It feels like we’re coming to the end of an era of cheap new cars in America. The Kia Rio is as good as dead, the Hyundai Accent has been AWOL for years, and you can forget about American automakers selling compact cars. When Kelley Blue Book is spitting out an average non-luxury car transaction price of $44,700 in June, it’s a sure sign that an affordability window is closing. However, all hope is not lost if you want one of the cheapest new cars on the market.
Thankfully, a few options for truly inexpensive new cars still exist, and I happen to have driven variants of all of them. Here’s a rundown of the six cheapest new cars in America, with pros, cons, and judgment on whether or not they’re actually good. After all, we at The Autopian love cheap new cars, and sometimes there’s nothing like a warranty’s peace of mind.
Nissan Versa S – $17,075
Let’s start at the bottom of the automotive ladder. The 2023 Nissan Versa S is the cheapest new car in America with a price tag of $17,075, including a $1,095 freight charge. That’s a weird sentence for me to write, but I guess everything’s expensive now. Remember when you could buy some of the cheapest new cars for less than $15,000?
On the plus side, the base Versa still includes a row-your-own five-speed manual transmission. Take that, CVT fears! Add in reasonable fuel economy figures of 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, along with acres of headroom and plenty of cabin space for four people, and the Versa doesn’t look so bad. Oh, and it’s the cheapest new car in America by a substantial margin, and a penny saved is a penny earned.
So, the Versa S is much cheaper than its competition, so what’s the catch? Well, there are a few areas where you might crave more. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are nowhere to be found on this base trim, and split-folding rear seats are out of the question entirely. In addition, the Versa isn’t exactly a paragon of refinement. As you’d probably expect, the Versa dances around a fair bit on high bridges, and the cabin noise, vibration and harshness will transport you back to a simpler time. Sure, some of these concerns can be brushed aside given the $17,075 price tag, but if you’re willing to spend a bit more money, your options open up substantially.
Mitsubishi Mirage ES – $18,110
At $18,110, including a $1,095 freight charge, the Mirage isn’t as cheap as it used to be. However, the Mirage is exceedingly economical, comes with a great warranty, and should be sticking around for at least one more model year.
It’s a bummer that the manual transmission has been discontinued, but the continuously variable transmission has its perks. Not only does it make getting outstanding mileage ludicrously easy, reliability of the CVT seems excellent. It’s the same JATCO JF015E found in many small Nissans, just ridiculously understressed, and evidence of a big car longevity mindset in something small and cheap. Making up for the lack of engagement from the CVT is one of the greatest handbrakes on any current production car. Do with that information what you will. Oh, and freeway ride quality is surprisingly excellent, so this little car is ready for some serious miles.
So, are there any downsides to the Mirage? Well, it’s not exactly what you’d call quick, and the weird 165/65R14 tire size means few replacement options are out there. However, if you’re looking for something cheap to run for the long haul, a ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and EPA fuel economy ratings of 36 city, 43 highway, and 39 combined make the Mirage a safe bet.
Kia Forte LX – $20,815
Are we really crossing the $20,000 mark already? Yep, the cheap new car segment in America is moving upmarket, with options below 20 grand rapidly disappearing. However, it often feels like you get what you pay for. Not only is the Forte substantially more mature than the two prior picks, it’s also substantially more expensive. We’re talking about a car that costs $20,815 including a $1,125 freight charge.
Road and engine noise is well-hushed, and the cabin features a remarkable amount of space to stretch out in. The dashboard itself looks and feels more expensive than in other cheap cars, with tightly-grained satin plastics and a fetching set of turbine-like air vents. The Forte feels every penny of $20,815, with nothing anachronistic, uncouth, or spiteful in its body.
The standard 147-horsepower two-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine never feels underpowered, the CVT rides the torque band in civil driving, and if you ask the car really nicely, it’ll top 40 mpg on the highway according to the EPA fuel economy estimates. Sure, the Forte might not be the most joyous cheap new car on the market, but it’s an entirely credible Corolla competitor for exceedingly reasonable money.
