10 Least Expensive New Cars
Shoppers on a budget face slim sub-$25,000 pickings this year.
Nissan
The $20,000-or-less car is almost nonexistent in 2024, though savvy shoppers can still find plenty of cars for less than half of the average price of a new vehicle last year. If you're trying to stick to a tight budget, we've done the work for you. Here's a look at the 10 cheapest cars of 2024 — all of them under $25,000.
2024 Nissan Versa: About $18,000
The cheapest new car in the U.S. is the Nissan Versa compact sedan at just under $18,000. It's hardly basic, as all trim levels have standard power windows and locks, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warnings, cruise control, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen. The standard five-speed manual is a rarity in a market that's increasingly automatic-only, too.
Mitsubishi
2024 Mitsubishi Mirage: About $18,000
The cheapest version of Mitsubishi's three-cylinder-powered Mirage hatchback checks in just above $18,000, though the automaker automatically adds around $300 in accessories on its online configurator. Though small and offering just 78 horsepower, the Mirage includes an automatic transmission and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Kia
2024 Kia Forte: About $21,000
With the end of its subcompact Rio model for 2024, Kia has made the Forte the cheapest model in the lineup. The Forte is spacious for an inexpensive car, with 35.7 inches of rear-seat leg room and a 15.3 cubic-foot cargo area. With an 8.0-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the car is also tech-heavy for its price.
Hyundai
2024 Hyundai Venue: About $21,000
Part SUV, part hatchback, the Hyundai Venue serves up a big cargo area of nearly 32 cu-ft of maximum hauling ability and a physically higher seating position than a typical small car. Don't look for all-wheel drive, though, as the Venue is only available with front-wheel drive.
Chevrolet
2024 Chevrolet Trax: About $21,000
If you want to make a real styling statement, look no further than the redesigned Chevrolet Trax. This shapely small SUV has muscular looks, even if it's not particularly powerful. Still, with standard wireless smartphone mirroring and an 8.0-inch touchscreen, its interior impresses as much as its exterior.
Kia
2024 Kia Soul: About $22,000
Priced a bit above the Venue, the S trim of the Kia Soul is Kia's take on a front-wheel-drive, tall-riding hatchback SUV that wears distinctive styling and packs a hearty 147-hp punch. Offering up to 62 cu-ft of cargo space, its squared-off exterior pays dividends.
Nissan
2024 Nissan Sentra: About $22,000
Beneath its sculpted exterior, the Sentra is a relatively sophisticated compact car. It features a multilink rear suspension that works in concert with the braking system and the engine-management system to help counteract bumps, and offers loads of driver-assistance tech in the base S trim.
Nissan
2024 Nissan Kicks: About $22,000
Costing about the same as the larger Sentra sedan, the Nissan Kicks is a high-riding hatchback. There's no all-wheel-drive version, but the raised seating position and big cargo area offer some SUV-like benefits.
Volkswagen
2024 Volkswagen Jetta: About $23,000
Serving up a hint of conservative design, the Jetta offers good value for the money with its standard LED headlights and driver-assistance tech. It's also one of the only compact cars still available with a manual transmission, which pairs well with its turbocharged engine for more verve than expected from a typical sub-$25,000 car.
Hyundai
2024 Hyundai Elantra: About $23,000
Freshly revised for 2024 with tweaked exterior styling and some interior improvements, the Hyundai Elantra is among the most stylish ways you can hop into a new car for not much cash. It's backed by an unusually long warranty, too. At five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, the warranty also includes free roadside assistance.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Andrew GanzAndrew Ganz has had cars in his blood ever since he gnawed the paint off of a diecast model as a toddler. After growing up in Dallas, Texas, he earned a journalism degree, worked in public relations for two manufacturers, and served as an editor for a luxury-lifestyle print publication and several well-known automotive websites. In his free time, Andrew loves exploring the Rocky Mountains' best back roads—when he’s not browsing ads for his next car purchase.
Related articles
View more related articles