The Least Expensive Fresh Cars
Looking for inexpensive wheels? These were some of the cheapest cars on sale in America during 2016. We've driven all of them, and we'll tell you which cheap cars are the real deals — and which ones are the real duds.
The Nissan Versa sedan has been the least-expensive fresh car for a number of years now, but it’s also the best value on this list. Cheap as it is, the Versa is a roomy four-door sedan with almost as much interior space as a mid-size car like the Kia Optima — and for a little more than half the price.
What are the downsides? Well, the styling is a bit homely and creature comforts on the base model are few and far inbetween. The Versa does come with air conditioning and Bluetooth, but it lacks power windows and locks (the latter a must-have if you’re hauling kids). And if you want an automatic transmission, you’ll have to pay an extra $1,500. The good news is that the rest of the options are reasonably priced: Even a top-of-the-line Versa SL with power windows and locks, a fuel-efficient CVT automatic transmission, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, and navigation costs less than a basic Honda Civic.
Read more: Nissan Versa review
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Chevrolet Spark LS
Chevrolet's Spark is all fresh for 2016, and while they’ve kept the price in check — the fresh version costs just $500 more than last year’s model — they’ve cut the list of standard equipment. You still get air conditioning, Bluetooth, and a touch-screen stereo, but alloy wheels, power windows and locks are now extra-cost options. That said, the two thousand sixteen Chevrolet Spark does still come with ten airbags and OnStar, a subscription-based system that will automatically call for help if the car is in a crash. That makes it a fine choice for teenage drivers.
The fresh Spark has traded its cute-and-cuddly styling for a more mature look, and with its high-quality interior and quiet rail, the Spark drives like a fatter and more expensive car. It helps that Chevrolet has fitted a fatter and more powerful engine, and yet the Spark’s EPA fuel economy estimates are slightly higher than the old car. There’s a long list of options, including pricey features like a lane-departure and collision warning systems, however such extravagances raise the price. Back seat and trunk space remain cramped, so the Chevrolet Spark is still best for singles and couples. The Spark may not be the value it once was, but if you want an affordable car that doesn’t feel cheap, the Spark is a excellent choice.
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Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Good value? Yes, if you’re not picky.
The Mitsubishi Mirage a car that takes this entire cheap-wheels thing earnestly. The price includes air conditioning, power windows and power locks. Even with all the optional goodies (alloy wheels, push-button ignition, and navigation), it's still $1,500 cheaper than a comparably tooled Nissan Versa. The 3-cylinder engine supplies an fair forty MPG in day-to-day driving. The Mirage is covered by an epic warranty, with five years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and ten years/100,000 miles on the powertrain. On the downside, the Mirage is noisy, slow, and an unpleasant companion on long road trips. It's not an outstanding car, but for inexpensive motoring, this vehicle is hard to hammer.
Ford Fiesta S
Good value? Yes, and getting better.
Of all the cars on this list, the Fiesta is by far the most joy to drive, with acute steering and a responsive chassis. And while it’s not the best value on this list, Ford resumes to up the ante . this year adding power door locks, remote keyless entry and a voice-activated touch-screen stereo with smartphone app integration to the base model’s standard equipment list, which also includes air conditioning and power-adjustable mirrors. Unluckily, color choices are still limited to black, white and silver (the green car in the photo is a more expensive model), and power windows are only suggested on higher trim levels. The automatic transmission (a high-tech twin-clutch unit) is moderately priced, but Ford has slashed the price of the hatchback — it now costs just $300 more than the sedan.
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Kia Rio LX
Good value? Only the base model
One of the problems with cheap cars is that a lot of them look like cheap cars—and who needs a constant reminder that their income isn't fairly up to Mercedes levels? The Kia Rio's sleek, modern styling belies its cheap price tag, and it has the same upscale look inwards as it does on the outside.
