With average new car prices hovering at around $50,000 in the US, good, cheap cars are getting harder and harder to find. Many budget-friendly entry-level sedans have disappeared from automakers’ lineups entirely, while SUVs get larger—and more expensive—every year.
That said, there are still some excellent, reasonably priced vehicles out there if you know where to look (and are willing to stretch your definition of "cheap" just a bit). This year, we published over 100 first drives and new-car reviews, and a handful of budget-friendly cars really stood out.
Chevrolet Equinox EV: $36,795
Why We Love It: When you start adding on options and digging into trims, yes, the Chevrolet Equinox EV can get pricey quickly. A fully loaded RS with all-wheel drive and every option ticked crests $50,000, for example. But we’re specifically talking about the bare-bones, base Equinox EV that costs a still-reasonable $36,795 out of the box for 2026.
With new car prices averging $50,000, yes, just over $36,000 for a brand-new compact SUV is still a solid deal. The base Equinox still has up to 319 miles of range, a modest 220 horsepower, a well-equipped cabin (unless you want Apple CarPlay), and it doesn’t feel cheap for the price. It’s a pretty excellent car for the money, all things considered. — Jeff Perez, Editor-in-Chief
Ford Maverick / Lobo: $30,535 / $37,625
Why We Love It: With truck prices skyrocketing over the last decade, it’s nice to know that excellent, cheap pickups like the Ford Maverick still exist. The Maverick got a minor facelift for the 2025 model year that adds some new equipment—but the one we’re really interested in is the Lobo.
The Ford Maverick Lobo is the street truck reborn… sort of. The Lobo sits 1.1 inches lower to the ground, giving it a better stance, and it wears a subtle widebody kit to further enhance the exterior. At its core, though, it’s still the excellent Maverick we’ve come to know and love; powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, it makes 250 horsepower. Now it’s all just a bit cooler. — Jeff Perez, Editor-in-Chief
Honda Civic Hybrid: $30,490
Why We Love It: Whenever someone asks me to recommend a great daily driver for around $30,000, and they don’t have some weird requirement like "it has to be an SUV" or "it needs to fit my seven children and 90-pound retriever," I point to the Honda Civic Hybrid.
The Sport Hybrid sedan starts at an affordable $30,490, and it maxes out at a still-reasonable $34,690 for the Sport Touring Hybrid hatchback. For that, you get a genuinely fun-to-drive car that will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just over six seconds and return 50-plus mpg in the real world. The interior is comfortable and refined, with heated leather seats, wireless CarPlay, and an impressive suite of adaptive safety features (all controlled with real, physical buttons). Honda knocked it out of the park with the 11th-generation Civic. — Maddox Kay, Automotive Social Media Editor
Kia K4: $23,385
Why We Love It: The K4 competes in a tough segment, and Kia knows it, so the K4 arrives packing a lot of value. The 2026 K4 starts at $23,385, and you can get a nicely appointed K4 GT-Line for about $3,000 more, which comes with paddle shifters, heated seats, heated mirrors, and a suite of safety features.
The standard engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, and a continuously variable transmission powering the front wheels. There’s a hotter GT Turbo for just under $ 30,000, available with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, 190 hp, and an eight-speed automatic, a Harman Kardon sound system, dual-zone climate, bigger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. — Anthony Alaniz, Associate Editor
Mini Cooper: $29,500
Why We Love It: Cheap and cheerful has always been Mini’s MO. The new Cooper—even though it’s bigger and heavier than ever—still mostly meets that mark. With a turbocharged three-cylinder engine giving it a solid 161 horsepower, even the cheapest Cooper has solid pep. Move up to the Cooper S for a cool 201 hp.
The interior is fun and funky, and even though it’s littered with materials like cloth and hard plastic, Mini’s clever design and texturing make it less offensive than some other comparable compacts. At just over $35,000 to start, yes, the Cooper has definitely gotten pricey. But in today’s market, that’s a relative bargain for what you get. — Jeff Perez, Editor-in-Chief
Nissan Kicks: $23,925
Why We Love It: For all the doom and gloom surrounding Nissan, there are a few bright spots—specifically on the lower end of the pricing spectrum. Nissan’s cheapest SUV, the Kicks, is one of its best vehicles of the year. Full stop.
With a starting price of just over $23,000, the Kicks is a stylish and comfortable subcompact SUV that is genuinely nice to drive. Its four-cylinder engine gives it just enough pep, with 141 horsepower out of the box, while still delivering up to 31 miles per gallon combined. Nissan even added all-wheel drive to the Kicks this year, one of the only major things missing on the previous generation. — Jeff Perez, Editor-in-Chief
Nissan Leaf: $31,485
Why We Love It: One great thing about the new Nissan Leaf, and almost every other electric vehicle, is that you get a better EV the less you spend. The entry-level trim, starting at $31,485, offers the most range—303 miles (a cheaper version arrives next year). It has a 214-horsepower electric motor powering the front wheels.
If you do upgrade to a higher trim, you won’t be disappointed or sacrifice a ton of range. The Leaf Platinum+, which costs $10,000 more than the S+, goes 259 miles on a charge, thanks to the larger 19-inch wheels and added equipment, like the dimmable panoramic roof, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, and a power liftgate. — Anthony Alaniz, Associate Editor
Nissan Sentra: $23,845
Why We Love It: The Nissan Sentra remains a wallet-friendly option amid the highest new-car prices ever. The automaker updated the sedan for 2026 with new sheet metal and a revamped cabin, giving it a much-needed makeover that modernized the look and available features.
The Sentra SL I drove, for $30,375, came with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, ambient lighting, and dual 12.3-inch displays, which are standard on every trim but the base model. The powertrain is unchanged, with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower, and a new Sport mode almost makes you forget the Sentra has a continuously variable transmission. — Anthony Alaniz, Associate Editor
Toyota RAV4: $33,320
Why We Love It: There’s a reason the Toyota RAV4 is the single best-selling SUV in America: it’s an excellent people mover with an affordable asking price. That doesn’t change for 2026—in fact, the new RAV4 is slightly cheaper depending on how you spec it. This year, the RAV4 gains a standard hybrid powertrain, a sharper design, and even more features.
With a standard hybrid powertrain, the 2026 RAV4 makes 226 horsepower while still delivering 41 miles per gallon combined. Opt for the plug-in-hybrid model—which is now available across more trims—and that unlocks 320 hp with 52 miles of electric-only range. Toyota somehow made its already excellent compact SUV even better for 2026. — Jeff Perez, Editor-in-Chief
Best Cheap Cars of 2025
- Chevrolet Equinox EV
- Ford Maverick Lobo
- Honda Civic Hybrid
- Kia K4
- Mini Cooper
- Nissan Kicks
- Nissan Leaf
- Nissan Sentra
- Toyota RAV4