Hyundai Venue SE – $20,985
Oh hey, the first crossover on this list. Yes, just as the two-row crossover is killing the family sedan, the tiny crossover is killing the cheapest new cars on the market. Hyundai’s dinkiest offering is effectively an Accent replacement, although if I were an Accent owner, I wouldn’t feel much need to trade up. At $20,985 including a steep $1,335 freight charge, the Venue is probably best to skip over.
Sure, the Venue makes a great first impression. After all, this is a cheap crossover with an abundance of standard equipment. We’re talking wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alloy wheels, projector headrests, and an armrest. You might laugh at that last one, but it makes a bigger difference than you’d expect. On paper, the Venue has a lot going for it, but things are a different story out on the road.
The biggest issue with the Venue is high-speed roadholding over choppy freeway surfaces. Even in a straight line, the suspension is doing its best pogo stick impression as the car bobs up and down severely. Combine that with weirdly fast steering and a cabin louder than a local punk show, and you get a rather tiring commuter car. Secondly, build quality on the one I drove was somewhat suspect. Sure, it was an early model and press cars get beaten on hard, but the panel inside the hatch shouldn’t have fallen off. The Venue may be cheap, but it’s easy to tell why.
Kia Soul LX – $21,315
Still want a new crossover on the cheap? No worries, you aren’t out of luck. Spend a little bit more money than you would on the Hyundai Venue, and you could ease yourself into a Kia Soul LX. This tall hatchback starts at a reasonable $21,315 including a rather strong $1,325 freight charge, and it feels substantially more mature than the slightly cheaper Venue.
Sure, you don’t get standard alloy wheels, but the Soul’s a more refined, more potent, more comfortable cheap crossover. It gets down the highway with minimal fuss thanks to the same two-liter engine found in the Forte, features some seriously funky interior shapes and textures including air vents that look like speakers, and comes with a fancy digital instrument cluster. How about them apples?
Oh, and did I mention that fuel economy is nearly a match for the Venue? Highway fuel economy is bang-on at 33 mpg, but a two-mpg-lower city fuel consumption rating of 27 mpg drags the combined rating down from 32 to 31 mpg. For all the added refinement, a single MPG combined hit is no hardship.
Chevrolet Trax LS – $21,495
The Kia Soul is a solid daily driver, but have you seen what an extra $180 can get you? The base model 2024 Chevrolet Trax starts at $21,495 including a $1,095 freight charge, and this thing’s a whole lot of car for the money. If you haven’t read my first drive of Chevrolet’s new entry-level vehicle, I urge you to do so, but here are the CliffsNotes.
The new Trax offers tons of usable torque around town, a reassuring six-speed conventional automatic transmission, enjoyable handling, and a whopping 54.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Wireless Apple CarPlay works flawlessly, the air-conditioning is excellent, the dashboard’s full of interesting textures, and the stereo’s way better than you’d expect.
If there’s a downside to the Trax, it’s that everyone knows what a bargain it is. Finding an entry-level one in stock is properly tricky, but at least General Motors still lets you order a vehicle. If you get lucky locally or are willing to wait, this front-wheel-drive barely-a-crossover represents outstanding value among this set of the cheapest new cars.
So there we are, the six cheapest cheap new cars in America. If I had to put my money on one, it would probably be either the Mitsubishi Mirage or the Chevrolet Trax. GM’s new baby is a cohesive and compelling package, but there’s something so nice about a car that costs very little to run and comes with warranty for ages. Are any of these jumping off the page for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
(Photo credits: Nissan, Mitsubishi, Kia, Hyundai, Thomas Hundal)
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The Mirage was a developing east-Asian market car.
It shows in very obvious ways, like the underside of the hood being unpainted.
The Forte might be decent, but the concern is it’s going to, “do Kia things” 7+ years out.
The Versa doesn’t have a CVT, but those fuel efficiency numbers are crap.
I think the Trax is the actual sane choice here.
Granted, the truly sane choice is a gently used Japanese car from someone who doesn’t know what they have… but that’s certainly a lot more work. Moreover, you just can’t directly compare used to new — after all, you could get some C5 Corvette for less.