Unluckily, when it comes to value-for-money, the Kia Rio stumbles. The basic LX model comes with a fuel-efficient engine, air conditioning, and a CD stereo with USB input jack as well as an automatic transmission steeply priced at $1,230. If you want goodies like power windows and locks, alloy wheels, or even a Bluetooth speakerphone, you’ll have to buy the EX model, which is priced a jaw-dropping $Trio,590 higher. Worse yet, the hatchback now costs more than the sedan and its standard equipment list is every bit as mean as the sedans. Best argument against the Rio is the Hyundai Accent, which is mechanically similar and offers more features for less money. That said, if appearance is more significant than value, the Rio is still a cheap car that doesn’t look cheap.
Nissan Versa Note S
Good value? Not particularly
While the Nissan Versa sedan is one of the best cars on this list, the Nissan Versa Note differs. The Note is undoubtedly the more stylish of the two; it was designed with Western European buyers in mind, whereas the sedan was designed for emerging markets in Asia. The Versa Note has slew of back seat and cargo space, but it also has the same flimsy interior fittings as the sedan, and for a higher price.
With crank-down windows and manual door locks, the entry-level Versa Note isn't much of a bargain compared to the other cars on this list, and the equation doesn't get any better once you commence piling on the options. If a hatchback is what you want, the Honda Fit (#13 on this list) offers similar space and better value.
Read more: Nissan Versa Note review
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Chevrolet Sonic LS
The Chevrolet Sonic is yet another bright spot on this list with fantastic styling, a reasonably powerful 1.8-liter engine and a stylish interior built with parts that feel like they were pulled from General Motors' more expensive cars. The base-model Sonic includes air conditioning, alloy wheels and the protection of ten airbags . more than many high-end luxury cars.
Out on the road, the Sonic feels substantial and sporty, however it can't fairly match the fun-to-drive factor of the Ford Fiesta. The Sonic is an American car that is actually built in America — in fact, it's the only car on this list to don the "Made in USA" label.
Read more: Chevrolet Sonic review
Clever ForTwo Unspoiled
Good value? No, but it sure is lovely
Clever has redesigned the ForTwo for 2016; while it's just as lil’, it's a much better vehicle with a more powerful engine, a better transmission, and much better driving dynamics. It's also even better in the city, with the capability to pull U-turns in a laughably petite space. It's also better tooled: Air conditioning, power steering and power windows are now standard (they were optional on the old version). With more specs comes a higher price: The fresh Clever costs more than the old one, pulling down it from fourth place to eighth on our list.
Unluckily, some of the drawbacks remain: The Brainy ForTwo has no back seat (those come in handy), and since parking sideways is illegal in most states, its super-small size isn't fairly as much of an advantage here as it is in Europe. The Wise ForTwo Unspoiled still requires premium fuel, which increases running costs. While the Clever ForTwo is cool in its own way, there are less-expensive cars that are more practical and more efficient.
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Hyundai Accent GLS
A close relative of the Kia Rio, the Hyundai Accent is basically the same car with a different skin. It offers many of the same advantages including the fuel-efficient engine, generous back seat and lengthy warranty. So why is the Accent more expensive? Primarily because it's slightly better tooled: Along with air conditioning and a USB-compatible stereo (both standard on the Rio), the Accent GLS comes with power windows and power locks with a keyless remote (Kia won't give you that unless you buy a more expensive mode). And while a hatchback Rio will cost you more, Hyundai charges just $250 extra for the hatch.
The automatic transmission is also a better deal on the Hyundai. The Hyundai Accent isn't the best value on this list, but it is a solid little car.
Toyota Yaris L
Good value? Not good, but better than it was
Besides its angry fresh face, the Toyota Yaris is much more pleasant to drive than in years past, with a better manual-trans shifter and an improved suspension (and nine airbags in case it all goes wrong). The Yaris is still saddled by its old-school 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions, both of which rob it of power and fuel economy. (The automatic, which is reasonably priced, is the way to go.) Bear in mind that the Yaris is one of the few cars on this list that comes with two doors; the four-door model costs more, but it includes an automatic transmission.
