Special Report

America’s 25 Cheapest Cars

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After the pandemic cut into 2020 car sales, automakers have been bouncing back in 2021. However, this recovery might be short-lived as a worldwide microchip shortage is threatening to curb manufacturers’ abilities to make new cars. 

This impending shortage, coupled with renewed demand, is already driving up prices. J.D. Power and LMC Automotive reported that the average new vehicle purchased in June cost over $40,000, breaking the previous record set in May. Still, not all new cars have to break the bank. There are 25 different 2021 models with asking prices of less than $23,000.

To determine the 25 cheapest cars you can buy, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Kelley Blue Book’s list of the least expensive 2021 model year vehicles, including fees like destination charges. Car sales figures came from GoodCarBadCar. Only cars with sales over 5,000 in 2020 were considered.

Virtually every one of the 25 cheapest cars in America fits into one of two categories — compact or crossover/small SUV. Compact cars are, as the name suggests, small, and they have fewer capabilities than larger, more powerful vehicles, resulting in a lower price tag. 

Compacts are starting to be replaced in dealer showrooms by crossovers and small SUVs, which offer more cargo room and power with only slightly higher price points. This blend of size and capability has made crossovers the most popular segment in the U.S. auto market — so much so that dealers are sometimes struggling to keep them on their lots. These are the fastest selling cars in America.

Hyundai offers the widest range of inexpensive vehicles, with five of its cars starting at under $23,000. Chevrolet, Nissan, and Kia all feature on the list three times. Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota each have two vehicles on the list.

Click here to see America’s 25 cheapest cars.

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25. Toyota C-HR
> Starting price: $22,620
> Sales, 2020: 42,936

The Toyota C-HR is one of 25 cars for the 2021 model year that cost under $23,000. The crossover has a starting price of $22,620, though upgraded trims and packages can up the price to over $27,000.

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Courtesy of Chevrolet

24. Chevrolet Trax
> Starting price: $22,395
> Sales, 2020: 106,299

Of the 25 cheapest new cars, the Chevrolet Trax is one of just four to sell more than 100,000 vehicles in 2020. Though it sold well, expert reviewers in KBB and Car and Driver magazine gave it relatively low marks because of the crossover’s somewhat less spacious interior and lack of some features.

Courtesy of Honda

23. Honda HR-V
> Starting price: $22,140
> Sales, 2020: 84,027

Like most vehicles in the $20,000-$23,000 price range, the Honda HR-V fits into the crossover/subcompact SUV category. It is one of the least expensive vehicles in this increasingly-crowded segment, starting at $22,140. The HR-V received positive reviews from Motor Trend and automotive research company Kelley Blue Book, which praised the crossover’s handling, interior space, and fuel economy.

Courtesy of Mitsubishi

22. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
> Starting price: $22,090
> Sales, 2020: 28,835

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport starts at just over $22,000, making it one of the least expensive cars on the market. Adding to its value, it offers an industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile warranty as well as a wide array of features.

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21. Honda Civic
> Starting price: $22,005
> Sales, 2020: 261,225

The Honda Civic is the best selling of the least expensive cars, with over a quarter million vehicles sold throughout 2020. The 2021 Civic received a 4.7 out of 5 score from both expert reviewers and consumers on KBB, making it one of the best reviewed vehicles on this list. It also earned KBB’s Best Buy award.

Courtesy of Mazda

20. Mazda CX-3
> Starting price: $21,965
> Sales, 2020: 76,253

The Mazda CX-3 is one of just 20 cars from the 2021 model year with a starting price under $22,000. Though some critics dislike its snug interior, the CX-3 received high marks for its performance and its safety features.

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19. Hyundai Kona
> Starting price: $21,540
> Sales, 2020: 76,253

The Kona is one of five Hyundai vehicles to rank among the least expensive cars in America, the most of any auto manufacturer. The Kona is one of the best-reviewed vehicles in the 2021 model year, earning a 9 out of 10 from Car and Driver, an 8.4 out of 10 from US News & World Report, and a 4.2 out of 5 from KBB’s expert reviewers.

18. Mazda3
> Starting price: $21,445
> Sales, 2020: 30,352

Though it starts at $21,445, the Mazda3 offers seven different package options that can drive the price up to nearly $34,000. The sedan option is less expensive, though it is also available in a hatchback. The Mazda3 is in its fourth generation, refreshed for the 2019 model year.

Courtesy of Ford

17. Ford EcoSport
> Starting price: $21,240
> Sales, 2020: 60,544

The EcoSport is the only Ford vehicle to rank among the least expensive new cars, with a starting price of $21,240. First introduced into the U.S. market in 2018, it is one of the smaller subcompact crossovers on the market. The EcoSport is based on the Ford Fiesta platform.

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Courtesy of Toyota

16. Toyota Corolla
> Starting price: $20,780
> Sales, 2020: 237,179

The Toyota Corolla’s sub $21,000 starting price tag makes it one of the cheapest cars available. This relatively low cost, along with fairly positive reviews from both experts and consumers have helped make the Corolla one of the most popular vehicles in America. It sold more models than all but 10 other different vehicles in 2020, with nearly a quarter million units sold.

15. Nissan Kicks
> Starting price: $20,650
> Sales, 2020: 58,858

With its starting price of $20,650, the Nissan Kicks is one of a handful of crossover SUVs to rank among the cheapest new cars in America for the 2021 model year. First introduced to the U.S. market in 2018, the Kicks received a facelift for 2021.

