These 8 New Cars Have the Best Value

It’s never been so expensive to buy a new car. The average price for a new car is just over $47,000, according to Cars.com data. That’s not exactly affordable. To make matters worse, automakers keep discontinuing affordable cars including two recent casualties, the Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa. If you’re in panic mode thinking there aren’t any affordable new cars left, fear not — we’ve looked through every class to gather eight of the new cars with the best value.

Related: 2025 Cars.com Affordability Report: Best Value New Cars

Vehicle affordability is much more than just simply how much a car costs. Affordability also includes what you get for your dollar but also how much you spend on fuel. That’s why we’ve done the legwork to find the cars with the most features for the money that are also affordable to refuel. This list is primarily centered on affordability, so some of these recommendations may come with trade-offs. We’ve listed the pros and cons of each, and be sure to check out our expert reviews and other awards for deeper research on each car.

2026 Best Value Winners

• Subcompact SUV: Chevrolet Trax
• Compact SUV: Kia Sportage
• Mid-Size SUV: Hyundai Palisade (SE, SEL, XRT only)
• Compact Car: Toyota Corolla Hybrid
• Small Pickup: Ford Maverick
• Mid-Size Pickup: Toyota Tacoma
• Large Pickup: Ford F-150
• EV: Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Criteria

To be considered for our best value award, we look at mainstream mass-market brands that offer models with the following features that may come standard or with optional packages or options: 

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Blind spot monitor
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Lane departure warning
• Electric vehicles with at least 288 miles of range

After identifying which models have those features, we take the annual fuel cost and add it to the total price of the vehicle. That price then needs to be at or under the average price of the class. We also require the car to run on regular fuel, have a good warranty and for trucks, a minimum number seating capacity.

Note: All prices listed below are current as of March 24, 2026 and include destination fees. Automakers frequently change such charges even within a given model year, though, so keep in mind that these prices are subject to change.

Which Compact Car Is the Best Value?

1. 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE

• Pros:
  • Fantastic fuel economy
  • Affordable price
  • Lots of standard safety features
• Cons:
  • Some cheap interior materials
  • Cramped rear seat
  • Slow

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid is our best value compact car, but it’s also the cheapest hybrid on the market. Its starting price of just under $26,000 undercuts other compact hybrids such as the Kia Niro and Hyundai Elantra. That price looks even more attractive when you consider its standard features, such as a power driver’s seat and a suite of driver safety aids. You can even option your Corolla Hybrid with all-wheel drive. It’s not without its downsides, though: Its hybrid powertrain is efficient but lacking in power, which can make situations like highway merging a dicey affair. It’s also lacking in backseat room and has some cheap interior materials.

Top Finishers: Compact Car

2. 2026 Hyundai Elantra SE

• Starting price: $23,870
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $24,602
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 31/40/35
• Annual fuel costs: $1,250
• Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles basic; 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Hyundai Elantra for Sale Near You

3. 2026 Mazda3 2.5 S sedan

• Starting price: $25,785
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $25,229
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 27/36/30
• Annual fuel costs: $1,450
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; five years/60,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Mazda3 for Sale Near You

Which Subcompact SUV Is the Best Value?

1. 2026 Chevrolet Trax LS

• Pros:
  • Bargain pricing
  • Extensive suite of standard safety features
  • Decent fuel economy
• Cons:
  • Underpowered engine
  • Base trim is rental spec
  • Poor crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Starting at just over $22,000, the Chevrolet Trax is not only the cheapest new Chevy you can buy, it’s also one of the cheapest new cars on the market and is packed with features for the money as well as a slick touchscreen and digital instrument panel. There are two major downsides to the Trax, however. The first is power: Despite having a turbocharger, the Trax is powered by a tiny 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that develops just 137 horsepower. The other is the Trax’s lackluster crash-test performance in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluations, where it received a poor rating on moderate overlap front and vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.

Top Finishers: Subcompact SUV

2. 2026 Hyundai Kona SE

• Starting price: $27,100
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $26,689
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 29/34/31 (front-wheel drive)
• Annual fuel costs: $1,400
• Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles basic; 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Hyundai Kona for Sale Near you

3. 2026 Nissan Kicks S

• Starting price: $23,975
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $26,239
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 28/35/31
• Annual fuel costs: $1,400
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; five years/60,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Nissan Kicks for Sale Near You

Which Compact SUV Is the Best Value?