If you're planning to keep your cheap wheels for a decade or more, the Yaris is a good choice — but if you're anticipating a switch in circumstances that will let you trade up for something nicer, the Yaris most likely isn't the best way to spend your money.
Read more: Toyota Yaris review
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Scion iA
Good value? Only if you want a well-equipped car
The Scion iA (soon to be the Toyota iA, as Toyota is planning to fold the Scion brand) is a fresh entry on this list, and it's well worth of your attention if you love to drive because it rivals the Ford Fiesta for cheap thrills. The iA was actually engineered by Mazda — it's basically a Mazda2 with a different grille — and that company's "Zoom-Zoom" tagline is no joke.
The Scion iA does give you a lot or the money; the single trim level has power windows, locks and mirrors, keyless push-button ignition, and a backup camera. Scion's no-haggle pricing policy means you must compare its price tag to more expensive vehicles. And while the Scion iA has no factory options, you can flow them up with dealer-installed accessories that can lightly boost the price into the stratosphere. Mazda will most likely bring the Mazda2 to market with less equipment and a lower price. If you love to drive but your budget isn't very big, you might want to wait for the Mazda.
Kia Soul Base
Good value? Only with a manual transmission
The Kia Soul has long been a beloved cheap car, albeit with the price having crept up by $1,020 over the past two years, it's not the bargain it once was. The Kia Soul offers cutting-edge styling and a long list of standard equipment (A/C, power everything, cruise control alloy wheels, tinted side windows, and an iPod-compatible stereo with satellite radio. The two thousand fourteen redesign improved the rail and treating to the point that it drives like a much more expensive car.
If you want an automatic transmission, it is a much more expensive car. If you can drive a stick-shift, the Kia Soul gives you a lot of car — and a lot of style — for the money.
Honda Fit LX
Plainly put, the Honda Fit is the most useful subcompact car you can buy. Entirely redesigned last year, the Fit is a petite car that packs a remarkably roomy back seat and a smartly shaped trunk that can be expanded to accommodate almost as much cargo as a petite SUV.
It's also zippy and mind-bogglingly fuel efficient as it averages over thirty eight MPG. The lower-priced LX is the way to go, as it has a knob-and-button operated stereo that is simpler to use than the touch-screen unit in the EX. On the downside, the Fit is noisy and it's expensive compared to other petite cars (tho’ it does come with a lot of standard equipment), but its combination of durability and practicality make it a good value and one of the best petite cars you can buy.
Kia Forte LX
Like other Kia models, the Kia Forte is attractively styled, tho’ the LX trim with its cheap plastic wheel covers certainly doesn't cast this otherwise wonderful car in its best light. (The Forte EX looks much nicer, but it's also priced higher.) The LX model comes with power windows, mirrors and locks, satellite radio, and Bluetooth phone connectivity; as with other Kias, the automatic transmission is overpriced, but at least it comes bundled with cruise control and better-looking alloy wheels. That said, with a beginning price much lower than most compact sedans, the Forte is a good deal on a decent-sized set of wheels.
Chevrolet Cruze Limited L
Another newcomer to this list is the Chevrolet Cruze Limited. Chevy has a fresh version of the Cruze coming for 2016, but this isn't it—"Limited" is a nice way of telling this is the old (2011-2015) car. Chevy is keeping the old model on the books for rental agencies and fleets, but private buyers shouldn't rule it out: The Cruze is a solid, reliable and roomy car.
The L model is pretty sparse, with crank-down windows, plastic wheel covers, and no cruise control. (The car in our photo is the nicer LTZ version.) You cannot get the L with an automatic transmission — for that, you have to spend big bucks on the LS model — and if you're going to spend that kind of dough, there are newer and nicer designs. Still, the Cruze Limited does have Bluetooth, ten airbags and OnStar, which makes it a good choice for youthful and inexperienced drivers who can drive a manual transmission. It's solid and reliable, and it's also built in the USA . a rarity among inexpensive cars.
