Top 10 Cheapest New Cars to Buy

The days of the $10,000 new car are long gone. However, when you take into account the added safety and convenience features of today’s cars, they might just be better value than ever before.

Case in point: nearly every entry on this list of the cheapest new cars for sale includes things like air conditioning, stability control, ABS, back-up cameras and touchscreen infotainment systems. Some of these features are now mandated, sure, but they make new cars safer and easier to live with for most buyers. The peace of mind that a warranty provides doesn’t hurt either.

Even the most expensive model on this list comes in barely over $22,000, including destination. Looking for a new car deal that won’t break the bank? Read on for our list of the 10 cheapest new cars to buy in the USA.

Engine: 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder, 147 hp / 132 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 32/41/36 mpg

Base Price: $21,590

The first of Hyundai’s two entries on this list is the funky Elantra sedan. Freshly facelifted for '24, those sharp looks hide a generously spacious cabin, with a classy dashboard design that feels well above this sticker price. Standard kit includes an 8.0-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic avoidance assist.

The Elantra’s big advantage over most of this list is its stellar fuel economy. The small-wheeled SE model has the best efficiency ratings here, Mirage excepted, with 36 mpg combined (1 mpg worse than last year, we should point out). That’s despite its (comparatively) powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder putting out 147 horsepower. The Elantra’s value extends into the higher trims, too: the N-Line is a sporty-ish sedan that won’t break the bank, while the barking mad Elantra N is about the most fun you can have for under $35,000.

Engine: 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder turbo, 158 hp / 184 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 30/41/34

Base Price: $22,585

Volkswagen's long-running sedan quietly sneaks onto the list for 2024. It's so quiet because it's one of the few to have a turbo engine, and it's the most powerful one here. A recent facelift saw the Jetta adopt the Taos' potent 1.5-liter, yet it still achieves excellent fuel economy.

The S model has some surprising features at this price point: fully LED exterior lighting, digital instrument cluster, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. We haven't spent any time with VW's base 6.5-inch touchscreen, but it still allows for smartphone pairing. A strong standard lineup of safety assists is included too, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert to boot. The Jetta goes big on value.

Engine: 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder, 122 hp / 114 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 31/36/33 mpg

Base Price: $22,155

The Nissan Kicks previously er, kicked off this list, as one of the most affordable new cars on the market. Its sticker has swelled at a slower rate than that of its competitors however, so now it sits in eighth. We’re big fans of Nissan’s sub-compact, front-drive pseudo-crossover, which is a lot more cheerful than it is cheap. Every Kicks throws down 122 horsepower from a 1.6-liter inline-four, shacked up to a CVT. It’s not speedy by any means, but a relatively low curb weight makes the Kicks feel like a pointy city car—only taller.

Thanks to a recent refresh the Kicks enjoys standard features such as a 7.0-inch infotainment screen (with Android and Apple pairing), six speakers, and a whole suite of modern driver assists. The top trim is only $1,500 or so more, too, and that one features some truly unique features at that price point, like a 360-degree camera and built-in headrest speakers.

Engine: 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder, 149 hp / 146 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 29/39/33 mpg

Base Price: $21,745

Nissan is banking on the SUV craze to die down, as young adults who grew up in their back seats avoid them the same way their parents eschewed minivans. That’s why it invested in redesigning both the Sentra and Versa at the beginning of the decade. Both pack in the sort of tech and convenience features found on bigger models only a decade ago. This includes emergency braking with pedestrian sensing, lane departure warning, auto high beams, hill start assist, powered side mirrors, and voice recognition. The larger of the two sees a light facelift for 2024: the Sentra remains one of the most handsome sedans in the segment.

Nissan keeps the lineup simple for the Sentra: every model uses the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder, sending 149 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque through a continuously variable transmission to the front wheels. Sure, that’s more power than just about anything else on this list, but what’s more important to value-oriented buyers is the standard-fit Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assists. This includes automated emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking.

Engine: 1.2-liter inline three-cylinder, 137 hp / 162 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 28/32/30 mpg

Base Price: $21,495

Talk about a glow-up. The second-generation Trax joins the Toyota Prius in having one of the most positive transformations for 2023. Much larger than the old car, the new Trax is comfortable, spacious, and—most surprising—fun to drive.

