4 Under-$25K Vehicles with Great Audio Systems
When a brand name like "Bose" is slapped onto a brochure, we tend to think it might be a gimmick. Yet, while premium audio can be a bit expensive, it's usually for a good quality setup. Companies like Rockford Fosgate, Pioneer and Sony work with vehicle manufacturers and place speakers in their vehicles strategically, for optimal sound quality. They also designate hardware that keeps the sound quality high without reducing the vehicle's performance much. You usually get a good system that's been engineered by experts, not a ripoff that only carries the brand name for marketing purposes. These systems sound much better than the average car stereo.
Buick Verano - $21,600
- Bose
- Damping Mats / Sound Insulation
- 9 Speakers
- Tuned and Equalized
With any leather-appointed Verano, premium Bose audio is standard. With cloth seats, you can add it as a $595 package. That makes Veranos with leather seats and Bose audio just under our $25K budget, at $24,115. Bose doesn't readily disclose the wattage in it's premium car audio system. Based on previous models, we can assume it's around 400 watts.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport - $21,495
- Rockford Fosgate
- 710 watts (wow!)
- 9 speakers
- 8 Channels
- Sound Field Control
- 10-inch Subwoofer
With the Premium Package, the Outlander Sport and its Rockford sound system sells for around $21,495. There's also the option to purchase the Touring Package, which includes the audio system and has an MSRP of $24,845. For more information about these two packages, see this page.
Ford Focus Titanium - $23,575
- Sony
- 355 Watts
- 10 Channels
- 9 Speakers
- Rear-Mounted Subwoofer
Ford's Titanium trim is always visually attractive and well-equipped. In the case of the Focus, it's also fuel-efficient and audiophile-friendly. The system you get with the Titanium package isn't one of the most powerful on the market. However, it does sound great.
Scion tC - $19,385
- Pioneer
- 8 Speakers
- 300 Watts
- Aha Radio
We're going to miss Scion. Toyota halted production of this short-lived brand last month. This is your last chance to get a hold of a brand new tC. Although, the Toyota CH-R might carry some of the audio hardware the tC has. The most impressive aspect of the tC's infotainment system isn't the wattage or the speakers, it's "Aha Radio," which is your portal to all kinds of audio; from podcasts to Pandora-like personalized radio.
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