1. 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid S

• Pros:
  • Lots of standard safety features
  • Great warranty
  • Decent cargo space
• Cons:
  • Some counterintuitive controls
  • Best fuel mileage reserved for base trim

Kia takes an interesting approach with its Sportage Hybrid. By pairing a turbo four-cylinder engine with its hybrid setup, the result is impressive power (232 horsepower) and fuel mileage with 35 mpg combined. Unfortunately, that power is paired with a chassis that isn’t very engaging to drive, but you’re probably not considering a Sportage Hybrid if you’re looking for something like that.

Top Finishers: Compact SUV

2. Honda CR-V LX

• Starting price: $32,370
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $34,730
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 28/33/30 (FWD)
• Annual fuel costs: $1,450
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; five years/60,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Honda CR-V for Sale Near You

3. Nissan Rogue S

• Starting price: $30,635
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $30,572
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 29/36/32 (FWD)
• Annual fuel costs: $1,350
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; five years/60,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Nissan Rogue for Sale Near You

Which Mid-Size SUV Is the Best Value?

1. 2026 Hyundai Palisade SE

• Pros:
  • Tons of standard features
  • Lots of interior room
  • Standard third row
• Cons:
  • Styling isn’t for everyone
  • Gas mileage with V-6 could be better
  • Cargo volume behind third row is less than competitors
  • Current stop-sale on Limited and Calligraphy trims due to recall

Hyundai’s three-row family hauler is redesigned for 2026. In addition to new styling, the big news is the addition of the Palisade Hybrid and off-road XRT Pro trim. The Palisade Hybrid swaps the standard Palisade’s V-6 for a turbo hybrid powertrain with 329 hp and gets up to 34 mpg combined. The downsides? The standard V-6 engine isn’t very efficient and the hybrid trims command a price premium — there’s a roughly $4,700 difference between base trims of the gas-powered Palisade and the Palisade Hybrid. At the time of publishing, top Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims are not being sold because of a recall with the power-folding second- and third-row seats involving a fatality, though less expensive versions like the SE mentioned here are unaffected because they use manual-folding seats.

Top Finishers: Mid-Size SUV

2. Honda Passport RTL

• Starting price: $46,445
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $43,928
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 19/25/21
• Annual fuel costs: $2,100
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; five years/60,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Honda Passport for Sale Near You

3. Toyota Grand Highlander LE

• Starting price: $43,155
• Add-ons: none
• Average trim price: $43,919
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 21/28/24 (FWD)
• Annual fuel costs: $1,800
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; five years/60,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander for Sale Near You

Which Small Pickup Is the Best Value?

2026 Ford Maverick XL

• Pros:
  • Decently affordable
  • Small but not exactly compact
  • Hybrid engine is standard
• Cons:
  • Many safety features cost extra
  • Isn’t as affordable as it once was
  • Average IIHS crash-test safety ratings from IIHS

With the loss of the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Ford has the small pickup truck market cornered with the Maverick. Ford’s littlest pickup offers something for everyone, from frugal buyers who need a basic hauler up to the street-tackling Lobo and off-road-tough Tremor trims. The main downside to the Maverick is that it’s not quite the affordable buy it once was. The CoPilot 360 Package is a perfect example of that; safety features that are standard in other classes are nearly $800 extra in the Maverick.

Which Mid-Size Pickup Is the Best Value?

1. 2026 Toyota Tacoma SR5

• Pros:
  • Available hybrid engine
  • Extremely capable TRD Off-Road and Trailhunter trims
  • Available manual transmission
• Cons:
  • Off-road trims are pricey
  • Hybrid engine is reserved for higher trims
  • Backseat could use more legroom

After what seemed like an eternity, Toyota gave us an all-new Tacoma for 2024. The big news was the addition of more capable TRD Off-Road and Trailhunter trims, plus a new hybrid powertrain. With a number of trims, bed and cab configurations, there’s something for everyone if you’re in the market for a Tacoma. Unfortunately, Toyota reserves the hybrid engine for upper trims. Pricing also rises fast once you start getting into the off-road trims: Fully loaded Trailhunter and TRD Pro trims cost more than $65,000 each. And despite offering a hybrid, the Tacoma hybrid’s 24 mpg combined kind of makes you wonder what the point of it is. The sweet spot is definitely the lower trim levels that have standard features and fuel economy for the money versus the competition.

