The 43 cheapest cars on sale in America right now

Just slipping in under the $30,000 limit (and bounding over it once you factor in taxes, destination charges and what not), the Outlander is the cheapest seven-seater car you can buy in the US right now. This latest version, which shares its bones with the Nissan Rogue, is the best one yet, although it’s no class leader.

Joining the Outlander in the ‘only just’ club is the Subaru Forester, of which an all new generation arrived in 2024. All-wheel drive is standard even on the most basic models, which sets it apart from most rivals at this price point, and elsewhere, the newest Forester doesn’t really mess with the simple, dependable recipe that’s made it a success in the past.

The brand new third-generation Mazda CX-5, launching just this year, is good value, but elsewhere, it’s unfortunately a bit of a rare miss for Mazda. It still looks good, but it’s lost a lot of the dynamic sparkle the old car had, as well as ditched its eminently sensible interior for one largely driven by screens. The US at least gets a more powerful 187bhp engine than the sluggish 139bhp unit we’ve tried in Europe.

One of just two EVs that currently slips in under $30k, the Nissan Leaf has grown up for its third generation, both spiritually and physically. Inevitably, it’s now a crossover, but it’s also a massive step forward in terms of quality and drive. Even the base model gets a healthy 303-mile EPA range too. Incidentally, it’s soon to get an identical twin in the new Mitsubishi Eclipse – that could be similarly affordable.

Struggle to decipher Mazda’s SUV lineup? Don’t worry, us too. The CX-50 is very close to the CX-5 inside, but is pitched as a more rugged, life-stylish vehicle. However, with Mazda having got the new CX-5 a tad wrong, the slightly older CX-50, with its more enjoyable chassis and interior with proper buttons, is now the one to go for in our books. And you save $90!

The Jeep Compass is a characterful alternative to the usual compact SUV crop, and gets standard all-wheel drive as an added bonus, but it can’t really hide the fact that the current generation is now a decade old. It’s already been replaced in Europe by a rather good third-gen car, but it won’t be coming to the US until at least 2027. We’d hang on if possible.

One of the very last subcompacts left in America now costs more than lots of bigger cars, thanks largely to its luxury positioning. The good news is that even the base model now gets a nippy 161bhp and a seriously funky and high-end (if occasionally difficult-to-navigate) interior, and it still has that typically Mini-ish darty, chuckable handling.

The Nissan Rogue is a solid all-rounder. It’s a comfy, stress-free environment to cover miles in and has one of the better interiors in its class, but it’s never exactly going to thrill you, even if a standard 201bhp is decent for a car of this size. There’s no option for seven seats, either – a bit of a letdown when it shares a lot with the Nissan Outlander, which gets them as standard.

One of our favourites of the enormous current crop of compact SUVs, the Hyundai Tucson also lands at the more affordable end of the spectrum. It drives nicely if not spectacularly, has a great cabin that strikes a strong balance between looking flashy and being easy to use, and while its striking looks won’t be to everyone’s taste, we think it’s one of the most handsome things in its class.

Still flying the flag for the old-school sedan, the latest Camry – a car now incredibly in its 12th generation – doesn’t do anything radical, and that’s just the way it should be. It’s still no thrill ride in the corners, but it’s arguably more handsome than ever and has a better interior too, and you get a handy 225bhp as a bare minimum. Stigma or not, it’s just a very pleasant car.

The Chevrolet Equinox excels on value against most of its rivals, but that and its chunky exterior aesthetic are about the only areas it does. It’s otherwise pretty forgettable to drive thanks to just 175bhp and a CVT gearbox, and has a slightly frustrating interior. It’s not bad, though, and if its rugged looks appeal to you, then it’s still a perfectly serviceable crossover – just not a great one.

A close relative of the Hyundai Tucson we were just praising, the Kia Sportage unsurprisingly excels in all the same areas. With its recent facelift, it even offers the same sort of striking looks. Again, it’s not the crossover to buy if you prioritise style or handling, but it’s comfy and packs in plenty of equipment even at its modest entry price, and you’ll save some cash over an equivalent Tucson too.

The swoopy new Prius might just be the best-looking car that less than $30k will buy you these days. It really is striking in the metal, but it’s not just a pretty face: the latest Prius is genuinely quite good fun to drive, and obviously, it’s still mega-efficient, getting up to 57mpg. You’ll have to shell out nearly $5k more for the PHEV version, but the base ‘self-charging’ hybrid is no compromise.

The Honda Accord isn’t going to set your world alight by any stretch, unless you get really worked up about sensible, dependable mid-size sedans. But for 50 years now, that’s the job that’s been done by the Accord, and the eleventh and latest does it very well indeed, without compromising on value. Buy one, and it will do absolutely everything you ask of it.

