Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today

These cars may be cheap, but just one rev from their engines is enough to make even supercar owners take notice.

There are several factors that make a car exciting. Exterior styling may come to mind as the most important, and indeed it could be considered that way. When you look at a car, the exterior is the first thing you see, of course.

But, things like driving dynamics and interior style are what make a car actually fun to drive, as once inside, its the sensory experience of the car that makes it good or bad. Even then, on-road feel or interior comfort are only part of the story and serve only a few of your senses, completing that experience is perhaps the coolest part of the car - the exhaust noise.

Forever associated with exciting cars (but fading due to the incursion of ridiculously fast electric cars), the exhaust note is the voice of your car. While plenty of dedicated, and expensive, sports cars are synonymous with epic exhaust notes, there are many affordable ones that give just as glorious of a soundtrack. So read on, to see 10 such affordable cars that make an absolutely thrilling noise, either stock or with some simple exhaust customization.

An icon of Italian compact cars, the Fiat 500 is one of the most stylish and affordable little cars you can buy.

Stylish qualities aside, the 500 isn't exactly what you'd call a performance car. That is, unless its the Abarth version of the 500. Upgrading the standard 500 with lowered suspension, new wheels, and brakes, as well as a turbocharger that gives it some respectable power, the 500 Abarth is a properly sporty little hatchback. Even better though, the 500 Abarth comes from the factory without a muffler thanks to the small engine meeting all regulations without it, and as a result, it has a properly aggressive and awesome sounding exhaust note even when completely stock.

It's easy to underestimate the Volvo S60R, as on the outside it looks like a typical reliable but boring Volvo sedan.

But that couldn't be farther from the truth, as the S60R is a proper sleeper, with a turbocharged straight-5 engine making 300 HP, and an AWD system providing some great acceleration and handling. The stock exhaust provides a great sounding sporty growl, but with the addition of some aftermarket mufflers though, the S60R sounds like a genuine supercar, defying its rather tame looks in the best way possible.

Another unsuspecting Volvo that sounds absolutely monstrous with some custom exhaust work, the S80 sounds shockingly good thanks to its awesome engine.

Defying its understated nature, the Volvo S80 comes with a V8 under the hood. Cooler still, the V8 the S80 uses was developed by Yamaha and produces an impressive 311 HP, as well as a truly glorious sound. While it sounds good stock, a custom exhaust turns the S80 into a glorious-sounding monster, with an exhaust note that can put muscle cars to shame, all while being a reliable and practical daily driver sedan. Also worth noting, the S80's V8 was the engine used in the Noble M600 supercar - proving the otherwise unremarkable sedan's true potential.

RELATED: Here Is The Best Sounding Muscle Car Ever

Another seemingly boring and reliable car with a surprising engine, the Lexus LS400 also happens to have a big V8 under the hood.

While toned down in stock form to create a quiet and luxurious experience, the LS400's engine is a sleeping monster, and just like the Volvo S80, the LS400 sounds like a proper muscle car with some custom exhaust work thanks to that V8. Despite the monstrous sound, an LS400 is one of the most reliable cars in existence, with some even hitting a million miles on the odometer, so you can enjoy that glorious noise with peace of mind.

Anyone who knows about the Subaru WRX knows about the awesome and unique boxer rumble they produce.

Famous for their rally heritage, turbocharged boxer engines, and AWD system, Subaru WRXs are some of the coolest Japanese performance sedans out there. But even cooler is the exhaust note, with its signature deep and aggressive rumble. You can thank Subaru's exhaust header design for that noise, as the unequal length pipes are responsible for creating the rumble. Leave it stock, or throw on some custom exhaust, either way, the WRX sounds amazing.

RELATED: All-New 2021 Subaru WRX STI To Pack 400 Horsepower

While Subaru's turbo 4 cylinder boxer engines are notorious for their awesome noise, the 6 cylinder boxer engines remain Subaru's best-kept secret when it comes to exhaust notes.

Used in the Outback and Legacy, Subaru's H6 engine - namely the EZ30 - is reliable and provides decent torque and power for the rugged cars it was used in. But, upgrade the exhaust, and suddenly the humble Subaru sounds just like a Porsche GT3, no, really - it's glorious. The best part though: Very few people outside the Subaru community know just how good these cars can sound, shocking most people when it makes this spectacular noise.

The last true muscle car built by Pontiac, the WS6 Firebird is often ignored or underestimated by muscle car enthusiasts.

Despite the odd looks, and parts bin interior, the WS6 is a true muscle car with a big V8 roaring under the hood. Thanks to being the ugly duckling within Pontiac's muscle car history, WS6s can be found for a relative bargain. Despite the odd styling and cheap interior, the WS6 comes with a Chevy sourced LS1 V8 that can throw down some serious power. Better yet, it sounds awesome, with the traditional V8 roar and massive torque ready to be unleashed at the press of a pedal.

At one point the W220 generation Mercedes S600 had a 6-figure price tag, but can now be purchased for under or around $15,000 in good condition.

What that money gets you is rather incredible, as the S600 is as luxurious as can be, and has a massive German V12 under the hood. In stock form, the monstrous noise its V12 makes is muffled in favor of a quiet, luxurious experience. But, aftermarket exhausts exist, and they make the W220 S600 sound absolutely incredible. Incredible is actually an understatement here, as the W220's V12 can be made to sound like a Formula 1 car with the right exhaust set-up, the last noise you'd expect from a big luxury sedan, but a glorious one none-the-less.

RELATED: Nothing Sounds Better Than These 10 Supercars

Known as the "VQ Trumpet" the Nissan 350Z (and the Infiniti G35 which shares the same engine) has a unique exhaust sound that can be a truly glorious sound with the right muffler set-up.

Powered by the VQ35 engine, Nissan's affordable sports car is a great value for performance with a rich history, dedicated fanbase, and supply of aftermarket parts. But perhaps the most notable feature of the 350Z is its trumpet-like exhaust note. It can be a love-it or hate-it affair, but is undeniably unique and glorious in its own way, and adds plenty of character to an already fun car.

Every car on this list so far uses traditional pistons to drive a crankshaft. As many car enthusiasts know - the RX-7 does not, and it sounds epic for that exact reason.

Known as a Rotary engine, the triangle rotor-powered engine sounds truly unique, both at idle and at the shockingly high redline these high-revving engines can hit. Even with the stock exhaust, the RX-7 produces an awesome noise, but add some custom exhaust piping, and suddenly it sounds unlike anything else on the road - in the best way possible.

NEXT: Listen To The World's First Bugatti Veyron With Titanium Exhaust

Aaron Young has been addicted to the world of cars, airplanes, and military vehicles since as long as he can remember. With a love for the quirky, weird, and untold stories of the vehicular world, Aaron currently drives a Subaru Baja.