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 September 2023. 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. 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage ES: $17,790
2. 2023 Kia Rio LX: $17,875
3. 2023 Nissan Versa S: $18,745
4. 2023 Kia Forte LX: $20,815
5. 2023 Hyundai Venue SE: $20,985
6. 2023 Kia Soul LX: $21,215
7. 2024 Chevrolet Trax LS: $21,495
8. 2023 Nissan Sentra S: $21,725
9. 2023 Nissan Kicks S: $21,925
10. 2023 Hyundai Elantra SE: $22,065

2023 Mitsubishi Mirage ES

Price: $17,790 (including $1,095 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 39 mpg

Topping the list of most affordable cars, the Mirage is a subcompact hatchback with seating for up to five. The combination of a tiny 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine and optional continuously variable automatic transmission deliver impressive EPA-estimated gas mileage of 39 mpg combined, but it comes at the expense of performance; the Mirage is slow. That said, we thought it was reasonably fun to drive when we last reviewed it. In 2021, the Mirage got a refreshed face and revised rear bumper, an updated interior with new soft-touch materials, a new standard 7-inch touchscreen and standard safety features including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection across all trims. If you want a trunk, Mitsubishi also offers a sedan variant called the Mirage G4; with the CVT, it starts at $18,890.

2023 Kia Rio LX

Price: $17,875 ($1,125 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 36 mpg

The Kia Rio enters the 2023 model year largely unchanged. Under the hood is a 120-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and standard CVT for a generous combined fuel economy rating of 36 mpg. An 8-inch touchscreen multimedia display with a rear camera and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard across the lineup; unfortunately, automatic emergency braking is unavailable until you move up to the Rio’s higher trim, the S.

2023 Nissan Versa S

Price: $18,745 ($1,095 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 35 mpg

The 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. For 2023, the Versa gets an updated front end and adds optional Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the base S model. Under the hood of the Versa S is a 122-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an optional CVT; the CVT is standard on higher trims.

2023 Kia Forte LX

Price: $20,815 ($1,125 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 34 mpg

The Kia Forte’s base LX model (formerly called the FE) returns for 2023 with no changes aside from the new name. The most affordable trim is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and mated to a CVT. The compact sedan offers a commuter-friendly 34 mpg combined and is loaded with standard features such as a large 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and automatic emergency braking. Although the Forte is a good value for a daily driver, shoppers looking for plentiful cargo space won’t find it in this sedan’s small trunk.

2023 Hyundai Venue SE

Price: $20,985 ($1,335 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 31 mpg

The 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 we’ll leave it off the category). Advanced standard safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, and a driver attention monitor. All models are equipped with 8-inch touchscreen displays with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; the base SE and mid-level SEL have wireless versions of both, too. Power for all versions of the Venue comes from a four-cylinder engine paired to a CVT. For 2023, the Venue gains a standard rear occupant alert system and a larger 4.2-inch instrument cluster.

2023 Kia Soul LX

Price: $21,215 ($1,325 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 30 mpg

Kia’s quirky, utilitarian Soul hatchback sees a handful of changes for 2023, including an updated front and rear end, new 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, and a suite of standard safety and driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure steering assist, driver attention warning, lane departure warning and a rear occupant alert. Power for all models comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT. The LX gets an 8-inch touchscreen display (other models get a 10.25-inch touchscreen) with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

2024 Chevrolet Trax LS

Price: $21,495 ($1,095 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 30 mpg

The redesigned 2024 Trax grows more spacious inside and gets a new turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine under the hood, which it shares with the larger Chevy Trailblazer and related Buick Encore GX. But while the Trailblazer and Encore GX offer available AWD and make our list of cheapest SUVs, the Trax is now FWD-only. The Trax’s tech upgrades include a larger 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.

2023 Nissan Sentra S

Price: $21,725 ($1,095 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 33 mpg

After a complete overhaul for 2020, the Sentra is more than just a bargain buy thanks to styling improvements and a tech-focused interior. Powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a CVT, the Sentra S gets a combined fuel economy rating of 33 mpg. The compact sedan provides a controlled, comfortable ride with sharp steering, but the CVT 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, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear automatic braking and rear cross-traffic alert.

2023 Nissan Kicks S

Price: $21,925 ($1,335 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 33 mpg

The Kicks is a small, front-wheel drive hatchback that was introduced for the 2018 model year and facelifted for 2021; for 2023, there are no major changes. Its sole engine is a 122-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. In addition to its affordable price, the Kicks adds solid fuel economy and ample standard safety features that include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot warning, reverse automatic braking and automatic high-beam assist. The base S trim also comes with standard cruise control; Nissan’s adaptive cruise control system can only be had on higher trims.

2023 Hyundai Elantra SE

Price: $22,065 ($1,115 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 37 mpg

Car shoppers on a tight budget will be happy to learn that Hyundai completely redesigned the Elantra for the 2021 model year with a more refined powertrain and a larger interior, and the 2023 model returns largely unchanged. The Elantra is available only as a sedan, and the most affordable SE trim is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a capable CVT. The Elantra gets an impressive 37 mpg 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. Shoppers who can overlook the sedan’s low-rent interior will appreciate the Elantra’s value.

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