The Least Expensive Fresh Cars
The Least Expensive Fresh Cars
Looking for inexpensive wheels? These were some of the cheapest cars on sale in America during 2016. We've driven all of them, and we'll tell you which cheap cars are the real deals — and which ones are the real duds.
The Nissan Versa sedan has been the least-expensive fresh car for a number of years now, but it’s also the best value on this list. Cheap as it is, the Versa is a roomy four-door sedan with almost as much interior space as a mid-size car like the Kia Optima — and for a little more than half the price.
What are the downsides? Well, the styling is a bit homely and creature comforts on the base model are few and far inbetween. The Versa does come with air conditioning and Bluetooth, but it lacks power windows and locks (the latter a must-have if you’re hauling kids). And if you want an automatic transmission, you’ll have to pay an extra $1,500. The good news is that the rest of the options are reasonably priced: Even a top-of-the-line Versa SL with power windows and locks, a fuel-efficient CVT automatic transmission, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, and navigation costs less than a basic Honda Civic.
Read more: Nissan Versa review
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Chevrolet Spark LS
Chevrolet's Spark is all fresh for 2016, and while they’ve kept the price in check — the fresh version costs just $500 more than last year’s model — they’ve cut the list of standard equipment. You still get air conditioning, Bluetooth, and a touch-screen stereo, but alloy wheels, power windows and locks are now extra-cost options. That said, the two thousand sixteen Chevrolet Spark does still come with ten airbags and OnStar, a subscription-based system that will automatically call for help if the car is in a crash. That makes it a good choice for teenage drivers.
The fresh Spark has traded its cute-and-cuddly styling for a more mature look, and with its high-quality interior and quiet rail, the Spark drives like a thicker and more expensive car. It helps that Chevrolet has fitted a fatter and more powerful engine, and yet the Spark’s EPA fuel economy estimates are slightly higher than the old car. There’s a long list of options, including pricey features like a lane-departure and collision warning systems, however such extravagances raise the price. Back seat and trunk space remain cramped, so the Chevrolet Spark is still best for singles and couples. The Spark may not be the value it once was, but if you want an affordable car that doesn’t feel cheap, the Spark is a good choice.
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Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Good value? Yes, if you’re not picky.
The Mitsubishi Mirage a car that takes this entire cheap-wheels thing gravely. The price includes air conditioning, power windows and power locks. Even with all the optional goodies (alloy wheels, push-button ignition, and navigation), it's still $1,500 cheaper than a comparably tooled Nissan Versa. The 3-cylinder engine supplies an fair forty MPG in day-to-day driving. The Mirage is covered by an epic warranty, with five years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and ten years/100,000 miles on the powertrain. On the downside, the Mirage is noisy, slow, and an unpleasant companion on long road trips. It's not an outstanding car, but for inexpensive motoring, this vehicle is hard to hit.
Ford Fiesta S
Good value? Yes, and getting better.
Of all the cars on this list, the Fiesta is by far the most joy to drive, with acute steering and a responsive chassis. And while it’s not the best value on this list, Ford proceeds to up the ante . this year adding power door locks, remote keyless entry and a voice-activated touch-screen stereo with smartphone app integration to the base model’s standard equipment list, which also includes air conditioning and power-adjustable mirrors. Unluckily, color choices are still limited to black, white and silver (the green car in the photo is a more expensive model), and power windows are only suggested on higher trim levels. The automatic transmission (a high-tech twin-clutch unit) is moderately priced, but Ford has slashed the price of the hatchback — it now costs just $300 more than the sedan.
Proceed Reading Below
Kia Rio LX
Good value? Only the base model
One of the problems with cheap cars is that a lot of them look like cheap cars—and who needs a constant reminder that their income isn't fairly up to Mercedes levels? The Kia Rio's sleek, modern styling belies its cheap price tag, and it has the same upscale look inwards as it does on the outside.