“Granted, the truly sane choice is a gently used Japanese car from someone who doesn’t know what they have… but that’s certainly a lot more work.”
Is it though? Maybe depends on where you live. In CA gently used, rust? What’s that?Japanese cars are all over CL. Maybe not so much in Wisconson.
The truly great ones go VERY fast here in New England. You’re not the only person looking for them. It’s not that you can’t get one, but to get one for a TRULY GREAT PRICE is really hard, because people like me swoop in to flip those things.
A great example is in early 2022, I bought a 2021 (about 18 months old) RAV4 Prime with 17K miles for $27,000 private sale off a 30ish year old woman who just didn’t know what she had. It was near mint. She was very happy to sell it almost immediately and be paid immediately. She could’ve got much more even on a trade in. The dealer would’ve immediately turned it around and sold it for $45,000.
That’s what’s hard. Like $5,000 Corollas are just flat out gone now, and have been since the pandemic. What you used to be able to get for $5-6K and would reliably serve you for another decade is $11-11.5K now, and the larger, newer, nicer stuff at a good price attracts hawks like me VERY quickly.
Flippers exist here too and as long as they add enough value to the car to earn the flip I’ve got no problem with it. At least as long as its not a selfish jerk hogging all the street parking or some numbskull working under the car on the street with nothing more than a sketchy hydraulic floor jack between him/her and eternity.
Of course our 9%+ sales tax eats into that profit. Also IIRC any more than 5 sales/year requires a business licence + extra taxes.
Any discussion of price should include not only efficiency but safety? How do the cheap cars do in crash tests? What’s the insurance rating on them? What safety features are included at the price quoted?
Do they have emergency braking? Cross traffic and blind side alerts?
Can you get extra safety features and better crash protection by spending a few more bucks? Maybe the cheap base trim is a poor choice while a slightly more upscale trim is worth it?
Not poo-pooing safety features but that is the sort of trim creep that means there are so few cheap cars to begin with. If you are considering one of these as your first new car and you’ve been driving something 20 years old before hand it’s a bit of a moot point. The thing is we can be all about crash safety standards and spend an extra few grand and stress our budget and the next day may choose to ride our push bike to work.
If you qualify, can find one at a dealer with no markups, and you have a place to charge it at home (AND you also have an alternative ICE vehicle for road trips > 200 miles round-trip) – then the 23 Chevy Bolt baed EV should probably be included.
We recently picked up an EV L1T trim with minimal options (but good ones, the heated seats + all the safety nannies) – and the cost out the door once you figure in the $7500 tax credit (we qualify!) is right at $21,500 for a damn decent BEV! – Oh you also get either a 220 outlet install in your house covered by GM – or a $500 fast charge credit included; your choice. The lower trim includes a level-1 (120v) charge cable, but you can always get a level-2 charge cable (you’ll want one).
< 7 sec 0-60 time
Nice cabin with wireless AA and Carplay
~ 4-5 miles / kwh (at our home charge rates that’s about 150+ miles for $3.50 worth of electricity!
I think the BOLTs are the best bargain in new cars right now as a daily / around town driver (as long as you can make room for an EV in your stable, and your stable has a power outlet) 🙂
I had a last gen Soul that was a base model w/ 6 speed manual. Prices sure have gone up since mine was around $15k when I bought it new in 2016.
It was a great little car and had all the basic luxuries you’d be missing out of a base model from the 90’s so I really didn’t feel too much in the base model penalty box for wanting a manual. And the major things like the stereo could easily be upgrade if I wanted.
You would have to pay me to drive the Mirage, cheap and nasty.
Agreed. A family member had one and it was absolutely terrible. The other vehicles on the list aren’t great but any stretch of the imagination, but they are light years better than the Mirage.
Manual versa because price.
I created an account and making my first post after years of being entertained by you guys because I just can’t take the “cars used to be cheap” everything. Well, YES I CAN actually.
