Here Are The Coolest Features You Found In Cheap Economy Cars

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)