Kelley Blue Book says that when they put together last year’s list of the 10 Coolest New Cars under $18,000, gas was almost four dollars a gallon and fuel efficiency was more fashionable than frugal.  This year, while the price of gas has so far not reached the four dollar mark, the economy is certainly in a sad state which makes affordability a definite factor, and probably even more so this time around.

Kelley notes that as far as trends go, there’s a heavy emphasis on personality these days, as well as technology and versatility. This year just as before Kelley used the same set of criteria that consumers use; safety, fuel economy, interior size, comfort, technology and cars that are fun-to-drive, as well as the decidedly subjective cool factor.

The list of qualifying vehicles – all under $18,000 were culled using the New Car Blue Book Values, which reflect real-world transaction prices and provides a useful comparison point than Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).

Here, in alphabetical order, is Kelley Blue Book’s 2009 list of the 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000:

• 2009 Ford Focus
• 2009 Honda Fit2 of 10
• 2010 Kia Soul
• 2010 Mazda MAZDA3
• 2009 Nissan Cube
• 2009 Scion xB
• 2009 Smart Fortwo
• 2009 Subaru Impreza
• 2009 Suzuki SX4
• 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit

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