My first “new” car? a 1992 Ford Escort GT. I paid $11,500 for it. That’s $25,500 today according to the inflation calculator. For 120hp/115ft lbs of screaming 5 speed goodness. Cloth seats, 4 speakers, Cassette (!), A/C (!!!) CRUISE COTROL?! Holly shit I was high falutin when I drove that off the lot. And even those stupid automatic seat belts. Soft touch what?? Turbine vents? Get outta here! The only “car play” was either a DiscMan plugged in with a cassette adapter or shenanigans after dark with the current squeeze of the day. Airbag? NOPE! But I was happy the middle of the steering wheel was actually padded!!!! It handled nice and I got about 30mpg.
I was in LUXURY! I was in HEAVEN! I had it made… When I got a freaking 1992 Ford Escort GT! I’ve opened TUNA CANS that had more solid a metal sound than closing the doors on that car. And it sold it with 200k miles having done nothing but timing belts, brakes (once), clutch (once) and the usual fluids. Original water pump!
My previous ride from 16 until 20 was a 1973 Mazda truck that I found in the PENNY SAVER for $100 (who remembers those??). I rebuilt the engine. Wild cam (sounded like a Harley), .38 weber dgas, custom header, 2 inch pipe to a Cadillac muffler turned around, 4 wheel DRUM brakes (with 2 cylinders per drum….any of ya ever tuned THAT to stop in a straight line??). POWER NOTHING? A/C??? HA! Turn the wing window around and open the crotch vent. Sweat it out on a torn vinyl bench seat in the central valley CA summers.
All these posts about no Apple/Android. Again with the soft touch, piano something, turbine vents “stylish” whatever (WTF does stylish actually mean??) and I fart in your general direction! If I had to choose to be t-boned by an F350 in that Escort GT or ANY ONE of these current “shitboxes” I’d choose anything on this list. Hell I betcha most will save me better than my current ’07 speed3!
And NO! They are not “too expensive” if we again adjust for inflation! Don’t give me that “pay hasn’t kept up” whatever. You can get WAY MORE CAR for the inflation adjusted price of what is now considered to be a total shitbox ForZda product that was divine heaven to my 20 year old self.
Now give me back $.79/gal leaded gas and get off my rock garden.
I’d pick the Versa S with the manual.
Because it’s as mechanically simple and DIY repairable as you can get these days.
It really doesn’t have any modern dealer-serviceable-only tech that you’d need to worry about.
Every consumable part is cheap and easy to service.
It’s basically the North American Dacia Logan, and I’m only half-kidding, same CMF platform as the Dacias but a different sub-variant.
My second pick would be the Mirage but I don’t agree on the pricing on them, it’s one category smaller than the rest of these cars. And comes with a bit more compromises.
Realistically, it should be the cheapest option on the list but for $18k+ it’s not a good deal.
This is excellent reasoning. I agree with you 100%.
Plus Apple Car play can be remedied with a 300 dollar head unit
Stick your phone in a hand-dandy-dash-mounted holder, and you’ve got your display.
Every time I look at new car prices, Elton John’s “I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself” starts running through my mind.
I’ve only briefly sat in a current Versa but could tell it was a healthy improvement over the prior gen.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Forte I rented last year, it was holding up well despite having over 30k miles and being from an econo-named rental place. I see a good number of them around too. I don’t always love the looks, but I do like it better than the Elantra.
The Trax ticks a lot of boxes for many buyers even in its loaded trims where it’s still pretty cheap, and big for the pricepoint. Some options on it make it a potentially good choice for a lot of people that might be balking at what some new sedans and small crossovers are going for nowadays.
I’m beginning to realize that I am never going to be able to buy a new car. My parents started out with used cars, but then bought a new VW Bug, and drove it off the lot. (yes, I’m old) A succession of other new cars came and went as a grew up, but my folks never had to buy used again. I on the other hand only have used cars: my mother’s old 2007 Subaru Outback, my late father’s 1989 toyota 4WD pickup that I’ve got to repair after I hit some black ice and ended up in a ditch, and my current daily, a 1991 Honda Civic Wagon AWD. It’s crazy to think that the newest car we own is 16 years old.
Funny thing, I would take any of the 3 cars you have over anything new.
Same issue… there’s nothing new I want.
