The cheapest new car sold in the United States is about $13,000 less than the average used car price.
The average cost of a new car was $40,000 last summer. By December, the figure had risen to $47,077, causing bank accounts to tremble. The sector was left reeling by a perfect combination of supply shortages and pandemic-related interruptions, which sent prices rising. With fewer cars to sell and plenty of people eager to buy them, dealerships abandoned discounts in favour of hefty “market adjustment” fees or markups towering than a Ram 1500 TRX. Everything from the Nissan Frontier pickup truck to the Porsche Macan suffered a considerable hike in their MSRP base costs. And the ten cheapest automobiles on the market are no longer under $20,000.
To make matters worse, that segment has recently lost a few members. The Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, and Chevrolet Sonic are among the affordable models that have been phased out of manufacture. A little plastic cup is poured out for them. Then, out of frugality, refill it since you have to save where you can. These rides may not have everything you desire, but they do have everything you need—and at a price that most people can afford. Check out our list of the cheapest new trucks if you’re searching for something a little bigger.
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1. Nissan Sentra – $20,635
The Nissan Sentra isn’t particularly exciting, but it’s packed with basic safety measures. A 149-hp inline-four engine with a CVT is found under the hood. The most recent Sentra we tested reached 60 mph in 8.9 seconds, which is a touch faster than the others on this list. It’s not as exciting to drive as the Honda Civic, but even the top-of-the-line Sentra SR trim costs less than the Civic.
- Base Price: $20,635
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 33/29/39 mpg
- Warranty: 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain and 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty
2. Kia Soul – $20,505
The Kia Soul is the only vehicle on this list to have received two 10Best awards. It has a low price tag, plenty of cargo room, and a 147-hp inline-four engine with a continuously variable gearbox (CVT) that isn’t underpowered.
- Base price: $20,505
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 27/25/31 mpg (2.0L)
- Warranty: 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-m
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3. Hyundai Venue – $20,245
The entries are stacked in the subcompact segment. Some of them are enjoyable, while others are sleep-inducing. At the very least, the Hyundai Venue is inexpensive. A 121-hp inline-four with a CVT provides power. Fighting mini machines is pointless, but the Venue accelerates to 60 mph 1.1 seconds faster than the Nissan Kicks and 2.4 seconds faster than the Toyota C-HR.
- Base price: $20,245
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 31/30/33 mpg
- Warranty: 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain, 5-year/60,000-mile limited, 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance
4. Kia Forte – $20,115
The Kia Forte is the company’s best-selling vehicle. The base engine is a buzzy 147-hp inline-four, and the Forte achieves fantastic gas efficiency, with an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 41 mpg. It also boasts a larger petrol tank than the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Golf, allowing the Forte to travel 490 miles before needing to stop at a service station, according to the EPA.
- Base price: $20,115
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 35/31/41 mpg
- Warranty: 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty
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5. Subaru Impreza – $19,790
The Subaru Impreza is now the most cheap AWD vehicle on the market. A 152-hp flat-four engine with a five-speed manual transmission provides power. Its lack of urgency results in higher fuel efficiency, with an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 miles per gallon.
- Base price: $19,790
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 26/23/31 mpg (Manual)
- Warranty: 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain and 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty
6. Hyundai Accent – $17,690
You’ve probably rented one at an airport or sat in a Hyundai Accent during a recent Uber ride—neither of which will persuade you to buy one. The Accent is propelled by a 120-hp four-cylinder engine with a CVT. The last Accent we tested took 8.9 seconds to reach 60 mph, making it one of the slowest cars we tested in 2021.
- Base price: $17,690
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 33/29/39 mpg
- Warranty: 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain, 5-year/60,000-mile limited, 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance
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7. Kia Rio – $17,275
The Kia Rio is available in two body types. The sedan is $940 less expensive than the hatchback. The Rio’s only motor is a 120-hp inline four with a CVT, and it only drives the front wheels. Its tiny size makes it fun to drive around curves, with decent body control, but its sluggish steering is a constant reminder of its low price. The Rio scores 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.
- Base price: $17,275
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 36/33/41 mpg
- Warranty: 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty
8. Nissan Versa – $16,205
The Nissan Versa comes standard with a host of safety features, including front and rear automatic emergency braking, automatic high lights, and lane-departure warning. On the base S model, a 122-hp inline-four drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. If that helps, individuals who spend close to $20,000 on a Versa SR or SV get the same amount of horsepower but with a monotonous CVT. The manual transmission, on the other hand, has significantly worse fuel efficiency, with an EPA-estimated 35 mpg highway versus the CVT’s 40 mpg.
- Base price: $16,205
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 30/27/35 mpg
- Warranty: 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain and 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty
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9. Mitsubishi Mirage – $16,125
The Mitsubishi Mirage is almost the cheapest new automobile in America. The 78-hp three-cylinder engine is shared between the Mirage hatchback and the Mirage G4 sedan. The transmission is a five-speed manual. The last Mirage we tested had a CVT and reached 60 mph in 12.8 seconds. You’ll need to flatten the right pedal for 35.6 seconds to reach 90 mph. The Mirage also takes more than a quarter of a mile to reach 75 mph. The savings, on the other hand, are instant.
- Base price: $16,125
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 36/33/41 mpg
- Warranty: 10-year/100,000-mile and 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty
10. Chevrolet Spark – $14,595
Chevy’s Spark will be phased out by 2023, since the model will be phased down without a direct replacement. However, the Spark, which has been America’s cheapest new car since 2020, is a fantastic deal. The engine is a 98-hp inline four with a five-speed manual transmission as standard in the base model. The Spark gets 38 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA, and its nine-gallon fuel tank is inexpensive to replenish. Regrettably, the Spark is severely lacking in conventional safety features. Unless you pay extra, there is no forward-collision warning or automated emergency braking. Cruise control is also available as an add-on.
- Base price: $14,595
- Fuel Economy EPA combined/city/highway: 33/29/38 mpg
- Warranty: 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain, 3-year/36,000-mile limited, and one complimentary maintenance visit for the first year
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