Top Finishers: Mid-Size Pickup

2. Honda Ridgeline Sport

• Starting price: $42,290
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $41,648
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 18/24/21
• Annual fuel costs: $2,100
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; five years/60,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Honda Ridgeline for Sale Near You

3. Nissan Frontier SV

• Starting price: $37,935
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $33,724
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 19/24/21 (2WD)
• Annual fuel costs: $2,100
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; five years/60,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Nissan Frontier for Sale Near You

Which Large Pickup Is the Best Value?

1. 2026 Ford F-150 XL

• Pros:
  • Many cab, bed and engine choices
  • F-150 Raptor is almost a street-legal Baja race truck
  • Factory performance parts have warranty backing
• Cons:
  • Gets pricey fast
  • Hybrid engine’s fuel mileage could be better
  • EcoBoost exhaust note sounds like a vacuum cleaner

Ford knows what it’s doing when it comes to the F-150. There’s something for everyone. Not only is it available in either two- or four-wheel drive with three body styles and two bed lengths, but buyers also can choose from six different engines: the base 325-hp, 2.7-liter V-6 all the way up to the monstrous supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 with 720 hp in the Raptor R. There are a few kinks in the F-150’s armor, though. Once you start checking off option boxes, pricing rises fast. There are also quality concerns given the massive recalls Ford has announced recently; in just over a two-week period in August 2025, Ford recalled 450,000-plus F-Series trucks for failing instrument panels and damaged axle bolts.

Top Finishers: Large Pickup

2. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT

• Starting price: $54,875
• Add-ons: Convenience Package and Safety Package II (total cost $1,680)
• Average trim price: $51,356
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 17/21/19 (2WD)
• Annual fuel costs: $2,300
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles; five years/60,000 miles powertrain; TurboMax and Duramax turbo-diesel engines get five years/100,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado for Sale Near You

3. Ram 1500 Big Horn/Lone Star

• Starting price: $52,625
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: $50,457
• Fuel economy (city/highway/combined mpg): 20/25/22 (2WD)
• Annual fuel costs: $2,000
• Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles basic; 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Ram 1500 for Sale Near You

Which EV Is the Best Value?

1. 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE

Pros:

• Great range on some trims
• Blisteringly fast charging
• Stylish, modern interior

Cons:

• Reported issues with charging component
• Near pointless frunk
• N and XRT trims aren’t efficient

Available in single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD configurations, the Ioniq 5’s power ratings range from 168 hp on the base model to 641 hp on the Ioniq 5 N. You can even have your Ioniq 5 in faux off-roader garb with the Ioniq 5 XRT. A major downside to the Ioniq 5 is the integrated charging control unit. The ICCU is a critical component of the electric powertrain; when it fails, it can result in loss of power or charging. A recall has been issued for model-year 2022-24 Ioniq 5s (as well as other Hyundai and Kia EVs that share the platform). Hyundai is also well aware of the issue and says there’s a comprehensive remedy in place, though there are reports of multiple ICCU failures on the same vehicle. The scope of the problem and how many vehicles are affected remains hard to determine for now.

Top Finishers: EVs

2. Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2

• Starting price: $43,595
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: N/A
• Range: 319 miles
• Annual energy costs: $700
• Warranty: Eight years/100,000 miles
• Find a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV for Sale Near You

3. Tesla Model 3

• Starting price: $38,380
• Add-ons: None
• Average trim price: N/A
• Range: 321 miles
• Annual energy costs: $550
• Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles basic; eight years/100,000 miles powertrain
• Find a 2026 Tesla Model 3 for Sale Near You

Should I Buy New or Used?

From tariffs to rising costs for both fuel and insurance to new cars themselves getting more and more expensive, many buyers may feel their best bet is to go used. Sadly, you won’t find much pricing relief on the used market. Used-vehicle inventories have continued to shrink, which has caused used prices to increase. As of January, the average used-car price was just under $30,000, a year-over-year increase of 2.6%. Many of these used vehicles have higher miles, as well. If you are looking at used vehicles and want lower miles, you’re in luck: Cars.com data show that inventories of lower-mileage used cars should increase in 2026 thanks to lease returns.

More From Cars.com:

• 2026 Starts With Fewer Sales but Faster Sells
• What Are the Best Used Cars for $20000?
• Should I Buy a New or Used Car?
• Car Affordability Calculator – How Much Car Can I Afford?
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