Unluckily, when it comes to value-for-money, the Kia Rio stumbles. The basic LX model comes with a fuel-efficient engine, air conditioning, and a CD stereo with USB input jack as well as an automatic transmission steeply priced at $1,230. If you want goodies like power windows and locks, alloy wheels, or even a Bluetooth speakerphone, you’ll have to buy the EX model, which is priced a jaw-dropping $Trio,590 higher. Worse yet, the hatchback now costs more than the sedan and its standard equipment list is every bit as mean as the sedans. Best argument against the Rio is the Hyundai Accent, which is mechanically similar and offers more features for less money. That said, if appearance is more significant than value, the Rio is still a cheap car that doesn’t look cheap.
Nissan Versa Note S
Good value? Not particularly
While the Nissan Versa sedan is one of the best cars on this list, the Nissan Versa Note differs. The Note is undoubtedly the more stylish of the two; it was designed with Western European buyers in mind, whereas the sedan was designed for emerging markets in Asia. The Versa Note has slew of back seat and cargo space, but it also has the same flimsy interior fittings as the sedan, and for a higher price.
With crank-down windows and manual door locks, the entry-level Versa Note isn't much of a bargain compared to the other cars on this list, and the equation doesn't get any better once you commence piling on the options. If a hatchback is what you want, the Honda Fit (#13 on this list) offers similar space and better value.
Read more: Nissan Versa Note review
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Chevrolet Sonic LS
The Chevrolet Sonic is yet another bright spot on this list with wonderful styling, a reasonably powerful 1.8-liter engine and a stylish interior built with parts that feel like they were pulled from General Motors' more expensive cars. The base-model Sonic includes air conditioning, alloy wheels and the protection of ten airbags . more than many high-end luxury cars.
Out on the road, the Sonic feels substantial and sporty, tho’ it can't fairly match the fun-to-drive factor of the Ford Fiesta. The Sonic is an American car that is actually built in America — in fact, it's the only car on this list to don the "Made in USA" label.
Read more: Chevrolet Sonic review
Wise ForTwo Unspoiled
Good value? No, but it sure is nice
Clever has redesigned the ForTwo for 2016; while it's just as lil’, it's a much better vehicle with a more powerful engine, a better transmission, and much better driving dynamics. It's also even better in the city, with the capability to pull U-turns in a laughably puny space. It's also better tooled: Air conditioning, power steering and power windows are now standard (they were optional on the old version). With more specs comes a higher price: The fresh Brainy costs more than the old one, ripping off it from fourth place to eighth on our list.
Unluckily, some of the drawbacks remain: The Wise ForTwo has no back seat (those come in handy), and since parking sideways is illegal in most states, its super-small size isn't fairly as much of an advantage here as it is in Europe. The Clever ForTwo Unspoiled still requires premium fuel, which increases running costs. While the Wise ForTwo is cool in its own way, there are less-expensive cars that are more practical and more efficient.
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Hyundai Accent GLS
A close relative of the Kia Rio, the Hyundai Accent is basically the same car with a different skin. It offers many of the same advantages including the fuel-efficient engine, generous back seat and lengthy warranty. So why is the Accent more expensive? Primarily because it's slightly better tooled: Along with air conditioning and a USB-compatible stereo (both standard on the Rio), the Accent GLS comes with power windows and power locks with a keyless remote (Kia won't give you that unless you buy a more expensive mode). And while a hatchback Rio will cost you more, Hyundai charges just $250 extra for the hatch.
The automatic transmission is also a better deal on the Hyundai. The Hyundai Accent isn't the best value on this list, but it is a solid little car.
Toyota Yaris L
Good value? Not superb, but better than it was
Besides its angry fresh face, the Toyota Yaris is much more pleasant to drive than in years past, with a better manual-trans shifter and an improved suspension (and nine airbags in case it all goes wrong). The Yaris is still saddled by its old-school 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions, both of which rob it of power and fuel economy. (The automatic, which is reasonably priced, is the way to go.) Bear in mind that the Yaris is one of the few cars on this list that comes with two doors; the four-door model costs more, but it includes an automatic transmission.
