Ten great cars
for under $18,000

Looking for a new car for under $18,000? The folks that publish the Kelley Blue Book -- the bible of used car prices -- have picked 10 new models you might want to add to you shopping list.

The 10 cars were chosen based on price, design, style and performance. While fuel economy was not the key criteria, all the vehicles on the list deliver good mileage -- to help you cope with rising gasoline prices. 

"A couple of vehicles on our list carry sticker prices above $18,000, but in addition to reporting the MSRP for a vehicle, we track what the car is actually selling for -- its New Car Blue Book value," said Jack Nerad, editorial director of Kelley Blue Book's Web site.

"The New Car Blue Book value allows car buyers to understand what the current street price for each vehicle is, helping them determine what they can really afford," Nerad added.

If you finance your purchase, expect to pay an average of $300 to $350 a month over a 5-year loan term -- the actual amount will depend on how much you put down on the vehicle and rate you can get -- which will provide additional help to car-buyers' pocketbooks.

The list includes the Chevrolet Cobalt LS coupe, Ford Focus ZX3 SES, Honda Element, Hyundai Tiburon, Kia Spectra Hatchback, Mazda 3 Hatchback, Mini Cooper, Scion tC, Scion xB, Toyota Tacoma Prerunner.

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