Here Are The Coolest Features You Found In Cheap Economy Cars

Say what you want about Suzuki, but they offered Hyundai-like value for the money back in the late 2000's. Take the SX4 for example. In addition to offering standard AWD, it was the cheapest vehicle in the U.S. that had a standard in-dash nav system. And it wasn't just some cheap run-of-the-mill system either. Suzuki partnered with Garmin to specifically develop the system called T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information, and Play). For under $16,000 you got a 4.3-inch screen and it had Bluetooth connectivity. That's a pretty good value.

We asked readers what were the coolest features they've found in a cheap car. These are their answers.

The 1983 Celica XT (more base than the variants the US got) I used to own came with a factory amplifier under the ashtray, and a subwoofer inside the dashboard. They were both terrible, but it had them.

To give perspective on how base this thing was, the rear speakers were not optioned in. I got Toyota stamped block-off plates where the rear speakers went.

Suggested by: Kurt Hewitt (Facebook)

My bottom of the barrel 1996 Honda Civic CX Hatchback having a tilt steering wheel, intermittent wipers, and A/C standard (though it's never had A/C in my 15 years of owning it) was kinda mind blowing, even more so when you stop to think it DIDN'T have a rear wiper, power steering, or a factory installed radio and had tiny 13" steelies with no covers. My parents' 1998 Toyota Tacoma doesn't even have a tilt steering wheel or intermittent wipers and from what I can tell, the air-conditioning and power steering were part of an option package (as well as the chrome trim and tape deck).

Suggested by: B16CXHatch

My geo metro tires only cost like $30 a piece. Not sure if that's a feature. Oh I know I could lift the engine out of the engine bay by hand to change the timing belt.

Suggested by: James Tewell (Facebook)

The base model first gen Velosters had RCA ports to use the center screen for gaming. I think that was pretty damn clever and simple.

Suggested by: dwill

Fiat 500L US specs with an espresso machine.

It's true. In what was probably one of the most Italian things ever, in 2012 you could option the 500L with a compact in-car espresso maker called the Lavazza's "A Modo Mio".

Suggested by: Rosario Turco (Facebook)

According to Motor Trend, the cheapest new car for sale in the US is the Chevy Spark at about $15K. That includes A/C and Carplay/Android Auto. I think that's pretty incredible actually. Still has manual crank windows though.

That's right. Even on as basic a mode of transportation with crank windows, you can still get tech with the Chevy Spark.

Suggested by: Stig Wagon

The Renault Twingo "beds". According to Renault itself, the Twingo was designed for students and young people, so rebating the front seats to create a bed was... Interesting ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Suggested by: edu-petrohead

Suggested by: Aldairion

The Caliber also had a dome light that could pop out and be used as a flashlight.

While the Caliber was not that great of a car, looking back it did have some cool features that showed that they were thinking of young people when they designed the car. Like the in-dash cooler that could hold four cans, the fold-out iPod holder that flipped out of the armrest, and the flip-down tailgate speakers that were built into the rear hatch.

Suggested by: GreenN_Gold

Nothing will ever beat the Fit's Magic Seats.

The Fit offered four different seatings configurations: Utility, Long, Tall, and Refresh. They let you do everything from carrying cargo to chill out.

Suggested by: Chairman Kaga (And a few others)