Best New Cars for $30,000 or Less
Key Points
- Cars.com experts identify the best new cars on dealership lots for $30,000 or less.
- The average price of a new vehicle is around $50,000, but certain models are priced considerably less than that.
- Five of the seven models in our list are sedans or hatchbacks of varying sizes, with the remaining two spots held by SUVs, plus a hybrid made the list.
If you haven’t shopped for a new car in a while, you’re in for sticker shock. With the average price of a new car hovering around $50,000 for some time now, it may seem like that new-car smell is out of reach. But you can still find good new cars that are priced tens of thousands of dollars less than that. Our expert car reviewers looked at national car listing prices and voted for their favorite models in seven different vehicle classes.
Related: Car Affordability Calculator
For this list, we set a price ceiling of $30,000, which is a bit more than half the average price of a new car. And rather than use MSRPs to determine which cars were eligible, we looked at average pricing in Cars.com’s national database of new cars for sale, which is more reflective of the prices you’ll see on a dealer’s lot. We also eliminated cars with known poor or marginal crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, along with cars with insufficient inventory on Cars.com.
Click on each of the winners below to see why it won.
Best New Cars for $30,000 or Less
- Best Subcompact Car: 2025 Nissan Versa
- Best Compact Car: 2026 Honda Civic
- Best Compact Hatchback: 2025 Kia Soul
- Best Compact Hybrid: 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- Best Mid-Size Car: 2025 Hyundai Sonata
- Best Subcompact SUV: 2026 Hyundai Kona
- Best Compact SUV: 2026 Chevrolet Equinox
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Best Subcompact Car: 2025 Nissan Versa
- Eligible trim levels: S, SV, SR
- Average inventory pricing: $19,964-$22,376
Why the 2025 Nissan Versa Won:
- Affordable pricing means every trim level, even the loaded SR, is under not just $30,000, but under $23,000.
- The Versa’s low price still nets shoppers a generous set of standard comfort, convenience and safety features.
- The Versa is pleasant to drive, nimble and maneuverable, making it a good choice for urban areas where space is limited.
The 2025 Nissan Versa might wow most shoppers as the most affordable vehicle on sale in the U.S., but it wowed us with its generous list of standard features, pleasant driving manners and continued affordability even for its most well-equipped trim level. All Versas come standard with Bluetooth connectivity and multiple USB charging ports, and for the safety-conscious, there’s automatic high-beam headlights, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking. Opt for the loaded SR trim and you’ll get adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and automatic climate control.
Features are only half of the Versa’s story, however. It’s also remarkably refined to drive, with enough pep to zip around town, and handling that can make back-roads driving more fun than it would be in a small SUV. And models with the continuously variable automatic transmission are EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined, a solid figure for a gas-only powertrain. The Versa proves that a subcompact, affordable car doesn’t have to mean sacrificing features or driving enjoyment.
Research the 2025 Nissan Versa | Shop for a New 2025 Nissan Versa Near You
Best Compact Car: 2026 Honda Civic
- Eligible trim levels: LX, Sport
- Average inventory pricing: $25,734-$28,087
Why the 2026 Honda Civic Won:
- The Civic is efficient, fun to drive and has a composed ride with sharp handling that surpasses anything else in its class.
- Standard features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights and adaptive cruise control.
- The pricier Sport trim amps up the Civic’s appearance with 18-inch gloss-black wheels, but it also adds convenience and safety features.
It’s hard to go wrong with a Honda Civic, and the great news for shoppers is that the 2026 Civic LX and Sport are available for less than $30,000. The Civic’s standout attribute is its fun-to-drive nature, with sharp handling and a sporty ride that puts far more expensive cars to shame. The LX and Sport variants are powered by a 150-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and they’re EPA-rated at 36 and 34 mpg combined, respectively, giving an already budget-friendly car thrifty fuel consumption, too.
The Civic LX and Sport are also well equipped, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights and the Honda Sensing suite of active-safety features. All of that pays off in excellent safety scores, with the 2025 Civic sedan an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2025 Top Safety Pick. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the Sport trim looks especially sharp with its 18-inch gloss-black wheels and black exterior trim, and it also gains helpful features like remote start and blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert.
Research the 2026 Honda Civic | Shop for a New 2026 Honda Civic Near You
Best Compact Hatchback: 2025 Kia Soul
- Eligible trim levels: LX, S, GT-Line, EX
- Average inventory pricing: $21,625-$25,868
Why the 2025 Kia Soul Won:
- The 2025 Kia Soul comes with lots of standard safety tech for the money.
- The Soul’s spacious interior and hatchback versatility lend a lot of utility in a small package.
- Decent power from its four-cylinder engine and competent handling make the Soul enjoyable to drive.
There’s much more than meets the eye with the 2025 Kia Soul. The subcompact hatchback’s funky, blocky exterior styling helps it stand out, and its cabin shines, too, thanks to a roomier-than-expected interior with ample cargo and occupant space. Other cabin highlights include a no-nonsense 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims offer a slick 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation as well as wireless phone charging. All of the Soul’s four available trim levels are well under our $30,000 price cap.
