It’s become more difficult to find affordable, good cars. Since the sub-$20,000 new automobile market is no longer viable and average transaction prices remain high, more consumers are searching for ways to save costs on their next purchases. Luckily, there are still plenty of affordable, high-quality options available.
Buick Envista
If you can even call Buick a “luxury” manufacturer, the Envista is your only choice. The Buick crossover is a stylish vehicle that boasts a high-end interior, a powerful 1.3-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine, and 137 horsepower. It can achieve up to 30 miles per gallon when driven combined. In 2025, a brand-new Buick Envista will cost $23,995.
Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra is still a fantastic small sedan, despite not being as well-liked as the Honda Civic or as dependable historically as the Toyota Corolla. With a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower, it starts at just $22,775 for the 2024 model year. In contrast, the Elantra Hybrid starts at $27,400 and can achieve up to 54 miles per gallon combined.
Hyundai Venue
The Hyundai Venue, one of just three SUVs on this list, is still among the most reasonably priced crossovers available in the United States. It starts at just $21,295 for the 2024 model year and has a basic 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 121 horsepower and can go up to 31 miles per gallon combined. The Venue is a good, reasonably priced SUV with lots of capacity, but there isn’t currently a hybrid version available.
Kia Forte
Kia’s little car frequently gets swept up in the melee alongside the global Hondas and Toyotas. Don’t discount the Forte, though. Kia’s smallest sedan, which will retail for $21,145 in 2024, can achieve a combined fuel economy of up to 41 mpg. However, it looks like the present Forte won’t last much longer—rumors have it that it will be replaced or given a new name within the next several years.
Mazda3
The compact Mazda offers a lot of features and a huge personality. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine of the Mazda3 sedan, which costs only $25,135 and $26,135 for the hatchback, produces 191 horsepower. In both body designs, you can also upgrade to the Turbo variant, which unlocks a standard all-wheel drive system and a four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower.
Nissan Kicks
The Nissan Kicks will soon be leaving the lot after a significant redesign for 2025. However, the 2024 Kicks is a good subcompact SUV with great standard safety equipment and a starting price of just $21,340 if you can get your hands on one before it vanishes. Features like all-wheel drive and a more upscale interior are added to the 2017 Kicks.
Nissan Sentra
The Nissan Versa is the most affordable new car in America, and it’s a great vehicle. Although its larger sibling, the Sentra, costs a little more, it’s still a good little car that can compete with the Civic, Corolla, and other models. With a starting price of $21,725 the redesigned 2024 Sentra boasts additional safety features and better looks.
Subaru Impreza
The 2024 Subaru Impreza only comes with five doors. In 2023, Subaru discontinued the car. Nonetheless, for those seeking a little extra room, the Impreza hatch remains a great choice. Its base price is $24,085 and its 2.0-liter flat-four produces 152 horsepower. An optional RS model with a larger engine producing 182 horsepower is also offered.
Toyota Corolla
The ever-dependable Toyota Corolla makes it into the top 10 on CR’s list of the best affordable vehicles of the year, coming in second only to the Honda Civic on the list of best-selling compact cars. And with good cause. With a regular four-cylinder engine, the base Corolla LE costs only $23,145. Hybrid vehicles, on the other hand, can achieve up to 50 miles per gallon combined and are still reasonably priced at $24,760.
Toyota Corolla Hatchback
Toyota now provides a five-door Corolla Hatchback if you need space in the trunk for additional items but still want the same dependability and cost as the Corolla. The base SE model of the Corolla Hatchback, which has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive, is priced at $24,725. A combined mileage of up to 33 mpg is achieved by the Corolla Hatchback.
