Bargain Wheels
With the rising costs of living, buying a car can be stressful as the cost of a new car is expensive. So, we’ve created a list of the most affordable vehicles for you. This article will discuss five of the cheapest cars you can get in different vehicle categories.
Top Picks for Budget-Friendly Cars in 2024
1. The Most Affordable Sedan: Nissan Versa
Kelley Blue Book price: $14,669
The Nissan Versa is the cheapest car that you can get new in the United States. It even beats the ever-so-humble Mitsubishi Mirage. This sub-compact sedan from Nissan beats other competitors such as Dodge, Honda and Hyundai with its affordability.
The most affordable version of the Nissan Versa comes with a 1.6-liter engine that produces 122 horsepower. This pairs with a six-speed manual transmission. You can also get the Versa with a CVT transmission, which operates similarly to a standard automatic gearbox.
Due to the low price point of the Versa, the comfort and road noise could be better. You still get great cargo space and a good safety score. With the price of the Versa, your insurance cost will be low at around $1000 a year, depending on your insurance and driving history.
2. The Most Affordable Electric Car of 2024: Nissan Leaf
Kelley Blue Book price: $28,140
Another great option from Nissan, but this time electric, the Nissan Leaf is the most affordable brand-new electric car you can get in 2024. The bottom-of-the-range Nissan Leaf starts at $29,135, making it a good transition car if you want to get into something electric.
Sadly, the affordability of the bottom-range Nissan Leaf does come with a few drawbacks. The Nissan Leaf S, which is the base model, has a range of 180 miles and a slower charging speed when compared to other electric cars.
The interior of the Nissan Leaf comprises many black plastic trim pieces, but they are well made and have texture, making them look more uniform. You do get a 7.0-inch display screen next to the analog speedometer.
The interior space is quite roomy for the size of the vehicle, with adults being able to sit comfortably in the rear seats. The Leaf still has enough cargo space, although the seats do not fold down.
3. The Most Affordable Truck: Ford Maverick XL
Kelley Blue Book price: $19,995
The Ford Maverick XL may not be a Dodge Ram Pickup or even a Ford F150, but it can still perform similar tasks. This small Ford pickup has a base price of $25,000, making it an excellent truck for hauling or towing objects.
The Maverick range of trucks shares the same platform as the Bronco Sport and the Escape. It does not share the Bronco Sport’s three-cylinder turbocharged engine. Instead, Ford put in a 250 horsepower 2.0-litre inline-four that is mated to an eight-speed gearbox.
All Maverick trim options only come in a full crew cabin, which means it has four doors. Ford also added a lot of storage cubbies for passengers, with a large storage box under the rear seats. The base model may not have all the fun goodies, but it is an excellent option for the price.
4. The Most Affordable SUV for 2024: Volkswagen Tao
Kelley Blue Book price: $25,420
This mini or compact SUV can be described as a blend of the legendary Volkswagen Golf and the Tiguan that is called the Tao. This blend creates the perfect small compact SUV money can buy. The low price of the base model versions makes this SUV an excellent choice for an SUV.
All Taos come with a 158-horsepower 1.5-litre inline four-turbocharged engine. This power figure is nothing to write home about, but with a price of around $25,000 for a base model, you can not complain.
The interior is nothing special. It mimics other modern Volkswagen vehicles. This includes a digital gauge cluster, an infotainment screen and two-tone cloth seats. The cabin size is spacious and has a decent cargo space for the size of the vehicle.
5. The Most Affordable New Hatchback: Mitsubishi Mirage
Kelley Blue Book price: $16,995
The Mitsubishi Mirage has the smallest and least amount of power of any vehicle on this list. With a 1.2-liter three-cylinder, you get a mere 78 horsepower. The base model costs only $17,995, making it an affordable first car for many people.
The interior is full of hard plastics and has very little character, but you do get reasonable legroom for the size of the Mirage. You also get a 7-inch infotainment system in all trim levels of this car.
The Mirage is one of the cheapest cars in the United States, and its lack of features shows. But the fuel economy of this small car is hard to beat, with fuel consumption of 36 miles per gallon in the city and 43 miles per gallon for highway driving.
Affordable Autos
Hopefully, with the list of the five most affordable vehicles and why you should look at these cars, you can find a great and affordable car that suits your needs. Another great option when you want to buy is to look for second-hand versions of the vehicles above.