You get a whole lot of car with the reborn Trax. The 1.2-liter engine is strong, there's a long list of standard equipment, and the second row is genuinely adult-friendly. Even a loaded one won't clear $30,000.

Engine: 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder, 147 hp / 132 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 28/33/30 mpg

Base Price: $21,315

Kia’s boxy Soul compact remains a fun, affordable choice for compact car buyers. “Compact” is a bit of a misnomer really, with the Soul’s upright shape lending it plenty of interior space. Starting its third generation for the 2020 model year, the Soul includes a 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Bluetooth, and remote keyless entry as standard.

On the safety front, the LX includes rear child-safety door locks, four-corner disc brakes, hill-start assist, rear occupant alert, and tire pressure monitoring. Driving aids such as emergency braking and lane keep assist are now standard on all trims, on account of the six-speed manual disappearing from the lineup for 2022.

Engine: 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder, 122 hp / 113 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 29/33/31 mpg (CVT)

Base Price: $21,135

One of the newer member of this list, the Hyundai Venue is technically a crossover but we don’t buy that. Don’t let the funky styling fool you: with only front-drive available, this is more of an urban adventurer than a rocks-and-mud one. That being said, the Venue is an entertaining little car, with all the baked-in value Hyundai is known for.

There’s only one engine option available, so even the base SE gets the 1.6-liter, 122-horsepower four-cylinder. An 8.0-inch touchscreen is also standard, with both popular phone pairing options. The Venue majors on safety, including emergency front braking, lane keep assist, automatic headlights and driver attention warning on all trims. Of course it also comes with Hyundai’s 10-year, 100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty.

Engine: 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder, 147 hp / 132 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 31/41/35 mpg

Base Price: $20,915

The Kia Forte is the second of two cars from the Korean brand on this list. This compact sedan—the Forte5 hatchback is a Canada-only affair—rings up for only slightly less than its upright Soul sibling.

Like that rolling box, the Forte LX uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, now exclusively hooked up to a CVT. An 8.0-inch touchscreen sits in the center of the dash, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Bluetooth connectivity. Keyless entry and automatic emergency braking are standard too, alongside lane departure warning and lane keep assist. Higher trims include blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and LED headlights.

Engine: 1.2-liter inline three-cylinder, 78 hp / 74 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 36/43/39 mpg (CVT)

Base Price: $17,790

A 2021 facelift introduced more standard safety features for Mitsubishi’s diminutive Mirage. Forward collision avoidance is now included on all trims, with the ES a lane departure warning and auto high-beams.

Measuring just 149.2 inches nose to stern, the Mirage is one of the smallest new cars on the market. It’s also possibly the slowest, with a 1.2-liter engine and just 78 horsepower. But you’re not buying an economy car for speed, you’re buying it for, well, economy. The Mirage posts a 43 mpg highway figure with the CVT, which becomes the only transmission choice for 2024. The only cars that better its ratings are hybrids. Standard features are generous considering the sticker price, with automatic climate control, a 7.0-inch central display, keyless entry, and Bluetooth. If you prefer the longer (169.5-inch) sedan body to the hatch, it’s an extra $1,000.

Engine: 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder, 122 hp / 114 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 27/35/30 mpg (MT), 32/40/35 mpg (CVT)

Base Price: $17,245

Here you have it, the most affordable new car on the market. The Nissan Versa’s price has held relatively steady compared to the Mirage’s, which is how the sedan has eclipsed the hatchback for this year. You arguably get a lot more car for the money here too, with a more spacious interior, more powerful engine, and more trunk space (though not in practical hatchback form).

The base Versa S comes with a five-speed manual transmission hooked up to a 1.6-liter engine. This combo is capable of a decent 35 mpg highway, though that figure jumps to 40 mpg when picking the $18,915 CVT model. All S and SV models come with a 7.0-inch touchscreen; you'll need to upgrade to the NissanConnect screen (optional on S, standard on SV) to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

Recent Updates:

December 01, 2023 – Removed Rio (discontinued) and Impreza, added Trax and Jetta.

January 03, 2023 – Removed Spark and Accent (discontinued), added Elantra and Kicks.

February 03, 2022 – Price changes for the model year, replaced Veloster with Impreza.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.