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Courtesy of Hyundai

14. Hyundai Elantra
> Starting price: $20,645
> Sales, 2020: 105,475

Among the 25 cars with a starting price of less than $23,000, none has a better fuel economy than the Hyundai Elantra. The vehicle gets 37 miles per gallon between the highway and city. Though the base model is $20,645, there are six different model options, which can drive the price up to over $28,100.

Courtesy of Nissan

13. Nissan Sentra
> Starting price: $20,335
> Sales, 2020: 94,645

The Nissan Sentra is one of America’s least expensive cars, with a starting price of $20,335. It is also one of the longest selling cars in America, dating all the way back to 1982. Now in its eighth generation, the Sentra is still selling well, despite many Americans now preferring SUVs and crossovers to compact sedans. Nissan sold nearly 95,000 Sentras in 2020.

Courtesy of Chevrolet

12. Chevrolet Trailblazer
> Starting price: $19,995
> Sales, 2020: 34,292

The Chevy Trailblazer is one of just a dozen cars in America with a starting price of less than $20,000. On KBB, it earned a 4.1 out of 5 score from experts. Car and Driver gave it a positive score of 7.5 out of 10. The Trailblazer was redesigned for the 2021 model year, and it is now more of a crossover than the 4×4 SUV of years past.

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Courtesy of Volkswagen

11. Volkswagen Jetta
> Starting price: $19,990
> Sales, 2020: 90,829

The 2021 Jetta is the only Volkswagen to rank among the cheapest cars in America, with a starting price of just under $20,000. The Jetta earned mostly positive reviews from Car and Driver, US News & World Report, and Edmunds. The 2021 Jetta comes in seven different package options, ranging in price from the introductory cost of $19,990 all the way to over $30,000.

Courtesy of Hyundai

10. Hyundai Venue
> Starting price: $19,925
> Sales, 2020: 17,587

The Hyundai Venue is one of the 10 cheapest new cars for the 2021 model year, with a starting price of $19,925. This low price does not mean the vehicle is low on quality, though. KBB ranked the 2021 Venue as the best small SUV of the year and said it has the lowest cost to own among all subcompact SUVs.

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Courtesy of Hyundai

9. Hyundai Veloster
> Starting price: $19,895
> Sales, 2020: 6,785

The Hyundai Veloster has a starting price of $19,895. Though it is among the cheapest cars in America, the Hyundai Veloster had the lowest sales among vehicles on this list in 2020, at 6,785. Most vehicles on this list sold over 40,000 vehicles that year. The Veloster is an unorthodox hatchback — it has three doors instead of four, and it seats only four.

Courtesy of Subaru of America

8. Subaru Impreza
> Starting price: $19,720
> Sales, 2020: 43,628

The Subaru Impreza is the eighth-least expensive car for the 2021 model year, with a $19,720 starting price. It is the least expensive vehicle to offer all-wheel drive standard. It also has some of the top safety scores in its class.

Courtesy of Kia

7. Kia Forte
> Starting price: $18,855
> Sales, 2020: 84,997

The Kia Forte is one of just seven 2021 model year cars with a starting price under $19,000. There are five different Forte models — the FE, LXS, GT Line, EX, and GT — that range in price from $18,855 to $23,655.

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Courtesy of KIA

6. Kia Soul
> Starting price: $18,610
> Sales, 2020: 71,772

The Kia Soul is the least expensive 2021 model year car that is not a subcompact sedan. The subcompact crossover starts at $18,610, though upgraded trims and package options can raise the price by $10,000. The Kia Soul earned a 4.5 out of 5 star score from both consumers and experts on KBB.

Courtesy of Kia

5. Kia Rio
> Starting price: $17,045
> Sales, 2020: 23,927

Smaller cars like the Kia Rio have fallen out of favor with American drivers, as many opt for SUVs and crossovers. Yet the Rio won over reviewers with its sleek design and tight handling at a starting price of just over $17,000. The vehicle earned an editor’s choice award from Car and Driver.

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Courtesy of Hyundai

4. Hyundai Accent
> Starting price: $16,390
> Sales, 2020: 15,975

The Accent is the cheapest of Hyundai’s five models with starting prices under $23,000. Only three vehicles cost less than the Accent’s $16,390 price tag. The subcompact sedan earned positive reviews from outlets like KBB and Car and Driver for its roomy interior, good handling, and numerous features.

Courtesy of Nissan

3. Nissan Versa
> Starting price: $15,880
> Sales, 2020: 48,272

The 2021 Nissan Versa is one of just three new cars with a starting price under $16,000, and it is the only one of that group that is a sedan and not a subcompact hatchback. The car received positive feedback from drivers and expert reviewers alike on KBB. They gave the car a 4.1 and 4.2 out of 5 score, respectively.

Courtesy of Mitsubishi

2. Mitsubishi Mirage
> Starting price: $15,565
> Sales, 2020: 19,135

The Mitsubishi Mirage is the second least expensive new vehicle for 2021, with a starting price of $15,565. The Mirage received abysmal reviews, including a 3.1 out of 5 from KBB and a 2.5 out of 10 from Car and Driver. Expert reviewers said the handling and acceleration were very poor and noted the vehicle’s low crash test safety scores.

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Courtesy of Chevrolet

1. Chevrolet Spark
> Starting price: $14,395
> Sales, 2020: 33,480

With a starting price of $14,395, the Chevrolet Spark is the least expensive car for the 2021 model year by a wide margin. While the small subcompact hatchback lacks significant cargo space and does not have much room in the back seat, it gets 38 mpg on the highway, and Car and Driver described its ride as “surprisingly refined” and praised its handling.

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