Cool cars for less than $18,000

Cheap cars keep getting better and better. Kelley Blue Book picks the best for '09.

Check out the Ford Focus on AOL Autos

The editors at Kelley Blue Book laud the Focus's "surprisingly European-like driving dynamics," but a bigger cool-factor is the availability of the voice-controlled Sync entertainment and phone system. We at CNNMoney.com enjoyed another cool feature, also available on some other Ford models: color-selectable interior lighting. Change the cupholder lights to suit your mood or just to impress your friends.