My first car was a (used but the example still stands) base model 1988 Mazda 323 1.3 4 speed manual – it was lavishly optioned with A/C – which was quite rare! It didn’t even have cloth seats. No power windows, no central locking, no tach, not even a clock! It was so basic that the there was no ACC position on the key, which meant there was no permanent power source running to the stereo, so you had to have the car on to run the radio.
My current work car is a base model 2018 Toyota Corolla Hybrid hatch (the corolla is only sold as a hybrid now where I live so this is the base model). I have: dual zone climate control, sat nav, keyless entry, back up camera, alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, emergency stop – not to mention ABS brakes, Traction control etc. 30 years seperate these two cars, there is no way that my Corolla could be considered a luxury car by todays standards, but in comparison its a friggin Maybach!
So yeah – this is why cars are so expensive today, they come packed with everything even on the base model! 30 years ago, you got a body, an engine and consider yourself lucky that you got seats!
I wonder everyone here wants exciting car to drive. Why not a small tossed around by the wind Nissan Versa S? It’s a new kind of excitement. Me a comfortable driver seat, a manual transmission, good mpg is all I need. Pump up my arms with a manual window. Heck I don’t need seating for more than 1 can I get that and save a few thousand? Get it to sound like a Jag and I am give me that noise.
Everyday is guns-day with a handcrank window!
The biggest issue is each of these choices comes with drawbacks. The Versa S with a 5 speed, but rear seats that don’t fold–reminds me of my used 1984 Sentra (which only had a radio and 2 speakers in the front doors). While I have used Android Auto and wouldn’t mind it in my vehicle, the lack of folding seats and the hatchback no longer being offered hurts more.
The H/K offerings give me pause due to the CVT, the older vehicles being theft targets, the lack of accountability for the engine failures, and the reported unpleasant dealer experience.
That leaves GM and Mitsubishi. While the new Trax has a regular automatic transmission, the engine is turbocharged and gets mediocre fuel economy. Adding to the hesitation are all the electrical gremlins they seem to be present in GM vehicles. The Mirage is hard to get excited about due to the lack of [forward] motivation and it appears to have the tightest rear seat.
I’m not sure what the answer is and find myself scanning used vehicle classifieds daily hopping to find inspiration to pull the trigger. The problem is that cars are a lot less modular than they used to be; unfortunately the trend continues with the EV transition. Somehow we need to find a way to defeat that future vehicles be less disposable, yet many are totalled in small accidents: lights $1500 each, sensors, 9+ airbags, cameras, infotainment systems that fail before the vehicle, etc.
As someone who’s 6 foot exact, and 284 pounds, I can safely say that the Mirage’s back seat isn’t nearly as bad as you’d think, as long as you don’t try to cram two people and a bunch of crap in-between you!
The Venue is available in green, so there’s that 😛
So is the Trax.
I have to keep reminding myself that 2006 was damn near 20 years ago now. I bought my first brand new car then, which was an Accord LX Special Edition, 5 speed manual and some decent options for the time including alloy wheels and a 6 disc changer in the dash for around $18,500.
Out of this crop I like the Soul the best. The Forte has really fallen from the first gen, which was a really attractive little car, especially in coupe form.
“I have to keep reminding myself that 2006 was damn near 20 years ago now. I bought my first brand new car then, which was an Accord LX Special Edition, 5 speed manual and some decent options for the time including alloy wheels and a 6 disc changer in the dash for around $18,500.”
So did I except mine has the 5AT for a grand more. I’ve still got that car, still going strong with 160k+ on the clock and not much more than rubber, fluids and a fresh new OEM cat thanks to a few low life scumbags and good insurance.
FWIW there are aftermarket 10-12″ touch screens you can put in that gen Accord which -depending on your tastes – could go a long way towards modernizing it for not much money. Unfortunately I’m not allowed to put one in that car. I did on my other, older car and IMO it was night to day.
Were there need of a replacement I’d probably keep an eye out for an Acura TL, a nicer version of the same Accord, install the touchscreen and just beg for forgiveness.
I haven’t had the car since 2011. Got me through grad school and a big move then I treated myself to a new car.
Still have a soft spot for that gen. A neighbor has a V6 6MT sedan that I’d scoop up if they throw a for sale sign on it.
