Wheel Life: Cars That Move You

Here's a trio of current cars that make sense, perform well, and still offer some true street cred. Best part: Each costs less than $25,000.

Credit: BMW of North America, LLC

Mini Cooper convertible

There is, on the American road, what could be called the "droptop imperative": If a car takes the market by storm, you can figure the convertible version is on the drawing board. Still, some cars just look silly with the top down. Take the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible . . . please! BMW's revival of the legendary British Austin Mini has been a huge success. It's such a nifty hardtop that Mini traditionalists had every reason to worry when a convertible was announced. Take heart. The convertible is a bright, breezy winner. Nearly identical in specs and performance to its hard-hat cousin -- a 1.6-liter four-cylinder motor capable of 120 mph (the Cooper S version, due out soon, will go faster), 30-ish miles to the gallon, and amazing interior room -- the convertible comes in all the colors of the sedan plus two soft-top exclusives: hot orange and cool blue.

Credit: DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Dodge Magnum SE wagon

For those who yearn for the Detroit muscle cars of another era -- throbbing Camaros, GTOs, and Mustangs -- but who now have kids, dogs, and stuff to cart around (you know who you are), the basic Magnum SE may be the new dream machine. With a 190 horsepower, 2.7-liter, six-cylinder power plant, the car has brutish good looks but excellent manners (the 340-hp V-8 RT AWD version is the bad boy of the Magnum family). A sticker price of just over $22,000, and 28 miles per gallon on the highway, isn't bad for something that gives you that rebel-without-a-cause cachet.

Credit: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Honda Element

This homely (but lovable) box was originally for campers and surfers with a lot of dirty, sandy gear (the basic model's interior can be hosed down). But the more luxurious EX version, with amenities like air-conditioning, proved popular with mainstream buyers looking for fuel-efficient SUV space. With a 2.4-liter engine producing 160 horses, the Element has plenty of performance to go with almost 80 cubic feet of cargo room. Stickers start at $16,100 for the basic DX and go up to $21,350 for the fully-loaded EX. Chance to be both politically correct and cool? Priceless.