($23,875) models, the latter with leather seating.

Nagare maximized Potentially the most controversial element of the 2012 Mazda5 is its “Nagare” styling concept. Nagare is Japanese for “flow”, and the Mazda5 is the first Mazda to fully implement the theme. Said to reflect the flow of water droplets over a surface, Nagare dictated the “smile” on the Mazda3 and new Mazda2. On the Mazda5, it adds curving folds to the sheetmetal of the doors, back to the rear of the vehicle. Mazda says it has been well received and we heard opinions for and against. However, Mazda has introduced “Kodo”, the next styling theme, while saying that it’s not a rejection of Nagare but an ongoing evolution.

Courtesy of examiner.com

Mazda Of Orange provides its customers with professional car, truck, minivan and SUV analyses from today’s top automotive journalists and industry experts. When shopping for your next new vehicle please check out our related reviews, covering popular current and late model Mazda automobiles.

2011 Ford Fiesta

The new Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 subcompacts posted “Very Good” ratings in Consumer Reports’ ratings, are both fun to drive and deliver impressive fuel economy. The vehicles are part of a test in the January issue that featured four different types of fuel-efficient cars.

The new two-seat Honda CR-Z hybrid hatchback scored too low for CR to Recommend it. Despite getting 35 mpg overall and having a crisp manual transmission, its ride was stiff, visibility is lacking, and it isn’t very sporty to drive. It was the lowest ranked of the four fuel-efficient cars that CR tested this month.

The Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI posted an “Excellent” score, delivering impressive comfort, convenience and room.

The issue also features a claim check on the Fuel doctor FD-47 device whose packaging says it increases power and improves mpg. CR’s engineers put it through extensive testing on a number of vehicles and found that it made no significant difference in any evaluation and rated the product a “Don’t Buy: Performance Problem.”

2011 Mazda2

“The Fiesta and Mazda2 are both fun to drive and provide excellent fuel economy, but there are trade-offs, like sluggish acceleration in the Fiesta and choppiness in the Mazda2′s ride,” said Rik Paul, Automotive Editor, Consumer Reports. “The CR-Z tries to be a sporty hybrid and it’s not outstanding in either category. It’s not fun to drive and the fuel economy is not what you’d expect from a hybrid.”

Full tests and ratings for all the vehicles appear in the January issue of Consumer Reports, which goes on sale December 7. The reports are also available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org .Updated daily, ConsumerReports.org is the go-to site for the latest auto reviews, product news, blogs on breaking news and car buying information.

Prices ranged from $14,770 for the Mazda2 Sport with manual transmission to $27,204 for the Vokswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI.

Vehicles were selected for this grouping because The CR-Z, Fiesta, and Mazda2 are all recent introductions. CR previously tested a Jetta TDI diesel sedan with a manual transmission and had not tested the diesel engine in a Jetta SportWagen with a manual transmission.

While the Jetta is Recommended, the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 are too new for CR to have reliability data and the CR-Z scored too low in CR’s road tests to be Recommended. CR only Recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on CR’s Annual Auto Survey of its more than seven million print and Web subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.

The Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen is a premium compact wagon whose ride has an underlying firmness, especially at low speeds, but is supple and well controlled. The Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI ($27,204 MSRP as tested), is powered by a 140-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that delivers leisurely acceleration and gets 36 mpg overall and a superb 49 mpg on the highway in CR’s own fuel economy tests. The six-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly. Braking is Very Good. The interior is well-finished. Folding the 60/40-split rear seatbacks creates a spacious cargo area.

Ford’s subcompact Fiesta is enjoyable to drive. Its agile handling, relatively quiet cabin and composed ride are high points. The Ford Fiesta SE sedan ($16,595 MSRP as tested), is powered by a 120-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers adequate acceleration and gets 33 mpg overall. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts responsively. Braking is Good. The interior is well-finished. The trunk will hold three large upright suitcases and one large duffel bag.

The Mazda2 is fun to drive, with excellent fuel economy, responsive steering and a usable rear seat despite the car’s modest dimensions. The Mazda2 Touring $17,075 MSRP as tested), is powered by a 100-hp 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that accelerates modestly and gets a very good 30mpg with the automatic transmission. The four-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Braking is Good. The interior is well-finished. The cargo area can hold one large upright suitcase and two duffel bags with the rear seats in place.

The Honda CR-Z is a sporty-looking, two-seat hybrid that handles nimbly but is not very sporty otherwise. The ride is choppy, noise levels are high, and on-limit handling can be tricky. The Honda CR-Z EX ($21,510 MSRP as tested) is powered by a 122-hp, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with hybrid assist that is mild and gets 35 mpg overall. The six-speed manual transmission shifts effortlessly. Braking is Very Good. The interior materials look nice and most panels fit together nicely. A divider between the cabin and trunk folds down to reveal a large cargo area, but the 400-pound payload capacity is restrictive.

With more than 7 million print and online subscribers, Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and advice on consumer products and services. It conducts the most comprehensive auto-test program of any U.S. publication or Web site and owns and operates a 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut. The organization’s auto experts have decades of experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars.