Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
The days of the sub-$10,000 new car are long behind us, and the days of the sub-$20,000 new car may not be far behind. But if a rock-bottom base price is what you’re looking for, a variety of models still deserve consideration. Many of them also get good gas mileage, which will help keep a lid on ownership costs for as long as you own one.
Related: Here Are The 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now
To help with your cheap-car search, we rounded up the 10 least expensive new cars as of April 2025. They’re ordered by base price from least to most expensive, and all prices include the destination charge, but not any cash incentives or taxes and fees. To make the list useful to as many car shoppers as possible, all prices include an automatic transmission, which bumps the price for some models that otherwise offer a manual. For cars with more than one transmission choice, the EPA-estimated combined mpg rating is for the automatic version.
Cheapest New Cars
1. 2025 Nissan Versa S: $20,130
2. 2025 Hyundai Venue SE: $21,650
3. 2025 Kia Soul LX: $21,885
4. 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS: $21,895
5. 2025 Nissan Sentra S: $22,730
6. 2025 Nissan Kicks Play S: $22,910
7. 2025 Kia K4 LX: $23,165
8. 2025 Hyundai Elantra SE: $23,320
9. 2025 Toyota Corolla LE: $23,460
10. 2025 Volkswagen Jetta S: $23,720
1. 2025 Nissan Versa S
Price: $20,130 (including $1,140 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 35 mpg
The 2025 Nissan Versa is packed with active-safety and driver-assist features you don’t often see at this price. These include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, reverse automatic braking, lane departure warning and high-beam assist. It’s also fitted with convenience features like cruise control, automatic headlights, push-button start and Bluetooth streaming audio. Under the hood of the Versa S is a 122-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an optional continuously variable automatic transmission; the CVT is standard on higher trims. The 2023 model year saw the Versa get an updated front end and optional Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the base S trim level. The Versa rolls into 2025 with no notable or significant updates.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Nissan Versa near you
2. 2025 Hyundai Venue SE
Price: $21,650 ($1,450 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 31 mpg
The 2025 Hyundai Venue makes the cheapest cars roundup as a faux SUV (i.e., it looks like an SUV and Hyundai calls it that, too, but all-wheel drive is unavailable, so it doesn’t qualify as an SUV by our standards). Advanced standard safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, and a driver attention monitor. All variants are equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; the base SE and mid-level SEL have wireless versions of both. Power for all versions of the Venue comes from a four-cylinder engine paired to a CVT. Changes for the 2025 model year are minor; Mirage Green replaces Green Apple on the list of available exterior colors.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Hyundai Venue near you
3. 2025 Kia Soul LX
Price: $21,885 ($1,395 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 30 mpg
Kia’s quirky, utilitarian Soul hatchback has a suite of standard safety and driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with steering assist, driver attention warning, and a rear occupant alert. Power for all trims comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT. The LX gets an 8-inch touchscreen display with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the other trims get a 10.25-inch touchscreen. For 2025, the Soulmate Special Edition Package is available for the range-topping EX trim. It adds a two-tone roof, 18-inch alloy wheels, matte-black exterior lower body cladding, a Harman Kardon stereo, an Umber-colored interior, and synthetic leather and cloth upholstery.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Kia Soul near you
4. 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS
Price: $21,895 ($1,395 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 30 mpg
The Trax got a complete redesign for 2024 that brought a more spacious interior, a far more expressive exterior, and slotted a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine from the larger Chevy Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX under the hood. But while the Trailblazer and Encore GX offer available AWD and make our list of cheapest SUVs, the Trax comes with front-wheel drive only. The Trax makes up for this with a healthy roster of technology and safety features, including an 8-inch center touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It also adds standard Chevy Safety Assist, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure steering assist with lane departure warning, and forward collision alert. For 2025, the Trax has no significant updates.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Chevrolet Trax near you
5. 2025 Nissan Sentra S
Price: $22,730 ($1,140 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 34 mpg
The Nissan Sentra is the brand’s second smallest and least expensive car, perched only above the Versa. The compact sedan provides a controlled, comfortable ride with sharp steering, but it lacks the giddy-up of those in some competitors. Standard on the S are a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of advanced safety tech. The suite includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear automatic braking and rear cross-traffic alert. The Sentra’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder is easy on a fuel budget; it returns EPA-rated 30/40/34 mpg city/highway/combined. For 2025, the Sentra’s only notable updates are the return of the Midnight Edition Package that adds black exterior accents and the availability of the NissanConnect app-based service on the SV trim, which allows owners to lock or unlock their vehicle via their smartphone.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Nissan Sentra near you
6. 2025 Nissan Kicks Play S
Price: $22,910 ($1,390 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 33 mpg
When the regular Kicks got a major rework for 2025, Nissan kept the previous-generation model around as the Kicks Play to provide shoppers with a more reasonably priced option. It’s only offered in one trim — the S — but it’s a well-equipped one, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen and a full suite of safety assists, including lane departure warning, blind spot warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Hey, the Kicks S wasn’t our 2024 best value subcompact SUV for nothing.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play near you
7. 2025 Kia K4 LX
Price: $23,165 ($1,175 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 34 mpg
All new for the 2025 model year, the Kia K4 is the replacement for the outgoing Forte compact sedan. Those are pretty big shoes to fill, considering the Forte was a 2024 Best Value award winner. The K4 brings a more stylish exterior, added interior room, and a host of standard features like wireless smartphone connectivity and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. While a punchy turbocharged engine is optional, sticking to a budget means opting for the standard 147-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder and CVT. In our review, we found this powertrain to be refined and more than fine for everyday driving needs. The K4 also returns an EPA-rated 30/40/34 mpg.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Kia K4 near you
8. 2025 Hyundai Elantra SE
Price: $23,320 ($1,195 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 36 mpg
For 2025, the Elantra continues to be available only as a sedan and gets an updated trim lineup. The most affordable SE trim is again powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a capable CVT. The Elantra gets an impressive 36 mpg EPA combined rating that makes it as budget-friendly to own as it is to buy, and standard features include wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a blind spot warning system and lane-centering steering. Standard are rear side airbags and a rear seatbelt reminder, and haptic feedback through the steering wheel works with the lane departure steering assist, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Hyundai Elantra near you
9. 2025 Toyota Corolla LE
Price: $23,460 ($1,135 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 35 mpg
The compact Toyota Corolla sedan comes with a standard 169-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and it sends power to the front wheels via a CVT. It’s EPA rated at 32/41/35 mpg. Performance is fine for routine driving needs, though rivals like the Honda Civic and Mazda3 feel livelier behind the wheel. A fuel-sipping hybrid version is available, returning up to an EPA-estimated 47 mpg combined. The 2025 Corolla is equipped with a long list of standard features, including an 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hot spot, automatic climate control, lane departure warning with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and automatic high-beam headlights.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Toyota Corolla near you
10. 2025 Volkswagen Jetta S
Price: $23,720 ($1,225 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 33 mpg
A refresh for 2025 brings sleeker exterior styling and additional features, including a newly standard 8-inch infotainment display. The Jetta is available in five trims, though it’s the entry-level S trim that squeaks into our list of the cheapest cars available today. It features a 158-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The compact sedan excels at delivering the ride and handling balance that’s typically found in a more expensive premium-grade vehicle. Newly added touch-sensitive climate controls are a bit of a miss, though the interior itself has a modern and airy look and feel to it. The trunk is spacious, and the 60/40-split, folding rear seat helps expand cargo-toting room if needed.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta near you
More From Cars.com:
- Car Affordability Calculator
- Here Are the 10 Cheapest Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Right Now
- Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
- Car Loan Calculator
- Used Cars for Sale Under $15,000
Related Video:
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
