If you’ve been shopping for a vehicle lately, you’ve probably seen some hair-raising prices. But you can get a NEW car for under $20k. We’ve got 10 of them for you to add to your test-drive list.
A New Car Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank
You may not be lucky enough to have a trust fund to tap into when you need a new set of wheels. But you can get a brand-new car even if you’re on a tight budget. And you’ll still get plenty of nifty features, including smartphone capability and safety features. So let’s start shopping!
1. Chevrolet Spark
The Chevy Spark may be the least expensive car sold in America, but we wouldn’t call it cheap. For an MSRP of $13,600, you get a lot of creature comforts. Plus, the Spark is pretty spry and compact enough to park just about anywhere.
2. Mitsubishi Mirage Hatchback
Okay, you won’t win drag races in a Mitsubishi Mirage. But when you need affordable transportation (14,165 MSRP) and outstanding gas mileage, it’s worth giving it a look-see. It’s rated at 33 city/41 highway MPG, and the hatchback holds plenty of cargo, with 17.1 cubic feet available behind the back seats.
3. Hyundai Accent
So maybe a hatchback just isn’t your style. The Hyundai Accent is a stylish sedan that returns great fuel economy (33 city/41 highway MPG) and an impressive ride for a car of its size and price point ($16,645 MSRP). Its 4-cylinder, 120-horsepower engine can be paired with a CVT automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
4. Kia Rio
The Kia Rio is quite similar to its cousin, the Hyundai Accent; however, it upgrades the touchscreen to 8 inches and offers wireless smartphone integration. The Rio is available as a sedan or a hatchback (with a standard USB charge port in the back seat). Oh, and did we mention you get these upgrades—and a lot more—at a lower starting MSRP of $16,150?
5. Nissan Sentra
The Nissan Sentra slips in just under the bar at $19,510 but competes with much pricier rivals like the Corolla and Civic. It’s one of the more spacious sedans in the segment and, with its 149-horsepower 2.0L power plant, is quicker to reach freeway speed without sacrificing a lot in fuel economy.
6. Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai offers great value for the money, and if you have a little more to spend, you may be even happier moving up from the Accent to the Elantra. For $19,850, you get the same outstanding gas mileage (33 city/43 highway MPG) and a roomier and more upscale interior. And you can’t beat Hyundai’s warranty and three years of free maintenance.
7. Kia Forte
At $19,090, the Kia Forte gives the Elantra and Sentra a run for the money. It is certainly one of the more sophisticated compact sedans in our lineup, with a refreshingly refined interior. The standard infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a sharp 4.2-inch driver digital instrument cluster display.
8. Nissan Versa
Do you like getting 35 highway MPG, loads of safety and entertainment tech, and a sporty drive for just over $15k? Of course, you do! That’s why the Nissan Versa should be at the top of your test-drive list. Best of all, if you have more money to spend, you can fully trick out your Versa and still stay under $20k.
9. Kia Soul
We’re rounding out our list with two of our favorite baby SUVs. First up is the Kia Soul (oh, we do love those Hip-Hop Hamsters!). At an MSRP starting at $19,190, it is a great starter crossover for budget-minded drivers who crave style. Since it’s a Kia, you get loads of bells and whistles, plus generous cargo space (up to 62 cubes). You’ll also get very a very impressive 33 highway MPG from its peppy 147-horsepower inline-four powertrain.
10. Hyundai Venue
Not to be outdone by its Kia cousin, the Hyundai Venue is the perfect compact SUV for city driving (or, more accurately, city parking). It’s also one of the more stylish baby SUVs on the road, even offering a casual jeans-and-white-t-shirt color scheme. But it’s not all about looks: for $18,900, you get a massive amount of features and great fuel economy (29 city/33 highway MPG).
Start Scheduling Those Test Drives
Whether you’re looking for basic transportation or you want something with a little more style and oomph, there are plenty of options available for under $20,000. Check out your local dealerships and take some out for a spin.
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