No, not the old all-wheel drive coupe (sniff) and not the new Nissan Leaf-based Eclipse EV, either, but the Eclipse Cross, a crossover that was extremely middling when it was new in 2017 and is even more so now that it’s been on sale for nearly nine years with minimal changes. It at least comes with all-wheel drive as standard, which is about the only reason you might consider it nowadays.

Besides the Leaf, this is the only other sub-$30k EV currently available in America, and it won’t be for long: although production only started early this year, it’ll have ended by the middle of next as GM frees up the space in its Kansas plant for a gas-powered Buick instead. While you can still get your hands on one, though, it’s a zippy and enjoyable EV with an impressive-for-its-size 262-mile EPA range.

Mid-size sedans were once bywords for boredom, but there seems to be a renewed appreciation for them in an SUV-dominated landscape. The Nissan Altima is a perfect demonstration of why: it’s still not exactly exciting, but it looks good while driving better, using less fuel and costing less than an equivalent mid-size SUV. What’s not to like?

Everything we just said about the Altima rings true about the Kia K5 too, although we’d venture that the Kia might be the best-looking of the bunch, which isn’t something you ever could have said about its predecessor, the Optima. Even the kitted-out GT-Line trim comes in at under $30k, making the K5 an even more appealing all-rounder. Are you sure you need that Sorento?

And everything we just said about the K5 rings even truer about the Hyundai Sonata, which is essentially the same car as the Kia underneath, and costs very similar money. The big difference is that Hyundai offers a Sonata hybrid which also sneaks in with an MSRP under $30,000, making it one of the most affordable hybrid sedans on the market.

Speaking of hybrids, they’re the only form you can get the Kia Niro in for under $30k, the full EV costing nearer to $40k. The Hybrid, though, is perfectly decent: practical, efficient, well-made, good-looking and packed with the sort of value and quality we’ve come to expect from Kia of late. If you want a small, fuel-efficient crossover, you can’t really go wrong here, although only the base LX comes in at under $30k.

The only pickup truck you can buy in the US for under $30k also happens to be the only Ford left on sale for that budget. Happily, Ford’s nailed the little Maverick, packing loads of versatility and character into a compact, affordable truck package. Provided you’re happy to settle for the base-model XL, you can get the hybrid for an MSRP of under $30k too.

Subaru’s decision to essentially lift the Impreza and give it some butch off-road stylings was an inspired one from a sales perspective, and the Crosstrek is now in its third generation and better than ever. Compared to rivals, it brings character and some genuine off-road talent, although you do have to settle for sluggish performance and an interior that feels a generation behind the best.

Hmmm. The Honda HR-V. A car that’ll confuse you if you’re reading this in Europe, because the car known as the HR-V in the US is the ZR-V here, and our HR-V is entirely different. Can you tell we’re just filling time? Look, the HR-V is utterly fine as compact crossovers go. We’re not entirely sure why you wouldn’t just buy the Civic it’s based on, though.

The latest Impreza remains a typically left-field Subaru offering. It’s unique among compact cars as the only one to come with all-wheel drive as standard. Sadly, there’s no turbocharged model to make the most of that powertrain, and even the top 180bhp engine is sluggish, never mind the 152bhp one you get in the base model. It’s an appealing choice, but there are better compacts around for less money.

With the non-performance Golfs now gone from the US, the Taos now effectively takes their place in VW’s lineup, and while we still wish we could just get an actual Golf, it’s a decent stand-in. It launched in 2018, meaning it doesn’t suffer from the ergonomic issues more recent VW interiors have brought, and all versions get the company’s excellent 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder with 175bhp.

Mazda has carved out a handy niche for itself of late with handsome, fun-to-drive and high-quality cars that don’t cost silly amounts of money, and the CX-30 fits that bill nicely. While it’s not the most practical small crossover around, it more than makes up for that with a pleasant interior and some of the most genuinely enjoyable handling you’ll find in a car of this kind.

While Buick is still somewhat struggling for relevance in North America, the Encore GX does at least offer a more upmarket cabin than most subcompact crossover rivals at this price point. That’s pretty much its USP – it’s otherwise an entirely serviceable but not particularly outstanding small SUV, and one that, with a maximum of 155bhp, could really use a little more pep in the powertrain department.

The styling of the Hyundai Kona brings some rugged charm to a segment that’s otherwise defined by blandness, and like every Hyundai these days, it’s well-equipped for the price you’re paying. Overall, it’s a perfectly decent little car, but you have to accept at this price point that you’re probably going to be left wanting in the performance department. You can, however, add all-wheel drive to the base trim for just $1,500.

A Corolla, but tall. That’s what the Corolla Cross’s name suggests it’ll be, and quelle surprise, that’s pretty much what it is. A base 169bhp is a decent amount at this price point, and all-wheel drive is a reasonable $1,300 upgrade, but besides that, the Corolla Cross is ultimately the prosaic, functional and slightly dull car you’d expect. Unless you really need the extra ride height, why not just get a regular Corolla?