If you're planning to keep your cheap wheels for a decade or more, the Yaris is a good choice — but if you're anticipating a switch in circumstances that will let you trade up for something nicer, the Yaris very likely isn't the best way to spend your money.
Read more: Toyota Yaris review
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Scion iA
Good value? Only if you want a well-equipped car
The Scion iA (soon to be the Toyota iA, as Toyota is planning to fold the Scion brand) is a fresh entry on this list, and it's well worth of your attention if you love to drive because it rivals the Ford Fiesta for cheap thrills. The iA was actually engineered by Mazda — it's basically a Mazda2 with a different grille — and that company's "Zoom-Zoom" tagline is no joke.
The Scion iA does give you a lot or the money; the single trim level has power windows, locks and mirrors, keyless push-button ignition, and a backup camera. Scion's no-haggle pricing policy means you must compare its price tag to more expensive vehicles. And while the Scion iA has no factory options, you can explosion them up with dealer-installed accessories that can lightly boost the price into the stratosphere. Mazda will most likely bring the Mazda2 to market with less equipment and a lower price. If you love to drive but your budget isn't very big, you might want to wait for the Mazda.
Kia Soul Base
Good value? Only with a manual transmission
The Kia Soul has long been a dearest cheap car, albeit with the price having crept up by $1,020 over the past two years, it's not the bargain it once was. The Kia Soul offers cutting-edge styling and a long list of standard equipment (A/C, power everything, cruise control alloy wheels, tinted side windows, and an iPod-compatible stereo with satellite radio. The two thousand fourteen redesign improved the rail and treating to the point that it drives like a much more expensive car.
If you want an automatic transmission, it is a much more expensive car. If you can drive a stick-shift, the Kia Soul gives you a lot of car — and a lot of style — for the money.
Honda Fit LX
Plainly put, the Honda Fit is the most useful subcompact car you can buy. Entirely redesigned last year, the Fit is a petite car that packs a remarkably roomy back seat and a smartly shaped trunk that can be expanded to accommodate almost as much cargo as a petite SUV.
It's also zippy and mind-bogglingly fuel efficient as it averages over thirty eight MPG. The lower-priced LX is the way to go, as it has a knob-and-button operated stereo that is simpler to use than the touch-screen unit in the EX. On the downside, the Fit is noisy and it's expensive compared to other puny cars (however it does come with a lot of standard equipment), but its combination of durability and practicality make it a good value and one of the best puny cars you can buy.
Kia Forte LX
Like other Kia models, the Kia Forte is attractively styled, however the LX trim with its cheap plastic wheel covers certainly doesn't cast this otherwise luxurious car in its best light. (The Forte EX looks much nicer, but it's also priced higher.) The LX model comes with power windows, mirrors and locks, satellite radio, and Bluetooth phone connectivity; as with other Kias, the automatic transmission is overpriced, but at least it comes bundled with cruise control and better-looking alloy wheels. That said, with a embarking price much lower than most compact sedans, the Forte is a good deal on a decent-sized set of wheels.
Chevrolet Cruze Limited L
Another newcomer to this list is the Chevrolet Cruze Limited. Chevy has a fresh version of the Cruze coming for 2016, but this isn't it—"Limited" is a nice way of telling this is the old (2011-2015) car. Chevy is keeping the old model on the books for rental agencies and fleets, but private buyers shouldn't rule it out: The Cruze is a solid, reliable and roomy car.
The L model is pretty sparse, with crank-down windows, plastic wheel covers, and no cruise control. (The car in our photo is the nicer LTZ version.) You cannot get the L with an automatic transmission — for that, you have to spend big bucks on the LS model — and if you're going to spend that kind of dough, there are newer and nicer designs. Still, the Cruze Limited does have Bluetooth, ten airbags and OnStar, which makes it a fine choice for youthfull and inexperienced drivers who can drive a manual transmission. It's solid and reliable, and it's also built in the USA . a rarity among inexpensive cars.