Just throwing it out there, lightly edited for brevity:
The third generation (2004-08) Acura TL is powered by a 270 hp (201 kW); later revised to 258 hp (192 kW), based on the new SAE measurement standard for horsepower and 233 lb⋅ft (316 N⋅m) of torque, 3.2 L 24 valve SOHC VTECV6 engine mated to either a “SportShift” manually controllable 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual. Manual transmission models featured Brembo 4-Piston front brake calipers, a Torsen-type limited slip differential, stiffer anti-roll bars front and rear and performance tires at no additional cost.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acura_TL
(None of that 4th gen beak either)
Must be hard for Mitsubishi dealers to walk around their lot, what with those huge brass balls knocking around between their legs.
$18,110? Please.
Also, KIA is still letting me build a Rio 5, hitting $18,815 with destination. That used to be what you paid for a good Honda Fit, but IMO, it’s the most attractive choice for the money.
I paid $20,190 with destination 3 months ago for a Rio 5. They might have lowered the destination fee a bit to move the last ones if they will still let you order.
My hope is that EVs will eventually follow the path of the automotive industry in the early 20th century. Cars used to be expensive things for the rich, but economies of scale meant affordable cars could be built and sold to the masses. I would like to think that, as EVs become the norm, they will become cheaper to build, and that some affordable models will emerge to serve the “cheap, honest transportation” end of the market. The potential is there.
But, given the way people are buying cars–with increasingly long loan terms–I don’t know if that will be the case. There will be enough people willing to commit to long loan periods that automakers may not feel the need to introduce models that are as affordable as some of the cars listed in this article.
Some of that may depend on how long ICE cars are on the road. As we move to EVs, ICE cars will naturally be the go-to form of transportation for people who can’t afford a new car. When that supply starts to dry up though…what then? Will it then be feasible to offer inexpensive EVs, if there is a growing market for them? I have no idea.
Lucid seems hell belt in democratizing EV transportation for the lower pricepoints. they just have to get their production up and some capital built selling some more luxury cars first but they have promised to find a way to get their technology in cheaper cars. Hoping Lucid does it!
The price/capability ratio for EVs has dropped pretty far over the last 5 years. Arguably (if you ask Toecutter), the technology to make good $20k EVs exists today. But it’s pretty uncontroversial to say that in 12 years, the larger scale production of components and greater diversity of battery technologies will make it technologically feasible to offer cheap-but-good EVs.
The more complicated question is whether or not automakers will want to sell inexpensive EVs.
Just wait until the coming greedflation-driven recession really takes hold; when people finally realize that they can’t afford hilariously overpriced luxo-crossovers (even on 96 month financing plans), automakers will be tripping over themselves to produce inexpensive EVs.
“Just wait until the coming greedflation-driven recession really takes hold”
Don’t hold your breath. I think if that was going to happen it would have happened already. Even if it did interest rates would drop and blammo! Problem fixed before it even began.
My only concern there is that if 1% of the population controls 99% of the wealth, then it may be smarter to realign your business to sell to the wealthy than it is to drop prices to target a dwindling share of the wealth.
Sure, as long as that 99% stays docile…
(Tick..Tick..Tick..)
Not as long as people are willing (and able) to borrow so much more for so much less.
They are coming, but from China. My current work car is a Corolla Hybrid, they will be replacing the fleet next year with EVs. My guess is they will probably be MG ZS EVs or MG4s which are about $10-$12kNZD more to buy outright but factor in fuel over 5 years, they probably work out about the same… if not cheaper to run the EV
A certain anti-EV state in the US was about to sign a law where (something to this effect) the government had to factor fleet pricing on a ~5 year total ownership cost instead of the out the door cost. Once word got out that under the new law it would shift the state government over to buying EVs it was immediately dropped.
Thats insane! Shouldn’t it be about delivering the best value for taxpayers? Our current (hopefully about to no longer be our government) is hell bent on moving everyone to EVs even where it isn’t practical or cost effective, I’d far sooner see some common sense where they take say 3-5 years into account (depending on the roll over of fleet cars). Like replacing a Corolla with an MG EV might make sense, but replacing a Hilux with a (mythical) Cybertruck doesn’t.