It’s been facelifted a couple of times, but the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport still fundamentally dates from midway through the first Obama presidency, which is basically prehistoric in car terms. Even then, it was quite average as compact crossovers went, so it’s inevitably really feeling its age now. Its one saving grace is that all-wheel drive is standard across the range, making it the cheapest AWD car in America, but even this isn’t enough to rescue it from mediocrity.

The boxy new second-generation Seltos is a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment, as it’s only just beginning to arrive in the US, but we’ve no reason to expect it won’t be the usual modern Kia combination of great value, strong equipment and a pleasant if not exciting drive. The new one is far more interesting to look at, too, and pricing is strong, although you need to jump above $30k to get the more powerful 190bhp turbo engine.

The Buick Envista is fairly standard subcompact crossover fare, but for the fact that it adopts a sloping ‘coupe SUV’ roofline like a shrunken BMW X6. This sets it apart among rivals, but does mean it’s compromised on practicality. The only engine choice is a 137bhp 1.2-litre turbo triple, too, putting it noticeably down on power compared to most competitors.

You know the Honda Civic’s deal: it’s been one of the top choices among compact cars for years, and that’s no different with the latest model. It brings handsome styling, a spacious and high-quality cabin, and a genuinely enjoyable driving experience, even in base 150bhp CVT-equipped form. There’s a reasonably affordable hybrid too, and even the sporty six-speed manual Si only just lands the wrong side of $30k. There’s really not a lot to dislike here.

The Civic doesn’t have everything its own way when it comes to good-looking, fun-to-drive and well-made compact cars, though. The Mazda 3 gives it a serious run for its money in all these departments, and brings a handy 186bhp even with the base engine. That can still be paired with a delightfully slick six-speed manual in the hatchback, too. The Civic may have a slight edge as an overall package, but for enthusiasts, the Mazda 3 is the compact car of choice.

The regular Golf might be gone from the US, but the Jetta sedan lives on, and remains a worthy choice. The 158bhp 1.5-litre turbo engine does a good job, and the interior is a pleasant place to sit and avoids the overdependence on touchscreens and haptic controls found in the Golf. Given the prestige of the VW badge, the fact it undercuts the Civic and Mazda 3 on price works in its favour, too.

There’s nothing spectacularly wrong with the Chevrolet Trailblazer, and it certainly brings more distinctive looks than lots of its subcompact crossover rivals. But there’s also nothing it does particularly well that isn’t also covered by the similarly positioned but cheaper Trax. The major difference is that the Trailblazer offers all-wheel drive, which might make it worth a look in some parts of the US.

The Corolla’s another car that needs no introduction whatsoever, having been around for a staggering 60 years this year. There’s a lot to like about the current one, including a seriously affordable hybrid and the excellent retro FX styling package for the hatch, but it’s been around eight years now, and is starting to feel that age next to younger and more dynamic rivals.

The Nissan Kicks offers up the sort of bold, chunky styling buyers of baby crossovers are going to love, and there’s plenty else it does well too. 141bhp is a healthy contingent in a car this size, and makes the Kicks a decently fun thing to pedal as long as you keep your expectations at a sensible level. You don’t have to fork out too much extra to get an all-wheel drive one, either.

The latest Elantra is the kind of handsome, well-built and pleasant to drive compact car we’ve come to expect from Hyundai. The hybrid version starts at a competitive $25,450, and even the sporty 201bhp N-Line’s MSRP is under $30k (not to be confused with the full-fat Elantra N, which definitely doesn’t start at under $30k). It’s a shame there’s no hatchback version, though.

A shiny new ninth-generation Nissan Sentra arrives for 2026, and doesn’t it look the part? In many ways, the sporty look makes it all the more of a shame that the only powertrain you can get is a 149bhp 2.0-litre paired to a CVT. Nevertheless, the Sentra makes the best of that modest setup to be a likeable, stylish and affordable compact sedan.

Also majoring on style and value as well as equipment, the Kia K4 is one of the most striking compacts around, and has the added benefit of a hatchback option that the Sentra doesn’t. You can even get a 190bhp turbocharged version that still stays below a $30,000 MSRP, but unfortunately, none of the versions deliver a fun enough drive to quite match the funky looks.

The mediocre first-generation Chevrolet Trax rather outstayed its welcome, but the second-gen is thankfully a much improved package. For one of the very cheapest cars in the US, it delivers distinctive looks, decent refinement and, with 137bhp, about as much performance as you can reasonably ask for at this price. It gets a proper automatic, too, unlike the CVT used by many rivals including Chevy’s own Trailblazer.

So, here it is: the cheapest new car on sale in the USA, now that the Nissan Versa has been killed off, is the Hyundai Venue. As you’d expect, this tiny 121bhp crossover isn’t the most refined thing for cross-country road trips, and it’s very much not the last word in style, even next to other cheap cars, but it packs in plenty of standard kit for the price and should suit primarily urban drivers down to a tee.