Power comes from a 147-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that works with a CVT. While that output might not look like much on paper, the Soul has decent pep and nimble maneuverability, increasing its fun-factor. The Soul is efficient, too, with EPA-estimated gas mileage of 30-31 mpg combined, depending on the trim level. Overall, the 2025 Soul impresses with a fuel-efficient powertrain, fun-to-drive character and affordable price. If you want a new one, however, you should act soon; the 2025 model year is the final one for the Soul.
Research the 2025 Kia Soul | Shop for a New 2025 Kia Soul Near You
Best Compact Hybrid: 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- Eligible trim level: LE
- Average inventory pricing: $26,413
Why the 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Won:
- The Toyota Corolla Hybrid gets an impressive EPA rating of up to 50 mpg combined.
- The Corolla Hybrid’s many standard safety features include lane-centering steering and adaptive cruise control.
- Good ride comfort helps make for an enjoyable driving experience.
The 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is among the cheapest hybrids you can buy, but cheap doesn’t always have to mean chintzy. The base LE trim level, which is well below our $30,000 price threshold, is equipped with numerous standard safety features and convenience goodies such as an 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a Wi-Fi hot spot with a trial data subscription.
All Corolla Hybrids use a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gas engine that’s paired with an electric motor for a total output of 138 hp. Front-wheel drive is standard, and available all-wheel drive adds an electric motor to drive the rear wheels. The Corolla Hybrid is also among the most efficient hybrids on the market, with up to an EPA-estimated 50 mpg combined. Overall, the 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid appeals as a sensible, no-nonsense choice for anyone who simply wants affordable, comfortable and efficient transportation.
Research the 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid | Shop for a New 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Near You
Best Mid-Size Car: 2025 Hyundai Sonata
- Eligible trim levels: SE, SEL
- Average inventory pricing: $27,106-$29,284
Why the 2025 Hyundai Sonata Won:
- The Hyundai Sonata’s comfort-focused suspension results in impressive ride quality.
- The Sonata’s interior controls are mostly straightforward and easy to use.
- A gaping front grille and a chiseled exterior design help the Sonata stand out in the mid-size sedan class.
A thorough refresh for the 2024 model year sharpened the Hyundai Sonata’s exterior styling, added a novel steering-column-mounted gear selector and introduced an integrated gauge/infotainment panel with a 12.3-inch center touchscreen. The entry-level SE trim rejoined the Sonata lineup for 2025, with standard features like keyless entry and start, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a long list of safety equipment. The SEL trim adds convenience features like a power driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated side mirrors and front seats, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Both the SE and SEL trims are powered by the Sonata’s base engine: a 191-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder that works with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sonata’s interior is respectably spacious overall, and its comfort-focused suspension tuning delivers commendable ride quality. And despite some touch-sensitive controls on the SEL (which we find finicky), the Sonata’s control layout is straightforward and user-friendly.
Research the 2025 Hyundai Sonata | Shop for a New 2025 Hyundai Sonata Near You
Best Subcompact SUV: 2026 Hyundai Kona
- Eligible trim levels: SE, SEL Sport
- Average inventory pricing: $27,353-$29,444
Why the 2026 Hyundai Kona Won:
- The Hyundai Kona has a small footprint, but it has good backseat and cargo space for its class.
- The Kona’s straightforward cabin controls include a wealth of physical buttons and knobs that make using its various features easy.
- The Kona is pleasant to drive, with competent handling and good maneuverability.
Hyundai’s popular Kona subcompact SUV got a full redesign for the 2024 model year that gave it futuristic styling, upsize dimensions for improved backseat and cargo space, and lots of welcome new features. For 2026, the entry-level SE trim adds some significant standard safety features: adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and automatic emergency braking with junction turning.
The SE comes standard with keyless entry and start, remote start, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a generous list of active-safety features. The step-up SEL Sport adds heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, rear air vents and 18-inch black-painted alloy wheels.
Both the SE and SEL Sport are powered by a 147-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT. You won’t be rocketing away from stoplights with this powertrain, but the Kona’s generous passenger and cargo space, competent handling and easy-to-use controls are all big pluses.
Research the 2026 Hyundai Kona | Shop for a New 2026 Hyundai Kona Near You
Best Compact SUV: 2026 Chevrolet Equinox
- Eligible trim level: LT with FWD
- Average inventory pricing: $29,531
Why the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Won:
- The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox LT FWD comes with some unexpected features for a sub-$30,000 SUV, including a standard heated steering wheel.
- The Equinox also has an excellent multimedia system with a standard 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In technology.
- The Equinox LT FWD’s powertrain, a turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a CVT, is also a highlight.
Chevrolet has been doing affordable vehicles quite well of late, and the 2026 Equinox LT with FWD just might be chief among them. You can pick one up for about $30,000, but being relatively inexpensive for a new car does not mean cheap. The FWD LT is the base trim, but it comes with a spunky turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 175 hp and drives the front wheels via a CVT. We usually aren’t keen on CVTs, but in the Equinox, this pairing is actually more entertaining than the powertrain that goes in AWD models, which use an eight-speed automatic.
There’s plenty of room in the Equinox, too, and three people can fit in the backseat comfortably thanks to a flat floor. Upfront, an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Google Built-In is standard, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present, too. Fuel economy is reasonable at an EPA-estimated 26/29/27 mpg city/highway/combined, and there’s a long list of standard safety and convenience features, too. Throw in a solid dose of style inside and out, and the Chevy Equinox shines as an affordable compact SUV.
Research the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox | Shop for a New 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Near You
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