A Nissan Leaf S with destination charge stickers at $29,235. Lop off $7,500 for the federal rebate, you’re down to $21,735. In my state, you can lop another $7,500 off with state rebates. Now you’re down to $14,235, regardless of your actual tax burden.
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re in the market for the cheapest new car for commuting purposes, a new Leaf might be the ticket.
(Yes, I realize the Bolt is a better deal all around, but the Leaf will continue to exist next year).
the federal rebate is kinda moot tho you would still be financing the 30,000 until you got a 7500 check from uncle sam and refinanced.
The Leaf doesn’t qualify for the federal tax credit.
Soul owner. It’s remarkable how much crap this car can hold, and it’s perfect around town although a little bit rough at freeway speeds. The name of the vehicle does not match up with the driving characteristics even a little bit, but I have found it to be very fuel efficient.
My dad has one and he pretty consistently beats the EPA numbers by a fair amount. Unusual in this day and age of gaming the EPA tests.
On two-lane 55MPH roads, I find it hits over 40 MPG easily. At highway speeds (70+) not so much, it’s kind of a little brick. But I agree with your dad.
We’re entering a weird time I think.. what are we gonna do when there’s no ‘cheap’ new cars at all? That’ll leave anyone who can’t afford a new car buying a used one with a bunch of gizmos that are going to be, let’s be honest, prohibitively expensive for that owner to repair.
I guess at that point they’ll have some monthly subscription thing like phones where you ‘upgrade’ every few years and never actually own anything..
Automakers would prefer you to either buy used or suck it up and take out a bigger loan. And I’m starting to doubt any new market entrants will take up the slack, since we only have a few years of ICE sales left and EVs aren’t favorable to low prices if they have reasonable ranges and are also imported
On paper and in reviews, I think the Trax is the way to go. “Cheap” and cheerful without any real compromises for someone who wants reliable, comfortable transportation.
Black interior only.
Good.
*puts on fireproof suit* 😉
Mirage is prolly the last one you should get in case Mitsubishi ceases all ops in the USA.
Are all the Kia/Hyundai products built on the same platform? Seems weird that price diff between a Forte and Soul or Venue is only $1000. Wasn’t the Forte like $6k way back when.
Do Kia/Hyundai dealers have ADMs on these prods or is that only their EV’s & Tellurides?
As the owner of a 23-year-old car from a brand that’s been dead since the Great Recession, I’m not too worried about buying a Mitsubishi product. Mirages sell in decent volume, and there’s some crossover with the Nissan parts catalog.
You’re thinking of the Rio. The Forte name didnt’ come out until around 2010ish and they were mid teens.
Remember when you could buy some of the cheapest new cars for less than $15,000? Yes. I remember in the days before i could afford comprehensive insurance there was a multi-GM-brand dealer in Royal Oak (on Woodward, just north of the zoo maybe?) giving away a new LeMans with each purchase of a Park Avenue. I think the LeMans by itself was $4800.
“DaeWoo” Lemans, i’m not that old.
Absolutely. My first new car, in 1991, was $7k ($15k today with inflation) and there were multiple options at that price point. Many more options for an extra $1-2k. Of course it was absolute stripper-spec, with manual everything, no A/C, no radio, no anything, but that wasn’t considered bizarre. At the risk of sounding like an old man yelling at clouds, a significant part of the problem is that buyers want, and think they absolutely need, more stuff. Auto-journos don’t help (I’m looking at you, Mr. Soft-Touch-Plastic-Everywhere, and manufacturers are thrilled to add in all the high-margin extras. Look no further than a entry-level mid-90s Civic vs. 2023 Civic. Bring back small spartan cars and they’ll be cheap.
I had a 2017 Kia Forte for a while, and I liked it fine. Good mileage, decent size, okay technology, great color. Even a decent manual gearbox. I was fine with it, but then I came into a little money, and decided to get a new Civic, and I could instantly tell that the Honda was better built. I liked the Kia, but I do not miss it at all.